• David Edwards, Jr.
  • Elizabeth Andrews

David Edwards, Jr.,
of Ashe County, NC

David Edwards, Jr., son of David EDWARDS, Sr. & Elizabeth MORRIS, was born Apr. 16, 1774, in Orange Co., NC, and died Oct. 5, 1828, in Ashe Co., NC. He married (1) Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of William ANDREWS & Mary LLOYD(?), Aug. 28, 1792, in Orange Co., NC. She was born 1776 in Orange Co., NC, and died Jan. 10, 1817, in Ashe Co., NC. He married (2) Jane Osborne Reeves, daughter of Enoch OSBORNE & Jane HASH, Nov. 8, 1818, in Ashe Co., NC. She was the widow of George REEVES, Jr., of Ashe Co., NC, who died in 1811. She was born Aug. 18, 1777, in Botetourt (Montgomery) Co., VA, and died June 24, 1851, in Alleghany Co., NC. David and Jane (Osborne) Edwards are buried in the David Edwards, Jr., Cemetery, located on Highway 21, 8 miles southwest of Sparta, NC. Elizabeth (Andrews) Edwards is buried at the Elizabeth Edwards Cemetery, located off Highway 18, 1/2 mile west of Zion Church, in Alleghany Co., NC.

Children of David Edwards, Jr., and Elizabeth Andrews:

  1. +William Edwards ("Grancey Billy"), b. June 22, 1793, in Orange or Wilkes (Ashe) Co., NC; d. 1881 in Alleghany Co., NC; m. Hannah DAVIS (b. abt. 1791; d. July 9, 1852).
  2. +Richard Clifford Edwards, Sr., b. Dec. 31, 1794, in Orange or Wilkes (Ashe) Co., NC; d. Oct. 6, 1875, in Yancey or Alleghany Co., NC; m. Mary "Polly" FENDER, daughter of Nimrod FENDER & Sarah SUMERS, abt. 1815 (b. May 18, 1796; d. Mar. 14, 1870).
  3. Henry Edwards, b. Oct. 14, 1795 or 1796, in Orange or Wilkes (Ashe) Co., NC; d. 1881, Randolph Co., IN; m. Mary.
  4. +Berry Edwards, Sr., b. Feb. 20, 1799, in Ashe Co., NC; d. May 13, 1870, in Alleghany Co., NC; m. Ruth DAVIS, daughter of Thomas DAVIS, abt. 1819 (b. abt. 1800; d. July 15, 1864); bur. Center Edwards Cemetery, Hwy 21, 1.5 miles north of Sparta, Alleghany Co., NC.
  5. David Edwards, b. Jan. 24, 1801, Ashe Co., NC; d. Jan. 26, 1885, Johnson Co., MO; m. Elizabeth.
  6. Hiram Edwards, b. Mar. 18, 1803, Ashe Co., NC; d. abt. 1886, Bates Co., MO; m. Jane, last name unknown.
  7. Sarah "Sallie" Edwards, b. Mar. 18, 1803, Ashe Co., NC; d. 1860-1870, Orange Co., IN; m. Hutchings (Hutchins) BURTON, son of Richard BURTON & Susannah STAMPER, abt. 1818 (b. Feb. 12, 1797; d. June 3, 1869).
  8. Mahala Edwards, b. Apr. 30, 1809, Ashe Co., NC; d. Oct. 9, 1887, Gage Co., NE; m. Henry RICHARDSON, abt. 1830 (b. abt. 1800; d. 1870-1872, Alleghany Co., NC.) Children: Elizabeth Richardson (c.1831), Berry Richardson (c.1833), William Garfield Richardson (c.1835), David Richardson (c.1837), Nancy Richardson (1838) m. Jackson ANDREWS, Cynthia Richardson (c.1840), Jane Richardson (c.1843), Celia Richardson (c.1846), Emily Richardson (c.1849) m. Haywood ANDREWS.
  9. Elizabeth Edwards, b. 1811, Ashe Co., NC; m. Jesse CONLEY.
  10. Thursy Edwards, b. abt. 1812, Ashe Co., NC; d. 1829, Ashe Co., NC; m. Noah WARD.
  11. Morris Edwards, b. Oct. 21, 1814, Ashe Co., NC; d. Sept. 27, 1899, Saline Co., MO; m. Melinda, last name unknown.

