Isaac Edwards
& Gilley Cheek

Isaac Edwards, son of Richard "Dickie" EDWARDS & Edith BARTON (BURTON), was born Mar. 3, 1820, in Ashe Co., NC, and died Feb. 12, 1890, in Alleghany Co., NC. He married Gilley Cheek, daughter of Richard CHEEK & Jane "Jennie" ANDREWS, abt. 1842. She was born Oct. 15, 1818, in Ashe Co., NC, and died Feb. 16, 1892, in Alleghany Co., NC. Isaac & Gilley (Cheek) Edwards are buried at the Edwards & Maines Cemetery in Alleghany Co., NC.

Children of Isaac Edwards & Gilley Cheek:

1. +David Edwards, b. Jan. 17, 1844, Ashe Co., NC; d. Sept. 3, 1931, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Caroline EDWARDS, daughter of Haywood Thomas EDWARDS & Jane LANDRETH, Dec. 15, 1865, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Nov. 5, 1847; d. May 31, 1925); bur. Edwards & Maines Cemetery, Rd. 1405, Alleghany Co., NC.
2. +Richard A. Edwards, b. Sept. 10, 1845, Ashe Co., NC; d. June 12, 1923, Alleghany Co., NC; m. (1) Mary Jane REYNOLDS, daughter of Wilson & Nancy REYNOLDS, Dec. 27, 1869, Alleghany Co., NC (b. 1852; d. May 1, 1877); m. (2) Rosabelle WOLFE, daughter of Henry Allen WOLFE & Catherine COX, Dec. 6, 1877, Alleghany Co., NC (b. June 14, 1849; d. May 11, 1932); bur. Luther Edwards Cemetery, Rd. 1418, Alleghany Co., NC.
3. +Eda Caroline "Eadie" Edwards, b. Aug. 4, 1849, Ashe Co., NC; d. Nov. 14, 1943, Grayson Co., VA; m. Solomon WILLEY, son of Samuel WILLEY & Sarah CROUSE, Aug. 30, 1868, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Jan. 8, 1849; d. May 6, 1942); bur. Pleasant Home Union Baptist Church, Rd. 1412, Alleghany Co., NC. No children.
4. William Edwards, b. Abt. 1849, Ashe Co., NC; d. bef. 1860.
5. +Martha Edwards, b. Feb. 25, 1852, Ashe Co., NC; d. Jan. 26, 1940, Alleghany Co., NC; m. John William MAINES, son of Peter V. MAINES & Marzella MORGAN, Aug. 18, 1885, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Oct. 31, 1868; d. July 26, 1952); bur. Edwards & Maines Cemetery, Rd. 1405, Alleghany Co., NC.
6. +John Edwards, b. Aug. 3, 1854, Ashe Co., NC; d. Feb. 25, 1931, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Emilie "Millie" MCGRADY, daughter of Calvin & Patsy MCGRADY, Oct. 4, 1876, Alleghany Co., NC (b. May 16, 1862, d. Feb. 28, 1950); bur. Pleasant Home Union Baptist Church, Alleghany Co., NC.
7. +Chesley Edwards, b. July 23, 1857, Ashe (Alleghany) Co., NC; d. Sept. 15, 1923, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Martha Candice "Mattie" COX, daughter of Haywood COX & Frances JENNINGS, May 16, 1889, Alleghany Co., NC (b. Sept. 15, 1870; d. Sept. 24, 1942); bur. Edwards & Maines Cemetery, Rd. 1405, Alleghany Co., NC.
8. +Hastin Edwards, b. Feb. 15, 1860, Ashe (Alleghany) Co., NC; d. Jan. 19, 1941, Alleghany Co., NC; m. Nancy CROUSE, daughter of Martin CROUSE & Ann WHITEHEAD, Sept. 16, 1883, in Alleghany Co., NC (b. Oct. 19, 1864; d. Jan. 26, 1944); bur. Pleasant Home Baptist Church, Rd. 1412, Alleghany Co., NC.

Notes

saac Edwards and Gilly Cheek were probably married around 1842, based on the ages of their children.  Originally they may have lived in the Glade Creek area near Isaac Edwards' family.  By 1870, however, they had moved to central Alleghany County near the Virginia state line, where the New River makes a loop into North Carolina.  This was known as the Nile Community.  Isaac and Gilley (Cheek) Edwards are buried in the Edwards & Maines Cemetery, located off Road 1405 in Alleghany County, very close to the Virginia line.

Isaac Edwards died Feb. 12, 1890, in Alleghany Co., NC.  He apparently died intestate.  His heirs can be identified from a deed dated Mar. 5, 1890.  (Alleghany DB 8:371.)  Two of Isaac's children, Richard EDWARDS and Martha MAINES, purchased 140 acres of land on the New River from Gillie EDWARDS, Richard EDWARDS, David EDWARDS, John EDWARDS, Haston EDWARDS, and Edy WILLEY.

Records

1850 Census, Ashe Co., NC, p.251:
ISAAC EDWARDS, 31, farmer, 250, b. in NC

-- Gillie, 33, NC
-- David, 7, NC
-- Richd, 5, NC
-- Eady, 3, NC
-- Wm, 1, NC

1860 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Glade Creek Twp., p.436 (HH#680):
ISAAC EDWARDS, 39, farmer, $1000, $400, NC

-- Gilley, 40, NC
-- David, 18, NC
-- Richd, 16, NC
-- Pheby, 14, NC
-- Martha, 12, NC
-- John, 10, NC
-- Chesley, 8, NC
-- Hasten, 6, NC

1860 Census, Agricultural Schedule, Alleghany Co., NC:  ISAAC EDWARDS, 20 acres improved land, 80 acres unimproved land, value of farm $100, value of farm implements $20, 3 horses, no asses or mules, 4 milch cows, no working oxen, 5 other cattle, 25 sheep, 20 swine, value of livestock $302. (Source: New River Notes)

CIVIL WAR: Isaac EDWARDS served in Co. F, 5th NC Senior Reserves. Enlisted July 22, 1864 at Statesville, NC. Age at enlistment was 46 years, 4 months, 17 days. Description: 5'6", dark comp. and hair, blue eyes, farmer, native of Alleghany Co. NC. (Source: "Ashe and Alleghany County in the Civil War" by Jeff Weaver.)

Dec. 27, 1864. Gilly EDWARDS is named in her father Richard Cheek's will (Alleghany WB 1, p.19).

1870 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Gap Civil Twp (HH#121):
ISAAC EDWARDS, age 50, farmer, NC

-- Gilley, 52, NC
-- Martha, 17, NC
-- John, 16, NC
-- Chisley, 13, NC
-- Hasting, 10, NC
-- Richard, 22, at home, NC

1880 Census, Alleghany Co., NC, Gap Civil Twp. (HH#90):
ISAAC EDWARDS, 60, farmer, NC NC NC

-- Gillie, 62, wife, NC NC NC
-- Chesley, 22, son, " " "
-- Hastin, 20, son, " " "
-- Martha, 24, dau, " " "
COX, Nathaniel, 38, boarder, laborer, NC NC NC

Deed Abstracts