Born about 1616 in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England

Ancestors

Son of Robert Edwards and Mary Tilney

Husband of Dorothy (Bolton) Edwards — married 22 Feb 1640 in Saint Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney, Middlesex, England

Descendants

Died about 1673 at about age 57 in Surry County, Colony of Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Sandy Edwards [send private message] and Sean Edwards [send private message]

TO DELETE (Update Edwards-7481) PENDING BIO REWRITE debunks a lot of traditional information and Edwards Heirs Info. William Edwards, Burgess of Surry was married to Dorothy Bolton vs Christenson Research (m Dorothy Withers) . Research provided by Sean Edwards (has the marriage bond source) - JAMESTOWN Society Member; has Family proven w/3 pgs sources to 1482 through Wills, Visitations, Parish Registries, etc.; Family originates from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England vs Wales

PENDING BIO REWRITE Edwards-3764

(SEE UNCOMITTED DRAFT Changes Additional Links to be updated https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:Edwards_Name_Study Space:Edwards Name Study >  INDEX OF NAMES ALREADY ON WIKI https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Category:One_Name_Studies

• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Edwards_Family_Cleanup_Project Edwards Family Cleanup Project
  • https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Edwards_Research SLY Watchlist**

Biography

William Edwards is a Qualifying Ancestor of the Jamestowne Society

William Edwards was a Virginia colonist.

William Edwards was born in Cambridgeshire, England.

Profile Represents William Edwards (1615-1673) son of Robert Edwards (1580) and Mary Tilney (1590) of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England^[1]

• AKA - Edwards Family of Surry; aka 1st Burgess of Surry VA in 1652]

The ancestors of the Edwards Family of Surry/Southampton County, VA and Johnston County, NC has been identified with sources (confirmed with DNA) as originating from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, England (Pending Further Ancestor Research)

• Arrival in America 1648 vs 1635^[2][3]

Discrepancy

Dates: Birth, Marriage Death

Naming: s/b Edwards vs Edwardes, etc.

Locations : Tobacco Merchant / Virginia Company

Disproven Parents - (a) Disproven] son of Joshua/Babbs or (b) Disproven]Wm of Hagley d. 1635; Kathrin wid of Hagley d. 1643 Hopton Registers)

Contemporary

• Early [[Edwards-860|William Edwards (1586 - 1622) Died jamestown Massacre 1624 may be mate from Unity ?
• Contemporary William Edwards (1605) arrival 1635;
• William Edwards (1615-1673) arrival 1648 (m Dorothy Bolton); aka 1st Burgess of Surry County Virginia in 1652 son of Robert Edwards and Mary Tilney^[4]
• See Additional Research Notes

Birth

^[4]

William Edwards - aka 1st Burgess of Surry County Virginia in 1652 son of Robert Edwards and Mary Tilney

Estimated Birth 1615 -1616 England vs Wales

Baptized -- Feb 19 1616 St Peter, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire Kingdom of England (vs Disproven Glamorgan Wales or vs Virginia)

• 1658 Deposition in Surry age 43 in 1658 (establishes birth at 1615)
• Baptism William Edwards 19 Feb 1616/7 St Peter, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire (Parents Robert and Mary Tilney)
• Transcript Source title: FreeREG - St Peter, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire Repository: unknown Detail Source information Citation detail: Citation text Web address https://www.freereg.org.uk/search_records/5817cc78e93790ec8b29e070

Marriage

^[4]

Marriage Estimate 1631-1640 - Unknown Multiple Marriages

Marriage Date 22 Feb 1640" (@ 24yrs +) Saint Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney, Middlesex, England; William Edwards m

Dorothy Bolton (1608)' vs Dorothy Withers ^[5]

daughter of Edward Bolton and Unknown (Dorothy's Baptism 25 Jun 1608 Saint James, Clerkenwell, London, England

Estimated Death 1673, most likely Surry County, Colony of Virginia

Death

^[4]

Estimated Death 1673 Surry County Virginia (vs 1697 Surry County Virginia) *(Will/Probate Not Located - Other Court Records identify his son William as Exec. - general court records indicate death about 1673 (Southampton / Surry Records)

• William and Mary Quarterly Says Wm (who m. Dorothy) was the one who died in 1624; but William and Dorothy did not arrive until 1648 , so likely untrue and Disproven w/sources -- ^[6]

Others say he was the son of the William who died in 1624 at Jamestown Massacre. [Further Research Pending; proven as a separate William] likely relative; or possibly an uncle ; or possibly as the Unity "mate".

