Jesse Adams Sr was born during the early 1730's probably in Martins Brandon Parish of Prince George County, Virginia where his grandfather Thomas Adams, had died during 1722. His father was Thomas & Elizabeth's son David Adams who inherited cash rather than land. The name of Jesse's mother isn't known as David likely remarried before migrating during 1745 to Three Creeks near his brother Henry who had bought land there soon after Thomas died. Unfortunately David's stay there was brief. David died 5/20/1748 while Jesse was a teenager leaving Jesse and his siblings/ half siblings as orphans. There was significant bickering among offspring and a gambling "legal age" cousin over administration of the estate with suits and counter suits over the next several years before the cousin was removed for cause. Throughout the turmoil Jesse seems to have pretty much remained on the sidelines -- most likely because he had married Martha Johnson, daughter of John Johnson who owned substantual property near by. He voluntarily registered as a titheable and witnessed a land deal or two while in Southampton County. Jesse and his father in law were to remain neighbors later in Johnston County, NC where they both died.
But backing up, Jesse & Martha had at least three sons who would enter Revolutionary War service together
Jesse Jr born in 1753
Bryant/Briant born in 1756
& Byrd/Bird born prior to 1760
There were likely also undocumented siblings.
While Jesse & Bryant were "infants" the family moved to Bute (later Franklin) County, NC, settling on the "Great Prachtree". At some point prior to the Revolution Jesse Sr, Bryant & Byrd moved on to Johnston County while Jesse Jr (my line) remained on their Bute County property from which he was visiting his parents when the brothers entered service.
Jesse Adams' Johnston County property was on or near Hannah's Creek and a neighbor described a path between his house and that of his neighbor Josiah Johnson. He was still alive during the Revolution when his sons entered service but was mentioned in the past tense on a 1787 land record. On the 1790 census Bryant was the only adult male Johnston County Adams accounted for. Jesse Sr is believed to have been buried on their property or in a nearby family grave yard -- most likely in the same graveyard as his son with no presently legible gravestone. .