Background
Adams was born into the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, or Adamstown Band of Mattaponi, and grew up in the Adamstown community in great poverty.
Adams was born into the Upper Mattaponi Tribe, or Adamstown Band of Mattaponi, and grew up in the Adamstown community in great poverty.
Her efforts to advocate for the tribe and support tribal culture led to her selection in the Virginia Women in History program She joined him as a tribal leader. He was involved in the purchase and construction of the Sharon Indian School in 1919 and the Indian View Baptist Church in 1942.
The couple had twelve children.
To counter this, Adams was required to provide a statement signed by eight white men certifying her Indian ancestry. The document still exists.
In her role as tribal elder, Adams played a pivotal role in preservation of feather weaving, which had almost been lost and which she passed on to others She assisted anthropologists with a variety of studies, including discussing herbal remedies with them.
Her activism provided a strong base of support for tribal life.
Her husband died in 1971. Adams was honored as one of the Virginia Women in History for 2010.
