John Edwards, Jr.
of Orange County, NC
John Edwards, Jr., son of John & Mary EDWARDS, Sr., was born c.1730's, maybe in Virginia, and died between Dec. 1817 and Feb. 1818 in Orange Co., NC. He married Lucy, possibly Lucy CATES, daughter of Thomas CATES of Orange Co., NC.
Children of John Edwards, Jr.:
- +Young Edwards, Sr., born bet. 1750-1760, Orange Co., NC, or maybe VA; d. Oct. 1843, Ashe Co., NC.
- Allen Edwards, b. abt. 1757 in Orange Co., NC; d. 1846-1850, Chatham Co., NC; m. Charity, last name unk. (b. abt. 1755; d. after 1846). Listed in the Orange Co., NC, census, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, and the Chatham Co., NC, census in 1840. Probably the Allen EDWARDS who entered a claim for 400 acres on Collins Creek on Oct. 16, 1779; land grant issued Mar. 11, 1799. (Orange Co., NC, Land Grant No. 1424.) According to a letter in the Raleigh Star & North Carolina Gazette, July 8, 1846, page 1, col. 4, Allen EDWARDS was then 89 years old and his wife, Charity, was 91.
- Stokes Edwards, b. abt. 1760, Orange Co., NC; d. 1840-1846, Scott Co., IL; m. (1) unknown; m. (2) Winney, last name unknown. Listed in the census of Orange Co., NC, 1800-1810; Wilkes Co., NC, in 1820; Grayson Co., VA, in 1830; Scott Co., IL, in 1840. Stokes Edwards applied for a Rev. War pension Sept. 30, 1833, in Morgan Co., IL, but his application was denied because no record of his service could be found. There is a supporting affidavit from Allen Edwards of Orange Co., NC, which states that Stokes Edwards was underage when he enlisted. (NARA Pension File No. R3265.)
- John Edwards, III, b. abt. 1762, Orange Co., NC; d. 1855, Lawrence Co., IN; m. Mary, last name unknown. Listed in the census of Orange Co., NC, 1800 and 1810; Ashe Co., NC, in 1820; Lawrence Co., IN, in 1830, 1840, and 1850.
- Rhoda Edwards, b. abt. 1774, Orange Co., NC; d. 1850-1860, Maury Co., TN; m. unknown BALL.
- Elizabeth "Betsy" Edwards, b. c.1780's, Orange Co., NC; m. Phillip SIMPSON, Aug. 26, 1812, Orange Co., NC.
Notes
ohn Edwards, Jr., was apparently the oldest son of John Edwards, Sr., of Orange County, NC. There is a lot of conflicting information about him. He was probably born in the 1730's, based on the age of his son Young Edwards, who was born in the 1750's. John Edwards, Jr., received 160 acres from John Edwards, Sr., (presumably his father) in 1764. His name appears on an Orange County tax list in 1766, and he served in the Orange County militia in 1767.
According to some sources, John Edwards, Jr., married up to four times. His only verified marriage, however, is to his last wife Lucy, who is identified in his will. The will also names "brother Barry CATE" as executor. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book D, p.520.) This strongly suggests that Lucy was a CATE (or CATES). She was possibly the daughter of Thomas CATES of Orange County, NC, who owned land on Collins Creek near the Edwards family, according to North Carolina land grants.
Some sources indicate that John Edwards married a Lucy CURTIS in Northumberland County, VA, but I believe this is an error. Orange County, NC, is a very long way from Northumberland County, VA. Some long-ago researcher, probably unfamiliar with the local geography, went too far afield to locate a suitable marriage record. Although there is a record of a John Edwards who married a Lucy Curtis in Northumberland County on Nov. 30, 1802, there is no evidence that this John Edwards was related in any way to the Edwards family of Orange County, NC.