Children of David Edwards, Jr., and Jane Osborne:

  1. +Solomon Osborne Edwards, Sr., b. Aug. 26, 1819, Ashe Co., NC; d. Jan. 1, 1901, Alleghany Co., NC; m. (1) Mazy MCMILLAN, daughter of James MCMILLAN & Thursa GAMBILL, Jan. 19, 1839 (b. Aug. 5, 1818; d. Apr. 11, 1870); m. (2) Margaret PHIPPS, daughter of Joseph & Nancy PHIPPS, Jan. 11, 1871, Alleghany Co., NC (b. abt. 1830; d. bef. 1900); bur. Solomon Edwards Cemetery, Highway 221, 9.5 miles west of Sparta, Alleghany Co., NC.
  2. Phoebe Edwards, b. Apr. 2, 1825, Ashe Co., NC; d. Oct. 11, 1893, Blaine Co., NE; m. Dr. Aras Bishop COX, son of Matthew COX & Mary BISHOP, Feb. 23, 1845, Grayson Co., VA (b. Jan. 25, 1816, Floyd Co., VA; d. Jan. 30, 1907). Dr. A.B. Cox was a physician and Methodist minister. He was the author of the book, Footprints in the Sands of Time, originally published in 1900, which is filled with genealogical information concerning the inhabitants of Grayson Co., VA, and Ashe and Alleghany Co., NC. Children: Mary Jane Cox (1846), Henry R. Cox (1847), Edward M. Cox (c.1850), Dr. Charles B. Cox (c.1852), Albert S.A. Cox.

Notes

David EDWARDS, Jr., was a first cousin of Young EDWARDS, Sr., one of the early settlers in the area that eventually became Alleghany County, NC. Young Sr. and David Sr. both had many descendants in Alleghany County.

According Dr. A.B. Cox, Footprints in the Sands of Time (1900), "David Edwards, Sr., the pioneer settler of Alleghany County, represented the county of Ashe in the legislature of North Carolina when Alleghany, Ashe and Watauga were one county in 1812. Mr. Edwards lived on Little River for some years, his first wife was a Miss Anders. They raised a large family noted for industry, economy, perseverance and prudence in business relations… David Edwards, Sr., married the second time Mrs. Jane Reeves, widow of George Reeves. They had two children after second marriage, and lived on Elk Creek on the old homestead where the widow Reeves resided before her second marriage… David Edwards, Sr., an example of industry, moral worth, and sainted wife, having faithfully done their part as good people in the various relations of life, now rest in their honored graves, in the family graveyard on the same farm."

Some important information about David Jr.'s family comes from a document dated Mar. 24, 1892, recorded in Alleghany Deed Book 33, pp.524-525. The document was prepared by David Jr.'s nieces Sarah (EDWARDS) CHOATE, Nancy (EDWARDS) FENDER, and Jane (EDWARDS) DUNCAN. In it, the three women state that "Their uncle David's childrens names were William EDWARDS, Henry or Hal EDWARDS, Morris EDWARDS, S.O. EDWARDS, and Phoebe who married A.B. COX, Sally who married Hutch BURTON, Mahala who married Henry RICHARDSON, Betsy who married Jesse CONLEY, Thursy who married Noah WARD." Click here to read the entire affidavit.

David married Elizabeth ANDREWS in Orange County, NC, in 1792. They soon moved to Wilkes County, NC, settling in the area that became Ashe County in 1799. David Edwards obtained land grants in Ashe County in 1799 and 1800. He was elected to the state legislature in 1812. Elizabeth died in 1817 and David married Jane Osborne Reeves, daughter of Enoch Osborn and Jane Hash, and the widow of George Reeves, Jr., of Ashe County.

