The history of my family
John EDWARDS
Plater of Metals of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Ancestors
Show generations
- +
Unknown EDWARDS
~1726 - ~1826
John EDWARDS
~1745 - 1803
Plater of Metals of Birmingham, Warwickshire
 
Unknown [EDWARDS]
~1704 - ~1754
Spouses and Descendants
Generations
- +
John EDWARDS
~1745 - 1803
Plater of Metals of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Sarah DAVIS (~1745 - ~1827)
 
Elizabeth EDWARDS
bap.1779 - ~1865
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. William Nicklin WHITEHOUSE (~1772 - ~1865)
 
Sarah Ann WHITEHOUSE
1805 - ~1873
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. John REEVES (~1808 - ~1883)
 
Sarah Ann REEVES
1846 - ~1898
of West Bromwich, Staffordshire
Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE
1806 - ~1878
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Mary WHITEHOUSE
1814 - ~1882
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. SLATER (~1814 - ~1864)
 
Thomas Davis EDWARDS
bap.1782 - ~1832
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Sarah Ann EDWARDS
bap.1792 - 1792
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
John EDWARDS
bap.1794 - 1844
Millwright of Warwickshire
  m. Elizabeth SLATER (bap.1803 - 1826)
  m. Sarah REYNOLDS (1807 - ~1894)
 
Sarah Ann EDWARDS
1822 - ~1886
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Mark Augustin RAWLINS (~1817 - ~1892)
 
Edward RAWLINS
~1850 - ~1900
Elizabeth EDWARDS
1824 - ~1887
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Nathaniel TWIGG (~1827 - ~1889)
 
Arthur TWIGG
~1852 - ~1902
Photographer
 
A Private Individual
Edith TWIGG
~1892 - ~1967
  m. Leslie A HANCOCK (~1892 - ~1967)
 
Maria EDWARDS
1827 - ~1894
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. John HERITAGE (1827 - ~1894)
 
William Henry HERITAGE
1852 - ~1906
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Agnes HERITAGE
1853 - ~1907
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Thomas HERITAGE
1855 - ~1908
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Walter HERITAGE
1857 - ~1909
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Florence HERITAGE
1860 - ~1910
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Sophia EDWARDS
1829 - 1863
Mormon Handcart Trek Pioneer of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. John ASH (~1820 - ~1891)
 
Ellen Matilda ASH
1854 - 1954
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Brigham Williamson NELSON (~1842 - ~1917)
  m. Lars PETERSON (1855 - 1935)
 
Sophia NELSON
1875 - 1876
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
Eugene NELSON
1877 - 1963
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
  m. Christina HOGENSON (1878 - ~1938)
 
Mildred Uvada NELSON
1900 - ~1961
of Newton, Cache County, Utah, USA
  m. Alexander LEWIS (~1890 - ~1965)
 
Merlin Eugene NELSON
1902 - 1976
of Newton, Cache County, Utah, USA
  m. Elda Lee KENNINGTON (~1908 - ?)
 
A Private Individual
Mabel Bodell NELSON
1904 - 1991
  m. William SMART (~1904 - ?)
 
Erma E NELSON
1908 - 2000
  m. Dellis HEAP (~1908 - ?)
 
Afton L NELSON
1910 - 2002
  m. Gordon E COWAN (1909 - ~1959)
 
Ellis E NELSON
1914 - 1942
  m. Sidney De Vere HANSON (1910 - ~1971)
 
A Private Individual
  m. Orrin Grant HATCH (1934 - 2022)
 
M Donne NELSON
1916 - ~1966
Vardis M NELSON
1918 - ~1968
Blaine Russell NELSON
1921 - 1995
of Newton, Cache County, Utah, USA
  m. Colleen BIRD (1929 - 1991)
 
Ellis Warren NELSON
1926 - 1942
Ray NELSON
1881 - 1881
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
Ada Ellen PETERSON
1886 - 1963
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
  m. William Charles ENGLAND (1888 - 1977)
 
Maurine ENGLAND
1914 - ~1975
  m. Glen Alfred ERICKSON (~1903 - ~1978)
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
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A Private Individual
  m. Nola J UNKNOWN (1943 - ?)
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
Earl ENGLAND
1917 - ~1967
  m. Luana UNKNOWN (1921 - ~1971)
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
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John Leslie PETERSON
1889 - 1990
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
  m. Clarene RAWLINS (1892 - ~1952)
 
Louise PETERSON
1914 - ~1975
  m. George Warren STATES (~1903 - ~1978)
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
Maurice 'Bud' PETERSON
1916 - 1991
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
  m. Dorothy JONES (1918 - 1997)
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
Alice PETERSON
1916 - 1991
  m. V VIRGIL (~1908 - ?)
  m. Harvey Cazier CHRISTENSEN (~1913 - ?)
 
