William H. Adams' father, George Forbes Adams (son of John and Eliza Adams), was born in New-Town-Butler county Fermanogh, Ireland on June 27, 1802. His father John Adams, started to America with his son George, but died just before the ship arrived in New Orleans, and was buried in that city immediately upon landing.
 
         George Forbes Adams married Miss Matilda Moore, November 23,1836 in Ireland. She emigrated to this country, with her family, in the year 1844. They settled in Logan county, Kentucky and then in the Port Royal, Tennessee area. George Forbes Adams and his wife Matilda (Moore) Adams left Northern Ireland with their eleven children and headed to America. They came to the Clarksville area on June 20th, 1844. They then settled in the Logan County, Kentucky area, where they engaged in farming and merchandising at Keysburg, Ky. for ten years. In 1857 they moved to the Port Royal, Tennessee area again engaging in farming. Matilda Moore Adams, died May 30, 1885. George Forbes Adams died March 7, 1894.The following is a list of their children:
 
            1.   Eliza Adams
            2.  George Forbes Adams Jr. (see note below)
            3.   John Adams (twin brother to George Jr.)(see note below)
            4.  William Henry Adams (see note below)
            5.  Frank Adams (see note below)
            6.  Joseph Watkins Adams (see note below)
            7.   Mary Adams
            8.  Alice Adams
            9.   Susan Adams
            10. Fannie Adams
            11. Ida Adams
 

Sons that Served in the Confederate Army:

In June 1861, news of war was traveling across the State of Kentucky like a wildfire. William, almost 21 years old, enlisted with his three brothers, in Company  K 1st Kentucky Infantry. [Col. Torn Taylors 1st Kentucky Infantry, serving one year in General Joe E. Johnsons Division]. George, John, William, and Frank Adams served well under Captain Jim Childress and when their company disbanded, they all reenlisted. This time in Morgans 3rd Kentucky Cavalry. John was promoted to Brevet Second Lieutenant and William from Private to Corporal. As memers of Company G 3rd Kentucky Cavalry, they served, as did the other Orphan Battalion members, with valor. All the brothers except John, was captured while crossing the Ohio River at Buf- fington Island, with Col.Basil Duke in command, on July 19, 1863. John was later captured at Cynthiana and imprisoned at Johnsons Island on Lake Erie. William, George, and Frank found themselves at the mercy of the Union soldiers as they were first sent to Camp Morton, Indiana. It was here that Frank became very ill and died. His remains were brought back to Clarksville, Tennessee for burial in Greenwood Cemetery. This left George and William, who were then transferred to  Camp Douglas, Illinois.
 
           William, being a very devout Christian, wrote of his love for his family, and his brother. He wished there was something that could be done, and as his brother became very sick, due to their confinement, he was able to nurse George at the camp hospital. Unfortunately, George Forbes Adams, Jr. died about July 1864. He was buried there near the hospital at Camp Douglas. William, having to deal with the loss of his two brothers, and the seperation of John, remained a prisoner until his release in 1865