From “DuVals of Kentucky From Virginia 1794-1935”,
by Margaret Gwin Buchanan, pg 43:
The bride (whom James GWIN) courted one day, married the next and started with to Tennessee, was Mary ADAIR McADAMS, a Scotch lassie, born in N.Carolina...Her mother was from Ireland and her father was from Scotland.
Mary (ADAIR McADAMS) GWIN had five brothers who fought in the Revolutionary War.
Rev. James and Mary Adair McADAMS GWIN had son,
(Colonel) Samuel GWIN, b.1792 Sumner Co. Tennessee; d. 1835-1838;
who m.1stly c.1800 to Nancy ?; who had dau, Mary T. GWIN, born 1823.

Rev. James GWIN mc 1775? to Mary ADAIR McADAMS and had first child by name of Samuel GWIN who mc 1800 Nancy . Rev. James GWIN may have lived in Old Pendleton District before moving to Sumner Co. Tennesee ?

In central North Carolina a James McADAMS was issued a land grant in Granville Co. which was later Orange Co. in 1755. The people that settled this part of North Carolina had moved here from the James River in Virginia.

In the tithes list complied by Landon C. Bell dated 1752 in Lunenburg County, Virginia, in the James River, Virginia area, William HILL and John McADAMS appear in the same household of 10 members.

Both men appear in the same year on the list taken by Field Jefferson and includes Nicholas Hill taxed to Benjamin BAIRD in Surry County, Va. In 1765 this part of Lunenburg County became Mecklenburg County, Va. These records support speculation that both James and Hugh McADAMS came to North Carolina from the area of Lunenburg Co. VA. Hugh McADAMS m. 11 Sep 1762 Catherine SCOTT there where her father, John SCOTT is also found on the tithes list.

Their HILL - McADAMS associations have been noted earlier in several locations.
i.e. In Northumberland Co., Virginia, from the will of Rev. Henry Cristall dated 1743. His wife was Christal HILL and gifts were left to Matthew Zull, John Foushee, Elizabeth GWIN, Joseph McADAMS, and George Dawkins.
In 1745, John Lewis will names Joseph McADAM, Enoch HILL, and John Foushee.
In 1785 in Camden, South Carolina Joseph McADAMS and Dr. Isaac ALEXANDER residents were witness of the will of Robert HILL of Mecklenburg Co. NC.
Robert HILL was from Co. DERRY, Northern Ireland where he still had brothers and sisters.

The first McADAMS found in North Carolina was James and Sarah ( nee WHITE) McADAMS in Pasquotank County. In 1741 James McADAMS was given power of attorney over Mary SPEIGHT. He died the following year and left his will which said he was Quaker family. They had at least one son, Joseph and perhaps Thomas.