A Private Individual
  m. Clin Anthony BALLS (~1917 - ?)
 
A Private Individual
 
Mark Anthony BALLS
~1945 - 1995
of Wyoming, USA
 
A Private Individual
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John Leslie PETERSON
1924 - 1924
A Private Individual
 
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Amanda Myrtle PETERSON
1893 - ~1943
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
  m. Lloyd Crawford MCDONALD (1891 - 1950)
 
Beena Ddlone PETERSON
1899 - ~1949
of Logan, Cache, Utah, USA
Elizabeth ASH
1855 - 1857
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Sophia ASH
1857 - 1858
of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
John William ASH
1859 - 1945
of Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  m. Tilly PARDINGTON (~1851 - ~1926)
 
Emily Faith ASH
1861 - 1926
of Richmond, Cache, Utah, USA
  m. George Lesley CURTIS (1863 - 1931)
 
George Cleveland CURTIS
~1890 - ~1940
George A ASH
1863 - 1865
of Richmond, Cache, Utah, USA
Matilda EDWARDS
1832 - ~1911
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Edwin EDDINGTON (1831 - ~1911)
 
William H EDDINGTON
~1854 - ~1913
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Edwin EDDINGTON
~1858 - ~1915
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Alice EDDINGTON
~1861 - ~1921
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Amy EDDINGTON
~1865 - ~1924
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Walter EDDINGTON
~1869 - ~1930
Shoe rivet machinist of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Lucy Or Louisa EDWARDS
~1833 - ~1887
of Warwickshire
Reuben EDWARDS
1836 - 1879
Chandelier maker of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Mary Ann NEWEY (~1839 - ~1900)
  m. Emma FISHER (~1843 - ~1907)
 
John EDWARDS
~1859 - ~1915
Errand boy of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Henry 'Harold' EDWARDS
~1861 - ~1916
of Kimberworth, Rotherham, Yorkshire
Eliza EDWARDS
~1863 - ~1917
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Reuben EDWARDS
~1865 - 1906
Grocer of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Louisa Elizabeth HATHERLEY (~1867 - ~1929)
 
Harold Spence EDWARDS
1892 - 1974
Electrical Engineer of Birmingham R.D., Warwickshire
  m. Gertrude Elizabeth LAKE (1890 - ~1952)
 
Gladys EDWARDS
1918 - ~1968
Clerk
Reginald H EDWARDS
1924 - 1987
Student of Chemistry of Birmingham R.D., Warwickshire
  m. Kathleen PREECE (1923 - 1987)
 
Philip R EDWARDS
1950 - 2012
of Birmingham R.D., Warwickshire
Ellen EDWARDS
~1868 - ~1920
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Walter C EDWARDS
1871 - ~1921
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Arthur EDWARDS
1873 - ~1878
of Aston juxta Birmingham, Warwickshire
Ralph E EDWARDS
~1875 - ~1925
of Warwick, Warwickshire
Stephen EDWARDS
1838 - 1928
Blacksmith of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Maria NEWEY (~1844 - ~1913)
  m. Susannah DUFFIELD (1857 - ~1928)
 
Albert EDWARDS
~1868 - ~1940
Gun polisher at cycle manufacturer of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Sarah HARRIS (1870 - 1938)
 
Albert EDWARDS
1893 - ~1952
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Rosina EDWARDS
1894 - 1977
of Aston, Warwickshire
James Henry EDWARDS
1896 - 1910
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Joseph H EDWARDS
~1898 - ~1955
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Edith EDWARDS
1906 - 1960
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Alice EDWARDS
~1870 - 1931
Sweet dealer of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Albert Edward JOHNSON (~1871 - ~1941)
 
Lillian Ida JOHNSON
1893 - ~1952
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Wilfred Aubrey JOHNSON
1897 - 1965
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Gladys Winifred JOHNSON
1900 - 1966
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Irene JOHNSON
1903 - ~1957
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Horace Ambrose JOHNSON
1905 - 1986
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Beryl Eileen JOHNSON
1908 - ~1960
of Yardley, Worcestershire
Henry EDWARDS
~1872 - ~1942
of Aston, Warwickshire
  m. Mary [EDWARDS] (1875 - ~1943)
 
Gertrude EDWARDS
1897 - ~1954
of Wolverton, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
Henry EDWARDS
1901 - ~1956
of Wolverton, Bletchley, Buckinghamshire
Harold EDWARDS
1905 - ~1958
of Bedford, Bedfordshire
Alfred EDWARDS RN
~1876 - ~1934
of Aston, Warwickshire
Frederick EDWARDS
~1882 - ~1941
Action Filer of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Enoch EDWARDS
1840 - 1924
Licensed victualler of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Emelia 'Emily' PARKER (1840 - 1895)
  m. Florence Ethel HEDGES (1876 - ~1948)
 
