Robert Adams October 28, 2010

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I have been reading about the East India Company and I have so far found no reference to Robert Adams.  I found  a reference to a William Adams.  Mr. Adams was an Englishman who had been acting as a pilot for the Dutch fleet, and settled in Japan around 1600.  He became a marine architect to the Shogun, taken a Japanese wife while still having a wife and family in England.  He wrote that Japan was an Indies of money and there is here much silver and gold which would serve their turnes in other places and that Japan would be a good market for broadcloth.  According to the book, The East India Company Trade and Conquest from 1600 by Anthony Wild, there is a remarkable account that survives of John Saris of England and William Adams' trip through Japan and their attempt to set up a East India factory.  After much conflict, the English factory started to thrive after 1620, but with the death of Adams and the Dutch alliance falling apart, the East India Company pulled out in 1623.
I am only putting this out here for speculation.
First:       The name of Adams.  I don't know how much of a common name Adams was in England at that time, but to have two Adams men as Captains.  I didn't see anyone else that had the same last name except if they were brothers or children.
Second:   William Adams is a pilot for a Dutch fleet in 1600.  Robert Adams is a Captain with the Virginia Company.  Could they be brothers or could Robert be his son.
Third:       Williams Adams left a wife and family in England.
Fourth:      Robert Adams joins the East India Company in 1616.  Could there be a correlation between William Adams helping the East India Company and Robert joining the Company.
Fifth:   Also there is another coincidence.  Robert Adams emigrates to Jamestown in 1622.

Also about Robert Adams, The Captain of the Blessing and other ships.
He knew Ralph Hamor the Captain and Ralph Hamor's son emigrated to Jamestown
Robert Adams was from Limehouse and so was Christopher Newport.  Christopher Newport was the Captain of the Sarah Constant in 1607.
He was well acquainted with many of the founders of Jamestown.
Most English families named their first son after their fathers and then the second son after themselves.  So Robert Adams would be the second son of Robert Adams the Captain.
The laws of progeniture required that the first son received the inheritance and the other sons had to make their way in the world.  So it would make sense for Robert Adams the son to emigrate to Jamestown.
The Business of Empire: The East India Company and Imperial Britain, 1756-1833