Many sources also include unverified marriages to Sarah PITMAN, unknown ALLEN and unknown STOKES. The idea that John Edwards married women named ALLEN and STOKES appears to be based on the names of his sons, Allen Edwards and Stokes Edwards. Although naming a son after his mother's family was a common practice, it is important to keep in mind that people also named their sons after other relatives, local heroes or important people in the community. For example, a number of men in Orange County, NC, were named "Ruffin" after Thomas RUFFIN, who was a prominent judge and politician from Hillsborough. It would be a mistake to assume that all the men named Ruffin were descendants of the Ruffin family.
John Edwards' military service is also fairly confusing. Some sources indicate that he served in the Revolutionary War with his sons John Edwards and Stokes Edwards. Unfortunately, there were many different men named John Edwards in North Carolina during the Revolutionary period. Which one is "our" John Edwards? The following records are from the National Archives Compiled Service Records of Revolutionary War Soliders and the D.A.R. Roster of Soldiers from North Carolina in the American Revolution (Durham, NC: 1932):
| Name | Rank | Company | Record | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Reg't, NC Militia | ||||
| EDWARDS, John | Pvt. | Capt. William Brinkley's Co., commanded by Col. Samuel Jarves | On company payroll, not dated. | NARA Compiled Service Records |
| 2nd NC Reg't | ||||
| EDWARDS, John | Pvt. | Capt. Robert Fenner''s Co., commanded by Col. John Patten | Muster roll, Jan. 1778, Feb. 1778. Remarks: Hospital. | NARA Compiled Service Records |
| EDWARDS, John | Pvt. | Amstrong's Co., commanded by Col. Alexander Martin | Enlisted June 1, 1776, for 3 years; died Feb. 15, 1778. | DAR Roster of Soldiers from NC |
| 6th NC Reg't | ||||
| EDWARDS, John | Corpl. | Childs' Co., commanded by Col. Gideon Lamb | Enlisted 1777, omitted Feb. 1778 | DAR Roster of Soldiers from NC |
| 10th NC Reg't Col. Abraham Shepard |
||||
| EDWARDS, John | - | Lytle's Company | Enlisted Apr. 12, 1778, for 12 months, destd July 1781, mustered Jan., left svc. Apr. 12, 1782. | DAR Roster of Soldiers from NC |
| EDWARDS, John Jr. | Pvt. | Lytle's Company | Mustered Jan. 1782 | DAR Roster of Soldiers from NC; NARA Compiled Service Records |
| EDWARDS, John | Pvt. | Sharp's Company | Enlisted 1781 for 18 months, destd Apr. 30, 1783. | DAR Roster of Soldiers from NC |
| EDWARDS, John | - | Jones' Company | Enlisted Oct. 1781 for 12 months, time out Oct. 1, 1782. | DAR Roster of Soldiers from NC |
| Other | ||||
| EDWARDS, John | Pvt. | Bynum's Co., NC Militia | Muster roll Apr. 7, 1781 | NARA Compiled Service Records |
John Edwards' son Stokes Edwards served in the 10th North Carolina Regiment, according to his pension application, dated Sept. 30, 1833, in Morgan County, Illinois. Stokes testified that he enlisted in the army during the summer of 1775 or 1776 in Hillsborough, NC, while a resident of Orange County, NC, and served in the 10th NC Regiment under Lt. Matthew McCauley, Capt. Wilson and Col. Shepherd. [Note, Lt. Matthew McCauley was from Orange County, NC, and lived near the Edwards family on Morgan Creek.] Stokes Edwards' pension application was supported by affidavits from Allen Edwards and Henry Edwards in Orange County, NC. Nevertheless, his application was rejected because he could not be found in any North Carolina military records. (NARA Pension File No. R3265.)
Many researchers have focused on Lytle's Company of the 10th NC Regiment, because this company drew men from Orange and surrounding counties. The names John Edwards and John Edwards, Jr., (but not Stokes Edwards) appear on rosters of Lytle's Company, as noted on the above table. I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who has further documentation concerning the Edwards family's Revolutionary service.
After the war, John Edwards and Stokes Edwards apparently moved for a time to Laurens Dist., SC, where they are listed in the 1790 census. John Edwards reportedly acquired land in Georgia and is listed there as a Revolutionary War veteran (verification is needed because any such record could be a different John Edwards). In any event, John Edwards was back in Orange County by 1800, where he died sometime between December 1817 (when he wrote his will) and February 1818 (when his will was proved).