Enoch Henry 'Harry' EDWARDS
1868 - 1886
of Aston, Warwickshire
Ralph Ernest EDWARDS
1870 - 1954
Innkeeper of Aston, Warwickshire
  m. Rose PHILLIPS (1880 - 1928)
  m. (Mary) Elizabeth SMITH (1888 - ~1964)
 
Lilly May EDWARDS
1906 - 2003
of Redditch, Worcestershire
  m. Christopher Charles SHAKESPEARE (1902 - 1992)
 
June Rosemary SHAKESPEARE
1930 - 1978
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Walter Alan GOUGH (1923 - 1998)
 
A Private Individual
Kevin A GOUGH
1957 - 2003
of Warwick, Warwickshire
 
Christopher Ralph SHAKESPEARE
1939 - 2005
of Warwick, Warwickshire
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
 
Doris Evelyne EDWARDS
1907 - 1963
of Redditch, Worcestershire
  m. George G RAYBOULD (1901 - 1967)
 
Norma L RAYBOULD
1935 - 2011
of Warwick, Warwickshire
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
Vesta Victoria EDWARDS
1908 - 1915
of Redditch, Worcestershire
Albert Clifford EDWARDS
1911 - 1990
Press toolsetter of Redditch, Worcestershire
  m. Dorothy MINOR (~1916 - ?)
 
Michael A EDWARDS
1947 - 1987
of Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
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Emelia Mary 'Emily' EDWARDS
1872 - 1972
of Aston, Warwickshire
  m. Arthur Henry GREVES (1858 - 1941)
 
A Private Individual
  m. Unknown LOWE (~1897 - ?)
 
Harry Arthur GREVES
1899 - 1975
Dairy farmer of Holly Wood, King's Norton, Worcestershire
  m. Dorothy BROADWAY (1899 - 1943)
 
William A GREVES
1925 - bur.1926
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
A Private Individual
 
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Graham J GREVES
1936 - 1995
of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
  m. Martha E SAER (1933 - 1999)
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
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Albert Edward GREVES
1901 - 1976
Farmer of King's Norton, Worcestershire
  m. Ada M TOMLIN (1908 - 1978)
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
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Barbara Jean GREVES
1937 - 1997
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
 
A Private Individual
 
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John Edward EDWARDS
1873 - 1873
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
Albert Parker EDWARDS
1876 - 1930
Licensed victualler of Aston, Warwickshire
  m. Annie Elizabeth STOKES (1871 - 1961)
 
Albert Garnet 'Bert' EDWARDS
1898 - 1950
Licensed victualler of Crabbs Cross, Worcestershire
  m. Margaret 'Peggy' TOMLINSON (1913 - 1989)
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
Mildred Valentine EDWARDS
1900 - 1900
of Crabbs Cross, Worcestershire
Doris May 'Dolly' EDWARDS
1902 - 1974
Hotel assistant of Crabbs Cross, Worcestershire
  m. Harry Jordan PHIPPS (1899 - 1927)
 
Ralph Clifford EDWARDS
1903 - 1990
Hotelier and restauranteur of Redditch, Worcestershire
  m. Irene Mary 'Renee' ALLEN (1908 - 1979)
 
Jean Sheila EDWARDS
1933 - 2021
of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
  m. John Orme BRETTELL (1925 - 1999)
 
A Private Individual
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Greville Rex EDWARDS
1935 - 2012
of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
  m. Brenda M S SMITH (1934 - 2015)
 
A Private Individual
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John Barry Michael EDWARDS
1936 - 2000
of Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire
  m. Winifred Joan WALLEY (1936 - 2005)
 
A Private Individual
 
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Ena Flora EDWARDS
1908 - 1983
Housewife of Redditch, Worcestershire
  m. William John 'Laddie' WEAVER (1904 - 2000)
 
A Private Individual
  m. Beryl Stuart FIDLER (1936 - 2007)
 
A Private Individual
 
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Osmond EDWARDS
1910 - 2000
of Redditch, Worcestershire
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
Elizabeth Mary 'Liz' EDWARDS
1945 - 2022
of Evesham, Worcestershire
 
A Private Individual
 
A Private Individual
A Private Individual
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A Private Individual
Ada EDWARDS
1879 - 1963
of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Charles Frederick BURROWS (1870 - 1942)
 
Charles Frederick Thomas BURROWS
1907 - 1971
Aircraft metal polisher of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
  m. Edith M BUTLER (1906 - ~1973)
 
Unknown BURROWS
~1907 - ~1973
of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Frederick Garnet BURROWS
1908 - 2004
Joiner and woodworker of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire
  m. Hilda COX (1908 - 1995)
 
