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I am posting background history on the area where Joseph Edmundson of Essex County Virginia settled. There are several research questions where I need help.
1. Who was Joseph's first wife, whom he married in Virginia, and by whom he had four children?
2. What was the family name of his second wife, Priscilla? Graves has been suggested but I have seen no proof.
3. Does anyone know where Joseph and Priscilla were buried?
4. I am descended from his son John who moved to Georgia about 1784, possibly living in SC or elsewhere for a few years after 1774 when he sold some land in Craven County. I know of no other line of descendants from Joseph today, though a son of John's son Bryant (James) has not been traced and another son of Bryant and his second wife, Isaac Bryant Edmundson, might have moved to Illinois or Indiana. Any help on descendants not yet identified will be welcome. John left many descendants now living in Georgia, Florida and other states.
EDMONDSONS IN NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA
(This file includes information on the early counties of Bath, Bertie, Halifax, Edgecombe, Craven and adjacent areas).
The northeastern counties were settled by immigrants from Virginia and others who came directly from England and from Switzerland. Chowan was formed in 1669 and from it a number of other counties: Beaufort in 1705, Bath, Craven and Bertie Precinct in 1722 from the part of Albemarle west of the Chowan River and bounded on the south by the Roanoke (or Morotuck) River, Hyde in 1729, New Hanover in 1729, Onslow in 1734, Edgecombe in 1741, Northhampton in 1741, Johnston in 1746, Duplin in 1749. Dobbs was formed in 1758 from the eastern part of Johnston. Glasgow and Lenoir were formed in 1791 from Dobbs and the latter name was dropped. Glasgow was renamed Greene in 1799. Halifax was formed in 1758, Hartford in 1759, Pitt in 1760, Martin in 1774, Nash in 1777, Gates in 1778. Wayne was cut out of Dobbs in 1779.
In the 1670’s and 1680’s, the government in the Carolina Colony and Chowan Precinct was either illegitimate or corrupt, in rebellion or a tyranny. Few records survive as much was destroyed. Headrights and patents previously granted had to be reestablished. When John Jenkins’ commission as Acting Governor expired in 1675, Thomas Eastchurch, the acting Speaker, had Jenkins imprisoned because he continued to govern. Eastchurch and his ally Thomas Miller went to England in 1677 where Eastchurch was appointed governor and Miller appointed Secretary of the Colony. When Eastchurch was delayed in returning, Miller illegally assumed the governor’s powers in July, 1677. Miller’s conduct helped provoke “Culpepper’s Rebellion”, about the same time Bacon’s Rebellion was underway in Virginia. Miller was imprisoned and John Culpepper and George Durant illegally took over the government. They established courts, appointed judges and convened an Assembly. Eastchurch died in England. John Culpepper went to England to try to settle the matter. He was arrested, tried and acquitted and the rebellion ended without bloodshed. In July, 1679, a Commission arrived appointing John Harvey as Acting Governor and a legal government was reestablished. Much legal business waited while this chaotic period of governance played out. During the rebellion, colonists seized and destroyed official papers and records. Culpepper’s Rebellion was caused mainly by the Navigation Acts which required tobacco and other colonial exports to be shipped only from certain ports by designated shippers in order for the Crown agents to collect heavy duties. Colonial tobacco was shipped all over the accessible world, much of it on Dutch ships. England and Holland were intermittently at war during this period after Charles II regained his throne. About 1680, Robert Holden took over the colony and was himself arrested July 2, 1680. Seth Sothel, one the Lords Proprietors of Carolina, took over the government from 1682-1689, destroyed many land records and was banished finally from the Colony.
Albemarle County in the far northeast and Clarendon in the far southeast of current North Carolina were formed as original counties in 1664.
