Who was William Adams?

William Adams (1650–1685) was born in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA and died in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA. 9 researchers on YourRoots have this ancestor in their family trees.

How many people are researching William?

Right now, 9 researchers on YourRoots have William in their trees. The ancestor migration map traces 19 generations of this lineage.

What records do they have for William?

Records vary by researcher and can include census, vital, parish, cemetery, and family sources.

How do I compare family trees?

Use Compare Tree on an available researcher profile to compare overlapping people and records.

William Adams 1650–1685

Public Tree Person

What is a Public Tree Person?

A Public Tree Person is an ancestor documented independently by multiple YourRoots tree owners. When several researchers' family histories converge on the same person, we publish a shared page that combines what they've documented.

Why this is a Public Tree Person

Full name consistent across 9 independent trees

Birth year and location consistent across 9 trees

Death year and location consistent across 9 trees

Compare a Public Tree Person with your own tree using Compare Tree.

B Reliability

Reliability Score: B

Medium — based on the source tree

Grade scale

A 3 criteria (Strong)
B 2 criteria (Medium)
C 1 criteria (Basic)

Verification checklist

Record available
Descendant's record available
Star tree owner

9 researchers on YourRoots have William Adams in their family trees — each with their own records and documentation. Trace the migration path across 19 generations. If this ancestor is in your tree too, you can compare what you've found and fill in the gaps together.

Last updated: July 22, 2026 · Reliability: B — verified across 9 independent trees

Born 27 May 1650 · Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

Died 17 Jun 1685 · Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA

Father William Adams

Mother Elizabeth Stacy

Spouse Alice Bradford

Children Abiel Adams, Alice Adams, Eliphalet Adams, Elizabeth Adams Whiting Niles, William Adams

Records

American Marriages Before 1699 Geneanet Community Trees Index Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital … Millennium File Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., … U.S., Find a Grave® Index, … U.S., New England Marriages Prior … U.S., Sons of the American … Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index North America, Family Histories Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. … Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded Pennsylvania, U.S., Society of Mayflower …

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Researchers connected through William Adams 1650–1685

and 7 more tree owners connected with William Adams 1650–1685

Immediate Family

Parents

Spouse(s)

Children

Elizabeth Adams Whiting Niles

William Adams

Biography

William Adams was born in 1650 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA, the child of william adams and elizabeth stacy. William Adams married alice bradford, mary adams, and had children including abiel adams, alice adams, eliphalet adams, elizabeth adams whiting niles, william adams. William Adams passed away in 1685 in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA.

Sources

1

Marriage Records American Marriages Before 1699
2

Record Geneanet Community Trees Index
3

Vital Records Massachusetts, U.S., Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988
4

Record Millennium File
5

Church Records Pennsylvania and New Jersey, U.S., Church and Town Records, 1669-2013
6

Burial Records U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current
7

Marriage Records U.S., New England Marriages Prior to 1700
8

Record U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970
9

Record Netherlands, GenealogieOnline Trees Index
10

Record North America, Family Histories
11

Record Mayflower Births and Deaths, Vol. 1 and 2
12

Record Alabama, U.S., Surname Files Expanded
13

Record Pennsylvania, U.S., Society of Mayflower Descendants Applications

Life Timeline

1650

Birth of William Adams in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA

Birth

1674

William Adams was married in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA

Marriage

1680

William Adams was married in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA

Marriage

1685

Death of William Adams in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA

Death

Oldest Ancestor Line from William Adams

This ancestor line traces from Penhros, Upper Gwent, Wales (1000) to Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA (1650) across 19 generations.

Direct Lineage

generations

Frequently Asked Questions

: William Adams (1650–1685) was born in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts, USA and died in Dedham, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA. 9 researchers on YourRoots have this ancestor in their family trees, each with their own records. This page combines what they've independently documented and assigns a Reliability Score (B) based on cross-tree validation.
: Right now, 9 researchers on YourRoots have William in their trees. They're working independently, so connecting with them is a good way to cross-check your records and find things you might have missed. You can also explore the ancestor migration map that traces 19 generations of this lineage geographically.
: It varies by researcher — some have census records, others have marriage certificates, parish registers, or family Bible entries. Scroll up to see exactly what each person has cited.
: Use the "Compare Tree" button on any researcher's profile above. You can compare your tree side by side with theirs, see where your records overlap or differ, and collaborate to fill gaps.