Frederick James BURROWS
1943 - 2012
of Bristol, Gloucestershire
 
A Private Individual
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Garnet Frederick EDWARDS
1882 - 1963
Publican (retired) of Bournbrook, Birmingham, Worcestershire
  m. Ellen Smallwood 'Nell' BLUNDALL (1882 - 1974)
 
Dorothy Vera EDWARDS
1909 - 1958
of Foxlydiate, Redditch, Worcestershire
  m. Ernest Henry POWELL (1912 - 1975)
 
A Private Individual
  m. Jennifer K STANWORTH (1943 - 2017)
 
A Private Individual
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Muriel Freida 'Marcheta' EDWARDS
1898 - 1948
Housekeeper of Birmingham, Warwickshire
  m. Arthur Frederick MORRIS (~1898 - ~1939)
 
A Private Individual
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Mary EDWARDS
~1780 - ~1855
  m. John SLATER (~1780 - ~1855)
 
Narrative and Notes
3

It's not yet clear who the parents of John EDWARDS, engineer and millwright, born c.1794-1796 were.

There are severals theories.

Will of John EDWARDS 1803 theory

John EDWARDS' will, dated 22 Jan 1803, describes John as a plater of metals of Great Hampton Street, Birmingham. Great Hampton Street heads North West out of Birmingham towards Hockley and West Bromwich.

The will names his wife Sarah and children Thomas Davies EDWARDS, John, Elizabeth and Mary. His net worth was estimated at £2000. The theory is that his son John was John EDWARDS, millwright and engineer.

In the first paragraph he gives and bequeaths to Samuel JARVIS of West Bromwich , farmer and James HAYES of Little Charles Street, Birmingham, jobbing smith, the sum of £1300 which had been lent as a mortgage to a property in Chaddesley Corbett on trust to provide support for his widow, Sarah EDWARDS.

After her decease (or second marriage) then his four children were to receive equal portions. Thomas Davis also received property in Canon Street, Birmingham, one of six new built houses in Hockley in the parish of St Martin, Birmingham and Barr Beacon in Staffordshire. John also received dwelling houses in Canon Street, a house in Hockley and a fourth part of a brewing house. Elizabeth received a house in Hockley, a quarter of the brewhouse and two new shops. Mary got the two middle houses in Hockley and a quarter of the brewhouse, and two houses in Canon Street. His house in Great Hampton was to be managed in trust for his family until the children were 21 years old then liquidated. Should any of his children be married before they were 21 then they would receive £100 and nothing more.

In a codicil, dated 30 Jan 1803, he provides for his parents by bequeathing them the property that they were living in in Hockley and a pension to be paid by his wife and eldest son.

But would John's son John have been the right age?

The following children were baptized by John and Sarah EDWARDS in Birmingham, all at St Martin in the Bull Ring:

The last of these could have been John, millwright.

There is no record of a Mary baptized in Birmingham by John and Sarah EDWARDS. There were, however, other possible baptisms:

This family's Mary married John SLATER in 1813, aged 21 and above, (witnessed by her sister Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE and brother John) and in 1871 was aged 83 when living with her niece Sarah A REEVES. This suggests that she was born before 1792 and in 1787-88 respectively and strongly indicates that hers was the Sutton Coldfield baptism on 1787.

Taking all these baptisms together it looks like there were two families:

If this theory is true then John 1794, died of tuberculosis in 1844 leaving a wife Sarah (REYNOLDS) and at least seven children. If his mother outlived him

What happened to John putative siblings?

The admon of Thomas Davis EDWARDS of West Bromwich, Gentleman, was dated 23 Dec 1856. He died on 6 Feb 1854, intestate, a bachelor without parent. The estate went to Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE, widow, his sister. Why didn't Thomas Davis' money to his younger brother John ? Perhaps because his brother John had died in 1844 of TB? Perhaps this explains why John's sons were drawn to West Bromwich…their rich, single (gay?) uncle lived there, and now that their father had died, they were angling for their uncle's estate!

In 1851 Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE was a canal office keeper in West Bromwich, widow age 71, living with 2 unmarried daughters, and in 1861 ditto (but no longer a canal office keeper).

In 1861 Mary SLATER (John's youngest sister had married John SLATER in October 1813) was also living in West Bromwich, a widow living alone. In 1871 Mary was living in West Bromwich with her great niece, her sister Elizabeth WHITEHOUSE's granddaughter, Sarah Ann REEVES.

Coincidentally, Mary SLATER was also the name of a possible first wife of John EDWARDS, millwright. A John EDWARDS married Mary SLATER in St Peter & St Paul, Aston in 1820. Did the EDWARDS siblings, Mary and John, marry the SLATER siblings, John and Mary?

Some John EDWARDS, senior, back story...

John EDWARDS, d.1803, was a plater, money lender and property developer. He was issued a game certificate in 1794 and 1798 [Aris' Gazette 29 Sep 1794 and 10 Sep 1798].

