Martha (Griegg) Edwards (abt. 1652 - aft. 1716)

Born about 1652 in Henrico County, Virginia [uncertain]

Wife of John Branch — married 1671 in Henrico, Virginia

Wife of Thomas Osborne III — married 1688 in Henrico, Virginia

Wife of Thomas Edwards — married 26 Oct 1692 in Henrico, Virginia Colony

Descendants

Died after 1716 after about age 64 in Henrico County, Virginia [uncertain]

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Biography

Martha (Griegg) Edwards was a Virginia colonist.

She was born about 1652.

Martha Griegg first married about 1671 in Virginia to John Branch (1652-1688).

She was Martha Branch in April of 1688 when she was granted probate for the Will of her deceased husband, John Branch. ^[1]

Martha married about 1688 to Thomas Osborne, III (Thomas was first married to Mary Bailey 1644-1665). ^[2]

She was Martha Osborne when she testified in court on 01 Dec 1688 for Abel Gower, at which time the clerk re­corded that she was about age 26 ^[3]

Thomas Osborne died in 1692 and Martha was married for the final time to Thomas Edwards on 26 October 1692 ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Research Notes

Different Marthas and Thomas Edwards may have been confused. See Martha (Osborn) Edwards for a discussion of various possibilities.

Martha Osborn married on 26 Oct 1692 in Henrico County, Virginia to Thomas Edwards. ^[7]

She died after 1716. ^[8]

Extract

Thomas Lockett, died c1745/46 [#4 John Camden Hotten: Original Lists of Persons of Quality, etc. p219 Rouse "Reeds and Their Relatives" p485]

Thomas Lockett married 1) Martha Osborne; 2) Elizabeth.

Martha Osborne was the niece of Margaret (Osborne) Lockett [the daughter of her brother Thomas Osborne, Jr. (1641-1692)] and was born c1662. (Henrico Records p26; Martha Osborne, aged 26 years on 01 Dec 1688).

Martha Osborne would be the niece of Margaret Osborne Lockett, and first cousin of her husband Thomas Lockett, 2nd.

Until recently it was usually thought that the second wife of Thomas Osborne (1641-1692), who was the widow of John Branch, was Martha Jones. She married Thomas Edwards not long after Thomas Osborne’s death, the license being issued 20 Oct 1692. [#26 Henrico Records V 1688-1697 p435]

On 01 August 1693, the Court ordered Mr. Thomas Edwards, who married the relict of Mr. Osborne Sr., (who married the relict of Mr. John Branch, deceased) to appear at the next Court. This order is recorded in the Orphans Court, so it evidently had to do with the minor children of Branch and Osborne.

On 01 June 1695, Mr. Richard Kennon was discharged from being security for Mr. Thomas Edwards, guardian of orphans of John Branch and Thomas Osborne, and Capt. William Randolph became surety. [#27 Henrico Records V 1688-1697 p435]

Mr. James Branch Cabell has recently advanced the idea that Martha Branch-Osborne-Edwards was born Griegg, the daughter of Robert Griegg, whose Will, dated 10 February 1702-03, recorded in Henrico, 02 August 1703, mentions the testator’s grandchildren: John Cocke, Thomas Edwards Jr., Mary Ward, and Edward Branch. The witnesses are Edward Warding, John Clark, and Jane Gower, who is named Executrix. Jane Gower was the mother of John Branch who was Martha Griegg’s first husband, having successively married William Baugh, Jr., William Branch and Abel Gower. (See Mr. Cabell’s report which follows at the end of this chapter).

