James Adam or Adams (1778-1848)

[Sildeag]

Yes, they may have been informal marriages.

I'll just have to sift through all these Adams and see if that points to any particular ones.  Perhaps using the brother John you mentioned.  I did find Walter Adam and Jean Gray had two James sons that fit but one James was born much earlier than the other.  Indications were that one son was a labourer.  They also had a son John.

[Forfarian]

Yes, they may have been informal marriages.

More likely not marriages at all.

I did find William Adam had two James sons that fit but one James was born much earlier than the other. 

The likelihood is that the first one died.

The best evidence against William being the father of your James is that your James doesn't appear to have named a son William.

[Sildeag]

I mis-remembered and it was Walter Adam not William Adam.  They had many sons including James, John, William, Alexander, and George (no Walter).  But location Fordyce.

Re: Mary Adam (nee Stevenson) the informant on her death cert was Peter Scott.