A John EDWARDS married a Sarah DAVIS on 1 Oct 1778 in Edgbaston on 1 Oct 1778 which explains Thomas Davi(e)s EDWARDS' name. An alternative is that he was the John EDWARDS who married Sarah ASKEY, daughter of Thomas ASKEY d 1801, however this marriage doesn't explain the "Davis" and is too late for the baptism of Elizabeth in 1779 and requires the awkward baptisms of Elizabeth and Thomas Davis in July and September 1782.

The outstanding challenges for this theory to address are:

Was Engineering a family profession? A longer shot theory!

The EDWARDS of Bermondsey and Neath:

In April 1811 Messrs Woolf and Edwards demonstrated Woolf's new high-pressure compound steam engine design at their premises on Mill Street, Bermondsey. Alfred WOOLF and Humphrey EDWARDS had formed a partnership in 1806.

On the east side of Mill Street were warehouses lining St Saviour's Dock (an inlet of the Thames) and on the west side were factories including flour and rice mills and a cooperage.

The tests demonstrated huge efficiency gains over Boulton and Watt's steam engine design by measuring the amount of wheat that could be ground using a measured amount of coal in a given time. In attendance as a witness was Richard Trevithick, whose locomotive engine had completed the world's first locomotive-hauled railway journey seven years earlier, and "John Edwards, engineer".1

It's likely that this John EDWARDS was the millwright John EDWARDS (1738-1819) son of Humphrey EDWARDS of Neath (1697-1768) and brother to a third Humphrey EDWARDS (1747-1806) also a millwright.

John had travelled to London from Neath to seek his fortune with his uncle John NASH, a millwright and later father to John NASH the famous architect. This John, who did a lot of work for water companies, lived in Lambeth where the engine tests were conducted.

Following the demonstration the patent and business were to be sold, and Woolf returned to Cornwall later that year, but the partnership wasn't dissolved until 1822. The "best flour mill in England ... that well-known STEAM ENGINE and FLOUR MILL, which has for some time been at work at H. Edwards's Steam Engine Manufactory, Mill-street, Lambeth Walk was put up for auction on 17 Feb 1812 at Jack's Coffee-house, Corn Exchange, Mark-lane.2

Woolf and Trevithick are lauded as the creators of the steam engine, with Woolf's improvements widely acknowledged, but Humphrey EDWARDS was largely forgotten for any part he played, but the Woolf compound steam engine manufactured by Humphrey EDWARDS was popular in France where the price of coal was high. An 1827 report of the French coal mines in Anzin, stated that 15 of Edwards's engines were being used in the extraction of coal, and following the 1811 he focussed on the French market. One of his engines supplied water to west Paris and the Left Bank. Humphrey had a son Henry Hind EDWARDS who inherited the business but gave up in 1847, joining the Paris Railway Company in Strasbourg. This French connection suggests that Humphrey was not John EDWARDS' father, and there is no evidence he had a son called John.

Whether Humphrey EDWARDS of Bermondsey was in some way related to the Humphrey EDWARDS of Neath if unclear, but the use of the name Humphrey appears more than coincidence.

How does our John EDWARDS fit in?

In 1811, our John EDWARDS would have been 15. A possible baptism for John EDWARDS junior was conducted on 3 Apr 1796 at St Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey, by John EDWARDs, bricklayer of "Five foot lanes", and Elizabeth his wife. This John was born 27 Feb 1796. The church is 5 minutes walk from Mill Street and "Five foot lane", which was later called Russell Street and is now called Tanner Street, ended at the beginning of Mill Street. Perhaps this older John EDWARDS was a brother to Humphrey? If so then our John EDWARDS could have apprenticed at Woolf and Edwards there and then struck out for himself in Birmingham after Humphrey left for France. The Woolf and Edwards engine had not been a commercial success in England, so his family may not have had much capital to invest in nephews.

Another tantalising connection is that it is believed (but not confirmed) that Humphrey EDWARDS of Neath was originally from Broseley Shropshire (a noted iron-making centre), and had migrated to Neath, where their employer has married advantageously and wanted to invest in local mills. While there is no baptism of this Humphrey in 1697, there is one in Kinnerley for a Humphrey EDWARDS son of Edward EDWARDS of Kynaston in 1693.

As yet there is no documented link between John EDWARDS the London and Neath EDWARDS, other than a baptism.

Elsewhere, on 11 Sep 1834, Messrs EDWARDS and Co, engineers, millwrights, brass and iron founders etc etc opened a new establishment in Hanley, Staffordshire. There is unconfirmed suggestion that this was a Joseph EDWARDS.

Was Reuben a family name?

