Melville/Pritzen:Information about Thomas Nathaniel, Sr. Edwards
Sir Thomas Nathaniel, Sr. Edwards (b. October 14, 1690, d. November 02, 1781)
Notes for Thomas Nathaniel, Sr. Edwards:Thomas Nathaniel Edwards - Time-Line
-----General
The genealogy for the descendants of Thomas Nathaniel EDWARDS (1690-1781) and Isabella Elizabeth DOWNING (1693-1785) is questionable because of the "Edwards Estate Scams".... where thousands of people tried to prove they were descendants because of the 77 acres of Manhattan supposedly owned by their eldest son Robert who died childless.
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Categories: Our Ancestor, Thomas 1690 - I have taken all my information from all my sources and try to come up with the most correct information on Thomas Nathaniel Edwards Sr. Please read over it and help me correct the wrong information. or add to it.
When I have more than one information and I didn't know which was correct I put them all and use / to separate them. Notice there are more than one death times for both Thomas and Elizabeth. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1690
Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, was born October 14, 1690 in Edwards Hall, Glamorgan, Cardiff, South Wales. He married Lady Elizabeth Isabella Downing on March 12, 1713/14 in Lleanymyceck, Wales, and daughter of Sir George Thomas Downing. She was born Abt. March 12, 1692/93 in Glamorgan, Cardiff, South Wales. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
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The ancestry of Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr. is still in dispute. Unfortunately, there are no extant civil nor parish records found which establish positively his genealogy. Some say that Thomas was the son of a clergyman of The Church of England who sailed to New York in the early 1700s. Others say that Sir. Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr. was the son of Thomas Edwards who married ELIZABETH HALL in New York in the year 1661. The ancestral claim that appears most plausible, however, is related below. It can neither be verified, proven nor documented. It has simply been handed down from generation to generation among the branches of the Edwards' family, and has become generally accepted as perhaps the most accurate ancestry of Sir. Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr. "Thomas was born in 1690 in South Wales and was the son of William Edwards who was born in 1620, and who sired Thomas in his old age. William was the son of Joshua Edwards of Wales who was titled a baron during 1661. It is said that Thomas inherited a good deal of wealth from his grandfather Joshua. The title of Baron held by Joshua Edwards was no doubt the origin of the claim made by James Adams Edwards, six generations later in Tennessee that one of his ancestors was a duke of Wales." "Edwards family historians claim that our Edwards forebears descended from the ancient Welsh Kings of Powysland. The first to assume the surname of Edwards was Robert, the son of Edward Ap Thomas Ap Llewellyn, and was lineally descended from Einon Efell, Lord of Cynlleath in Montgomery-Cyclamate. They had a son John Edwards who purchased Less Strange. Years later the Edwards family came into possession through marriage, of the large estate near Cardiff, Glamorganshires, Wales, which came to be known as 'Edwards Hall'. . The Edwards family occupied the mansion and the estate for several generations until it fell into disrepair and finally abandoned in the early 1700s.". After the new world was discovered, many with the surname of Edwards left the cankering mother country, seeking a new life on the promising shores of America. They sailed from Wales, England; Scotland, England and other ports, and settled along the shores of the new colonies from New England on the north, to Georgia on the south. The Edwards name included among those who first settled the Virginia Colony. A William and Arthur Edwards were among those killed in the Indian massacre at Jamestown in the year 1662." In the Virginia Colony alone the number of Edwards immigrants was numerous. Colonial passenger and immigration lists preserved through the years identify twenty-one males with the name of Edwards who landed in Virginia between the years 1626 and 1643. That number, however, represents only a fraction of those by the name of Edwards who actually came to the Virginia Colony."
