Adams - Scots of Ulster

The subject of the Ulster Plantation came up on another string, so I thought I would place it here for reference for those who need information on the origins of their Adams ancestors from Northern Ireland.

My Adams line Samuel Adams (of Botetourt Co., VA - date and place of birth unknown), and his father-in-law, William I. Adams (b. circa1717-23 in Antrim County, Ireland - also of Botetourt Co., VA) came from Ulster.Here is the story of Ulster:

The Ulster Plantation is modern day "Northern Ireland," which is part of the United Kingdom and the subject of much news over attempts to bring peace to this violence torn region.The Ulster Plantation was formed in the early 1600's by King James I of England (who was also James VI of Scotland).England since the time of the Normans had been unable to subdue the Irish - yet refused to withdraw from the island - for fear of giving its strong enemies - such as Spain and France - a friendly foothold, so close to its borders.

Elizabeth's soldiers - just prior to her death - subdued, in a very bloody fashion, a Irish rebellion in the north.James declared the rebel chiefs property as forfeited to the crown, and offered to Scottish Presbyterians the opportunity to settle in the Ulster provinces.This solved multiple problems ( in the short term) for James.The Scottish lowlands were horribly impoverished and overpopulated.Scottish noblemen wanted more grazing lands for sheep herding.The Irish were Catholic, and James wanted protestants to secure his borders.

Hundreds of thousands of Scots settled in Ulster.Conditions were harsh, filled with war and famine.Between 1700 and 1800, hundreds of thousands of these Scots came to America.They were called "Scotch-Irish" to distinguish them from the native, Catholic Irish.They were not Irish, but did come from Ireland.