I believe that William James Adams (1831 - 1914) father was also William Adams. There is a connection to the Ross family because William James Adams, father of my great-grandmother Hulda Adams had as his second wife, a Ross. I recall finding information that the Ross family helped raise the Adams children from a few generations back when they were orphaned; they had an Adams (Daniel?) father and Ross (Lovey?) mother. Check the orphans courts records for Daniel, Anthony, Margaret and one other Adams child (William?) in Talbot, Caroline or Dorchester County (Maryland) or for any such information from near New Castle, Delaware. Sorry I don't have more specific info. I have attached a photo of William James Adams headstone I took in June 2010; taken at Easton's (MD) Spring Hill Cemetery. A number of William James Adams & Mary Willis' children are buried there as well.