-----1714
Passenger Lists show their arrival in New York, May 9 1714. They settled in Culpepper, VA where their eight children were born. Sir THOMAS NATHANIEL EDWARDS, SR.'s occupation was that of a merchant. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1736
Savannah, GA was the site of the first lighthouse on the South Atlantic Coast in 1736. Robert, who plundered gold from the Spanish galleons for the crown, may have found such a lighthouse an incentive and the influence that caused Sir. Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr. and Lady Elizabeth Isabella Downing Edwards to move with their eight children to Port Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia from Culpepper, VA. Is it possible that the 26 year old Robert transported the family on his ship? Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr. was a merchant supplying grain, wheat, etc. to the crown. Is it possible that some of the plundered gold was used to buy grain, wheat, etc. for the crown? Access to the sea, which was vital for their occupations, was present every place they were. For example, Manhattan Island; Culpepper, VA near a major inland waterway from the Atlantic and Savannah, Georgia.
-----1740
Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, and his two brothers, Edward and Henry, point of origin England, came to what is now called New York City, New York and settled on Manhattan Island some time about 1740. Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, purchased land, but at that time, although land purchased at a price, title was not absolute unless acknowledged by the Crown of England; generally accorded in recognition of service to the Crown; and it was for Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, 's services rendered the English Government during the Great French and Indian Wars that the Crown recognized Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr's purchases and gave him absolute title thereto/ The Crown of England gave Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, absolute title at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1742
Lady Elizabeth Isabella Downing Edwards died: Medical records of a strange disease (Yellow Fever) killed wife Lady Elizabeth Isabella Downing Edwards. Yellow fever also killed three Edwards children but it is not known who they were. Also, from medical history of strange disease of Georgia First Settlers. / died June 8, 1742 in Port Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia from Yellow Fever and was buried in Wales.
Old letters from THOMAS NATHANIEL SR's brother, Joshua Edwards, prove this.
Elizabeth is also reported as dying in 1783.
-----1744
It was claimed that Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, gave the first lease directly to Trinity Church in 1744, which was about the time records show he arrived in this country. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1746
Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, was in Savannah, Georgia 1742 to 1746. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1750
About 1750 Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, with his wife and eight children and his brothers Henry and Edward/William, and Edward Edwards, came to America. They settled in NY on 77 acres inherited from his grandfather lying on the Hudson River in the territory of NY. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1771
In 1771 Thomas bought land from the Indians that added 50,000/5,000 more acres to his land lying along the Hudson River in the State of NY In Payment for services he rendered the English Government during the French and Indian Wars, the Crown gave Thomas Edwards absolute title. Although very old, he was active in supporting the English Government and was responsible for a large amount of wheat bought in NY for the British./
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Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr's oldest son, Robert Edwards, leased the property in New York to the Cruger Brothers and took his father back to England.
THEORY of Dovie Beams:
This answers the question as to why the land was leased. Also, a lease would provide income to the family. Dovie Beams has seen research accounts that the Cruger Brothers were cousins.
-----1774
The Colonies being used to and content with their self governing, deeply resented of paying for the upkeep of the British troops and housing them among themselves. Then in 1774, the desire for independence and breakaway from the British Crown that great patriots as Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry, the Revolutionary War was yet to begin. Since Thomas Edwards, Sr. and his son Robert Edwards were allied with the British in New York the year of 1740 and later, we know that taxation of tea eventually angered the people of the Boston Colony to the point of rebellion and resulted i the Historic Boston Tea Party, Dec. 16, 1773. Possible some of our relatives were involved with the Party with the excessive taxation imposed by the British on the newly established Thirteen Colonies. It would be quite assuming that they were involved. We don't really know if our English ancestors were part of tyranny or democracy. It makes you wonder the character after them beholden to the Crown. Perhaps just a cog in the wheel of advancing civilization in the new world and had no other choice.
-----1778
Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr. died Between 1778 and 1781/ February 11, 1781 in North Carolina/ November 02, 1781 in London, Swansea, Maryland. Buried in Maryland/returned to England and died.
This information was taken from the Hall of Records and History of New York City, New York. Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr,, although old, was active in supporting the British Government, and became personally responsible for goods bought in New York City. He remained a true British subject to his death. About this time Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, died and his oldest son, Robert, administrator of the estate that was granted to Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, by the Crown of England said property lying on Manhattan Island. Said land was leased by Robert to various parties in the year 1778.
