Signifcant Names, The Edwards Side

Brief History

It's been told to me by my grandfather, Nelson Edwards, that twobrothers named Edwards came to America from England. From these two brothers the entire Edwards clan evolved. I have also heard this from other sources named Edwards.

The name Edwards is somewhat unique among patronymic surnames. Most such namesare commonly found with a "son" ending. The name Edwardson, however, is almost non-existent and has been replaced almost entirely by the form "Edwards"meaning "son of Edward."In some instances the clerks used this form to identify Edward's widow or his servant. The nameEdwards ranked 48th in the US according to 1956 government figures

The first known official listing of the name appears to have been made in Suffolk, Englandin 1219 with a record of a William Edward. A century and a half later, Yorkshire records list atailor by the name Willelmus Edward as a resident of that county.

Edwards is derived from a Teutonic personal name meaning "rich guardian". Most ofit's popularity was due, no doubt, to the line of English kings who bore this personal name.Chief among them was Edward the Confessor, one of Englands greatest rulers.

Some Edwards may trace their ancestery back to a Welsh parentage but their surnamelikely only became hereditary after they had left Wales and settled in English territory wheretheir name ceased to change with each succeeding generation.

In the New World, one of the first settlers was William Edwards from Oxford, Englandwho settled in Hartford, Connecticut in 1639, less than twenty years after the Pilgrims arrivedin New Enngland aboard the Mayflower. John Edwards of Kentucky served as one of thatstate's first two United States senators.

In more recent times, Alfred George Edwards was the first Archbishop of Wales (1920-1934).

The coat of arms of Heraldic reference is a lion, black and silver on a shield reversed inhalf, top black and bottom silver. This is one of many coats of arms listed for the name Edwards.

Click here to see Edwards Coat of Arms

The Direct Line

My research has rendered the following family line.Faquier County (page 253/reel 55) The 1850 Census

It begins with my 4th great-grandfather

Children in order of visitation

  • Granvill 22 years old (I believe Willam Granville)
  • John 18 (John T. or John Alonzo)
  • Joseph Hamilton 14
  • Eliza Jane. 12
  • Inman Rixey 10
  • Sarah Frances. 8
  • Henry Franklin. 6 (my great grandfather)
  • Martha Elizabeth. 5
  • James Harvey. 3

    Also living with the family in 1850 was a young negro girl who worked as a house servant.

  • Hannah Bird - black, 16 years old

    Quick Tie To The Author

    Henry F. Edwards marries the daughter of William M. and Emily Brooks. She is Ricey Brookswho becomes Ricey Edwards (my great grandmother) Their son is Nelson Franklin Edwards(my grandfather). Nelson Marries the daughter of Alexander and Josephine Young, FannieLillian Young, (my grandmother). Their youngest son, John Franklin Alexander Edwardsmarries Edith Viola Whittaker, (my mother and father)

    Location and Data

    Listing for the Benjamin Edwards, Jr family is from Faquier County records page 253 / Reel 55"The 1850 US Census"

    Henry F. Edwards and Ricey E. Brooks, married Dec.30, 1869, He 28 She 22Occupation is Farmer, married by A. H. Bennett. Both reside in Faquier County. Faquier Co. Marriage Reg. Vol 7 1854-1906 Reel 68

    Nelson Edwards and Fannie Young married Oct 2, 1904 He 21 She 17, married by Decatur Edwards, Both reside in Stafford County His occupation is "laborer." Stafford County MarriageRegister 1854 -1927 Line 40 page 55 of Register, Tape 56.


    Nelson and Lillian's Siblings

    Grandaddy Edwards had two sisters,

  • Ella Edwards, She married a man named William Hinton, children Alice Hinton, Mary Hinton Knuckles Curtis
  • Ida EdwardsMarried a Mathers, no children

    Grandmother Edwards had three brothers and two sisters

  • Henry Young lived in Beckley West Virginia had two children Evelyn and Barbara wife's name is unknown to the author
  • George Young never married
  • Eddie Young married Vinney Powell had seven children, Rosie, Raymond, Francis,Virginia, Marie, Gaynelle, and Harold (Manny)

  • Mary Young married Melzi W. Franklin they had five children, Virginia, Louise(Jenkins), Maybelle, Melzi Jr., and Ralph.
  • Effie Young married Crusie Jones, they had nine children, Viola, Goldie, Stella, Cassey,Margaret, Woodroe (Cy), William (Billy), James (Jimmy, Nig), and Elmer.

