• John Edwards, Sr.
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John Edwards, Sr. -
Abstracts of Records

Orange Co., NC, Register of Deeds:

Land grants in Orange County, NC:

Sources: Eve B. Weeks, Orange County North Carolina, Register of Deeds, 1725-1768 and 1793 (Danielsville, GA: Heritage Papers, 1983); Pat Shaw Bailey, Land Grant Records of North Carolina: Vol. I, Orange County 1752-1885 (Signal Mountain, TN: Mountain Press, 1990). Also NC Archives on-line index, State Records Collection.

The above records indicate that John Edwards owned land on the upper branches of New Hope Creek including Marks Creek, Collins Creek, Morgan Creek, and Ellerbe Creek.  This places him a few miles south of Hillsborough in the vicinity of what are now the cities of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham, NC.  Collins Creek, Morgan Creek, and Ellerbe Creek are all found on modern maps.  The name of Marks Creek seems to have changed over the years, but other early land grants describe it as a branch of New Hope Creek.  Note there is an Edwards Mountain only a couple of miles south of Morgan Creek   It is now home to an exclusive golf course.  Another clue to the location of Marks Creek is this map (click here) of Orange County from 1776.  It shows a "T. Loyde" and a "J. Patterson" on the road leading south from Hillsborough, near both "Allabays" (Ellerbe) Creek and Collins Creek.  These are doubtless Thomas Lloyd and John Patterson, both of whom obtained land grants on Marks Creek in the 1750's.  Thomas Lloyd was a British loyalist and a prominent figure in the early history of Orange County.  His plantation, "the Meadows," was located near the present-day town of Calvander, formerly called Faucette.

Other Records:

Aug. 13, 1757. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS and Thomas CATE were chain carriers for John STROUD, Jr., 522 acres on Collins Creek, Cane Creek, and Watery Fork, adj. William MEBANE. (NC Archives, State Records Collection, "Land Entries, Warrants, and Plats of Survey", Folder No. 12.12.66.31.)

May 5, 1762. Orange Co., NC. Land entry by James BROOM describes 700 acres in Orange Co. adj. Haw River, Benjamin CLEMONS [CLEMENTS], and John EDWARDS. (NC Archives, State Records Collection, "Land Entries, Warrants, and Plats of Survey", Folder No. 12.12.56.64.) Note, it does note appear that a land grant was ever issued for this property.

1766 Tax List, Orange Co., NC: John EDWARDS, John EDWARDS, Jr., David EDWARDS, Edward EDWARDS, Hugh EDWARDS, Richard EDWARDS, Sylvanus EDWARDS, William EDWARDS, Young EDWARDS.

Note: of the Edwards who appear on the 1766 tax list, we know from John Sr.'s will (see below) that John Jr., David, and Sylvanus were definitely his sons; Young was his grandson, the son of John EDWARDS, Jr. ; Edward and Richard were probably his sons; Hugh EDWARDS is unknown.

Apr. 12, 1769. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS, Sr., of Orange, "planter," gave a deed "to my grandson Archibald CAMPBELL of same, love goodwill and affection, one negro boy named Daniel." Signed: John EDWARDS. Wits: William EDWARDS, Sarah LLOYD, Jno CAMPBELL. Recorded April Term 1769. (Orange Co., NC, Deeds.)

1779 Tax List, Orange Co., NC: John EDWARDS, John EDWARDS, Jr.,; David EDWARDS, Edward EDWARDS, Hugh EDWARDS, Richard EDWARDS, Sylvanus EDWARDS, William EDWARDS, Young EDWARDS.

Aug. 1782. Orange Co., NC. Letters for the administration of the estate of Nathaniel EDWARDS were presented to Margaret EDWARDS (wife) in Bond with John EDWARDS in sum £200. (Orange Co., NC, Court Records.)

Aug. 1782. Orange Co., NC. Letters of administration for the estate of Richard EDWARDS were granted to Robert MELLCKEN [MILLIKEN] in Bond with Robert REA. (Orange Co., NC, Court Records.)

Feb. 21, 1783. Orange Co., NC. "To account of the sales of Richard EDWARDS Estate Decd. Sold by order of court February the 21st 1783." (Orange County Records Volume XIII, Inventories & Accounts of Sales 1758-1785.) Then, Feb. term, 1785: Jno. EDWARDS appointed guardian for Richard EDWARDS, Elizabeth EDWARDS, Mary EDWARDS, Edward EDWARDS and Sarah, orphans of Richd. EDWARDS deceased and entered into bond with Rob. MILLIKIN in the some of £100 each. (Orange Co., NC, Court Records.)

Jan. 24, 1784. Orange Co., NC. Will of William EDWARDS "son of John EDWARDS, Sr., of Orange County". Mentions wife and children but does not identify them by name. Friends Benjamin DAVIS & Sackfield BRIEN named executors. Wits: Benjamin LACY, John DURHAM, John EDWARDS. Recorded Feb. Term 1784. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book A, p.300.)

June 14, 1785. Orange Co., NC. A deed for a slave from John EDWARDS to "friend Margaret EDWARDS at her death to her son Henry EDWARDS." Wits: John DURRAM [DURHAM], Sarah DURRAM. Speculation: this was a gift from John EDWARDS (either Sr. or Jr.) to Margaret, widow of Nathaniel EDWARDS. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book A, p.367.)

Nov. 1785. Orange Co., NC. Jno. EDWARDS Junr. was appointed guardian of James EDWARDS and Henry EDWARDS, orphans of Edward EDWARDS. This Edward EDWARDS may be another son of John EDWARDS, Sr. (Orange Co., NC, Court Records.)

1790 Tax List, Orange Co., NC, Caswell Dist.: John EDWARDS, Heirs of Sylvanus EDWARDS, Melen EDWARDS, John EDWARDS, Heirs of Rich'd EDWARDS, Estate of William EDWARDS.

Apr. 2, 1796. Orange Co., NC. The will of John EDWARDS, Sr., dated April 2, 1796, proved Nov. term 1801. To wife Mary, all estate during her life. To son John, 10 shillings. To daughters Mary CAMPBELL and Susannah ODEAN, 10 shillings each. "I give and bequeath to my son David EDWARDS to his children one negroe boy named [Lane?] to be equally divided. Then I give and bequeath to my son William EDWARDS to his children one negroe named Jen to be equally divided. Then I give and bequeath to my son Sill EDWARDS to his children one negroe by name Lewis to be equally divided." Sets free a negro woman. To son Henry, 5 negroes. Exec: Henry EDWARDS, Zackfield BREWER. Wit: Thomas BREWER, Elizabeth (X) BREWER. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book D, p.56.)