Chowan Precinct was formed in 1679. St. Paul’s Parish, the first Anglican parish with a church building in North Carolina, was started in 1701. Edward Smithwick gave the land for the building, served on the vestry for many years and has his name on a marble plaque in the present day St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Edenton. Edward Smithwick and his wife Africa had a son Edmund, born about 1684 in Chowan and died about 1774 in Martin County. Among his children named in his will May 11, 1772, were Edmondson Edmund Smithwick and Edmondson John Smithwick. This suggests some kind of association or kinship with some of the Edmondsons but none is yet known.
(Provided by Beverly Brunelle from information in the Bennett, Smithwick Genealogy).
In 1712, the counties were Beaufort (originally called Pamptecough), Craven (originally called Archdale), Currituck, Chowan, Hyde (originally called Wickham), Pasquotank, and Perquimans.
In 1729, New Hanover County was created from part of Craven, extending to the South Carolina line. Tyrell was taken from Bertie and Chowan, Currituck and Pasquotank.
An attempt was made to form Edgecombe Precinct in 1732 from land south of the Roanoke, including Fishing Creek, but controversy delayed this until 1741.
Present day Halifax was shown as Bertie or Edgecombe in Albemarle until Edgecombe was formed. The northern edge of Edgecombe was cut off in 1746 to form Granville and part of Granville became Bute in 1764, later divided into Warren and Franklin counties in 1779 when Bute ceased to exist.
Edgecombe was formed into two parishes, divided by Fishing Creek. Edgecombe Parish lay north of the creek and became Halifax County in 1758. St. Mary’s parish to the south of the creek retained the name of Edgecombe County. Early Halifax County included most of present day Martin County. About 1800, the county line between Martin and Edgecombe was moved. The earliest grants of land were dated about 1714-20 and lay south of the Roanoke. About fifteen years later, land south of Fishing Creek was settled. Lord Granville kept his rights as a Proprietor when the other seven sold theirs to the Crown in 1729. His territory was in the northern border areas of North Carolina, including Halifax County. Quit rents had to be paid him each year for lands granted by him, in addition to paying colonial taxes. Settlers resented his agents who tended to be dishonest, cheating the settlers and Lord Granville. This led in 1759 to the jailing of Corbin and Bodley in Edenton who in turn when released brought suit and jailed several other citizens. The latter were freed by angry rioters.
Edmondsons in Craven County, North Carolina
New Bern is the county seat of Craven, located on the Neuse River. Today Craven is bounded on the south and southwest by Onslow, west by Jones, northwest by Lenoir, north by Pitt, northeast by Beaufort and east by Pamlico Sound and the barrier islands.
English speaking people settled in the Craven County area well before the Swiss settlement at New Bern. John Lawson of London left England May 1, 1700 and with five helpers surveyed much of the interior of this section. He helped settle Bath in 1705. French Protestants were among the earliest settlers as well. New Bern on the Neuse River was settled about 1710 by Baron de Graffenreid with Swiss and Palatine immigrants. Craven was formed in 1712 from Bath County. The colonial capital was eventually placed at New Bern where Governor Tryon built his pretentious palace. It remained the largest town in the colony until the War for Independence after which the capital was moved to Raleigh.
(See SOME COLONIAL HISTORY OF CRAVEN COUNTY N.C. by James Sprunt, and HISTORICAL PUBLICATIONS, Vol. 17, No. 1, North Carolinal Hist. Society, 1920).
The Anglican Church established a school at New Bern in 1765, the Academy. De Rosset’s CHURCH HISTORY, pp. 172-73, lists the petitioners. The Marriage Bonds of Craven are available at the North Carolina Historical Commission but most of the early deed books are located in the courthouse in New Bern.
Joseph Edmondson came to Craven before 1714, probably the Joseph Edmondson from Essex County, Virginia, who witnessed a land lease from Richard West of St. Anne’s Parish, Essex, to Edward and Benjamin Moseley, church wardens of St. Anne’s. The document was dated 9/10 November, 1706, and was witnessed also by Robert Siswell, John Goode and Ja. Alderman (See Essex Deeds and Wills, Book 13, p. 7). He is believed to be one of the sons of Thomas Edmundson named in his will, probated in Essex in 1715.
