Our earliest known Edwards ancestor was William Edwards who was transported to Charles City County, Virginia by John Dipdall [Dibdall] in 1653, and was listed as a cooper in several records. Coopers were tradesmen who made barrels and other containers. One kind of container was called the hogshead, which was used to ship Virginia’s tobacco to England. In 1659, John Slayd, an orphan was bound to William Edwards to be educated and to learn the trade of a cooper. On 3 August 1659, William Edwards, cooper was listed in court records as having married Margaret, widow of William Stadword. He gifted her two children, William and Joice Stadword each with a cow and a heifer. Margaret’s parents and surname are unknown.
The following Charles City County, Virginia records are for William Edwards, Cooper:
Early Virginia Families Along the James River, Volume 2, by Louise Pledge Heath Foley
pg. 22 John Dipdall, Clerk, 756 acres, Chas. City Co. 24 Nov 1653, pg. 55 On South side of James River between the heads of Florida hundred and Powells Creek, bounded upon Capt. Frame, Capt. Rothewell, Mr. Sparrow & Harris’ run. Due to trans. of 16 pers: Edward Beck, Pereg (or Perey) Port, John Rogers, Henry Walker, Edmond Clarke, Wm. Edwards, William Bird, Ben. Gregory, Avis Barrett, George Boult, Mary Druell, Hugh Mohunharaga, Claus Mavellis, Pee. Hamer, John Reynoll, John Hatton.
Charles City County, Virginia County Court Orders 1655-1658:
Dec 1655 pg. 28 Itt is ordered that Phill Ellyott pay to Mr. Dibdall 524 tobbo and wi’th cost als exec. And that the said Mr. Dibdall shall Deliver to the sd Ellyott a note past to Mr. Edwards for the sd Debt or otherwise save him harmelesse from itt, and Deduce of the above sd 524 what that thereof shall app’e’ to be p’d to Mr. Edwards according to that note
3 Aug 1658 C11, pg. 152 Whereas Capt Wm. Rothwell decd stood indebted to Willm Edwards as assignee of Henry Basterd attorn’ of Seger Dekem mercht 800 lb tobbo and cask per obligacon, for wch the sd Edds haveing arrested the adm’t, Itt is therefore ordered that Geo Potter admr of the sd Decd’ts estate Do pay out of the estate unto the sd Edds the sd sume with costs, als exec.
Charles City County, Virginia Court Orders 1658-1661:
4 Jun 1659 C11, pg. 185 The Cort hath bound and intrusted John the orphane of Jo. Slaid decd apprentice to Wm Edwards cowper until the sd Edwards educate and teach the sd child w’th his best endeavour in the sd trade or profession of a cowper, and give caution for performance thereof by himself or his sonne
4 Jun 1659 C11, pg. 188 To the right worp’ll the Com’rs for the Com of Cha: Cittie
These presents witnesse that I Anthony Tall haveing in my custodie the orphanes of John Slayd, have thought it good to place one of the orphanes named John Slayd with Wm Edwards cooper, provided that the said Wm Ed’s wilbe bound to learne the sd orphane his sd trade of a Cooper and withall to bestow upon the suffic’t learning for the mannageing thereof, all wch I reffer to Discrecon of this worp’ll Cort whether they think if fitting so to better the sd orphane until he comes to the age 21yeares or else to let him remaine as he is with me. As witnesse my hand this 4th of March 1658 (1658/9)
The mark of “T” Anthony Tall Test: Tho, Stevenson rec. 15 June, sequ.
Att a Cort holden at Westov’r Aug 3, 1659
C11 pg. 194 Be it knowne unto all men by these presents that I Wm Edwards of the Com of Cha: Citty in Virga cowper for in considercon of marriage contacted and solemnized w’th Margaret the relict of Wm Stadword, decd, and for considercon of my love and affeccon to Wm and Joice the orphanes of the sd Standword and for their better subsistence hereafter do hereby freely clerly and absolutely give graunt and bestow unto the sd children vidz: unto Wm. Stadword one black cow called Starr about five yeares old and a heyfer about a yeare old both marked with a fflower de Luce on the left eare and a slitt in the right eare. And unto the sd Joice Stadword one black white faced cow called Lilly about four yeares old, one heyfer about half yeare old and one cow calfe all marked with a fflower de Luce in the left eare and two slits in the right eare To have enjoy and possesse x x x and in case of mortality of either of the said children dureing their minority the sd whole stock with increase as abovesd Divolve and come to the surviv’r x x In wittnesse whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seale this 2nd day of July 1659. The m’k and seale of Wm (XI seale) Edwards
Wit: Jone Cordell Howell Pryse
Indors: Recognit in Cur Aug 3, 1659 (etc). Rec.. Aug 6 sequ.
