He was the son of Joseph Adams (d. 1832), and was born on the family farm about six miles below Catskill, then in Albany County, now in Greene County. He married Clarissa Dudley (1791–1857), and they had four children.
He was at times Postmaster of Durham; Supervisor of the Town of Durham, a Justice of the Peace, and a colonel of the State Militia.
He was a member of the New York State Assembly (Greene Co.) in 1820–21, Sheriff of Greene County from 1829 to 1831, and again a member of the State Assembly in 1839.
He was a member of the New York State Senate (10th D.) in 1848 and 1849.
On May 16, 1859, he married Jennie Eliza Montgomery (d. 1899).
Congressman John Adams (1778–1854) was his brother.