In fact, recently uncovered records of a court case in Essex County regarding the foster care of his two children of a first wife show he had moved to North Carolina from Essex.
The two children were kept by Joannah Smith who had to compel Joseph’s brother Benjamin to provide her the costs of upkeep of the two children. Was Joannah a close relative of the deceased mother of the children?
Joannah might have been a Covington as Richard Covington posted bonds and signed legal documents for her. Her first husband was George Lloyd who owned plantation land adjacent to Brice’s Swamp. His will was written Dec. 19, 1713, St. Ann’s Parish, Essex County, Virginia. It was probated Jan. 14, 1713/14. Joseph’s brother James Edmondson was surety. George and Joannah had a daughter Elizabeth who was left 100 acres adjacent to Brice’s Swamp. Joannah Lloyd then married a Smith. One might speculate that Joseph’s first wife was a daughter of George and Joannah Lloyd.
Joseph witnessed a deed in 1714 for transfer of land from Enoch Wards to Martin, rights and title to 190 acres on the north side of the Neuse River on the east side of Beard’s Creek (Vol. C2, Records of Craven County by Moore).
1716. Court Minutes Book 1, pp. 97-147, Craven County.
Then came Capt. Richd. Graves and acknowledged unto Jos. Edmonson and his heirs and assigns a conveyance for two hundred and sevenry acres of Land. Order it to be registered and it is registered in Book A.
Then came Hannah Graves into Court and acknowledged her right of Dowry of ye above mentioned lands to Jos. Edmundson. Order it to be registered and it is registered in Book A. (Record examined in person by SWE and received later from Nancy Edmondson Wood).
(Hannah was the widow of Farnifold Green when she married Capt. Richard Graves after 1711. We have long wondered about the family name of Priscilla, the second wife of Joseph Edmondson. A careful reading of the deed to Joseph Edmonson gives no support for a conclusion that this was a deed to Hannah’s daughter but a sale to Joseph which required her to release her dower rights. See Green Excursus below).
The COLONIAL RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, 2nd Series, Vol. I, show in Higher Court Minutes, 1709-1723, the case of Edmundson vs. Wattson. John Wattson of Chowan Precinct, planter, was attain’d to answer unto Joseph Edmundson for Plea that he render unto him 21 pounds Sterling money of England which he owes and from him unjustly Detains. And whereupon the said plaintiff by Edward Mosley his attorney Complains that whereas he the said Defendant at Chowan aforesaid the 25th day of March 1715 by his Certain Bill or writing under his hand did oblige himself, his heirs etc., to Pay to the said Plaintiff the Summ of Twenty One Pounds Sterling money of England when he should be thereunto required after the 25th of December next Ensuing the date thereof as then and by the said Bill here into court brought doth appear nevertheless the said defendant the aforesaid summ of 21 Pounds Sterling money unto the said Plaintiff hath not yet paid nor Contented but the same to Render and Pay hath Deny’d and Still doth Deny and refuse altho’ he hath been often thereunto requested to the damage of the Plaintiff Fourty Pounds and therefore this his suit is produced, etc.
Records of the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Bath County, Craven Pre-cinct, and Craven County (Volumes 1,2, 3, 4. Library of Congress F262.C8N67):
April 19, 1715. Vol. I, p. 73. Bath County, Craven Precinct. Joseph Edmondson gives oath, attesting to power of attorney granted to Capt. Handcock by Susannah Franks.
April, 1715. Craven Precinct, North Carolina Court Minutes, 1712-15, Vol. I. Then Joseph Edmontson petitioned ye Court for an order of admistration on the Estate of Edmont Pearce, deceased. Wch was granted, ordered. the same to be reqestred and the sd. Edmontson give for securtys for the True Performance thereof Capt. W. Handcock and Francis Hill.
