Wednesday, May 30, 2012

John Saunders Edwards, Brother of Charles E. Edwards

John Saunders Edwards

John was b. 12 Feb 1812, probably in Leesburg, VA or Loudon Co. He
marr. Susan Washington MacPherson 8 May 1838 in Washington, DC.

Susan was the daughter of Joseph Macpherson and Mary Elizabeth Washington and granddaughter of Robert Washington and Alice Struther. Robert Washington and General George Washington were cousins. Not only were they cousins, they were best friends. Robert is mentioned in the will of Gen. Washington and inherited one of Washington's walking sticks/sword which is now in the Ford Museum at Morristown, N. J. Susan is a descendant of Lawrence Washington and Joyce Flemming, the grandparents of Gen. George Washington. Susan was born in 1820, Washington D.C. and d. 21 Nov 1889. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery (Georgetown), Washington, DC.



Sunday, May 27, 2012

Coyote Attacks Keeper Arthur Edwards in National Zoo, May 16, 1904




May 16, 1904

Coyote Attacks Keeper Edwards in National Zoo

Desperate Fight Between Enraged Animal and the Man

ARMS BADLY LACERATED

Brute Beaten Off by Club in Hands of Attendant Run fling to Rescue

Arthur Edwards, one of the keepers at the Zoo, was so badly torn about the hands and arms by a big coyote yesterday that he will lose one finger and be deprived of the use of both arms for several weeks to come.

The coyote that attacked Edwards is one of those presented to the Zoo by J R Eddy, the landscape gardener. He was brought from the Indian Territory with his mate when a pup and Edwards has had the care of him ever since. Notwithstanding this, the coyote has shown all the treachery of his tribe and has been "bad " always. In February, he attacked Edwards but was beaten off before he could do any harm. Head Keeper Blackburn, it is understood, has known the vile disposition of the animal, but when the ease was reported to Superintendent Baker yesterday he expressed surprise.

Fight for His Life

The fight between Edwards and the coyote, which is an unusually large one, occurred at 12 o'clock yesterday, when Edwards was cleaning out the enclosure in which the animal lives. The attendants have to go into the cages alone and lock the door behind them, and when they are in with a bad animal they take particular care that their backs are never turned to it. Yesterday as Edwards was backing out, having put the enclosure in order. The coyote sprang at his throat with a snarl of rage. The keeper threw him back, but with all the quickness of his kind, the animal was on him again before he had time to unlock the door and get out.

He missed the throat hold he was trying for, but Edwards was knocked down by the force of the brute's attack. Seeing that the animal would get at his throat in another second, Edwards attempted to stall him off by grasping his neck, preferring to have his hands and arms torn to letting the wolf's teeth sink into his throat.

The Ruse Succeeded

His ruse, costly as it was, succeeded. The coyote fastened on his right hand, and with one snap of his steel-like jaws, crunched every bone in it. Letting the hand go he grasped the forearm. Coyotes are all snappers, and do not hold their grip as a bull dog would. Up and down Edwards right arm the enraged brute went, as long as Edwards retained power enough in it to keep it in front of his throat, for which the coyote was working hard.

Finding the strength gone from his right arm, Edwards put forward his left, from which, in the twinkling of an eye, the ligaments were torn horribly. Fighting as he was for his very life, the keeper was no match for the brute on top of him. He was afraid to move his hand to try to get up, knowing instinctively that it would give the coyote the chance at his throat. While they were still on the ground, the coyote worrying the man to death, another keeper ran to the rescue. With a club he beat the coyote off, pounding him almost into insensibility before he could make him let go his grip, for the coyote, coward as he is under ordinary circumstances, is as desperate as a cornered rat when fully aroused. The keeper then dragged Edwards from the enclosure.

Edwards Taken Home

The wounded man was taken to hs home in Tenleytown. Upon examination It was found that his right hand and arm were badly torn. The little finger will be amputated. The left hand was also mashed, and the ligaments of the left arm torn out of place. It will be some time before he can return to his duties.

This morning the coyote was lying quietly in the sun, taking matters easily. Every now and then his treacherously yellow eyes brightened into a malignant glow as they rested upon visitors. Headkeeper Blackburn is away at present, and what disposition he will make of the vicious brute upon his return is not known.

(You can read the original newspaper frontpage here)

Shimersville, Pennsylvania Continued

Shimerville 



Shimerville as discussed in this article refers to the four buildings at the traffic light intersection of 29/100, St. Peter’s and Shimerville Road plus a short distance down both 29/100 (King’s High Road, King’s Highway) and Shimerville Road. 


