Richard Edwards

Richard Edwards

• Birth: May 1, 1647 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut
• Death: Apr. 20, 1718 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut

Parents:

• William Edwards (1618 - ____)
• Agnes Harris Edwards (1604 - ____)

Spouses:

1. Elizabeth Tuttle Edwards (1645 - ____)
2. Mary Talcott Edwards (1661 - 1723)

Children:

1. Abigail Edwards Stoughton (1671 - 1754)*
2. Ann Edwards Davenport (1678 - 1764)*
3. Mabel Edwards Bigelow (1685 - 1765)*

Links

• Find A Grave Memorial# 46347845

supporting data

• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000146845914821
• The descendants of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, who came from old to New England in 1635, and settled in New Haven in 1639, with numerous biographical notes and sketches : also, some account of the descendants of John Tuttle, of Ipswich; and Henry Tuthill, of Hingham, Mass. (1883)
• http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n141/mode...
• Children of William and Elizabeth Tuttle
• VIII. 'Elizabeth, bap. in N. H., Nov. 9, 1545; m. Nov. 19, 1667 Richard Edwards.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n305/mode...
• *Thomas Welles, b. 1598; came from Northampton Co., Eng., and was the among the first settlers of Hartf., 1636. He was the first treasurer of the Conn. Col., and its 4th Gov., 1656-7-8. He m. in Eng. Elizabeth Hunt; (2) abt. 1646, Elizabeth, dau. of John Deming, and wid. of Nathaniel Foote; s. i. by 2d m. She was sis. of John Deming, named in Gov. Winthrop's charter as one of the grantees, whose g. s., Jacob Deming, m. Elizabeth, dau. of 'Richard and Elizabeth (Tuttle) Edwards'. Gov. Welles d. Jan. 15, 1759-60, and was bu. in Wethersfield, but his remains were rem. to Hartf. and rest with those of several of the other early governors. His will, dated Nov. 7, 1659, gives to s. Thomas "my meadow and swamp in Penny Wise, on the south side of the fence; also that four acres of swamp which I bought of Nathaniel Willett, and my upland on the east side of the great river, by the Hopkins farm, without the fence, having sold that within the fence to Capt. Cole." Will names Mr. Wadsworth and John Deming, sr., supervisors. Mrs. Welles d. July 20, 1683, in 88th yr.; names John Deming, sr., (bro.) and Capt. John Allyn, Esq. 1. John, m. abt. 1647 Elizabeth Bourne. She m. (2) John Wilcoxson and rem. with four ss. to Stratford. 2. Thomas, m. Hannah (Tuttle) Pantry. 3. Samuel [Ruth; Capt. Samuel, 1663/5; Thaddeus, 1695; Samuel, 1731; Samuel, 1754; Hon. Gideon was Sec. of the Navy; Samuel, bro. of Thaddeus, 1695, had Samuel, who was the f. of Samuel, the celebrated banker of Paris, France]. 4. Mary. 5. Anne. 6. Sarah, m. Capt. John Chester.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n841/mode...
• 8. 'Elizabeth Tuttle, bap. Nov. 9, 1645; m. Nov. 19, 1667, Richard Edwards,* b. in Hartford May, 1667. "He was a merchant." (See Dr. Dwight's ed. Life and Works of Jonathan Edwards for some account of his character and last sickness,) " I Richard Edwards of Hartford, and by my agent Samuel Brown [.II.], sold to Thomas Tuttle of New Haven [3] ye whole of ye land and ye meadow that was Benjamin Tuttle's, viz; 1/3 part of 4 acres of meadow by west side of East River near bro. Joseph Tuttle and bro. John Tuttle, and 2 acres of land in ye Yorkshire Quarter bounded by Mr. Miles' land near side, and by my own land that I bought of bro. David Tuttle [5] on the other side, and one-quarter part of 9 1/2 acres towards ye mill between Jones and Bradley, and 6 acres within ye neck. * * * Of 2d division 1/3 part of 6 acres lying near Stoney River, near ye iron works; consideration (english pound)12 in full for all ye above lands. Acknowledged before William Jones, assistant a true record of the original compact and recorded April 20, 1705; dated Jan 17, 1680; signed Richard Edwards, Jonathan Tuttle, John Sizer."