1716. Vol. I, p. 114. Joseph Edmonson is named overseer of roads on the north side of the Neuse River.
Search of records at the Craven County Courthouse in 1991 was done by Stephen W. Edmondson and revealed the following:
April, 1716. Deed Book 2, page 633, records the conveyance of 270 acres of land from Captain Richard Graves to Joseph Edmonson, in Bath County, Craven Precinct. Then came Hannah Graves into Court and acknowledged her right of dowry of the aforesaid mentioned land unto Joseph Edmonson. Ordered to be registered in Book A. (This record and a number of older acknowledgements were apparently copied from other records into the back of Book 2, dating earlier than 1716. The original was in Book A. Hannah Graves was the widow of Farnifold Green and mother of James Green who married Joseph Edmondson’s older daughter Mary). Court Minutes, Third Tuesday in April, 1716, records the above transaction and the deed of gift from Capt. Richard Graves and Hannah his wife of 290 acres to James Green.
Bath County, NC, wills include that of Susannah Green of Bath County, Craven Precinct, dated 19 June 1732 and probated 17 Sept 1735. She names a son, John Biggs, grandchild Mary Biggs. Executors were John Biggs and Robert Bond.
This would seem to indicate an early marriage to a Biggs, father of John, before she married Green.
Hannah Graves was Hannah Consolvo Kent who married first John Smithwick, a Quaker, who died in 1695, Bath Precinct, NC. He named in his will a daughter, Sarah who married Richard Warburton. Hannah married second Farnifold Green whose will in 1711 included a daughter in law (stepdaughter) Ann. Did Hannah and John Smithwick also have a daughter named Priscilla who married Joseph Edmondson? Hannah married, third, Richard Graves. They deeded land to Joseph Edmondson after he married Priscilla but this appears now to be a sale of land, not a gift. (There is no evidence this compiler has seen to support the claim that Priscilla was a Green or a Graves).
John Smithwick, son of Hugh Smithwick, made his will in 1696 in Chowan Precinct, NC, and died in December, 1696, in present Hyde County, NC. He was 26 years old and had married Hannah Kent about 1690 in Chowan Precinct. Hannah was born May 10, 1673, in Bertie Precinct, NC, daughter of Thomas Kent and his wife Ann. Hugh Smithwick died in 1674 but the North Carolina government was so corrupt and chaotic it was not probated for many years. Edward attempted to probate it in 1680 and received letters of administration, the will having been lost. He was soon arrested on trumped up charges by Robert Holden in 1680 but Holden was soon arrested himself and Edward was allowed bail and went home. He was soon arrested again and held for two months but released when the Grand Jury found no cause. He was surveyor in 1782 and was a member of the House of Burgesses in 1703, 1711 and 1712. He increased his land and had more than 4000 acres in the Cashie Neck area. He was active in organizing St. Paul’s Parish in and was on its vestry, giving land for the first church building and is commemorated in the church building in Edenton today.
Hugh Smithwick was born in England about 1620. He married his wife Elizabeth about 1645 in Nansemond County, Virginia.
Edward Smithwick was born in Upper Norfolk County, Virginia, about 1649. He was married three times. He married Elizabeth about 1672 in Chowan Precinct. She was born about 1650 and died in 1690 in Chowan . He married Africa Pike about 1694. She was born in Surry County, Virginia, in 1644 and died about 1703. He then married Sarah about 1703 who died by 1709. He was very prominent When he died in 1716, his son Samuel moved into Cashie Neck in Bertie County where his name appears on many records, often with his brother Edmund.
Edward Smithwick and his first wife Elizabeth had;
1. Edward Smithwick, b. in Shaftesbury Precinct, Albemarle County, about 1675. Edward died in Edenton in 1719. He married Grace___.
2. John Smithwick was born in 1677.
3. Elizabeth Smithwick was born in Shaftesbury Precinct about 1678. She married Martin Griffin about 1700 in Chowan Precinct.