A Reuben EDWARDS of the parish of St Dunstan-in-the-West, Fleet Street, Holborn, son of Benjamin and Hannah, born July 1790, had a non-conformist burial on Christmas Day 1791 at Spa Fields burial ground. No other children were baptized. A John EDWARDS was baptised in Birmingham by Benjamin EDWARDS and SARAH in Sep 1798

A Reuben EDWARDS of Uley, Gloucestershire was baptized by William and Sarah EDWARDS in Aug 1786. Other children: Elizabeth in 1782, Mary, William, George and Mary in 1791.

A Reuben EDWARDS of Denbigh was baptized by William, a stonemason, and Elizabeth in Oct 1793. Other children baptized but no John or other 'family' names.

A Reuben EDWARDS of Halesowen was baptized by Joseph and Anne in March 1803 in Cradley Park Lane Chapel. No John or other family names.

Was Matilda a family name?

A Matilda EDWARDS was baptized by John & Elizabeth in May 1802 at St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham4. This couple also baptized a John EDWARDS in November 1787 at the same church, but this John would have been too old.

Other clues

On 29 Jan 1827 notice was published in Aris's Birmingham Gazette of the dissolution a partnership between John EDWARDS and Samuel COY, of Great Brooke-street, Stone Masons. Could this have been John EDWARDS junior or senior?

Local wills

Richard EDWARDS probate 1802, all goods to Mary COOPER married Joseph COOPER 20 Aug 1799 as a widow named Mary EDWARDS, possibly Richard's then re-married wife, or a brother's widow.

Catharine EDWARDS, victualler or Bull Street, probate 1804. Children: Harriot Elizabeth HANCOCK, Eliza, George, Daniel and John. (This was wife of George.)

Timeline
Personal Family World
Date
Age*
Event
Place
1 Oct 1778
33
Marriage to wife Sarah DAVIS 
5
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Warwickshire
30 Nov 1779
34
Baptism of daughter Elizabeth EDWARDS 
St Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
23 Sep 1782
36
Baptism of son Thomas Davis EDWARDS 
St Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
29 Jun 1792
46
Baptism of daughter Sarah Ann EDWARDS 
6
St Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
13 Nov 1792
47
Residence 
7
Luke Place, Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England
Nov 1792
47
Death of daughter Sarah Ann EDWARDS 
8
Birmingham, Warwickshire
btw 1794 and 1796
49
Birth of son John EDWARDS 
9
Warwickshire
22 Jan 1803
57
Residence 
10
Great Hampton Street, Birmingham, , Warwickshire, England
Occupation: Plater of Metals 
11
 
aft Jan 1803
57
Death of father Unknown EDWARDS 
 
12 Mar 1803
57
Death 
12
 
20 Mar 1803
57
Burial 
13
St Peter & St Paul's Church, Aston, , Warwickshire, England
13 Aug 1803
57
Probate 
14
Birmingham, Warwickshire
7 Feb 1805
59
Marriage of daughter Elizabeth EDWARDS and William Nicklin WHITEHOUSE 
15
St Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
7 Oct 1813
68
Marriage of daughter Mary EDWARDS and John SLATER 
16
St Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
15 Jan 1827
81
Marriage of son John EDWARDS and Sarah REYNOLDS 
17
St Martin's, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England
7 Sep 1844
98
Death of son John EDWARDS 
18
1 Court, New Summer Street, Birmingham, Warwickshire
Documented age, Calculated age, Estimated age
Citations
1 - London Courier and Evening Gazette
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1811 Advertisement: 'WOOLF’S PATENT STEAM ENGINE. London, April 17,1811. THIS is to certify, that we, the undersigned, were present on the 14th of March, 1811, on the premises of John Hodgson, Esq. and Co. to witness an experiment made with Steam Engine of eight horses' power, erected by Messrs. Bolton and Watt, to ascertain what quantity of wheat could be ground by the said Engine with a given quantity of coals. The Engine was in good working condition, the mill-stone in good order, and the experiment was made with one pair of stones, French burrs, 4 feet 2 inches diameter.

The Engine was worked with proper care and attention for three hours and fiity minutes, and in that time ground three quarters, seven bushels and a half of wheat, Winchester measure, with five and one third of a bushel of coals. The weight of the wheat was 59 pounds, neat, per bushel. The coals were from Collingwood Main, 448 pounds.

James Burton Engineer, Richard Dewdney, Miller, John Penn, Engineer, George Nicholls, Miller at Messrs. Hodgsons, Richard Pearce, Miller, Messrs. Hodgsons.

London, 17th April, 1811.

The advert continued with the results of other witnessed tests at Woolf and Edwards , Mill Street, Lambeth, and then concludes:

From the above Certificate it appears, that with one of Messrs. Bolton and Watt's best Engines of eight horses’ power, not quite six bushels of wheat, Winchester measure, can be ground into flour with one bushel of 84 pounds of Newcastle coals; and that with the same qiantity of coals, Woolf's nine horse Engine can grind from 20 to 24 bushels of the same wheat. In other words, Woolf's Patent Steam Engine of nine horses' power can lift from 40 to 45 millions of pounds one foot high, with one bushel of coals.—Engines of greater power can lift considerably more with the same quantity of fuel.