His birth and death dates are from his gravestone at the David Edwards Jr. Cemetery, located off Highway 21, 8 miles southwest of Sparta, NC. (Alleghany County Cemeteries Through 1986, pub by the Alleghany Co. Hist-Gen. Society.) This is about a half mile past the town of Cherry Lane.

Of David's sons, William, Richard, Berry, and Solomon Osborne EDWARDS remained in Alleghany Co., NC, and the rest moved to Indiana.

Pheobe Edwards, the youngest daughter of David Edwards and Jane Osborne, married Dr. Aras B. Cox, a local minister and historian. In his book Footprints in the Sands of Time (1900), ch.XII, Dr. A.B. Cox writes:

"On the 23rd of February 1845, I was married to Phebe Edwards, whose piety as a faithful, good wife, threw across life's pathway a mellow light of love and joy. We settled in Alleghany County, at that time Ashe County. My wife's father died when she was three years of age. Her widowed mother had been confined by paralysis for several years and could not walk. Our residence was near where my wife could be with her a part of the time until 1851, when Mrs. Jane Edwards, who possessed more than ordinary talents, after a life of christian precept and example, and unceasing toil in the wise management of business for the welfare of her family and friends, patiently and peacefully passed away in June 1851, and was buried in the family graveyard by the side of her deceased husband, David Edwards, who preceded her to the grave 21 years."

Records:

Aug. 28, 1792. Orange Co., NC. David EDWARDS and Elizabeth ANDESS posted a marriage bond; bondsman: Ezekiel BREWER. Wit: Abner B. BRUCE.

Aug. 6, 1795. Wilkes Co, NC, Court Minutes. David EDWARDS appointed constable with Theophilus EVANS and Henry BREWER, secrs.

Jan. 31, 1797. Wilkes Co., NC, Court Minutes. David EDWARDS appointed executor of the estate of Peter WIANT (WYATT?).

1800 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.77: DAVID EDWARDS
4 w/m under 10 1 w/f 16-25
1 w/m 16-25  

Nov. 26, 1802. Ashe Co., NC. Land grant to David EDWARDS, 100 acres adj. Wm. CONNELY's 640-acre tract between Crab Creek & Moccasin Creek. Entered Apr. 2, 1799. (NC Archives Folder No. 12.14.28.291, Land Grant No. 276, Entry No. 431, Book 116:283.)

1810 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.13: D. EDWARDS
1 w/m under 10 2 w/f under 10
3 w/m 10-15 1 w/f 26-45
2 w/m 16-25  
1 w/m 26-45  

1820 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.6: DAVID EDWARDS
2 w/m under 10 2 w/f under 10
1 w/m 10-15 4 w/f 10-15
1 w/m 16-18 1 w/f 16-25
2 w/m 16-25 1 w/f over 45
1 w/m over 45 3 slaves

Nov. 2, 1836. David EDWARDS of Ashe Co., NC, to Berry O. JOHNSON of Wilkes Co., NC, 100 acres on Little River adj. Richard WILLIAMS & a branch. [Price cut off.] Signed: David EDWARDS. Wits: Thornton JENNINGS, Edward F. CROOK. Proved July 17, 1869, by B. EDWARDS, Sr., from the grantor's handwriting. (Alleghany DB 1, p.282.)

Note: David EDWARDS reportedly died Oct. 5, 1828. Therefore, the above deed probably involves his son. Subsequent records concerning David's widow, Jane (OSBORNE):

1840 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.32: JANE EDWARDS
1 w/m 20-29 1 w/f 15-19
  1 w/f 20-29
  1 w/f 60-69

1850 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.250:
JANE EDWARDS, age 73, $300, b. in VA
-- Jane WILEY(?), 10, NC

Oct. 4, 1847. Jane EDWARDS' will, dated Oct. 4, 1847, names children Osborne EDWARDS, Phebe COX, Enoch REEVES, George REEVES, Polly MCMILLAN, Nancy COX, & Rebecca GENTRY, heirs of Jesse REEVES. Executor: son Osborne EDWARDS. Jane died in 1851.

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