4. Sarah Smithwick was born about 1679.
5. Another daughter was born about 1680 and married a Smith.
6. Susannah Smithwick was born in Shaftesbury Precinct about 1682, and married William Charlton.
7. Edmund Smithwick was born about 1684 in Chowan Precinct. He died in 1774 in Martin County, NC. He moved to Cashie’s Neck about 1720 and later appears to have lived south of the Roanoke in present Martin County on Smithwick Creek. It was his will dated May 11, 1772, which shows sons named Edmondson Edmond Smithwick, Edmondson John Smithwick, Edmondson Samuel Smithwick, and daughters Hannah Jordan, Sarah Carkeet and Africa Blount. His wife’s name is not known but these names suggest she might have been an Edmondson.
8. Samuel Smithwick, born about 1685 in Chowan Precinct, was a son of Edward Smithwick whose Will was made in Chowan Precinct, Jan. 21, 1715, and proved in 1716. He married Mary Swaine, about 1720 in Chowan. She was born about 1698 in Albemarle Precinct, NnC, and died before Feb. 3, 1738, in Bertie Precinct. Samuel died after 1743 in Tyrell County, NC. They had: Samuel Smithwick, Jr., Elizabeth Smithwick, John Smithwick and Sarah Smithwick. Samuel died in Bertie County after 1750.
Sarah Charlton Smithwick was born in Tyrell County, NC. She married Luke Mizell, IV about 1735 in Tyrell County. They had William Mizell, Luke Mizell V, Sarah Mizell, Benjamin Mizell, David Mizell, James Mizell, John Mizell and Charlton Mizell. (Susannah Williams Knight is a descendant. The Smithwick Family history is found in Nansemond County, Virginia.
There is an Edmond Smithwick whose will is found in Martin County Probate Records. He made his will in May, 1774, probated July 1774. He was wealthy, owned several plantations. He named his four sons executors, all of whom had first names of Edmondson: Edmondson Edward Smithwick, Edmondson John Smithwick, Edmondson Samuel Smithwick and Edmondson Smithwick, a most unusual pattern. He had a daughter Mary Carkeet who had three children: Sarah, Lydia and Clory. (Provided by Nancy Wood, 2008) The Census of NC for 1784-87 shows several Smithwicks. In Martin County: District 7. William Smithwick (21-60 years); Edmunds Smithwick (21-60 years); Edward Smithwick, Esq., (21-60); Luke Smithwick (21-60 years); Edward Smithwick, Jr. (21-60); John Smithwick Sr.; John Smithwick, Jr.; Samuel Smithwick; Samuel Smithwick, Esq.. Thus many families live in the same area of Martin and would seem to include the sons of Edmond Smithwick. The census record does not show Edmondson as part of any of these names, however.
1719. The Will of Robert Cartwright of Princess Anne County, Virginia, proved in 1719, makes the following bequest: “I give and bequeath unto my son John Cartwright two hundred and fifty acres of Land in Nuce River on the south side of South river to him and his heirs forever allso I give unto my said son John fifteen barrels of pitch due to me from Joseph Edmonson in Nuce river”. (Virginia Antiquary, Vol. I, p. 54; Princess Anne County Loose Papers, 1700-1789, by John Harris Creecy. Box A, p. 54.)
Craven Precinct Poll Tax Lists (called “Pole Tax” in the documents) for 1718 and 1719 show Joseph Edmonson, John Biggs, Martin Franks, Thomas Green, Richard Graves, Titus Green.
1723. North Carolina Colonial Records, Vol. 25, p. 190: Joseph Edmondson is listed as a Juryman in Craven Precinct. Hawk’s History of North Carolina, Vol. 2, p. 61-67, lists jurymen in all eight precincts of N.C. Jurymen were freeholders. In Craven Precinct, 44 jurymen are listed, among them John Biggs and Joseph Edmondson, the only Biggs and Edmondson listed for all the precincts.
Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions, Craven County, at New Bern, December, 1731, p. 51. Case of Hardy vs. Edmonson.
P. 49. Joseph Edmonson is involved in laying out a road from the head of Brown’s Creek.
P. 54. Case of Hardy vs. Edmonson. Plaintiff Hardy asks for time to amend.
Case of Kelling vs. Edmonson. Issue joined March 21, 1731/32.
P. 58. June, 1732. Case of Hardy against Edmonson.
Case of Kelling against Edmonson, continued.
P. 61. Case of Hardy against Edmonson, referred for trial.
Case of Kelling against Edmonson, no cause for action.
P. 69. Case of Hardy against Edmonson. Judgement for the Plaintiff. Six pounds and costs.
P. 109. Case of Hopton against Joseph Edmonson. Jury found for Hopton. Edmonson’s attorney moved for arrest of judgement.
June 12, 1736. Joseph Edmondson witnessed a gift of land near Orchard Creek from Elizabeth Craft to her grandson Francis Dawson.
June 16, 1742. Deed Book 1, p. 372. Joseph Edmonson sells for 500 pounds “current money” 100 acres in Craven County “beginning at the fork of the creek which divides White Hall Neck and Smith Neck, running up the creek on one side and up the gutt on the other side to a bridge”, “being part of a tract of land containing 900 acres granted by William Keith to James Keith and by said Keith to Joseph Edmunson and John Caraway, to John Edmondson 100 acres and to John Caraway 800 acres” and “now by said Joseph Edmonson to John Nelson.” . Signed by Joseph Edmondson.
THE COLONIAL RECORDS OF NORTH CAROLINA, Vol. 4, 1734-52, p. 650:
“At a council held at Edenton the 17th of November, 1743, was read the following petitions for warrants, namely Joseph Edmonson, Craven, and others”. Records of the Executive Council, 1735-1754. P. 153. Petitioned for warrant Videlicet—Craven—Joseph Edmondson 150 acres. Granted.
North Carolina HEADRIGHTS TO LAND, 1740-1753, File No. SS-906, and Council Journal, File G.O. 113, for Craven County: Joseph Edmondson, June, 1742. Eight total headrights, four slaves.
The Will of Joseph Edmondson was dated 4 August 1743 (Secretary of State Proceedings, Court of Chancery and Wills, 1712-54, Craven County. See North Carolina Archives and History, 28.801.6).
“In the name of God Amen, the 4th day of August, 1743, I Joseph Edmondson of Craven County in North Carolina being weak in body but perfect memory Thanks be to God, therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament, that is to say primarialy and first of all, I recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors, nothing doubting
but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in the follow-ing manner and form:
Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Edmondson a negro girl named Hannah with all her increase to him and his heirs forever and also I give him my said son John Edmondson one feather bed and furniture also one gun.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Thos. Edmondson one feather bed and furniture and one gun and two cows and calves, male and female and to have them at the age of 16 years and also one negro boy named Lick to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give unto my daughter Eliz. Biggs one negro girl called Ferbe to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I give to my son James Edmondson 2 cows and calves to him at the age of 16 years.
Item. I give to my daughter, Anne Garrett, ten pounds current money of this province.
Item. I give to my daughter Sarah Fishpoole, five pounds current money of this provance.
Item. I give to my daughter, Mary Green, five pounds current money of this province.
Item. I give to my eldest son Jos. Edmondson, all my wearing apparel.
Item. I lend to my wife, Precellow Edmondson, my negro wench called Bess, with all the rest of my goods and chattels, money, owed debts or anything that may be called mine, moveables or unmoveables whatsoever to her during her life or till the date marriage. Further my desire is that if the Negro wench Bess should live and bear three children that these children shall go to my three youngest children, namely, the first to my son James Edmondson, the next to my daughter Mary Edmondson, the next to my daughter Precillow Edmondson and in case the said Negro Bess shall fail to breed so that the children or any of them should fail to have a Negro child as aforesaid my wife, Precillow Edmondson, shall pay to each of my children, when they come of the age of 16 years one hundred and fifty pounds of current money of this County and Provence in lew of thereof to be paid out of my Estate.
