EDWARDS

The Edwards family has been extensively researched and certain of the famous family have solid multiple references to them written into many resources.  As a result is it fun to seek out some of the family stories and I have found a couple worth retelling.  In fact, their's is the first family with which I will begin the story telling, only because I have recently been to the location of the story and made pictures and done research.
 This line: Virginia Maude Roland Fuller McCorkle>Hobart Roland m. Norah Anglin>William Bailus Roland m. Nancy Ellender Silver>Jasper G. Roland m. Sarah Caroline Gardner Roland>George (son of Henry Halley Roland) Rowland m. Sarah (Sally) Edwards
the remainder of the line is Sarah's ancestry:
Sally Edwards>James Edwards m. Elizabeth Wilson>John Jackson Edwards, Sr. m. Mary Ruth Crabtree>William Edwards m. Sarah Seldon Hilliard>Thomas Edwards m. Isabella Downing (born about 1700).

February 2012: Feature John Jackson Edwards, Sr. and his sister Mrs. Edwards/Taylor
Captain John Edwards married Mary Ruth Crabtree  and they became our ancestors ~
Thier divorce in 1792 however became well known as the first in the county.  Although married for 22 years, John was able to use his influence to keep all properties and leave poor Ruth with "a featherbed and a Roan Mare."  John moved to Jonesboro TN to live with his siter and her husband, former Mayor Christopher Taylor, in what was to become their famous 2 story log house.  Ruth continued to live in what would become Yancey Co. NC in the Jack's Creek area, near the Rowland/Roland families.


Sarah Edwards is the Mother of Jasper G. Roland;
on the other end, William's parents are Thomas Edwards and Isabela Downing.
I haven't linked Elizabeth Wilson to her proper family just yet.

NOTES:

Edwards Rowland with notes including George Rowland:

Ludinda B Roland m John Edwards

 

John Jackson EDWARDS Sr.  John was born in 1750 in Baltimore County, MD.  He died 16 Oct 1833 in Washington County, TN.  John  married  Ruth CRABTREE in 1770 in Bedford County, VA.  (4)

 John's parents were William EDWARDS and Sarah SELDON   (1,4)

Ruth CRABTREE  Born in 1752 and died 16 Nov 1845 in Yancey County, NC.  (4)

Ruth's parents were  William CRABTREE III and  Hannah WHITAKER.   (1,4)

In 1792,  John and Ruth Edwards were divorced. John Edwards received all the lands jointly held [which were considerable] and Ruth Edwards received "a roane mare and a bed.". (4)

Children:

1. William EDWARDS  William was born about 1771 in Bedford County, VA  He died Feb 1850 in Yancey County, NC.   (1)
2. Sally EDWARDS  Born 1773 in Bedford County, VA   (1)
3. Meredith EDWARDS  Born 1775 in Bedford County, VA   (1)  February 1, 1821, Meredith M. Edwards married Mary B. Canthorn in Westmoreland County, VA.
4. James EDWARDS   James was born in 1778 in Bedford County, VA.  and died in 1825 in Yancey County, NC.  He married  Sophie DEYTON (or DEATON) in 1799 and later he married  Elizabeth WILSON.     (1)
5. John Jackson EDWARDS Jr.   Born in 1780 in Bedford County, VA. Died about 1850 in Yancey County, NC.  Married  Susan CANTRELL on  6 Apr 1795 in Bedford County, VA.   (1)
6. Stephen EDWARDS   Stephen was born in 1785 in Bedford County, VA   He died 22 Oct 1865 in Yancey County, NC.  Stephen married  Lucinda B. ROLAND in 1808.     (1)
7. Anna EDWARDS   Anna was born in1790 in Buncombe County, NC   (1)
8. Edmond EDWARDS Sr. Edmond was born about 1793 in Washington City, TN.  He died in 1861 in Yancey County, NC.  Edmond married  Elizabeth BRADFORD.     (1)

Sources:

1.    Clint Edwards

2.    Marguerite Diffendaffer of Boise, Idaho. (Referenced by Clint Edwards)

3.    USGenWeb Archives, Westmoreland County, Virginia - Early Marriages, Submitter not listed.

4.    Heritage of Toe River Valley.

Links:   

1.    Clint Edwards Web Site

2.    USGenWeb, VAGenWeb, Bedford County, VA, Tax Lists for 1790 and 1800

3.    Virginia Tax Lists 1790 and 1800

4.     Old Buncombe County Genealogy Society 

Research Notes:   

A Jonathan Edwards and a James Edwards were members of the Virginia Militia that fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774.  Battle of Point Pleasant    The document entitled Lord Dunmore's War lists the participants.  

John Jackson  EDWARDS Sr., a Revolutionary War veteran,  is frequently referred to as  "Capt John Edwards".    (1)  John EDWARDS Application for a Revolutionary War Pension

John EDWARDS and Daniel EDWARDS names appear on 1789 Personal Property Tax List for  Bedford County, VA.