For Licences to Construct or use Woolfs Steam Engine apply to Mr A. Woolf, Camborn, Cornwall: or Mr. Alexander Tilloch, Star Office, Temple-bar.

N. B. Engines on Mr. Watt’s principle may altered to embrace Woolf's improvements, at moderate ex-pence.

*The Mill and Patent Steam Engine are to be Sold by Private Contract.— Apply on the Premises, Mill-street, Lambeth.

2 - London Courier and Evening Gazette
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3 - Neath Antiquarian Society website "Neath Antiquarian Society"
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JOHN NASH

and his

NEATH CONNECTION

Martyn J Griffiths

There is little doubt that the construction of a mansion at Rheola for the London engineer John Edwards sometime between 1811 and 1814 was based on designs drawn up by John Nash. Later, Nash would go on to earn fame and fortune by redesigning central London. However, the links between the Nash family, the town of Neath and in particular the Edwards family, go much deeper than that.

The origins of the Edwards family of Neath are unclear as John Edwards Vaughan of Rheola commented that his grandfather had come from Staffordshire, though other claims were to a Welsh heritage. The family at Neath was well-known to Iolo Morganwg (1747-1826) who commented that they had for several generations been ‘greatly distinguished for their genius and skill’ in constructing machines. Certainly, their skills would have been very welcome in an area which was rapidly becoming an industrial powerhouse.

Humphrey Edwards senior, presumably the man who moved to Neath from Staffordshire, lived in Water Street in 1750 - 1751 as shown on lists of resiants [an ancient form of residents] where his name appears as ‘Umphrey Edwards’. Water Street had been one of the more prestigious parts of the town in the mid seventeenth century but by the time that these lists were being drawn up it had been downgraded somewhat in status. The influx of English coal miners and metal industry workers to the Mera meant it was rapidly becoming a less desirable part of town. The more affluent residents had mostly moved to High Street, New Street and Water Street. Nevertheless, some of the better-off still lived there. Humphrey, like all three of his sons, was a millwright and engineer; skills much in demand on the Gnoll estate.

Living next door to the family in Water Street was an Edward Nash. Like Humphrey Edwards, Nash’s father, Thomas, had moved to Neath to work for the Mackworth (Gnoll) Estate. The Nash family hailed from Brosley in Shropshire which also happened to be the home of the Guest family of Dowlais. Brosley was one of the primary centres for the industrial revolution and where the world’s first iron bridge would be built in 1779. Thomas Nash acted as mines’ agent or surveyor for the Mackworth Estate.

Nothing much is known about Edward Nash other than his occupation as ship’s carpenter, but it is obvious that the two families were already closely tied as his brother John and John Edwards senior travelled to London together in about 1762 to seek their fortunes. Both were millwrights and both were successful entrepreneurs in the metropolis, particularly John Edwards. John Nash was the father of the architect of the same name.

John Nash the architect of Regent’s Street,

Regent’s Park, Brighton Pavilion, Marble Arch and

Buckingham Palace – as well as Rheola!

It is not known where John Nash junior was born. Some say London, others Cardigan and there is one reference from the portrait painter John Deffett Francis that refers to a note he had seen saying, ‘his sister who was the very image of him, told me that they were both born in Neath.’

The budding architect married in 1775, shortly after finishing his apprenticeship, but it was not a happy union. Just three years later he sent his wife, Jane, back to Wales ‘in order to work a reformation on her.’ There were two allegations. Firstly, she was allegedly something of a spendthrift having millinery bills alone of nearly £300. Living with his relatives in Aberavon there was less likelihood of that sort of temptation. The second allegation was that the two children they had baptised were not fathered by Nash! In fact, he alleged that she had never had any child by him but had faked the pregnancies and imposed two children as theirs! Nash asked a friend, Charles Charles, who was a clerk in Mackworth’s Neath coal-yard, to keep an eye on her in Aberavon. That was another mistake. Charles’ eye was too close for comfort.

Jane returned to London in June 1779 but continued her spending sprees and in October she was again sent to Wales, this time under supervision of either Humphrey Edwards, named as Nash’s cousin, or his brother Thomas (references vary). She probably stayed in Water Street where the Edwards family was living in the 1750s and where Thomas Edwards still occupied several houses at the time of the 1811 Gnoll Rent Roll. One can imagine the comments of the Mera miners when Jane Nash was parading round in her London finery.

The final disaster was that Jane became pregnant and had a baby, born in December, which was later acknowledged to be fathered by Charles. That, unsurprisingly, was the end of the marriage.

