Adams was born at a time when all the original mutineers apart from his own father had been killed or, in the case of Ned Young, died of natural causes.

In 1808 the Pitcairn colony was discovered and the elder Adams was granted amnesty for his part in the mutiny.

Both of Adams's parents died in March 1829, when George was 24 years old.

Adams served as Chief Magistrate on Pitcairn in 1848.

Adams opposed the decision to move to Norfolk Island in the 1850s, as his granddaughter was ill. Adams did eventually move, and died on Norfolk Island in 1873.