Monday, May 21, 2012

Samuel Murray Edwards


Samuel Murray Edwards is the father of Charles E. Edwards (1834-1917). who married Alice Compton Edwards.

Charles and Alice Edwards are the parents of Arthur Lapsley Edwards (17 Jul 1870 - 3 Jun 1948)

SAMUEL MURRAY EDWARDS, the father of John Saunders Edwards, was born on April 13, 1789; died in Richmond, VA on December 28, 1863; and on July 29, 1809 married Nancy Ann Saunders, who was the daughter of John Saunders and Mary Oxley (From the Saunders Bible). Samuel Murray Edwards was the son of Thomas Edwards and the great, great grandson of John E. Edwards and Mrs. William Edwards (This is a curious name. She is possibly the widow of a family member.). Samuel’s mother was Frances Ventus, whose family line seems to be unknown.

Samuel and Nancy lived across the street from the Court House in Leesburg, VA. He had been commissioned in the Virginia Militia of the U.S. Navy. Samuel Murray Edwards is almost certainly to have been named after Samuel Murrey, a very early Methodist leader locally and probably no relation, but indicates his parent were also Methodist. All of the records from the Leesburg Methodist Church have been lost prior to 1833. The church was divided into classes, men were separated from women. These classes met during the week as a kind of adult Sunday school. Attendance was compulsory to be a Methodist. Samuel had been very actively affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Leesburg, VA and had been a trustee in 1816, a Stewart in 1843, then resigned when he moved to Washington, D.C., ca 1845.

While living in Washington, D.C. the City Directory shows:


  • 1846: Samuel M. Edwards, Clerk, Post Office, Dept. H, North side of Maryland Ave. between 10th and 11th West.
  • 1853: Samuel M. Edwards, Government, Post Office, West side of 13th between B and C South.
  • 1858: Samuel M. Edwards, Clerk, Post Office, 508 L St. West
  • 1860: Samuel M. Edwards, Clerk, Post Office, 327 9th West


The addresses in the Washington, D.C. City Directories were just a few blocks from the Capitol, in what is today the park in front of the Capitol Building and the railroad station.

Samuel’s first land transaction in Washington, D.C. was in 1849 for land in Georgetown. His last of about 20 transactions was in 1859. On most of the sales his wife, Ann, signs the papers. Some of the earlier transactions were jointly with Thomas Jefferson Edwards, his father. In Loudon County, VA his earliest deal was in 1808 and his last in 1859 from Washington. Samuel had a remarkable number of transactions, probably in excess of two hundred. On some it appears he is a county commissioner for Loudon County.

The U.S. Census for Washington , D.C. for 1850 shows:


  • Samuel M. Edwards 61 VA Clerk, U.S. Post Office
  • Ann Edwards 57 VA
  • Alphonse L. Edwards 21 VA
  • Samuel M. Edwards Jr. 19
  • Charles E. Edwards 15
  • Jane E. Edwards 23


Four other children do not show on the Census. They are:


  • John S. Edwards, who was married,
  • Richard Henderson Edwards,
  • Thomas Washington Edwards, and
  • Mary Francis Edwards


Known occupations of the above children were:


  • John S. Edwards became a lawyer,
  • Richard Henderson Edwards became a doctor,
  • Charles Edwards also became a doctor, and
  • Alphonse Edwards became a clergyman.


Samuel Murray Edwards left Washington, D.C. after 1863/64 and returned to Virginia, probably Richmond. These were troubled times. The outbreak of the Civil War caused many people to leave Washington, D.C. and move to the South. Families became divided. John and Susan Edwards moved to Dorchester County, MD; while Susan’s mother, Mary Elizabeth MacPherson, appears to have moved to VA, then to Baltimore, MD. This appears logical because Mary’s granddaughter, Mary Tyler, lived in Baltimore at the time. Mary E. MacPherson appears in the Baltimore Census in 1870. Mary Tyler eventually moved back to Washington, D.C., lived at 1741 G St., where she died June 29, 1904. Mary’s home was near “Blair House”. Today a hotel stands where Mary once lived.

After the war Thomas Washington Edwards, 3rd son of Samuel Murray Edwards, received a pardon personally signed by Andrew Johnson. During the war Thomas had passed through the Union lines to visit his relatives and his property in Montgomery County, MD.

Samuel had originally been buried at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond but later was moved to Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. to be there with his wife, Nancy Ann, who died on January 16, 1853, and many other members of his family.
. .