-----1781
In 1781, Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr,'s will was recorded in Culpepper County, VA. Robert Edwards, the oldest son was the administrator of his father's estate. Robert signed the release of lease for 99 years in New York. Descendants have tried to prove they were never paid for this property & legal suits filed.
Thomas is also reported to have died in 1783.
-----1783
Lady Elizabeth Isabella Downing Edwards died 1783 in Edwards Hall, Glamorgan, Cardiff, South Wales.
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Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr,,. died 1783 in New York/ died 1788 in Swansea, Wales/England.
Will: Culpepper County, VA
-----Discussion of Children
Source Edwards Clan - My Family.com:
Perry Edwards - Nov 9, 2003
Categories: Thomas Nathaniel & Isabella Downing Edwards Children
I am curious to know how many children they had. What follows are what I had listed.
I also have seen on this site that there was another son,
1. John that was born in the 1726-1727 range, does anyone have similar info?
2. Robert B. 1716 Wife unknown Joshua B. 1718 Married Rebecca Ward
3. William B. 1720 Wife...unknown
4. Thomas B. 1723 Married Elizabeth Nichols Leonard B. 1729 Wife...unknown
5. Martha B. 1731 Husband...unknown
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Buddy Moses - Nov 10, 2003
Hi - I have 10 children listed for Thomas & Isabella, the seven you have plus three more --see below:
Descendants of Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards
Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards 1690 - 1781 Born: October 14, 1690 in Stafford, Denbighshire, North Wales at Edwards Hall near Cardiff Died: February 11, 1781 in MARYLAND or North Carolina
+Lady Isabella Elizabeth Downing 1693 - 1742 Married: March 14, 1713/14 in Stafford, South Wales Born: Abt. 1693 in South Wales Died: June 08, 1742 in PORT SAVANNAH, CHATHAM, GEORGIA or 1783 in N. C.
children
1Robert Edwards 1715/16 - 1788 Born: February 24, 1715/16 in Glamorgan, Wales Died: May 18, 1788
2 Joshua Edwards 1717/18 - WFT Est. 1719-1808 Born: March 12, 1717/18 in Wales Died: WFT Est. 1719-1808
+Rebecca Ward WFT Est. 1713-1737 - WFT Est. 1759-1825 Married: Abt. 1754 in North Carolina? Born: WFT Est. 1713-1737 Died: WFT Est. 1759-1825
3 William Edwards 1720 - 1816 Born: April 09, 1720 in Wales Died: 1816 in Ky
+ Poly Cramer Or Creamer 1723 - WFT Est. 1739-1817 Married: WFT Est. 1736-1770 in Orange Co., N. C. Born: Abt. 1723 Died: WFT Est. 1739-1817
*2nd Wife of William Edwards:
+ Jane Taylor WFT Est. 1716-1742 - WFT Est. 1764-1830 Married: Bef. 1759 in England? Born: WFT Est. 1716-1742 Died: WFT Est. 1764-1830
4 Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Jr. 1723 - 1791 Born: July 07, 1723 in Edwards Hall, Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Died: January 30, 1791 in Culpepper, VA
+ Jennie Dickens WFT Est. 1719-1738 - WFT Est. 1740-1823 Married: WFT Est. 1740-1771 Born: WFT Est. 1719-1738 Died: WFT Est. 1740-1823
*2nd Wife of Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Jr.:
+ Elizabeth Dent WFT Est. 1719-1738 - WFT Est. 1740-1823 Married: WFT Est. 1740-1771 Born: WFT Est. 1719-1738 Died: WFT Est. 1740-1823
*3rd Wife of Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Jr.:
+ Elizabeth Nichote Or Nicholas 1725 - WFT Est. 1748-1819 Married: Abt. January 1742/43 in Virginia? Born: Abt. 1725 in Wales Died: WFT Est. 1748-1819
5 Captain Leonard Roy Edwards 1725 - 1795 Born: May 08, 1725 in Glen Morganshire, Wales Died: May 03, 1795
+ Mary Glasscock WFT Est. 1721-1740 - WFT Est. 1742-1825 Married: WFT Est. 1742-1774 Born: WFT Est. 1721-1740 Died: WFT Est. 1742-1825
*2nd Wife of Capt. Leonard Roy Edwards:
+ Elizabeth Nightingale WFT Est. 1721-1740 - WFT Est. 1742-1825 Married: WFT Est. 1742-1774 Born: WFT Est. 1721-1740 Died: WFT Est. 1742-1825