    RELATIVE NAMES

    Beagle, Frostie - married Stella Jones

    Beard - married Margaret Jones

    Bell, Claude - married Viola Young

    Bell Jennifer - my daughter, name changed to Edwards married David Russell

    Braur, Kitty - married Woodroe (Cy) Jones, they had two children, Janet and Stuart

    Bradley, Ennis - married Virginia Young, had two Children, Reggie and Betty Ann

    Bradley, Reginald, son of Enis Bradley

    Bradley, Betty Anne - daughter of Ennis Bradley

    Bradley, Jean - oldest daughter of Enis and Virginia Bradley

    Carter, Edward - married Margaret Jones, had one child, Page Carter

    Chilton - married Marie Young

    Cockrill, Russell - father of Ryan Grant Edwards(my grandson)

    Coulver, Garland - married Margaret Jones, had one child, a boy

    Edwards, James Harvey - great granduncle CSA Vet

    Edwards Joseph Hamilton - great granduncle CSA VEt

    Edwards, Henry Franklin - great grandfather CSA Vet

    Edwards, John T. - great granduncle

    Edwards, William - great granduncle

    Embrey, James Floyd, married Josephine Edwards, they had one child James Floyd (Cotton)

    Embrey, James Floyd (Cotton), son of Josephine Edwards,

    Embrey, Margie, Cotton's wife (her maiden name was Rose)

    Embrey, Betty Jean, daughter of Cotton and Margie

    Embrey, Carol Faye, daughter of Cotton and Margie

    Franklin, Melzi - married Mary Young (my great aunt and uncle)

    Goudy, Hank - married Josephine Edwards Embrey, they had one son Mark Goudy

    Griffis, Warren - married Gaynelle Young, had two children, Barbara and Raymond

    Jenkins, Douglas married Louise Franklin, they had one son, Stephen

    Jenkins, Stephen - son of Douglas and Louise Franklin

    Jones, Crusie - great grand uncle, Ciil War Vet

    Jones, Jimmy - youngest son of Crusie

    Jones, Viola - oldest daughter of Crusie

    Jones, Margaret - youngest daughter of Crusie

    Jones, Woodroe Wilson - son of Crusie Jones

    Jones, Elmer - son of Crusie

    Jones, Goldie - daughter of Crusie

    Jones, Cassie - daughter of Crusie

    Jones, Wilson Stuart - son of W. W. Jones (Cy)

    Jones, Janet - daughter of W. W. Jones (Cy)

    Jones, Bennett -married to Francis Young (Payne), Ray's brother

    Jones, Francis (Young) married to Bennett Jones

    Jones, Ray D. ( From Nebraska), married to Mary Edwards(my aunt and uncle)

    Kesel, Russell - married Cassie Jones, had one child, Russell, who is a cop in New Jersey

    Kesel, Russell Jr. - retired police Chief, N.J.

    Kesel, Russell, III

    Kesel, Gloria - wife of Russell Jr.

    Murray, Otis - married Josephine Edwards Embrey

    Payne, Earnest, - married Francis Young, had one child, Edward

    Payne, Edward - Son of Francis

    Powell, Vinney - married Eddie Young (my great aunt)

    Pugh, Thelma - married Harold (Manny) Young, they had three children

    Rome, Jimmy - married Stella Jones, had one child

    Robinson, Josephine - married Alexander Young (my great grandfather and great grandmother)

    Russell, David -(from England), married Jenny Edwards

    YOUNG

    Young, Alexander Young my g-grandfather son of Alexander Young

    Young, Cletus (Butch) son of Marie Young

    Young, Gaynell daughter of Eddie Young

    Young, Marie (Lillie) daughter of Eddie Young

    Young, Francis, daughter of Eddie Young

    Young, Shirley, daughter of Francis Young, married Richard Garrison, had three children

    Young, Mary, daughter of Raymond

    Young, Rose daughter of Eddie Young

    Young, Steven Douglas- great uncle, brother of Alex Young

    Young, William - unproven ggg grandfather listed on 1790 Census along with Gen. George Washington