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