John EDWARDS name appears on a Petition for the Formation of Buncombe County, dated 25 Sep 1790.  See Old Buncombe County Genealogy Society 

A 1790 Census for Buncombe County, NC, Kenneth D. Israel. Ph.D

Even though Buncombe County was not created until 1791, one is able to determine that there were people in the area who were enumerated in the 1790 Census.  Most families who were listed in the following four census companies, two of which were in Rutherford County and two which were in Burke County.  Most of these people certainly were among the first families of Buncombe County.
   Two companies, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth, which were enumerated in what was then Rutherford County, NC, became a part of Buncombe County when it was created in 1791.  The thirteenth Company of Rutherford County generally included the present day eastern half of Henderson County.  It included Cane Creek, Sweeten Creek, Hooper's Creek, Mud Creek, Clear Creek, Wolfpen Creek, Green River, Hickorynut Creek and the residents who lived south of the Swanannoa River.
The residents in the Eleventh and Twelfth Companies of Burke County lived in what is present day Yancey (western part), Madison, and northern Buncombe Counties (north of the Swannanoa River.)  This would have included Jack's Creek, Reem's Creek, Beaverdam, Cane(y) River, Turkey Creek and Newfound Creek, to name a few.  The following names are of interest:  Wm. Edward, Julius Robeson, Jn^o Edwards, Thos. Ray

Court of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions,  Buncombe County, NC, 

        16 Apr 1792. 

Ordered that Philip Hodenpile Esqr. bring to July term three orphan children which are in his possession and care, and that William Hinton, Richd Pruitt, Wm Edwards, Jno Edwards and Edmund Palmer be summoned to attend said court to give evidence in behalf said orphans - and for defendant summons Thomas Hopper.

Ordered that Each taxable person in the county of Buncombe pay a county tax for the year 1792 of one shiling & six pence on each poll and six pence on each 100 acres of land.

Ordered that John Edwards, Robert Tredway, Will. Devor, Alexander St. Clair, & John Patton Jr. be appointed constables in said County for the ensuing year.

July 1792

Ordered by court that James Sams, Joseph Bounds, Honsy Dowlls, William Sams, William Tredway, Robert Tredway, Christopher choate, Jno. Hinton, Geo. Baker,
Tho. Rhea, John Baker, James Hensely, Henry Hensely and John Edwards be and they are hereby appointed a jury to view mark and lay off a road the nearest and best way according to law from Austin Choates on Ivy River to Hinton's mill on Caney River who are to meet at Mr. Hoodenpile's on the third monday in August said Hoodenpile is to qualify said Jury who are to report to Octor. Term 1792

A bill of divource from Ruth Edwards, to her husband John Edwards was proved in open court by Philip Hoodenpile Esqr. a subscribing witness thereto - ordered to be registered.

July 1794

Ordered by court that the following persons serve as jurors at october sessions to wit. John Davidson, Capt., William Alexander, Matthew Patton, Nathaniel Thompson, John Wood, Ben Bird, William Gudger, James Dever, John Wood (Mills River), Hezekiah Applegate, Harman Reid, Moses Crawford, John Sweeten, Ben Davidson, Charles Rowland, Benjamin Bryan, John Edwards, Edmund Sams, Jos. Henry, John Bradly Senr., Joseph Ashworth, Edwd. Williams, James Robinson, Wm. Erwin, John Claypoole, George Penland, Wm.Murphy, David McCarson, William Dever, James Cravens, Samuel Davidson, Benjamin Hawkins, David Hinton, James Sams and John Hightower.

October 1794

Grand Jury: Foreman Matthew Patton, John Davidson, William Alexander, John Wood, William Gudger, John Sweeten, Ben Bryan, John Edwards, Edmund Sams, William Murphy, Ben Hawkins, William Dever, senr., Samuel Davidson, David Hinton, George Penland

April 1795

A deed from John Edwards to Nathan Smith for 100 acres of land, was acknowledged in open court and ordered to be registered. 

October 1795

Ordered by court that the following persons serve as juror at October sessions 1795 To wit 

Ben Odell, Rchd. Williamson, Ebenezer Faine, William Durham, Benjamin Davidson, George Cunningham, Benjamin Gudger, Thomas Alexander, Henry Hately, Hamilton Kyle, Samuel Denton, John Butler, David McCarson, John Osborn, John Hawkins, Moses Ashbrook, Ben. Greggory, William Bailey, John Chambers, David Greer, George Penland, James Gillespie, Joseph Hughes, John Edwards, James Poteet, John Likens, Merry Webb, William Findly, William Rice, John Webb Senr., William Whitson, John Patton, Daniel Smith, Jonathan McPeters, John Davidson, James Wilson, William Morrow, John Ashworth, Henry Warson, & John Gillihan. 

1800 Buncombe County Census    See Old Buncombe County Genealogy Society  The following Edwards names appear on the census:

·         William

·         Meredith

·         James

·         Ruth

·         John

·         John Jr.

Edmond Edwards Sr.  served in the War of 1812 in the North Carolina Militia, 7th Cavalry, Bradford Regiment (Latham's) in Capt J. W. Godley's Company..  It is said that he was in a fight and had one ear bitten off.   (1)