Born at Petersfield, Hampshire.
1841 Census
Cowleys Lane, Petersfield.
Thomas & Sophia Adams, both 45.
Six children shown: William 15, James 13, Sophia 10, Henry 8, Ellen 4, Thomas 2.
Enlisted at London on the 13th of January 1845.
Age: 19.
Height: 5' 9".
Trade: Harness-maker.
Appearance: Fresh complexion. Grey eyes. Brown hair.
Next of kin (in 1854): Wife, Elizabeth Adams, to whom he sent money from the Crimea.
Appointed Saddler (with the rank of Corporal): 1st of April 1864.
Reverted to Private: 13th of December 1867.
Discharged from Canterbury on the 28th of January 1869 as "Free to pension, after 24 years service".
In Turkey and the Crimea: 2 years and 1 month.
In India: 2 years 4 months.
Aged 43 years on discharge.
Conduct: "very good".
In possession of five Good Conduct badges.
Documents confirm the award of the Crimean and Long Service medals.
Awarded a pension of 1/1d. per day.
Entitled to the Crimean medal with clasps for Alma, Inkerman and Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
The Balaclava period muster roll states, "Sick, absent".
Awarded the Long Service & Good Conduct medal on the 2nd of March 1866, with a gratuity of £5.
Intended to live in Romsey, Hampshire, and he was still living in the Southampton Pension District in 1870.
1871 Census
Gosport Street Lymington, Hampshire.
"Chelsea Out-Pensioner", aged 45, with his wife Eliza.[RM]
1881 Census
12, Rochester Terrace, Southampton St. Mary's, Hampshire.
Hosemaker (Indian Rubber), aged 54 years, born at Petersfield, Hampshire, with his wife, Eliza, aged 52 years, born Southampton.[RM]
1891 Census
12, Rochester Street, St Mary's Southampton.
He was aged 63, still working as a "Fire Hose Maker", and still with his wife Eliza.[RM]
1901 Census
28, Rochester Street, Southampton.
By 1901 he was a Lodger and a widower, living near his old home in the household of Edward Flarty. His occupation was Saddler.[RM]
Death registration
The death of William Adams, aged 84, is recorded in the December Quarter of 1910, in the Southampton registration district.
[PB: no information about his burial, but presumably Southampton.]
Census information for 1841 kindly provided by Chris Poole.