Other Records:
May 15, 1764. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS, Sr., deeded 160 acres to John EDWARDS, Jr. (Source: Eve B. Weeks, Orange County, North Carolina, Register of Deeds, 1725-1768 and 1793 (Danielsville, GA: Heritage Papers, 1983).)
1766 Tax List, Orange Co., NC: John EDWARDS, Jr.
1779 Tax List, Orange Co. NC: John EDWARDS, Jr.
Oct. 23, 1779. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS, Junr., entered a claim for 400 acres on the waters of the Haw River. The land grant issued on May 18. 1789. (Orange Co., NC, Land Grant No. 944.)
June 14, 1785. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS deeded a slave to "friend Margaret EDWARDS at her death to her son Henry EDWARDS." Wits: John DURRAM [DURHAM], Sarah DURRAM. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book A, p.367.) Note this could be either John Sr. or John Jr.
Aug. 10, 1785. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS, Jr., entered a claim for 100 acres of land beside Crow's & Woody's Ferry Roads. The land grant issued on July 16, 1795. (Orange Co., NC, Land Grant No. 1156.)
Nov. 1785. Orange Co., NC. The court of Orange Co., NC, appointed Jno. EDWARDS Jr. guardian of James EDWARDS and Henry EDWARDS, orphans of Edward EDWARDS.
- 1790 Census, Laurens Dist., SC:
- • John EDWARDS (p.438), 3 w/m >16, no w/m <16, 4
w/f, 1 slave
• Stokes EDWARDS (p.435), 1 w/m <16, 3 w/m >16, 4 w/f, no slaves
April 2, 1796. Orange Co., NC. John is named in his father's will. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book D, p.56.)
- 1800 Census, Orange Co., NC: 3 individuals named John EDWARDS are listed:
- • John EDWARDS, 1 white male under 10, 1 w/m 10-15, 1
w/m 45+, 1 w/f 45+
• John EDWARDS, 1 w/m under 10, 1 w/m 16-25, 1 w/m 45+, 1 w/f 10-15, 1 w/f 16-25, 1 w/f 26-45
• John EDWARDS, 1 w/m 16-25, 1 w/f 16-25
- 1810 Census, Orange Co., NC: 2 individuals named John EDWARDS are listed:
- • p.114: Jno. EDWARDS, 1 w/m 45+, 1 w/f 45+
• p.166: Jno. EDWARDS, 1 w/m <10, 1 w/m 26-45, 3 w/f <10, 1 w/f 16-25
May 17, 1817. Orange Co., NC. John EDWARDS, Sr., applied for a land grant 27.75 acres on Collins Creek. The grant was issued Dec. 22, 1819, probably to his heirs (since he died bef. Feb. 1818). (Orange Co., NC, Land Grant No. 1949.)
Dec. 1, 1817. John Edwards' will, dated Dec. 1, 1817, proven Feb. term, 1818, names wife Lucy, sons Young, Allen, Stokes, John, daughters Elizabeth and Roda BALL; children of Stokes by his first wife, to wit, Richard, Isaac, Allen, John, Nancy, Lucy, and Cathery; great-grandchildren Rhoda, William, and Mary RICKETTS, children of Richard RICKETTS and Rebecca. Execs: Allen EDWARDS, "brother Barry CATE," Reuben SMITH. Witnesses: Elijah GRAVES, Ariana GRAVES. (Orange Co., NC, Will Book D, p.520.)
Note: John identifies himself as John Edwards SENIOR in his will. According to the custom of the time, he would have been known as John Edwards, Sr., after the death of his father, because he was the oldest John Edwards in the family. During the 19th century, "Sr." and "Jr." were mainly used as nicknames, not as a formal or permanent part of a person's name. Confusion about the use of Sr. and Jr. has caused many researchers to mistakenly "merge" data on John Edwards (who died 1818) and his father John Edwards (who died 1801).