Both involve the "Sandy's Plantation" and it is known that William Edwards (Burgess) was a relative of George Sandys as well as involved with the Virginia Company

• [Sean - Double check this Sandys Link ?? Verbage Correct?? -- or Better Explanation?? (1657 Land Patents) -- a direct descendant of Edmond Edwards and Alice Ayre, through William Edwards and Alice Maye of Leverington, Cambrideshire, England-1555)"

Children

^[4]

Estimated Children Births - 1640-1653 most likely all born In Virginia^[7]

3 Identified Children-- William, John and Thomas (May Be Others) ^[8]

• Son William m Ann Mansfield (dau of George Mansfield Will 1670 ^{[9] [10]} Resided James City / Surry; also a Burgess.; 1722 Surry Will - William (son of Wm & Ann Mansfield m. Eliz Harrison & Martha Lowe) - son Benjamin (executor)
• Son John m. Unknown; -- Wife Ann named in probate (vs. presumed Elizabeth Newitt]] - Resided Surry - Deputy Clerk 1694; identified children William; John (NC); Benjamin; Nathaniel (Brunswick); Mary, Sarah, Ann.
• Son Thomas m. Elizabeth Unknown Resided Hog Island (Will proved March 2 1703 named Thomas, William, John, Sarah, and Elizabeth) -- Will of Elizabeth Holt (dau of James Mason of Surry) (spouse of Randolph) names Thomas Edwards of Hog Island in will of March 4 1708^[11]
  • Contemporary Elizabeth Newitt - presumed spouse of John or Thomas -

Unsupported Children

NOTE: Judith Peele Edwards - rerouted to Sussex Family (see Profile notes) as an unsupported child Surry Family - Parents TBD

Timeline

^[4]

1615/1616 William bapt son of Robert and Mary Tilney

1624 Wisbech Family - Early William (1586 - 1622) Died jamestown Massacre- It is likely this is same family (i.e.,Uncle - Brother of Father Robert m Mary Tilney vs Edward Heirs Controversy

[*Sean - TBD - Further Explanation]

1640 Marriage Dorothy Bolton Saint Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney, Middlesex, England (daughter of Edward Bolton and Unknown

1648 Arrival in Virginia under Headrights system - as permanent residence . May have been earlier - (may have made multiple trips; Unknown multiple marriage [Bishop's Notes.] Indicates he was a Merchant; Dorothy as a Widow; Involved with Virginia Company, Sandys' Plantation. English sources indicate William permanently settled in Virginia by 1648, – Wisbech Family involved in Virginia Company; and closely associated with Thorogood; Maye, Crosse, Rolfe, Sandys. etc. Estimated Locations Jamestown, Surry, Lancaster

LAST FIRST ARRIVAL SPONSOR COUNTY

Edwards Dorothy 1648 William Edwards (husband) & Edwards-Rice Edwards James City vs Rice Davis) (vs "Headright - If both arrived 1648 Could Wm "sponsor" or is this (source) error? ^[12]

William Edwards, (who with Rice Davis on 8 July 1648 received a patent for 1080 acres of land in James City County) ; (Grindon & Ewin passage over Sunken Marsh - trans of 22 persons included Wm Edwards, Dorothy his wife)

1652 -.1657 William Edwards and George Stephens listed as Burgesses for Surry County in 1652; William Edwards and Capt. William Butler in 1653 and in 1657-1658. Lt Col. Thomas Swan, William Edwards, Maj. William Butler and Capt. William Caufield.^[13][14]

1657 (Sept 17) - William Edwards, Gentleman, patented 490-acres in Surry County on the south side of the James River . . . . assigned unto Edwards. 290 acres for transportation of 6 persons . . . . (12, June 1657), Mr. William Edwards had order from Covernor and Company to patent certain marsh and wood land formerly granted to James Mason and John Bishop and by them deserted which land is included in the above patent. ^[15]

1657 (Sept 28) - William Edwards patented 1800 acres in Surry County in Southwark Parish, running to Mr. Warrens path. 1080 acres of this land was a grant to Rice Davis and said Edwards 10, July 1648 and 720 acres of the 1800 is due Edwards for transportation of 14 persons. This patent was renewed 6 March 1662. ^[16]

1659 (Jan 25) - According to Deposition in Surry he was age 43 (birth at 1616); general court records indicate death about 1673^[17]

1673 - Death - Court Records identify son William as Exec. - general court records indicate death about 1673 (Southampton / Surry Records) ( Son William was also identified as "Burgess"

HIDE

Research Notes

MOVE TO INDIVIDUAL PROFILES Paternal Descent -- TBD -- Determine if Wiki IDs (The Edwards of Wisbech descended from Edmond Edwards, ) EDMOND EDWARDS (1488-1558) married Alice Ayre a royal footman (to H7…to Queen Elizabeth) Vist. Of Cambs 87, 106 of Cambridgeshire

• i. WILLIAM EDWARDS (d. 1555) married Alice Maye
• 1. Bartholomew Edwards (d. 1583) married Audrey Crosse ((d. of John Crosse and Jacomine Robinson of Wisbech) [see Crosse Connection] had 5 issue total. Audrey remarried twice. (Best, Thomas Parke)
• i. Robert Edwards (d. 1661) married Mary Tilney (9 Children)

HIDE RESEARCH = Hide Text -- . Line Break -- Co-mingled data

No original source records have been located to confirm birth or marriage. It appears that some erroneous information may have been published, and perhaps republished/reported, making the “actual facts” obscure

There is a great deal of conflicting and mis-information surrounding early Edwards – Source-to-Source discrepancies; co-mingling, Lack of records; conflicting family stories; number of same names, etc.