6 John Edwards, Sr. 1726/27 - 1801 Born: February 10, 1726/27 in S. WALES Died: March 16, 1801 in GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA
+ Henrietta Ayers 1728 - WFT Est. 1770-1823 Married: May 1750 in VIRGINIA Born: Abt. 1728 Died: WFT Est. 1770-1823
7 Jacob Edwards 1729 - 1780 Born: August 08, 1729 in Glen Morganshire, Wales Died: March 12, 1780 in North Carolina?
+ Effie Spears (Speir) WFT Est. 1712-1736 - WFT Est. 1754-1825 Married: January 18, 1748/49 in Hampshire Co., Va. (W. VA. now) Born: WFT Est. 1712-1736 Died: WFT Est. 1754-1825
8 Joseph Washington Edwards 1730 - Born: 1730 in Maryland
+ Maryann 1735 - Born: 1735
9 'Frankie' Martha Edwards 1731 - WFT Est. 1732-1821 Born: Aft. 1731 Died: WFT Est. 1732-1821
10 Soloman Edwards 1731 - WFT Est. 1732-1821 Born: Aft. 1731 Died: WFT Est. 1732-1821
Hope that this is fairly accurate. There are many spurious Edwards ancestors out there, because of the lure of the Edwards' estate. Buddy Moses
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Christine Davis - Nov 12, 2003
Buddy, Do you have more information on Soloman? This is where I am hitting a brick wall. Do you know if he had a son named Samuel? Thanks for any help. Christine
-----Discussion of New York Lease
The patriarch of this Edwards family is John Edwardes, born about 1420 in England. Seven generations later his descendant William Edwards emigrated from Wales to Jamestown, VA. Four generations after that his descendant Robert R. E. Edwards made history, with the land purchase that came to be known as the Fabulous Edwards Estate.Roberts brother, Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, is the ancestor of most of the Edwards families in Bedford, Huntingdon, Fulton and Blair County.
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The Lease
Manhattan Island, June 1, 1778 entered into a land deal. Know all men by these presents: That I, Robert Edwards, on this day lease to John and George Cruger 77 acres 3 rods and 32 perches, beginning at a stake set in the ground at high water mark, near Bestavern, Fittlegil, and running east along Prince Street 1000 feet; thence northwesterly in a zigzag course along part of old Jan's land to Christopher Street to high water mark 547 feet; thence south along the Hudson River along the lines of high water mark 2,276 to the point and place of beginning. Said land being leased for 99 years at 1,000 pounds and a peppercorn yearly rental. Said land to be held by John and George Cruger and their heirs so long as contract is fulfilled; otherwise it must revert to me or my living heirs, and at the expiration of the 99 year lease said land together with all improvements shall revert to my lawful heirs, which will be descendants of my brothers and sister which are as follows: William Edwards, Jacob Edwards, Leonard Edwards, Joshua Edwards, John Edwards, Thomas Edwards and Martha Edwards. Witness my hand and seal this June 1, 1778 Witness: "Robert R. E. Edwards" Anthony Barclay "John Cruger" Nicholas Bayard "George Cruger"
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The Estate
The area involved includes some of the most expensive real estate on earth, including some of New York's most valuable buildings. A court action in 1934 described it in present day terms as: Beginning at a point between West St. and Washington St. in New York City, Borough of Manhattan, running in a line parallel with Christopher St. which is three blocks to the north in a northeasterly direction to a point west of Broadway, thence south to a point north of Clarkson St. and Varick St; thence southeast in a staggered line crossing Clarkson, Hudson and Greenwich Sts. to a point north of King and Washington Sts., then northwest along Washington Street to the point of beginning.
