Sylvester Edwards (1858 - 1923)

Born 1858 in Alabama, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Rosena (Percival) Edwards — married 23 Dec 1882 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA

Descendants

Died 20 Aug 1923 at about age 65 in Montgomery, Alabama, United States

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Biography

Vess Edwards is a part of US Black heritage.

He was the grandfather of the Civil Rights Activist Rosa (McCauley) Parks.

Sylvester Edwards was born about 1858 in Alabama. He was the son of John and Betsy Edwards.^[1] His father and mother were both born in Georgia.^[2] Michael Ruane says that Sylvester was the son of a white plantation owner.^[3] Both of his parents died when he was young. He endured some persecution while he remained on the John Earl Edwards plantation.^[4]

He married Rosa Percival on Dec. 23, 1892 in Montgomery, Alabama.^[5] They were the parents of:

Fannie Edwards, July 1881, Alabama;

Bessie Edwards, Mar. 1884, Alabama;

Leona (Edwards) McCauley, Apr. 1887, Alabama

In 1900 his niece Lora Percival, Oct. 1896, Alabama was living with them.^[2]

In 1910 his adopted daughter Cora Edwards, 1897, Alabama, was living with them.^[6]

In 1920, his 90 year old father-in-law was living with them as well as his granddaughter, Rosa McCauley and his grandson Sylvester McCauley.^[7]

They lived on the 18-acre farm inherited from his wife's family, raising cows, chickens, fruit and nut trees.^[8]

Sylvester Edwards passed away August 20, 1923 in Montgomery, Alabama.^[9]

Sources

1. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD21-JRG : 27 November 2014), Vess Edwards, 20 Aug 1923; citing reference cn 17522, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,252.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9D2-TS2 : accessed 3 December 2017), Sylvester Edwards, Precinct 13 Pine Level, Montgomery, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 116, sheet 7B, family 119, NARA microfilm publiIcation T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,034.
3. ↑ Ruane, Michael D. "Artifacts Show Rosa Parks Steeped in Freedom Struggle from Childhood." Washington Post. 3 Feb. 2015. Accessed Dec 2, 2017.
4. ↑ Brooks, Pamela E. Boycotts, Buses, and Passes. p. 79, University of Massachusetts Press, 2008. Accessed Dec. 2, 2017.
5. ↑ "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKZ3-85SQ : 21 July 2015), Sylvester Edwards and Rosa Percevil, 1882.
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK7P-H61 : accessed 3 December 2017), Cora L Edwards in household of Sylvester Edwards, Pine Level, Montgomery, Alabama, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 109, sheet 10A, family 172, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 28; FHL microfilm 1,374,041.
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXDH-53M : accessed 3 December 2017), Sylvester Edwards, Pine Level, Montgomery, Alabama, United States; citing ED 120, sheet 3B, line 98, family 60, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 36; FHL microfilm 1,820,036.
8. ↑ Ashby, Ruth. Rosa Parks: Freedom Rider. p.2 Sterling Publishing Co. 2008, Accessed Dec. 2, 2017.
9. ↑ "Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JD21-JRG : 15 February 2018), Vess Edwards, 20 Aug 1923; citing reference cn 17522, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,252.