{Garnsey Ancestors}
The following information was extracted from Descendants of Rice Edwards of Wenham Mass. from 1642 By Donald Smith Kenney
For the complete article, go to https://www.genealogy.com/ftm/k/e/n/Donald-S-Kenney/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0001.html
Rice Edwards was born Abt. 1615 in England or Wales14, and died Bef. 15 June 1683 in Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts.15 He married Elnor bef. June 1643 in Salem, Essex, Massachusetts.16
On 13 February 1642-3, "Ryce Edwards" was granted "10 acres nere to Mr. Blackleach his farme to be laid out by the towne."[8] Three months later, that part of Salem became Wenham, a separate township from Salem.
Family tradition says that Rice was Welsh. If so, his name most probably would have been spelled R-H-Y-S and pronounced "Reece" in the Welsh. There are instances of his name being spelled both Rhys and Reece in the Massachusetts records.
Rice and his wife were admonished by the court for Incontinency (public display of affection before marriage) at the 10 December 1643 Court at Salem. From this record it appears that Rice was married by June of that year. The name of his wife is not mentioned in these records. However, Salem historian, Sidney Perley states, "The name of [Rice Edwards] wife was probably Elnor, born about 1620." This was based on a court record, in which Elnor Edwards is deposed. She "is at the house of Rice Edwards and she testified that she was about 60 years of age." (Sworn, July 23, 1680) This Elnor Edwards is the correct age to be the wife of Rice Edwards and several females of the next generation are named Eleanor.
When the first church in Wenham was organized on 8 October 1644, seven families comprised the initial membership. The name of Rice Edwards was not among them. Later, on 13 January 1674 the name Ellena Edwards is found on a list of members of the Wenham Congregational Church. The name of Rice Edwards is not found on this list which may be an indication of his non-conformity to the Puritan principals. The only Edwards family in the Wenham area at the time of Rev. Gerrish's pastorate was that of Rice Edwards.
Town records credit Rice Edwards "for killinge of 4 wolfs." The bounty was 20 shillings each.
In the Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts at Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1 March 1647/8, is found: "Rice also (Reesse) Edwards and Henry Hagott of Wenham admonished for fighting together. There were no blows given; they only struggled together. And never having been before the court for a similer offence, were to pay only witness fees and costs. Witness: Phyneas Fisk and Ezdras Reade."
Also in the November 1648 session, is found: " Wife of Henry Haggett fined for wishing the curse of God on Rice Edwards and that fire might come down from Heaven and consume his house, as it did Goodwife Ingersoll's barn." Fortunately for Rice and his family, his house was not struck by lightning!
On 3 December 1677, when Rice Edwards of Beverly took the Oath of Fidelity to King Charles, his occupation is noted as "Pavir" or paver, which is a person who lays or sets paving stones, an occupation very similar to that of a stone mason and in colonial times, one who would lay stones for house foundations and a builder of chimneys and stone walls.
On 29 December 1652, Rice Edwards sold to John Sallard (this is most likely John Solart, Sr.) his house and 10 acres of land in "The Neck" in Wenham [the area around Larch Row and Walnut Road], and moved the short distance to 20 acres of land which was on the east side of the present Dodge's Row and abutted the land of Richard Dodge. This larger property was in that section of Salem which on 14 October 1668, became Beverly. On 18 March 1678-9, Grover Street was laid out, running southerly from Dodge's Row between the land of Rice Edwards and John Dodge.[11]
A new boundary between Beverly and Wenham was surveyed during the summer of 1679 by Charles Gott and John Batchelder of Wenham.When a dozen Beverly residents complained that they now found themselves residents of Wenham, Gott and Batchelder confessed "that the compass that they ran by sight was altogether false.It would not work, and the north point stood south or any way, so they shook it and turned it the way best answered their ends."
The most serious trouble occurred however, when it came time to collect taxes.Beverly Constable Peter Woodbury collected as usual from his previous townsmen.But when Wenham Selectmen Walter Fairfield and Thomas Fiske took it upon themselves to "run the line" again, they claimed John Dodge's house to be in Wenham.Accompanied by Wenham Constable Richard Hutton they visited Dodge's house when John Dodge was away and took three pewter platters in payment of Wenham taxes.They then passed by the house of Rice Edwards and when Sarah, wife of John Dodge came by and saw her purloined tableware, she tried to grab it.
At a General Court held at Boston, 19 May 1680, in the action of Beverly, by William Dodge and Paul Thorndike (selectmen, edt.) v. Capt. Fiske and others for the town of Wenham, they found for defendants, the land in controversy.
"Warrant, dated July 21, 1680, for the appearance of Richard Hutton, Thomas Fiske and Walter Fairfeild upon complaint of John Dodge, for entering his house, taking away some pewter when no one was at home, and afterwards striking his wife, so that she was much injured, signed by Daniel Denison for the court, and served by Samuel Moulton, Constable of Wenham."
