Joseph McAdams was born on August 5, 1757, in York County, Pennsylvania; in a few years his parents moved to Hawfield on Black Creek, Orange County, North Carolina where he lived until the year 1786.

During the last of April of the first of May of 1779 he volunteered for service in the War of the Revolution as a private in the company commanded by John Carrington in the Regiment of Colonel Armstrong in the Brigade of General Butler and marched from Hillsborough, Orange County for the state of Georgia and joined General Lincoln at Stone with his troops. He was in battle at this place in June and served through a three month campaign. He was discharged by General Butler and returned home after four months of service. There in 1780 he married Jemima Murray.

Joseph volunteered the second time in the spring of 1780 and was commanded by Captain Nathaniel Christman in the Regiment commanded by Colonel William O'Neale. Joseph was a pilot for Colonel Lee at Holt's Race Paths where many Tories were either killed or taken. He was also in the battle of Hillsborough and was present at the killing of Major Moore the Tory. Joseph was also involved in several other skirmishes. He was proud to declare that "he killed many of them," i.e. Tories. He remained in the service until the war was closed in the North Carolina (some months after the surrender of Lord Cornwallis). Early in 1782 he completed a second period of service of one year and nine months.

Joseph received the highest annual veteran pension paid in Madison County, Illinois, which was $67.50.