And further my desire is that if my wife, Precullow Edmondson, should marry then all the estate I have lent to her shall be equally divided among her children equally, that is to say, John Edmondson, Thos. Edmondson, Jas. Edmondson, Mary Edmondson and Precillow Edmondson and also I constitute, make and ordain my well beloved wife, Precillow Edmondson, and my son, John Edmond-son Together, my whole and sole Exors. of this my last will and Testament, all and singular, my goods and chattels, Moveable & immoveable, to me belonging, Frankly to be possessed of and enjoyed and I do hereby utterly disavow, revoke and disannull all other Will, Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and Year above written.
Signed and sealed in the presence of us:
Richard Bath Joseph Edmondson
Elias Martin
Jo. Gad (Goode)
The will of Joseph Edmondson, decd., proved by the oath of Elias Martin and Jos. Gad and evidence thereto this 19th day of March, 1744.
A. Rutledge, C.C.
Craven County Court Minutes, Vol. 3.
(The original will in the N.C. Dept of Archives and History, Raleigh, is badly dis-colored and parts of it are unreadable. A transcription in the Secretary of State’s office gives the wording above, with an obvious error in the year of probate the transcription giving it as 1743).
Joseph’s first wife’s name is unknown. An older daughter of his first marriage was named Mary as was a daughter of his second marriage who was single and apparently a minor when his will was drafted.
Exact birth order is not known. The following is reasonable:
1. Joseph Edmondson, eldest son. Apparently born in Virginia. Name of mother not known but she had died before his father moved to North Carolina. Records in Essex County show two children were left there in the care of Joanna Smith for whom she had to ask the court to order payment in Joseph’s absence in N.C. This son died in 1766 and Inventory of his estate, March, 1766, was signed by Thomas Nelson and Joseph Edmondson. The inventory by Joshua Fulsher included an inventory of his wife’s estate when “he married her”. Edmondson buyers at the estate sale included Joseph and Hannah Edmondson. The sale was conducted Dec. 10, 1766. Hannah Edmondson appears to be his widow. Joseph Edmondson who signed the inventory might have been his son.
2. Mary Edmondson who married James Green, his first wife. Their gravestones have been found on the Green-Dawson plantation in the Jasper area, about 12 miles from New Bern. “Mary Edmondson Green consort of James Green, died Jan. 15, 1780, age 70 years”. “James Green, Sr., died 4 Oct. 1788, age 78 years”. (Letter of James Creech. Gravestones copied by Elizabeth Moore, Feb. 27, 1966). James Green might have been a stepbrother of John Biggs, son of Susannah Biggs Green. This older daughter, born about 1710, would be a child of Joseph’s first marriage.
3. Elizabeth Edmondson who married John Biggs, possibly the son of Susannah Green by a former husband. .
4. Anne Edmondson who married Mr. Garrett.
5. Sarah Edmondson who married Mr. Fishpoole.
6. John Edmondson, oldest son of the second marriage to Priscilla, born in 1717. Married Mary Barrington, dau. of Isaac Barrington. Died probably in Georgia after 1802 and possibly as late as 1810-1811.
7. Thomas Edmondson
8. James Edmondson, underage when his father’s will was made.
9. Mary Edmondson, underage when her father’s will was made.
10. Priscilla Edmondson, underage when her father’s will was made.
(Christy, the wife of a descendant of Joseph and Priscilla, wrote to SWE in 2002, saying her husband was a great-grandson of Morris William Edmondson and Martha Benford Edmondson. She gave Joseph Edmondson’s parents as Thomas Edmondson and Mary Underwood Edmondson, citing no source. I have never heard Underwood proposed as the name of Thomas’s second wife, Mary. SWE).
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