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An article in the Raleigh News & Observer, dated February 21, 1924, said the area included City Hall, the Federal Building, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Building, the Singer Building, the New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street. The article also added, "Which is without doubt one of the most valuable estates in the United States of America without an owner, and which the heirs are now fighting to regain. The value of the area described is no myth. The 1924 article stated, "now said to be valued at $400,000,000," that is four hundred million. Its present value is impossible to estimate but would be in the billions. It was enough to make the Edwards family feel that any portion of it would put them at ease for life.
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The Heirs
A newspaper article in Nashville, Tennessee dated August 11, 1950, says that records found in an old trunk owned by Mrs. Nancy O. Smith indicates that the sheepskin original lies in the Trinity Church Vault. Trinity Church became deeply involved in the story. There is little reference to the existence of the original lease in court records and Fannie Mae Edwards Claud did not record where she got the copy that she had in her possession. There were plenty of shenanigans pulled on the heirs by unscrupulous persons during the recovery effort. It is possible that this lease could have been prepared especially for them and was a hoax. The description of the land could have been obtained from an old court case, which began before the termination of the lease.
When the lease expired in 1877 the country was electrified by an inquiry from someone from New York about the heirs of Robert Edwards. Peyton Neale Clarke said in 1897 that it was a newspaper advertisement calling on the heirs to communicate with certain parties in New York City. Dorothy Ann Edwards wrote in 1885 that the governor of New York advertised for the heirs. From the information available it seems that various groups made an investigation and were informed that it would cost many thousands of dollars to make the necessary search both in America and in England and Wales and that possession would be disputed. No one came up with the money and the matter rested for several years, as far as any action being taken.
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All over the country Edwardss claimants appeared. Trinity once said there were five thousand. Associations were formed to lend organization and raise money in places like Detroit, Missouri and as far west as Denver. There was a Colorado Edwards Heirs Association who consolidated with others in 1930 to form the "International Consolidation of Edwards Heirs". The board of directors was from Canada, Mississippi, Oregon, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana, South Carolina, Alabama and Texas. The headquarters of the association later moved to Nashville, Tennessee. The Edwards Family Claimant's Association was formed in Wales. Bruce Edwards has a clipping from the Wales Daily Mail dated Sept. 14, 1953 stating "there are 500 members of the Association, mostly working people from South Wales, all one big family, really, stemming from Old Thomas Edwards of Merthyr. The claimants maintain that through his family old Thomas' son Robert left behind in the U. S., land, on which Manhattan and Broadway now stand. He also left behind rich industrial tracts in South Wales. The American fortune, they say, is worth about 280,000,000 pounds and is growing each week. In this country there is a fortune held in Chancery, about 50,000,000 pounds". The total of the fortune on both sides of the Atlantic was enormous.
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The Judge Confesses
The Edwards of Northampton County, North Carolina hired a lawyer to investigate their claim. He went to New York, sold them out and returned home to convince them that they had no right to it and prevented them from entering any claim. The name of the lawyer, a Judge, is given repeatedly in Bruce Edwards' files, but is not used because he has descendants too.
Bruce Edwards also has a deathbed confession of the Judge, which took place in 1911. The confession was to Tom Odom who made the affidavit shown below, and dated December 5, 1924, witnessed by Rev. C. E. Edwards and notarized by J. G. Eanes, Notary Public.