But from the wills of Repps Jones and his mother, Mrs. Mary Skerme, it is evident that Martha Jones, daughter of Mrs. Mary Skerme by her first husband Thomas Jones, married an Osborne, and that she left children Mary, Martha and Thomas Osborne. Reps Jones’ Will was made 19 February 1688/89 and was probated 01 August 1689; he bequeathed property to Philip Turpin, who married his sister Elizabeth, (this was the property he bought from his brother Thomas Jones, which at the death of Philip and Elizabeth Turpin was to go to his cozen (sic) Thomas Jones, and if Thomas Jones left no male heirs, it was to go to Edward Skerme); his sisters Mary Skerme and Martha Osborne; and his honored mother. [#28 Henrico Records V 1688-1697 p73]

Mrs. Mary Jones married Edward Skerme, who died about 1677, and his widow was given the probate of his estate 01 September 1677. [#29 Henrico Records v1 p16]

Mrs. Mary Skerme died about 1710 and left property to her grandchildren, Matthew, Philip, and Martha Turpin; daughter Elizabeth Turpin; son-in-law Philip Turpin; grand daughter Elizabeth Turpin; daughter Mary Brodneks (Broadnax); and to grandchildren Mary, Martha, and Thomas Osborne. She left Martha Osborne her wedding ring. (The Will was dated 16 November 1707 and proved 05 October 1710.) [#30 Henrico Records 1710-1714 Will, dated: 16 Nov 1707; proved: 05 Oct 1710]

It was this Martha Osborne who according to family tradition married Thomas Lockett, 2nd.

The above facts suggest that Thomas Osborne’s (1641-1692) first wife was Martha Jones; that she died not too long after her brother Repps made his Will (19 Feb 1688-89) and that Thomas Osborne then married Martha, widow of John Branch, not long thereafter. Since Thomas Osborne, son of Thomas (1641-1692), was filing a petition with the Court concerning his father’s estate in 1692, it is likely that he was already of age, suggesting a birth date about 1670 at the latest.

On 20 August 1692, Mr. Thomas Osborne, son and heir of Mr. Thomas Osborne, deceased, petitioned the Court that the widow of said decedent may have her parts of lands and plantacions (sic) of ye said decedent assigned and laid out by such persons as appointed by the Court. The Court ordered that the said Thomas and Mrs. Martha Osborne, relict and Executrix of the decedent try to agree before the next Court and if they do not, the Court will appoint persons to make the division. [#31 Henrico Records v1 p489]

Since Mrs. Skerme names Thomas Osborne a grandson, it seems likely that his mother was a daughter of Mrs. Skerme. Mrs. Skerme’s first husband was Thomas Jones, a son of Thomas and Margaret Jones who came to Virginia in the "London Merchant" in March 1619/20. [#32 Cabell: Branchiana p140-142]

As Repps Jones, son of Thomas and Mary Jones, lists Martha Osborne as a sister, it seems likely that Martha Jones was the first wife of Thomas Osborne (1641-1692). Actually such an explanation clears up the problem of how a man apparently of age in 1692 and 1696 (when he was giving deeds), could have been the grandson of a woman (Mrs. Skerme) whose daughter did not marry his father until after 1688, which would have been the case if Martha Branch-Osborne-Edwards had been born Martha Jones.

However, there is one problem which yet remains. Martha Osborne appeared as a witness in Henrico Court, 01 December 1688, and gave the same testimony as Mrs. Jane Gower, to the effect that when two men came before Abel Gower, (a Justice of the Court), with a dispute over apples, Mr. Gower, being very ill, asked them to go before some other Justice. Martha Osborne is here listed as about 26 years of age. [#33 Henrico Records v5 p28]

It is not likely that this would have been the first Mrs. Thomas Osborne, from the age. The age and the circumstance both fit the second Mrs. Osbarne, for her first husband John Branch, was a son of Mrs. Gower by a previous marriage. But it is between two or three months later that Repps Jones makes a will mentioning his sister Martha Osborne. If Thomas Osborne, son of Thomas (1641-1692) had been born about 1670, it would be impossible for his mother to have been only 26 years old in 1688. Yet Mrs. Mary Skerme lists him as a grandson, which indicates that he, Mary and Martha Osborne were the children of Martha Jones Osborne. And it does not seem likely that Repps Jones would have referred in his Will to a deceased sister as though she were still alive.

