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Myth #01 - Some family genealogy trees state this William Edwards and/or Andrew Edwards were the sons of Thomas Nathaniel Edwards who married Isabelle Downing, however other genealogy files show said Thomas Nathaniel Edwards son William born 1720 marrying a different wife with different named children being born almost concurrent with this William Edwards who married Grizzel Coleman. There is NO PROOF of a relationship, only conjecture. A well written Blogspot puts forth the hypothesis Thomas Nathaniel Edwards never even existed can be found here "Who was Thomas Nathaniel Edwards?" A paper on Estate Fraud and Spurious Pedigrees by Helen Hinchliff, Ph.D. shows there was more than one surname using similar circumstances to fleece money from genealogy researchers. And a 11/1/1995 Ancestry Magazine article on The Hall-Edwards Estate: Fact or Fiction?.
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The following shows at least three generations of Coleman's in Virginia before the Grizzell Coleman who married William Edwards, so there may be at least three more generations beyound William and Andrew Edwards 1727-1775 in Colonial Virginia:
William Edwards 1725-1784 married Grizzell Coleman,daughter of Daniel Coleman, Jr. and Patience Elliott. Daniel Coleman Sr is stated to have been born in King William Co. VA, but by 1688 he was in that portion of New Kent Co., VA. that in 1691 became King & Queen Co., VA. and he shows in the 1704 King & Queen Co. Rent Rolls. Daniel Coleman Seniors parents were Robert Coleman and Elizabeth Grizzell who originally settled on Mobjack Bay, VA. circled in red on the 1795 map below.(Source)
The above map highlights Virigina counties to review for possible origins of William and Andrew Edwards. In the 1600's and 1700's there were few roads and they were impassable when the gound was wet. In 1702 the Virginia General Assembley took the supervision of ferry's away from the county courts and placed them under control of the Legislature. (Source) A 1751 Virginia map and a 1795 Virginia map show early roads in Virginia noted by early cartograplhers. During this time most goods (tobacco, lumber, barrels of flour/salted beef) were transported to nearby river wharves near to where they were produced where they were loaded onto seagoing ships. (Source)
The earliest record to date for William Edwards is his Cumberland Co., VA. marriage to Grizzell Coleman on the 27 March 1750 and a 23 October 1752 land indenture where Peter Holland bought a tract of land that lists Andrew Edwards as an adjacent property owner.
Many Ancestry trees state Andrew Edwards 1727-1775's father was William Edwards 1705- and his wife Sarah Moseley 1716-1736 born at Proctors, Henrico Co., VA, daughter of Arthur Moseley III & his wife Martha Cocke of Charles City, Charles, VA or Henrico Co., VA. without providing proof of same. The following document is interesting, but descendants of multiple William Edwards claim their ancestors father was Thomas Edwards referenced in the document without providing proof linking them.
“Henrico County, Virginia Deeds, 1706-1737",
Benjamin B. Weisiger, III, 1985 pg. 54 (pg. 132) Bond of
William Edwards of Henrico Co., who declares
himself indebted to Thomas Harwood for 50 lbs., the reason being that by the
appraisement and inventory of Thomas Edwards, dec’d,
of Charles City Co., father of the above William, there is a division to
be made of the dec’d’s estate among his two children and his widow, who married
the above Thomas Harwood, the other so being named
Thomas Edwards and not yet of full age. As Thomas Harwood caused to be
conveyed to said William by Thomas Pleasants 530 acres of land, said William
doth quit claim to his share of his father’s estate and will pay his brother
Thomas Edwards his share of the estate. Dated ____ 1716 Wit: John Watson, Obadiah
(OS) Smith
signed:
William (W) Edwards, Thomas (T) Edwards Recorded 7 Jan
1716 (Source)
The Thomas Edwards, dec'd of Charles City Co's widow remarried Thomas Harwood of Henrico Co. VA. His sons William and Thomas signed the above deed W. Edwards and T. Edwards.
The above map shows where the multiple trees suggest William Edwards, the son of Thomas Edwards migrated to, but without proof of same.
One WikiTree profile shows Elizabeth Breazeale born 1713 Henrico Co. VA marrying a William Edwards born abt. 1710. Her father Henry Breazeal was born abt. 1681 Henrico, Co., VA and died after 16 Jan 1767 Charlestown, Abbeville District, SC., but her grandfather Henry Breazeale born abt. 1650 Charles City, VA. died in 1720 Henrico Co., VA. so William and Elizabeth (Breazeale) Edwards could have remained in that portion of Henrico, that later became Goochland Co., VA.
Several trees suggest the underage Thomas Edwards married Martha and died in 1751 Luenenberg Co., VA and William Edwards married Elizabeth Brazeal, daughter of Henry Brazeale of Henrico abt. 1720 in Henrico Co., VA. That William Edwards died and left a will in 1757 Bedford Co., VA. Bedford Co., VA was formed from Lunenberg Co., VA. in 1753.
May 22, 1757 Bedford County, Virginia Order Book 1-A (1754-1761) Page 191 The Will of William Edwards, deceased was exhibited in Court by Major Weatherford, and William Edwards. Executors: Proved by Oath John Hardeman, John Manley and William Manley Witnesses
And several trees suggest their ancestor William Edwards who died in Surry County, VA. originated in Henrico Co., VA. Potentially tying back to William Edwards 1615-1653 of James City and Surry Counties, VA.
And the book 'Our Mountain Heritage: Ancestors from Southwest Virginia' suggest their ancestor William Edwards born abt 1725 who died in Patrick Co., VA (lowermost red arrow) originated in Henrico Co., VA.
Something more than a leap of faith is required to conclusively state the father of William & Andrew Edwards of Cumberland Co., VA. was the William Edwards of Henrico Co., VA. It's entirely possible they're all correct. But that means there were multiple William Edwards in Henrico Co., VA. and trying to separate them will be a nightmare.
Of interest is a group of Ancestry trees that approach Andrew Edwards and his possible father William Edwards from the Elizabeth Christian / Sarah Moseley surname lines. Possibly reinforced by a Charles Edwards of Goochland Co., VA. marrying on 27 Jan 1754 Hannah Moseby in Goochland Co., VA, daughter of Richard Mosby & Hannah Hands. Charles Edwards bought 150 acres of land on the James River in Cumberland Co., VA 24 Mar 1754 and on 25 Mar 1765. Charles Edward & Mary his wife sold that land. Was Charles a brother of William & Andrew Edwards?
FamilySearch had shown William Edwards & Sarah Moreley of Providence Rhode Island as the parents, but provided no proof linking the them. Ancestry DNA only pulls two Edwards trees for Rhode Island, but pulls over 200 when sorted by surname Edwards and Birth location 'Virginia' at the 6th to 8th cousin level. Was this linkage made because of confusion between Sarah Moseley and Sarah Moreley?
Also of interest is this 1743 Goochland Co., VA Court Order. Cumberland Co., VA was formed from Goochland Co., VA. in 1748.
1743 Goochland Co, VA Court Order Book 5, page 213 - Court Order, Benjamin Harrison is appointed Surveyor of that part of the road of which Anthony Bennin was Surveyor, below Willis Creek. Ordered that the following persons do work on the road, Alex. Trent, Nowel Burton, Richard Burton, Robt. Bernard, Joshua Brock, Saml Allin Sr, John Allin, James Knott, Hugh Pruit, William Hudgens, Henry Pruit and Andrew Edwards.
Ancestry DNA shows Edwards Shared DNA matches to this webmaster in Surry and Isle of Wight, VA, (counties along the James River) but there's no known documents proving the link. Did this Edwards line originate in Isle of Wight, VA.?