3 Oct 1659 C11 pg. 206 Abstract. Com of Adm Wm. Edwards of est of Wm Stadword decd, he having married the relict.
Att a Court holden at Westov’r Apr 22 1661 C11 pg. 264 Abstract. 3 Jan 1660/1. Receipt for cattle belonging to orphans of Slayde delivered by Anthony Tall. Signed Wm. XI Edwards, witnessed Thomas Rowe. Recorded 23 Apr 1661
On 10 August 1654, Samuel and Sara Woodward sold William Edwards cooper, all the interest in a third of part of 1000 acres. William conveyed this property to Mr John Beauchamp and Mr James Crewes on 3 June 1661. On 15 August 1654, John Gundy of Elizabeth City County and Ann his wife sold William Edwards cooper, 333 acres in Henrico County, adjacent to the land of Richard Cox and Samuel Woodward. On 3 June 1661, William Edwards sold 100 acres of this property, to John Ewen, and 50 acres to Ewen, leased for life. The remaining acreage was transferred to Mr John Beauchamp and Mr James Crewes. On 23 Apr 1661, Walter Aston of Charles City County, sold William Edwards a parcel of land, which adjoined land of William Edwards, Jo: Hardway, Kemidges Creek, Walter Shipleye. His property was on Kimages Creek near the Westover Church, which was established about 1613 on the James River, on the site of the current Westover Plantation. The Rev. John Dibdall, who transported William Edwards to Charles City in 1653, was an early minister of the Westover Church.
Charles City County, Virginia Court Orders 1658-1661:
C11 pg. 265 Abstract. Deed. 22 Apr 1661. Walter Aston of Cha: Citty Com, gent, sells Wm. Edwards a parcel of land adj land of sd William Edwards, Jo: Hardway, Kemidges Creek, Walter Shipleye Signed Walter Ashton . Wit: Tho: Crane Chris: Woodward Wm Alford Recorded 23 Apr 1661 Att a Co’rt holden at Westov’r Jun: 3. 1661
C11 pg. 274 Abstract. Deed. 15 Aug. 1654. John Gundy of Elizab: City Co., gent and Ann his wife sell Willm Edwards cooper, 333 acres in Henrico Co. adj land of Richard Cox and Samuel Woodward Signed John Gundry Ann Gundry Wit: Edw. Hallywell Thos. Sellery
Ack in Court by Daniel Llewellin for John and Ann Gundry 1 May 1655
Wm Edwards having already sold 100 acres part of above, “next adjoyning to mr Cocks land”, to John Ewen, and 50 acres to Ewen, leased for life. The remaining acreage now transferred to Mr John Beauchamp and Mr James Crewes. Dated 3 June 1661. Signed Willm XI Edwards. Test Hoel Pryse Cl. Cur. Recorded 11 June 1661,
C11 pg. 275 Abstract. Deed. 10 Aug 1654. Samuel and Sara Woodward sell to Wm Edwards cooper, all the int in a third of part of 1000 acres “purchased of mr Richard Cocke and given unto the said Sara by will of her dec’d father mr Robt Hallam, vidzt, that part lying next to the land downwards wch was purchased by the sd Edds of our brother John Gundrey”
Signed Samuell x Woodward Sarah Woodward Wit: Daniell Llewellin Margaret Llewellin
Ack’d by Daniell Llewellin for Saml and Sarah Woodward 1 May 1665.
Test: Hoel Pryse Cl Cur pre’dt
Wm Edwards conveys above to Mr John Beauchamp and Mr James Crewes 3 Jun 1661. Signed Wm XI Edwards. Recorded 11 June 1661.
The only known child of William & Margaret Edwards was Thomas Edwards, who died prior to Mar 1700 in Charles City County. Thomas wrote his will on 29 October 1699, and it was probated in Court 4 March 1699/70. Thomas’ will mention his wife, Elizabeth and two young sons, Will and Thomas and his brother William Stadard. Thomas’ brother, William Stadard was most certainly his half-brother William Stadword who was named in the 1659 court record where William Edwards gifted him and his sister, Joice with each a cow and a heifer.
Nothing else is known about William & Margaret Edwards as many of the early court records were lost during the Civil War when Union soldiers destroyed deeds and other court records. There are some records for a William Edwards in the 1689 and 1694 court records, but it is unknown if he was the same William who came to Charles City in 1653.