--New Hav. Land Rec. At a court held May, 1696, Mr. Richard Edwards as attorney for Isaac Curtis of Wallingford petitioned to grant said Curtis execution on verdict of jury given by county court at New Haven 1695 in an action between Curtis and Mr. John Hull of W.' Curtis plaintiff. Said Hull had illegally entered upon, and made improvements on 3 3/4 acres of meadow in a place called "Dog's Misery." in Meriden. Capt. Thomas Yale attorney for Dr. John Hull. The name of Richards Edwards elsewhere appears as attorney in civil suits. He m. (2) Mary, dau. of Lieut. Col. John Talcott of Hartf. and his wf., Helena, dau. of John Wakeman of New Haven, who d. April 19, 1722, a. 62. He d. April, 20, 1718, a. 71.
• I. Mary Edwards, b. 1668; chil. b. in Hartford.
• II. Timothy Edwards, May 14, 1669; m. Esther Stoddard Nov. 6, 1694.
• III. Abigail Edwards, 1671; m. 1689 Benjamin Lathrop; (2) Capt. Thos. Stoughton.
• IV. Elizabeth Edwards, 1675; m. March 14, 1695, Jacob Deming; (2) __ Hinckley.
• V. Ann Edwards, b. 1678; m. 1696 Jonathan Richardson; (2) William Davenport.
• VI. Mabel Edwards, b. Dec. 13, 1685; m. Dec. 14 1699, Jonathan Bigelow.
• VII. Martha Edwards.
• http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n841/mode...
• * Rev. Richard Edwards came from Wales to London, time Queen Elizabeth; he was a minister of the established chh. His wf. Anne was employed in some capacity in the Queen's household. She m. 2d hus. James Coles and came with her only child William Edwards to America. She d. in Hartford Feb. 20, 1679, leaving by will the use of her house and land to her son William during his life, then to her gr. s. Richard Edwards and his heirs forever. Wm. Edwards is named with Wm. Tuttle and others as concerned in the East Haven settlement. He m. about 1643 Agnes __, wid. of William Spencer; the latter of Hartford; selectman 1639, and d. 1640. Agnes, it is said, had two brothers in England, one of them Mayor of Exeter the other of Barnstable, Devon. By William Edwards she had an only child, 'Richard, who m. Elizabeth Tuttle'; (2) Mary, dau. of Lieut-Col. John Talcott of Hartf. Col. Talcott was Justice of the Peace, Assistant from 1662 to 1668, Treasurer of the colony nineteen years, and distinguished himself as an officer in King Philip's war, in which he commanded a body of 550 men, composed of Englishmen and Mohegan Indians. He d. July 23, 1688. Inv. (english pound)2,272. Chil. of Richard Edwards by 2d m. 5 sons and 1 dau. 1. Jonathan, b. June 20, 1692; d. March 11, 1693. 2. John, Feb. 22, 1694; Dea.; d. May 16, 1769; m. Dec. 14, 1719, Christian Williamson, who d. June 18, 1769. 3. Hannah, Jan. 3, 1696; d. Oct. 17, 1747; m. March 1, 1722, Joseph Backus, jr. 4. Richard, Jan. 5, 1608; d. May 10, 1713. 5. Daniel, April 11, 1701; Hon.; d. Sept. 6, 1765; m. 1728 Sarah Hooker (gr. dau. of Rev. Thomas), who d. July 31, 1775, a. 70 yrs. 6. Samuel, Nov. 1, 1702; d. Nov. 4, 1732; m. 1731 Jerusha Pitkin, who d. July 31, 1799, a. 89 yrs--Godwin's Gen. Notes of Conn.
• ---------------------------------
• Genealogy as Pastime and Profession By Donald Lines Jacobus
• http://books.google.com/books?id=woTUU8txumkC&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=J...
• Pg.104
• It is also a matter of interest that Elizabeth, one of the insane daughters of William Tuttle, became an ancestress of the illustrious Jonathan Edwards family, which has come almost a classic example of "good" heredity. In this branch, the energy and vigor of the early Tuttles was retained without the insanity, and union with the sane, shrewd normality of the Edwards family and the brilliance of the Stoddard connection, produced unusually happy results. Later marriages into families of mental ability have maintained the superior endowment of the descendants, although education and social environment may well have been factors in maintaining the superiority of the Edwards group.
• ------------------------------
• The True Aaron Burr: A Biographical Sketch By Charles Burr Todd