Thomas Osborne’s Will mentions a son John, a son Thomas, and his wife, Martha, who is named Executrix. John got 200 acres of Coxendale and 95 acres, “lately patented”; Thomas was to occupy, possess, and enjoy the part on which he dwells during the natural life of wife Martha and no longer; Martha got the house where I live and the orchard; the rest of the goods was to be divided between John and Martha. If John died before he became 18, Martha was to have the choice of the three parts into which these are to be divided, with the rest going to Thomas or the male heirs of Thomas. Dated 02 Oct 1691; proved 01 June 1692. [#34 Henrico Records v5 p310]

There is the indication that John Osborne was the son of Martha, the second wife, since she was mentioned as his guardian in another record. A page in the records is mutilated, but we can learn that the "said Thomas in Court refusing”. The Court directed the Sheriff to summon - Ligon, Surveyor, and an able jury of the neighborhood on the 13th instant to divide the Osborne property, except what belongs to John Osborne (second son of the decedent) under the guardianship of the said Martha. The late dwelling and orchard of the decedent were given to Martha in lieu of her claiming no part of the whole plantation whereon said Thomas lives and is also excluded from the division. The mutilation does not give the date, but the page number suggets that this settlement was determined not long after Thomas Osborne filed the petition in August 1692. [#35 Henrico Records v1 p494]

From all of the above records we may conclude that Martha Osborne who according to family tradition married Thomas Lockett, 2nd, had not married in 1707 when her grandmother’s Will was written, as she refers to her as MARTHA OSBORNE. She was dead prior to 1722. [#36 Stanard’s Extracts p3 with note #16]

The evidence that her father was born about 1641 comes from testimony he offered in Henrico County, 02 Dec 1689, when his age was given as about 48 years. [#37 Henrico Records V 1688-1697 p107]

Dr. James Branch Cabell, who has done much research on the Osborne family, incident to his research on the Branch family with whom the Osbornes were closely connected, arrives at a different conclusion concerning the maiden name of the widow of John Branch, whom he says was Martha Griegg. He very kindly prepared a short report for me in August of 1950 and it follows below ...

"Edward Osborne, Gent., on 02 June 1636, patented 400 acres in Henrico, "Joyning - westerly upon the Maine river", (and therefore apparently not in what is now Chesterfield), due for his personal adventure and the transportation of seven persons, two of whom were Robert James and Richard Hitchcock.

Captain Thomas Osborne of Coxendale, born 1590, came to Virginia in 1619, leaving in England at least one son, and dies prior to 1642.

This son, Thomas Osborne, Jun’r, on 16 June 1637, patented 500 acres in Henrico, adjoining southerly upon his father’s land, “Ffeering”, due for his personal adventure and the transportation of nine persons. This shows that he came from England and presumably was unmarried in 1637, since otherwise his wife would be listed among the headrights, Upon 20 August 1642, after his father’s death, as Thomas Osborne he patented 400 acres in Henrico, adjoining North North East on Mr. Osborne’s land called by the name of "Ffeering". He died before 1685, leaving issue ...

Thomas Osborne of Coxendale, born 1641, died March 1692, Will dated 01 October 1691, recorded 01 June 1692. On 20 April 1685, he patented eighty five acres in Henrico, "along the head of the said Osborne’s ancient patent, belonging to Coxendale". This shows that his father was then dead. The name of his first wife is not known. He married in 1688/89, Martha Griegg, then the widow of John Branch, and she married, third, in 1692, Thomas Edwards.

Thomas Osborne of Coxendale, in his Will refers to the 1685 patent as "the land I lately patented". Immediately before his death, he applied for the patent granted 19 (or 29) April 1692, upon account of the resurvey having shown the estimated 1000 acres to be 1113 acres, the surplus being covered by his importation of two persons. In terming "Captain Thomas Osborne, father of the Patentee", this land grant is beyond question incorrect, and should read "grandfather:. By his first wife, Thomas Osborne of Coxendale had issue another Thomas, and he left also another son, John, who was under eighteen in 1691, and who may have been a child of second wife.

The son Thomas Osborne of Henrico, born prior to 1670, died 1733, Will dated 27 February 1730, recorded June 1733, sold to his uncle Edward Osborne, upon 01 June 1696, two hundred acres of land "granted to my great grandfather, Captain Thomas Osborne, by patent". He sold to Philip Turpin, on 02 August 1697, one hundred acres of land "more or less", which from the description of it appears to be the eighty five acres patented by his father on 20 April 1685.