When the Judge was dying he showed such agony the doctor saw that he had something on his mind that was worrying him and he asked him if he had anything he wanted to say before he passed on. "Yes", he replied, "call in some witnesses quick. I have a confession to make. Get Tom Odom if you can, his wife is an heir". The following is what he said,"In 1877 when the Robert R. E. Edwards 99-year lease expired in New York, I told the heirs if they would give me two hundred and fifty dollars that I would go to New York and straighten out the estate for them and that they pay me more when the estate was settled, and they readily trusted me. The heirs had confidence in me; they trusted me and I betrayed them. I meant to do the right thing, I don't know what made me do such a foolish thing as I did, but the New York people hated to give up the improvements they had put on this land and they persuaded me. They talked mighty nice and sweet until I had signed their papers and accepted the large sum of money they paid me and then they made it plain that if I ever betrayed them it meant death for me. They told me there was nowhere that I could hide where they could not find me and that they would get me even if I went into the ground. I was in Hell the minute after I signed those papers and accepted that cursed money and I have been in Hell ever since. I have never been able to enjoy one cent of that money. I was afraid to use it; I couldn't sleep, something was always after me. On my way home from New York I was in distress, not knowing how to face the heirs, but knowing them like I did and knowing how honorable and fine they were, I made up this tale before I reached home. I told them I found out the estate was not theirs and I insinuated that they were trying to get something that did not belong to them. I hurt them, I hurt them plenty and God has made me suffer for it.
These heirs are the descendants of Samuel Edwards who died in 1790; He was the son of John Edwards who came from England with his brother Robert Edwards and settled in Northampton County. Tell all the heirs I am sorry for what I did and tell them the property is rightfully theirs and they can get it. I did not sign any papers to keep them from getting the property. I couldn't sign any papers to keep them from getting their own property.
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Attorneys Get Payoffs & Heirs Get Nothing
The following story, as developed by Fannie Mae Edwards Claud, a member of the Tennessee/Arkansas, Edwards family who carried the burden of the fight for over thirty years, is in part, as follows:Robert Edwards was one of the three brothers, Robert, Jacob and John, who came to America from Wales. Jacob settled in Tidewater, VA but later returned to England and died there. Robert and John came to Northampton County. John bought 267 acres there. Robert was not married and lived with John and his wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth died after the birth of their son, and John returned to England and died, leaving the farm in Northampton to his son Samuel. Robert traded in real estate for some time, then went to New York and invested his money in land there. He leased it for 99 years and embarked for England. The ship and all passengers were lost in a storm. This should have been a simple matter to reclaim this land, but there were problems. The lease was not found recorded in New York. There are stories that records were altered to eliminate it.
Fannie Mae Edwards Claud took up the fight for the North Carolina Edwards again by asking Tom Odom to tell the story of the Judge again exactly as he remembered it. She then typed it, had him sign it, and had C. E. Edwards witness his signature. She attested to both signatures before a notary. She then took an affidavit on Feb. 10,1925 from S. J. Calvert, Register of Deeds for Northampton County about two lawyers coming that day to examine County records about Robert Edwards. He quotes the lawyers as saying, "Every damn thing here is against us and if those heirs ever get in court we will lose everything". On the next day, she took a notarized statement from Charles Eaton Edwards, giving the family history as he had heard it from his father and written it down at the time. She obtained copies of deeds, the will of Samuel Edwards probated in 1790 and others, and built a firm claim to a part of the fortune.
Now comes double-cross number two. She had attended a meeting in Portsmouth, VA of Edwardss heirs in 1924 and was impressed with the sincerity of a certain lawyer. She furnished him copies of her claim. She initiated correspondence with various claimants who recommended another lawyer, and she entrusted the latter with the claim for her family. She did not keep copies of her letters in the early years, but did later; those of this attorney to her are in Bruce's files. Later she wrote:
"He wrote me to meet him at the Monticello Hotel at Norfolk a certain date and to come alone. Not knowing what it was all about and being tied down on the job I did not go, but found out later they got a pay-off. This is not fair and just. If I had gone I would have been paid but the other heirs would have been left out. This is not right in the sight of God or man...it seems that Trinity would be glad to payoff the heirs for the land after they had it free over a hundred years..."
