William Edwards (abt. 1606 - bef. 1685)

Born about 1606 in England [uncertain]

Husband of Ann (Cole) Edwards — married about 1630 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died before 19 Aug 1685 before about age 79 in East Hampton, New York

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Alexander Hunter [send private message]

Biography

Uncertain Origins

William was born about 1606 in Maidstone, Kent.^{[citation needed]} Profile originally had POB as "Mainstone", no such place.

"William Edwards... was of Taunton, Mass., in 1643... [and] with his wife came from Lynn, Mass., to East Hampton in 1653..."^[1]

Family

William Edwards married Ann Cole say 1630, probably in England.^{[citation needed]}

Children:

1. John
2. Thomas
3. Ephraim (died young)
4. Sarah
5. Elizabeth
6. Anne
7. Hannah m. Wm. Rundle predeceased father, not mentioned in will

Public Life

William and his wife had several encounters with the courts at East Hampton.

"The following record of Feb. 2, 1651/52, probably refers to his wife, Anne: "It is ordered that Goody Edwards shal pay 3£ or have her tonge in a cleft stick for the Contempt of a warrant in sainge she would not come, but if they had bid Govenor or Magistrate then she would come as Desiringe the warrant that she may burne it"^[2]

The details are vivid, she was accused of being a "lyer" before the whole meeting, the lie concerning an unworn petticoat from England(!). When she was arrested, she threatened to kill any man who touched her. She made good on being violent; while the Constable Thomas Baker and his colleagues were arresting her, Goody Edwards kicked backwards and broke Thomas Talmage's shin.

William Edwards accused Benjamin Price and his wife of defamation on 13 June 1653, for calling his wife Anne

"a base lieinge woman and that she will prove her a lyer in many pticulers wch I take to bee a great Defamation to me and my postirity in that hereafter it may be spoken here goe the bratts of a base lyer and whereas formerly I would have had an end of it wthout trouble or Charge I now Declare that the Defamation in suchas I would not have made out against my wife for a hundred pounds my wife beinge an ancient woman and the other a younge woman to whom my wife hath given noe Just occasion that she should give her such woundinge speeches..."^[3]

Later, William's whale company was sued.

"Mar. 22, 1674/75

Loose Leaf 8, 23.--An action entered by Thomas Dyamant, Senior in the behalfe of the Companie of Whalemen belongeinge to Mr James and his assosiates against Willyam Edwards for a debt to the Vallue of thirtie shillyngs and a gallon of Rum

In the action here above written and entered by Thomas Dyament in the behalf of Mr James his Companie of Whalemen against Willyam Edwards and his Whale Companie for a Debt of thirtie shillings and a gallon of Rum the Towne Court according to the Evidence given they fine for the plaintife that is thirtie shilling and a gallon of Rum with the Court Charg."^[4]

Death and Legacy

William Edwards died before 19 August 1685, the date on which the Inventory of his estate was taken..

Abstract of his will

"William Edwards (p. 175), will of Feb. 1, 1681, sons John and Thomas; gr. son William, son of Thomas; gr. son, Josiah, son of John; dau. Sarah; gr. sons William, son of John, and Ephraim, son of Thomas; dau. Elizabeth Baker, dau. Ann Squire; five children of dau. Elizabeth, viz. Richard, Thomas, Isaac, Benjamin and Elizabeth Stratton; wife Ann, ex'x; pro. Oct. 22, 1685; inventory taken Aug. 19, 1685."^[5]

Will

I leave to my son, John Edwards, that little lot by Hook pond, bounded east by Thomas Osborn, Jr., west by my own land. I leave to my son, Thomas Edwards, the lot between John Mulford and William Miller, Also the land lying by the two mile hollow on the playnes, bounded by Thomas Osborn, Jr., on the west, and Thomas Osborn, Sr., on the east, Also 1 acre of meadow at Nappeague, bounded north by Mr. Mulford, west by Thomas Osborn, Jr., Also 1/3 of the Privileges of my lot. I leave to William Edwards (son of Thomas) my house and Homestall, and 5 acres of land on the playnes, bounded west by Nathaniel Bishop, and east by William Barnes, Also the lot in the old Eastern plains, bounded east by Richard Brooks, west by Samuel Parsons, Also the neck of meadow at Nappeague with a straight line, Mr. Mulford on the upper end, Also 1/3 of the Privileges of my said Home lot, Also a lot of meadow at Accombomack, with Robert Dayton on one side and Lieutenant Wheeler on the other. I leave to Josiah Edwards (son of John Edwards) the lot I gave to my daughter Sarah, with all the said parcels of land, both meadow and upland, with 1/2 the Privileges of said Lot, the land being in debate between mm Nathaniel Dominy and myself at present. I leave to William Edwards (son of John), and to Ephraim Edwards (son of Thomas), my lot in the playnes, the out side lot, bounded west by Richarud Stratton. Also the lot in the woods bounded east by Mr. Baker, and west by Mr. Mulford. And I leave to Ephraim 1/3 of the Privileges of my lot. I leave to my daughters, Elizabeth Baker and Ann Squire, a parcel of meadow at Accabomack by the hammocks, and 1/2 the Privileges that belong to that lot, formerly called Birdsall's lot. Mentions grandchildren, Richard, Thomas, Isaac, Benjamin, and Elizabeth Straton, "children of my daughter, Elizabeth Baker." I make my wife Anne, executor.

This will was written in Southampton and witnessed by John Laughton and Sarah Laughton. Dated, February 1, 1680/1. PROVED: Southold, October 21, 1685.

Research Notes

Freereg for William Edwards from 1570-1650 shows a number of men baptized with that name, none in Maidstone. It doesn't look like there are baptism records for Maidstone for this period. There are also no baptism records in the FamilySearch database "England, Kent, Parish Registers, 1538-1911".

A search in Freereg for All Saints Maidstone, Kent shows only two people with the Edwards surname pre-1650:

• Hugh Edwards m. Wynefred PODMER 03 Mar 1605/6
• Grace EDWARDS m. John WALL 15 Jan 1638/9

It's possible records exist but are not transcribed online yet (5/23/2019)

Sources

1. ↑ Adams, Arthur (comp.) "Some Descendants of William Edwards of East Hampton, Long Island" in Hoff, Henry B. Genealogies of Long Island Families: From the New York Genealogical and Biographical Record. (Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co, 1987), Volume 1, p. 377
2. ↑ Adams, citing Hedges p. 21
3. ↑ Hedges, Henry. Records of the Town of East Hampton, Long Island, Suffolk Co., N.Y. (Sag-Harbor, J. H. Hunt, Printer, 1887-1905), 33-34
4. ↑ Hedges: Vol. 1, Page 375
5. ↑ Harris, Edward Doubleday. Ancient Long Island Epitaphs, from the Towns of Southold, Shelter Island and Easthampton, New York. (Boston: Press of David Clapp, 1903), page 91

See also:

• Add sources here.

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Edwards-2264 created through the import of HERMANSON_RICHARDSON.ged on Sep 13, 2011 by John Hermanson.