He married, prior to February 1688-89, Martha Jones, born 1662, who died prior to 1730, (since her husband’s Will does not mention her, and bequeaths to his daughter Cicely, "All her mother’s clothes"), and by her had issue ...

- Thomas Osborne; Martha Osborne, living in 1707, who died prior to 1730, since her father’s Will does not mention her;

- Mary Osborne, who married Benjamin Branch;

- Elizabeth Osborne, who died unmarried prior to 1730;

- Edward Osborne; and

- Cicely Osborne.

The younger son of Thomas Osborne, Jun’r, was Edward Osborne of Henrico, born 1646, living 01 June 1696 (when he already possessed a portion of the Coxendale property, and bought from his nephew two hundred more acres of it "running along Edward Osborne’s line"), Will dated 06 January 1696, recorded 01 April 1697, who married Tabitha Platt, and left issue.

As to Martha Branch-Osborne-Edwards; The Will of Robert Griegg, dated 10 February 1702/03, recorded in Henrico 02 August 1703, mentions the testator’s grandchildren, John Cocke, Thomas Edwards Jr., Mary Ward and Edward Branch. The witnesses are Edward Warding, John Clark, and Jane Gower, who is named Executrix. She was the mother of that John Branch who was Martha Griegg’s first husband, having married successively William Baugh Jr., William Branch, and Abel Gower."

The above report gives us food for thought, and certainly clues for further research. However, until, or I might say UNLESS other records are discovered, we can not say with any certainty how many generations of Osbornes lived in Henrico County in the seventeenth century.

Since there are no OFFICIAL records of the marriages of Margaret Osborne to Thomas Lockett, first, and Martha Osborne to Thomas Lockett, Second, we shall have to accept the family traditions that have been handed down through many generations.

It is my earnest hope that some future genius will untangle the many clues and solve the problems. Until then, perhaps the descendants will study my effort with understanding and forbearance. ^[9]

Research Notes

Goode Cemetery includes a number of Branch burials and ...

- Martha (Griegg) Edwards (1640-unknown)

- Martha (Goode) Branch Taylor Osborne Edwards (1662-1729)

- Martha (Jones) Goode (1667- unknown)

- Thomas Edwards (unknown-1688)

- Thomas Edwards (1656-unknown)

- Cpt. Thomas Edwards (1700-1782)

- Cpt. Thomas Osborne (1641-1691)

- John Osborne (1689-29 Mar 1760)

- Cpt. Abel Gower (unknown-Dec 1688)

- Jane Hatcher Gower (1640-1709)

- Edward Skerme (1670-1699).

Sources

1. ↑ Henrico County book 1678-1693 p266
2. ↑ "Story of History of Sites and People of Chesterfield County, Virginia, by Mrs. Maude Adkins Joyner in 1950
3. ↑ Henrico County book 1688-1697 p26
4. ↑ Henrico County, Virginia probate records at familysearch.org, "County Court records, deeds, wills, settlements of estates, etc., 1677-1787", 1677-1697, film # 31763, page 435, image 482/650
5. ↑ https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/records/item/175598-the-osborn-oracle-v-1-no-2-june-1970?viewer=1&offset=0#page=11&viewer=picture&o=info&n=0&q=
6. ↑ Virginia, U.S., Compiled Marriages 1660-1800 compiled by Jordan Dodd on ancestry.com; m: 26 Oct 1692 Henrico County, Virginia for Thomas Edwards & Martha Osborne
7. ↑ Virginia, Marriages 1660-1800 compiled by Jordan Dodd; on ancestry.com
8. ↑ Henrico County, VIrginia Will Book
9. ↑ "Southern kith and kin; a record of my children's ancestors" by Jewel Davis Scarborough of Abilene Texas in 1951; p219-225

• https://www.ourfamtree.org/browse.php/Alexander-William-Trent/f108420
• "Adventurers of Purse and Person" by John Frederick Dorman; edition#4 by Genealogical Publishing Company of Baltimore, MD in 2012; Virginia 1607-1624/5 p738
• http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=16692088&pid=1125272275 Ancestry Family Tree submitted by ancestry.com member