"Elnor Edwards, aged about sixty years deposed in Court that, Hutton, Fiske and Fairfield came to the house of Rise Edwards with three pewter platters, which they took out of John Dodge's house.Dodge's wife Sarah, passed by and asked them why they rifled her house when nobody was at home, stepping up to take the platters away.They all three pulled her down and dragged her upon the ground, Thomas Fiske, Sr. striking her a blow on the neck with his fist.Then Rise Edwards cried out, "Rescue the woman, what will you let her be Cilld," and John Edwards stepped in and held Fiske and Fairfild by the shoulders.Sworn, July 23, 1680."
"John Edwards, aged about thirty-seven years, deposed that he came to his father's house and found Fiske, Hutten and Fairfield there asking for some fire to light their pipes.His father told them he was not willing they should have fire.Deponent told them they might have some if they would go to his house but not inside the door.He showed them a receipt for the rates in 1679, etc. Sworn, July 23, 1680."
"Rise Edwards, aged about sixty-five years, deposed concerning the rough handling of the woman and why he cried out to rescue her. Sworn, July 23, 1680."
The court assessed the Wenham officials costs of £50 for the fracas.[2]
In Essex County, Massachusetts Probate Records, Book 307, Page. 134, is found an agreement between Rice Edwards and his son Benjamin by which the son agreed to take care of his father, for which he was to receive the greater share of his father's estate. This document is dated 18th. 2nd. 1681, (18 April 1681). As no allusion is made to Rice's wife, it may be inferred that she was not living at that time.
After the death of Rice, his son Benjamin was appointed administrator of Rice's estate. Rice's children joined in an agreement to give Benjamin the housing, land and stock, and to share the movable furniture. The date of this agreement is 15th-4th-1683, (June 15, 1683). It was signed by Rice Edwards' sons and sons-in-law as follows: John Edwards, Thomas Edwards, and "In right of Thy wife"; John Knowlton, John Leach, John Coy, William Cleaves and Richard Lee. (Essex County Probate Record Book 307:135).This document is of extreme genealogical importance as it names the sons of Rice Edwards and infers that he had five daughters, not named, but providing the name of their husband.Research has indicated that the daughters of Rice Edwards were, Bethia, who married John Knowlton; Mary, who married John Leach; Elizabeth, who married John Coy; Martha who married William Cleaves and Sarah who married Richard Lee.
Rice's neighbor in Beverly, Richard Dodge, during his lifetime, dedicated a piece of his land as a burying ground for himself and posterity and this was the likely burial place of Rice Edwards and his wife, although no marker remains today to confirm this
Children of Rice Edwards and Elnor are:
John Edwards, b. Abt. 1643, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts,20 d. August 28, 1697, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts.21
Mary Edwards, b. Abt. 1647, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts,22 d. Bef. 1717, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts.
Bethia Edwards, b. Abt. 1648, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts, d. Abt. 1707, Manchester, Essex, Massachusetts.
Sarah Edwards, b. Abt. 1650, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, d. June 7, 1735, Norwich, New London, Connecticut.23
Thomas Edwards, b. Abt. February 1650/51, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, 24 , 25, 26 d. March 13, 1732/33, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts.27
Martha Edwards, b. Abt. 1657, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, d. Bef. 1683, Beverly, Essex, Massachusetts.28
Elizabeth Edwards, b. Abt. 1658, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, d. Bef. November 22, 1705, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts.29
Benjamin Edwards, b. Abt. 1662, Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, 30 , 31 d. September 29, 1723, Wenham, Essex, Massachusetts.32
The Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. 1, 1636-1656, Published by The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1911 (p. 56, p. 135, p. 152)
The Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. 4, Published by The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts, 1911 (pp. 18-21)
The History of Salem, Massachusetts", Vol. II, by Sidney Perley (Salem, Massachusetts 1926), (page 140)
The Records of the First Church in Boston 1630-1868, Edited by Richard D. Pierce, Published by the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, Volume XXXIX, Boston, 1961, page 47
Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, Vol. VI, page 400-401, January 1678
Essex County Probate Records, Docket 8608
New England Historical Genealogical Register, Vol. 61 (October, 1907), page 330-331 and Vol.. 62, (January, 1908), page 48.
Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Vol. I, Salem, Massachusetts The Essex Institute (1913) page. 116
Town Records of Salem, Massachusetts, Vol. I, 1634-1659, The Essex Institute, Salem, Massachusetts (1913) page 168
Essex County Registry of Deeds Book 1, Leaf 21
Essex Institute Historical Col. 56:101
Parish Records of Willoughby-with-Slothby photocopied by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.