William Edwards Sr. (1757 - 1837)

Born 8 Nov 1757 in Orange County, North Carolina Colony

Ancestors

Husband of Rebecca Ann (Brewer) Edwards — married 25 Jul 1775 (to 23 Apr 1837) in Chatham, North Carolina Colony

Descendants

Died 23 Apr 1837 at age 79 in Robertson, Tennessee, USA

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Biography

William was born in 1757 in Orange Co., North Carolina and died in 1837 in Robertson Co., Tennessee.

William Edwards was a veteran of the American Revolution. He served four different tours of duty. To be sure, the average tour for a militiaman was only three months. W.F. Edwards served far longer than this. He was also POW of the British during the conflict. He came to his county courthouse on August 19, 1832 to file a claim for a Revolutionary War pension. Congress had passed a law, only in June of 1832 giving pensions to surviving Revolutionary War veterans if they could prove their service. In his deposition he stated that his first tour began in May 1778 for three months finishing in August. The next month, September, he again served a three-month tour. This time it was in the place of another man. During this time he marched against the Tories, but never left the state of North Carolina. During this second tour he was in the Battle of Brush Creek about fifty miles north of Fayetteville. He states that in that battle they completely routed the Tories!

In Dec 1778 or January 1779 he states that he entered the service of the U.S. Army for a period of one year. He states that they did little fighting but frequently routed Tories and caused them much mischief. He was called a volunteer minuteman during this term of service. In January 1780, he again entered the U.S. Army as a three-month volunteer. He was attached to General Nathaniel Greene's command. During one of their marches they could hear the Battle of Kings Mountain and did a forced march to it, but they arrived after the battle was over. He was discharged on 27 September 1781 and from there went home.

Three days after returning home the Tories surrounded his house and took him prisoner. He took him from his house to Hillsboro, NC and turned him over to the British authorities. The British only held him for three and then he escaped. He stated, "I then lay out several day until the British and the Tories went off. I then went home and lived in peace with my God & country from that day until the present." He states that he was born in 1757 in Orange County, North Carolina. After his death Rebecca made claim to his pension as his widow. She states they were married on July 25, 1775 and that her husband had passed away on April 23, 1837. She stated that she could give a statement of the sufferings she endured during the twenty-one months that her husband was away in the service. They told her such a statement was not necessary. She stated that her maiden name was Brewer.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ [1] Findagrave : William Franklin Edwards

• U.S. and Canada, Passenger and Immigration Lists

• 1820 United States Federal Census
• 1830 United States Federal Census
• 1800 United States Federal Census
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/57773295/william-franklin-edwards

Will

• [http://mv.ancestry.com/viewer/dcc50b10-95f8-46df-93f0-2ed0e217b1b7/26527142/12791832036_phsrc=EgG952&usePUBJs=true William Edwards Will transcription by Elsa Edwards