John Edwards (1687 - 1769)

Born Dec 1687 in Bristol, England

Descendants

Died 18 Dec 1769 at about age 82 in Highgate, Middlesex, England

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Biography

John, son of Mr Thomas and Jane Edwards, was baptised at the church of St John the Baptist, Bristol, 27 December 1687.^[1]

As John Edwards of Highgate, Middlesex, Esquire, he made his will (of 23 pages) 3 September 1768, with a codicil of 20 November 1769. It mentioned the following relatives:

• (late father and wife, both deceased)
• nephew Thomas Edward Freeman of Batsford, Gloucestershire, his wife, and their son Thomas
• deceased brothers William and Walter Edwards
• sister Jane Edwards
• deceased brother-in-law John Schoppens Esq
• deceased son John Edwards
• deceased daughter Dame Mary Wrey, late wife of Sir Bourchier Wrey, baronet

The following three granddaughters, daughters of his deceased son John Edwards:

• Sarah, wife of Thomas Cave Esq
• Frances, wife of John Fremantle Esq
• Mary Edwards, spinster

The following six children of his granddaughter Frances Fremantle:

• John Edwards Fremantle
• Stephen Francis William Fremantle
• Thomas Francis Fremantle
• William Henry Fremantle
• Sarah Bridget Fremantle
• Frances Jane Fremantle

The following great nephews and nieces:

• Jane Stanyforth and her husband
• Elizabeth Baldwyn
• William Clarke Esq and Mary his wife
• Sir Anthony Thomas Abdy Bt and Dame Catherine his wife
• Elizabeth Dorrill
• Jane Harcourt
• Alexander Coulston Esq and Sophia his wife
• Hon. Thomas Willoughby Esq

And family of his son’s wives:

• Peter Holford Esq, a master of the High Court of Chancery
• John Manship of London Esq
• daughter-in-law Anne Greenhalgh
• sister-in-law Manship

He bequeathed numerous properties in several counties, as well as large sums of money in stocks. The will was proved at London 22 December 1769.^[2]

His memorial inscription at Highgate read: “Near this Place are deposited the Remains of John Edwards of Highgate Esqr: only surviving Son of the undernam'd Thomas Edwards Esqr: and Jane his Wife who died Decembr. 18th., 1769 Aged 82 Years

“The many Virtues, by Which He was deservedly distinguish'd through a long and happy Life have given to Posterity an Example worthy Imitation in the Character of this truly benevolent and upright Man.”^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ St John the Baptist registers Image at Ancestry
2. ↑ National Archives; Image at Ancestry
3. ↑ Survey of London vol.17