Edwards ancestors




Joseph Bernard of Carlow (youngest son of Thomas and Deborah)









Thomas Edwards, of Llan Elwy, or St. Asaph, 8th in line of descent from David Gwynedd who was descended from Rhodri Mawr (Roderick the Great), who became king of all Wales, living A.D.843.  Thomas Edwards, died 17 Dec 1663, at Llandaff, in South Wales, where he was buried in the cathedral, and was succeeded by his son, Richard Edwards, Esq. of Old Court, who had removed to Ireland.

Richard married about 1656 Elizabeth, daughter and (by death of her brother, Capt. Roger Kynaston, in 1657) heiress of Colonel John Kynaston who, with his regiment of Welsh foot, landed in Ireland 7 June, 1647. Colonel Kynaston, died A.D.  1649, aged 89, and after his decease, in consideration of military pay due at his death, a grant of land of which Old Court formed a portion, was made to his relict Elizabeth, for the use of his family, and afterwards confirmed by patent, temp. Charles II., to his daughter and Heiress, Elizabeth Kynaston, and her husband Richard Edwards.

Richard Edwards' children by his marriage to Elizabeth were:

  • Richard, b. 1659;
  • John Kynaston, b. 1665;
  • Thomas (who married and had issue);
  • Richard, (who died without issue);
  • Anne, married to Capt. Benjamin Hunt;
  • Mary, married Richard Bourne.

Richard married 2ndly, Penelope, eldest daughter of Sir Robert Wolseley, Bart. of Wolseley, in Staffordshire, the widow of  ? Fountaine, Esq., He was dispossessed of Old Court by the Partisans of King James II., but reinstated after the battle of the Boyne. He died in 1693, and was succeeded by his eldest son Richard.

Richard Edwards, Esq. of Old Court, M.P. for Wicklow, born 1659, and married 1682, his stepmother's niece Mary, 2nd daughter of Sir Charles Wolseley, Bart. of Wolseley. Son David died in 1668.  Richard Edwards died without issue in 1722, he was succeeded by his only surviving brother John

John Edwards, Esq. of Old Court, born in 1665, who married in 1697 Jane, eldest daughter. of James Butler, Esq. of Rathelline, co. Carlow, by whom he had:

  • James born 1708. Married 1750 Anne Tennison. Died 1780
  • Kenhelm died 1712
  • Richard died 1722
  • John, died unmarried in 1749;
  • Mary, married Joseph Bernard, Esq.,
  • Elizabeth, married 25 Feb., 1727, Mark Whyte, Esq.;  Children: James, Elizabeth (married Sydenham Singleton)
  • Jane, married John Hardy;
  • Grace, married William Pleasants, Esq. of Knockbeg, co Carlow about 1727. William attended TDC in 1721.    Children: Thomas B. 1729

John Edwards died in 1723, and was succeeded by his son, James.



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