She named the two lawyers in another statement and said, They and others were paid off at the Monticello Hotel, in Norfolk, Va. in 1925. The heirs got nothing.
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The Heirs vs. Trinity Church
Apparently, the Cruger brothers never paid any rent on the land to anyone. It can be assumed that no one ever asked for it. Robert Edwards was dead and it is possible that none of his heirs ever knew of the lease. The Crugers are supposed to have sub-leased all or part of the land to the Trinity Corporation around 1800, and it built the church and established a graveyard on the land, according to the suits filed.
Some suits against Trinity claimed that title to the land descended to the heirs of Thomas Hael and his son-in-law Robert Edwards. Trinity countered with the claim that the land was granted to them by Queen Anne of England in 1705 and presented grants to prove it, but with such vague descriptions that they were open to question.
In 1930, the International Consolidation of Edwards Heirs filed suit in New York. The suit failed, as others had before, for the simple reason that the State of New York had a Statute of Limitations that provided that if no claim was made within fifteen years after the expiration of a lease by the lessor or his heirs, the occupants or possessors of the property received full title by adverse possession. The property was theirs no longer. The Judge had done his work well.
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Statute of Limitations
In 1954 Fannie Mae made another appeal to Mr. Shepard, the attorney for the Trinity Corporation. His answer was courteous but firm on April 23,1954:"The courts have definitely held that any possible claims are barred by the Statute of Limitations. It would, therefore, be useless to discuss the matter any further."[Evans, Heinreichs, Melville, Outlaw, Scarlett, Tanis.FTW]
[Freeland Little 4.ged]
Name Suffix:
Ancestral File Number:
Thomas Nathaniel Edwards - Time-Line
-----General
The genealogy for the descendants of Thomas Nathaniel EDWARDS (1690-1781) and Isabella Elizabeth DOWNING (1693-1785) is questionable because of the "Edwards Estate Scams".... where thousands of people tried to prove they were descendants because of the 77 acres of Manhattan supposedly owned by their eldest son Robert who died childless.
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Categories: Our Ancestor, Thomas 1690 - I have taken all my information from all my sources and try to come up with the most correct information on Thomas Nathaniel EdwardsSr. Please read over it and help me correct the wrong information. or add to it.
When I have more than one information and I didn't know which was correct Iput them all and use / to separate them. Notice there are more than one death times for both Thomas and Elizabeth. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
-----1690
Sir Thomas Nathaniel Edwards, Sr, was born October 14, 1690 in Edwards Hall, Glamorgan, Cardiff, South Wales. He married Lady Elizabeth Isabella Downing on March 12, 1713/14 in Lleanymyceck, Wales, and daughter of Sir George Thomas Downing. She was born Abt. March 12, 1692/93 in Glamorgan, Cardiff, South Wales. - Diana Edwards Roy - Aug 10, 2003
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T
More About Thomas Nathaniel, Sr. Edwards:
Burial: Unknown1218, 1219
Record Change: October 23, 20041220, 1221
More About Thomas Nathaniel, Sr. Edwards and Elizabeth Downing:
Marriage: March 12, 1713/14, LieanymyceckGlamorgan, Wales, Great Britain OR Stafford, South Wales.1222, 1223, 1224, 1225
Children of Thomas Nathaniel, Sr. Edwards and Elizabeth Downing are:
- +William Edwards, b. April 09, 1720, Edwards Hall, Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales also April 08 Denbighshire, Wales & May 09, 1720 Glen Morganshire, Wales, Great Britain OR Glanmorgan, Wales, Great Britain OR Culpepper County, VA1226, 1227, d. April 30, 1808, Gallatin, Kentucky OR Big Barren Creek, Clariborne County, TNORJune 30, 1801 & 1814OR 1816 KY1228, 1229.