Sources: Saunders/Oxley Bibles, Washington, D.C. City Directories, 1850 U.S. Census, Oak Hill Cemetery files, and information provided by Mr. Francis Ravin, a professional genealogist, who lives at 3808 30th Street North, Arlington, VA 22207



Thomas Edwards, Father of Samuel Murray Edwards

Thomas Edwards (1760- 1823) married Francis Ventus (1772 - 1810), who had a son named Samuel Murray Edwards (1789 – 1863).

Samuel Murray Edwards is the father of Charles E. Edwards (1834-1917), who married Alice Compton (1844 – 1934).

Charles and Alice Edwards ar
e the parents of Arthur Lapsley Edwards (1870 - 1948) who married Jessie S Poore (1878 – 1938).

Arthur and Jessie Edwards daughter, Alice L Edwards (1902 - 1992) married Chester Lancaster (1896 – 1982).


Chester and Alice Lancaster's daughter is Betty Jean Shimer, my grandmother.


This is from Vol 5, No 3, Sept 1987, p. 67----

THE THOMAS EDWARDS FAMILY, 

Contributed by Mrs. John Edwards

Thomas Edwards

Thomas Edwards was probably born in St. Mary's Co, MD or VA on 6 Feb 1760. All records of St. Mary's Co. were burned or destroyed. It is not known who his father was. Thomas may have been the grandson of Robert Edwards who reached St. Mary's Co. in 1634 in the "Ark & Dove", which sailed from Gravesend on Oct 18 and from Cowes on the "Isle of Wright". They reached Point Comfort, VA, on 27 Feb 1634. Thomas Edwards marr. Francis Ventus on 24 July 1788. She was b. 1772. Thomas was involved in land deals with his son, Samuel Murray Edwards. He was in Loudon Co, VA, in 1833 and in Fauquier Co. in 1834. Thomas d. 22 May 1823 (?) and is buried at Leesburg, VA. His only known child: (2) Samuel Murray Edwards, born 13 Apr 1789.
 
Samuel Murray Edwards
 
Samuel was b. 13 Apr 1789 in VA. He married Nancy Ann Saunders, dau. of John Saunders and Mary Oxley. They were marr. 29 July 1809 (Saunders family Bible). The IGI marriage records show they married 10 Apr 1811. Samuel died at Richmond, VA, on 28 Dec 1863 and was buried at Hollywood Cemetery, but later removed to Oak Hill Cemetery (Georgetown), Washington, D.C. General Samuel Murray Edwards was commissioned in the VA Militia U.S. Navy. He was affiliated with the M.E. Church in Leesburg. He was a Trustee in 1816, a Stewart in 1843. In 1843, Samuel removed from the Church in Leesburg when he relocated residence in Washington, D.C. where he was a clerk at the Post Office. The city directory of Washington, D.C. clearly shows he was there from 1846 to 1860. His family lived just a few blocks from the Capitol Building, which is today the park in front of the Capitol and the Railroad Station. Samuel's first land transaction in Washington, D.C. was in 1819, when he purchased land in Georgetown. His last transactions were in 1855 and consisted of about 20 transactions. His wife signed on many of the trans. and sometimes a Thomas Jefferson Edwards, who may be a brother or a son.

In Loudon Co, VA, his earliest transaction was in 1808 and his last was in 1855 in Washington, D.C. Samuel had a remarkable number of transactions, around 200. From some it appears he was a County Commissioner for Loudon County. Children of Samuel and Nancy Ann (Saunders):

John Saunders Edwards, b. 12 Feb 1812. 

Richard Henderson Edwards, b. 6 Sept 1813, d. 31 Aug 1898, bur. in Union Cem., Leesburg, VA. He married Mar 1840, Ann Elizabeth Edwards (not related). She was b. 18 Mar 1815 and d. 5 Feb 1898. 

Thomas Washington Edwards, b. 3 Jan 1817 and d. 16 Feb 1891. He marr. 2 Nov 1843 Sarah E. Chichester. 

Mary Francis Edwards, b. 15 Jan 1823, d. 18 Jul 1896, and bur. in Union Cem, Leesburg, VA. She married 1867 to Armistead T. Monroe. 

Alpheus L. Edwards, d. 1898 and buried in Oak Hill Cem., Washington DC. He married Mary S. Washington. 

Samuel M. Edwards, Jr. d. 1860 and bur. in Oak Hill Cem. Washington DC. 

Charles E. Edwards; b. 24 Sept 1917, bur. in Oak Hill Cem, Washington, DC. He married Alice M. Compton. 

Jane E. Edwards.