Divorce proceedings were started at the Bishop of London’s Consistory Court in 1782 and an action brought against Charles Charles seeking damages for ‘criminal conversation’. This resulted in Nash’s favour and Charles went to prison being unable or unwilling to pay the damages and costs awarded. Divorce proceedings were lengthy and tortuous. In 1787 Nash obtained a definitive sentence of divorce but this did not allow for re-marriage. He, therefore, sought a full divorce by Act of Parliament. Witnesses, including Humphrey Edwards, his brother Thomas, and the Morgan cousins from Aberavon, all travelled to London to give evidence. The evidence they gave was a repeat of the earlier proceedings in the Bishop’s Court but it was all to no avail; the divorce bill was rejected.

Thomas and Humphrey Edwards were brothers to the John Edwards that had travelled to London. Thomas was six times portreeve of Neath and was surveyor for the new bridge built across the River Neath. He was the go-between for Capel Hanbury Leigh and John Edwards over the purchase of Rheola.

The younger brother, Humphrey, was another millwright and engineer. Like his brother he was also involved in the running of the town being a common councillor at the time of his death. He married Mary, an aunt of John Nash the architect, but no trace has been found of the actual marriage. Given the ages of both Humphrey Edwards and John Nash, it seems more likely that Mary was a cousin rather than an aunt, and she may be the Mary born to his neighbour Edward Nash in about 1757.

Humphrey is named taking out a 21-year lease dated 1791 for the mill at Neath River Bridge. This mill has been constructed just fifty years earlier to replace an older one nearer Neath Abbey. In 1815 the same mill passed to Joseph Tregellis Price; c1817 to Elijah Waring; to the banker John Rowland in 1837; to William Weston Young in 1855 and through his extended family until it burnt down in 1872.

John Nash’s link with the Edwards family continued in London as the architect worked closely with John Edwards’ son, another John Edwards, later known (from 1829) as John Edwards Vaughan. The latter was a solicitor. Their closeness is perhaps reflected in the will of Nash who left almost his entire estate to the solicitor’s son, Nash Vaughan Edwards Vaughan. George IV regarded Nash Edwards as Nash’s nephew ‘or just a relation’.

SOURCES

  • Pages from an Architect's Notebook - Nigel Temple (1987)
  • The Early Life of John Nash : Transactions of the Honourable Society of Cymmrodorion (2009)
  • by Elis Jenkins, NAS Transactions (1978)

The Diaries of John Nash, architect 1832-1835 - Malcolm Pinhorn (2002)

4 - St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, Parish Records
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5 - Edgbaston, St Bartholomew, Parish Records
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6 - St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, Parish Record
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7 - St Peter and St Paul, Aston, Parish Records
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November

13 Sarah Ann dr of John & Sarah Edwards - 6 months - Decline -

West side

Luke Place, St Phillips, Birmingham

8 - St Peter and St Paul, Aston, Parish Records
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November

13 Sarah Ann dr of John & Sarah Edwards - 6 months - Decline -

West side

Luke Place, St Phillips, Birmingham

9 - St Mary Magdalene, Bermondsey, Parish Records
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10 - Will and Admon of John EDWARDS 1803
11 - Will and Admon of John EDWARDS 1803
12 - Will and Admon of John EDWARDS 1803
13 - National Burial Index for England & Wales

Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry

First name(s) John

Last name Edwards

Death year 1803

Burial year 1803

Burial date 20 Mar 1803

Denomination Anglican

Description St Peter & St Paul

Place Aston

County Warwickshire

Country England

Record set National Burial Index For England & Wales

Category Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records

Subcategory Parish Burials

Collections from Great Britain, England

14 - Will and Admon of John EDWARDS 1803
15 - St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, Parish Record
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16 - St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, Parish Record
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17 - St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, Parish Records
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John Edwards of this Parish, widower,

and Sarah Reynolds of this Parish, spinster,

were married in this Church by Banns with consent on this fifteenth Day of January in the Year one Thousand eight Hundred and twenty seven, By me Thomas Garbett.

This marriage was solemnized between us:

    The mark X of John Edwards

    Sarah Reynolds.

In the presence of:

    The mark X of Lydia Cutler

    The mark X of Charles Hodgkins.

No 36

18 - UK General Registry Office Death Certificate
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Superintendent Registrar's District - Birmingham

Registrar's District - Saint George Birmingham

1844 DEATHS in the District of Saint George Brmingham in the County of Warwick

No - When Died - Name and Surname - Sex - Age - Rank or Profession - Cause of No - Death - Signature, Descrption, and Residence of Informant - When Registered - Signature

177 - Seventh of September 1844 at 1 Court New Summer Street - John Edwards - Male - 49 years - Mill Wright and Engineer - Consumption - X the mark of Sarah Edwards Widow present at the Death 1 Court New Summer St - Twelfth of September 1844 - Thomas Sansom Registrar