Recent research availability has helped to solidify some of the mis-information; Researchers are encouraged to source and re-verify information; making adjustments to profiles as necessary.

Links are provided for reference and convenience only (and are considered unreliable/unproven unless sources contained within.

Sources

^[4]

1. ↑ Jamestowne Society: Edwards, William - A2404; born 1615, died 1673, Surry Co.: 1652-53, 1658 (Burgess). accessed 5 June 2020
2. ↑ Dorothy's Arrival 1648 as wife of William Complete listing of Early Virginia Immigrants, 1623-1666 (from book published 1912 by George Cabell Greer, now copyright-free
3. ↑ Virginia Land Patents from Cavaliers & Pioneers by Marion Nell Nugent]
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6} Update Mar 2023 - Sean's Sources Edwards families: Crests, Wills, Visitations, Parish Registries, Bishop Notes, etc.

   The Visitation of Sussex 1530 and 1633-34 -- validating Burke, 1884

   The Visitation of London 1633-35 – validating Burke, 1884:

   The Visitation of Cambridgeshire 1575 and 1619 – validating Burke 1884

   The Visitation of Cambridgeshire 1575 and 1619 -- #2, validating Burke 1884:

5. ↑ "England Marriages, 1538–1973", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NJRD-X9M : 13 March 2020), William Edwards, m 22 Feb 1640 Dorothy Bolton; Saint Dunstan and All Saints Church, Stepney, Middlesex, England; Image 313 Film 008041192
6. ↑ William and Mary Quarterly Vol 15 p.79
7. ↑ no headright information located for children
8. ↑ Edwards of Surry; William & Mary Quarterly
9. ↑ Virginia Magazine XI p.311)p.195
10. ↑ Geni Sourced
11. ↑ p.452 Abstracts of Virginia Patents The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography; Vol. 5, No. 4 (Apr., 1898), pp. 450-459 Published by: Virginia Historical Society
12. ↑ World Connect Sourced; Resided James City / Surry Digital Copy Volume I; Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography; Lyon Gardiner Tyler
13. ↑ Boddie's Seventeenth Century Isle of Wight County, VA, p. 707,
14. ↑ p.384 Memorials of Old Virginia Clerks; J. P. Bell Company, printers, 1888 - Clerks of court - 405 pages
15. ↑ Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume 1, p. 353
16. ↑ Cavaliers and Pioneers, Volume 1, p. 355
17. ↑ p.99 Death Date 1673 Colonial Surry; John Bennett Boddie; Genealogical Publishing Com, Jun 1, 2009 - History - 249 pages

See Also

• https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/458981 Digital Copy - compiled/Donated by Anthony J. Christensen (Main Author) v, 331 p. : ill., facsims., geneal. tables, maps; William Edwards (1588-1622) was the great grandson of Richard Edwards (1523-1567) of Somersetshire, Wales.

• G2G Links/Discussion
• The registers of Hopton Castle, Shropshire. 1538-1812; by Hopton Castle, Eng. (Parish); Elton, Edward Daubeny; Fletcher, William George Dimock, 851-1935, ed; Published 1901
• Digital Copy Virginia county records by Crozier, William Armstrong, 1864-1913. cn; Published 1905; Volume 9-10; Publisher Baltimore, Genealogical Pub. Co.; Pages 520
• Surry Co Marriages p.228
• Early Virginia Families Along the James River: James City County, Surry County, Virginia; Louise Pledge Heath Foley; Genealogical Publishing Com, 1974 - Reference - 180 pages p.31, p.33 p.40 p.42-43 p.47 p.54 p.79 p.80 p.86 p.93 p.97 p98 p99 p100 p107-108 p110-111
• Cavaliers and Pioneers digital copy Vol 1
• Surry County Records, Surry County, Virginia, 1652-1684; Eliza Timberlake Davis; Genealogical Publishing Com, 1980 - Reference - 156 pages

Acknowledgments

• Special Thank You to Sean Edwards

for his Extensive Research regarding the Edwards families: Crests, Wills, Visitations, Parish Registries, Bishop Notes, etc.

The Visitation of Sussex 1530 and 1633-34 -- validating Burke, 1884

The Visitation of London 1633-35 – validating Burke, 1884:

The Visitation of Cambridgeshire 1575 and 1619 – validating Burke 1884

The Visitation of Cambridgeshire 1575 and 1619 -- #2, validating Burke 1884:

• Thank you to Steve Woods for creating WikiTree profile Edwards-4355 through the import of Woods Beedle Wiki.GED on Mar 1, 2013.
• WikiTree profile Edwards-3764 created through the import of garn.ged on Oct 25, 2012 by Dan Garnitz
• Source: Record ID Number: MH:S85 User ID: D09526E2-5AB7-40BD-BFB6-1E88FA193EA0 Title: Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Repository: #R1 Note: This information comes from 1 or more individual Ancestry Family Tree files. This source citation points you to a current version of those files. Note: The owners of these tree files may have removed or changed information since this source citation was created. Page: Ancestry Family Trees Data: Text: http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=6855369&pid=8185