Jesse Edwards, my GGGgrandfather
by James A. Strain © 2006
The birth location of Jesse Edwards is not known to me, but as his older children give SC as their birth locations in federal census enumerations, Jesse apparently spent his adult life first in SC, and then in Montgomery, AL, where he died intestate in 1835. His son, William Edwards, probated his estate, and the Edwards family has extensive estate files while the estate is settled and the minor children come of age.
Based on an intriguing and sometimes confusing collection of estate documents, I believe Jesse’s first wife was Rebecca Scoggin, the daughter of Sarah and William Scoggin of Chester, SC. William Scoggin’s will (1792, Chester Co., SC, and filed in Montgomery Co., AL, Sept 10, 1835) lists his wife, Sarah, and his children. Two of the children seem to match names listed in the will of William Wall, as well as the name Sarah as the widow of William Wall. Two of the other names match wives of Jesse and his suspected brother William Edwards. Daniel Scoggin, son of William Scoggin, lives adjacent to both William and Sarah Wall and Jesse and Rebecca Edwards, and William Wall leaves his estate to Daniel Scoggin. This is almost certainly a step-father leaving his land to the son of his wife by which he had no children. In addition, two minor children of Jesse Edwards are left money from the estate of their “grandmother, Sarah Wall” and Elizabeth Edwards, a widow with one son, William Edwards, leaves her son slaves from her mother, Sarah Wall. Elizabeth Edwards is most likely the widow of Jesse’s brother William Edwards, a case where two brothers married two sisters, which was common at the beginning of the 19th Century.
After the death of Jesse’s first wife, he marries on 20 Dec. 1830 Mary (Stokes) Shelby, the widow of John C. Shelby. John C. Shelby and Mary Stokes were married 24 Dec. 1822 in Montgomery Co., AL. Mary has two children (Thos J Shelby & William H Shelby) from this marriage who live in Jesse’s household. After the death of Jesse Edwards, Mary (Stokes Shelby) Edwards remarries Job Norman. Ultimately, Job Norman receives the widow’s portion of Jesse’s estate, which clearly identifies her as Jesse’s widow. As Jesse’s youngest son, George W. Edwards, appears in the census with Mary Norman, and Job Norman is the guardian for her two sons by John C. Shelby as well as for George, it is probable that George W. Edwards is the son of Jesse and Mary Stokes Edwards. In the 1850 Census in Montgomery Co, AL, there is a Mary Norman with a George E. Edwards, age 17, in her household. If this is the correct person, then he would have been born after Jesse and Mary were married in 1830.
As Jesse’s estate is settled, all children are named, as are the slaves. The final estate settlement includes the following information from p. 603 of the Orphan’s Court book dated Feb 25th 1839.
This day came William Edwards…
And it appearing from said account that there remains in the hands of said Administrator the sum of six thousand eight hundred and forty one 50/100 dollars accruing from the sale of the real estate – and the further sum of three thousand and eighty four 03/100 dollars, Job Norman is entitled to one fifth part –to wit- to the sum of six hundred and sixteen 80/100 dollars – it is ordered therefore that William Edwards, Administrator, as aforesaid pay to the said Job Norman the said sum of six hundred and sixteen 80/100 dollars – which will be in full for his portion of said estate in right of his wife, the former widow of said deceased. –
And it further appearing that a portion of the heirs at law of said deceased had received in his life time property by way of advancement, the value of which is assessed upon among the heirs as follows:
Amount advanced to Moses McLemore $465
Joseph J Edwards 75.00
William Edwards 115.00
William B Bazzer 100.0
$755.00
Which added to the above sum of $9925.53 portion allotted to Job Norman being first deducted therefrom – make the sum of ten thousand and sixty three 73/100 dolllars subject to distribution among the remaining eight heirs., entitling each heir who to receive as advancement to the sum of twelve hundred and fifty seven 96/100 dollars and each heir who has received advancement the sum of twelve hundred and fifty seven 96/100 dollars first deducting therefrom the sum so received by them respectfully.
William Edwards, pay to Bayzer, $1157 96/100
To Moses McLemore, right of wife, $792 96/100
To J. J. Edwards $1182 96/100
To J. J. Edwards as guardian of Sarah C. Edwards $1257 96/100
To Riley Norman right of wife Rebecca, $1257 96/100
To William, guardian of Jesse L Edwards, $1257 96/100
To Job Norman, guardian of George W Edwards, $1257 96/100
William Edwards, keep his portion $1142 96/100.
The Children of JESSE EDWARDS and REBECCA SCOGGIN are:
i. MARY ANN2 EDWARDS, b. Abt. 1809, SC; m. WILLIAM B. BAYZER, February 03, 1824, Montgomery Co, AL.
ii. WILLIAM EDWARDS, b. Abt. 1812, SC.
iii. SARAH C EDWARDS, b. Abt. 1813, SC.
iv. JOSEPH JACKSON EDWARDS, b. January 28, 1816, SC; d. June 09, 1869, Calhoun County, MS; m. CHARLOTTE M. MASTIN, January 10, 1838, Montgomery Co, AL.
v. MARTHA C. EDWARDS, b. February 10, 1819, Montgomery Co., Al; d. November 08, 1843, Montgomery Co., Al; m. MOSES MCLEMORE, October 13, 1838, Montgomery Co, AL.
vi. REBECCA F. EDWARDS, b. Bef. 1822; m. RILEY NORMAN, Bef. February 1839, Montgomery Co, AL.
vii. JESSE LAFAYETTE EDWARDS, b. Aft. 1825; d. Abt. 1851, Montgomery Co., AL; m. MARY L. HOOD, October 25, 1848, Montgomery Co, AL.
The son of Jesse Edwards and Mary Stokes is:
i. GEORGE W. EDWARDS, b. Aft. 1825 (probably 1832), in Montgomery Co., AL.
For further sources, family tradition, stories, and documentary evidence of Jesse Edwards and his descendants, click here.