• http://books.google.com/books?id=fypwlIUgxEYC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Joa...
• Pg.1
• Burr's grandfather, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, was the son of Rev. Thomas Edwards, who was the son of 'Richard Edwards, who in 1667 married Elisabeth, daughter of that William Tuthil who in 1635 removed from Old England to New England and became on of the founders of the city of New Haven, Conn'. This William Tuthull was a great-great grandson of Joan Grafton, daughter of Richard Grafton, who descended in direct line from Alfred the Great. Considering the blood in his veins one might assert with confidence that is was impossible for Aaron Burr to have been a traitor.
• -------
• http://home.earthlink.net/~herblst/tuttle_family.htm
• Notes for 'ELIZABETH TUTTLE: "A remarkable feature in our family history, as it would be in any other, is the branch of Elizabeth. It is an interesting genealogical study. Both the parents were of the same Welsh race. There is evidence that the mother had the sensitive and excitable temperament of genius. Richard Edwards, being an only child, inherited ample means and gave his children the best education the country afforded. To educate is to bring out, and to train, it cannot create talents or character. The ministerial profession was then almost the only field for the employment of able and educated men. So all things conspired to favor the natural bent for their son Timothy. The process was continued and in the next generation reached its highest development in his son Jonathan. From the very beginning this branch has been noted for its high regard for education, its scholarly culture, and its religious disposition. It is said to include a larger number of eminent persons than have sprung from any other one of the New England founders. It is wonderful, says a late writer, how much of the grace and culture of American society has sprung from this root. The same pursuits continued generation after generation in the same families, or originally set apart by nature for a chosen work, has resulted in a heritage of confirmed aptitudes, enlarged natural capacities, delicacy and refinement of physical organization, manners, sentiments and tastes; a sort of 'Brahmin Caste in New England,' as Dr. Holmes put it, of which the Edwards family form a considerable proportion, and in which it holds a high rank."
• FROM CONN. QUARTERLY
• "The branch of the Tuttle family from which 'Elizabeth Tuttle' came, was erratic to the degree of insanity, and is so to a certain extent to the present day. This family taint was restrained by the strong will and great spirituality and intellectual vigor of Rev. Timothy and Rev. Jonathan, only to crop out again in renewed activity in the son (Pierpont Edwards) and the grandson (Aaron Burr), of the 'divine Jonathan,' both of whom were profligate, vicious and licentious. Mrs. Richard Edwards' brother was found guilty of slaying his sister, by the Colonial Court, and executed; and another sister was found guilty of killing her own son, but through the confusion existing at that time, she escaped the penalty of the law."
• 'Elizabeth Tuttle, the eighth child of William Tuttle and Elizabeth Mathews married Richard Edwards November 91, 1667. Elizabeth early on showed signs of an impetuous nature and lack of decorum, which was quite at odds with the Puritan standards of the day.
• From the minutes of "A County Court holden by adjournment at Hartford, 1668" came this note: '"Richard Edwards and Elizabeth his wife, being called to an account of incontinency before marriage, the Court having considered what hath been presented, with the acknowledgement of the said Ricahrd that he was upon the bed with her at Mr. Wells, his house, before marriage, the best part of one night, and in company with her at New Haven (according to which the child was borne), this Court cannot but judge and declare the child borne of the said Elizaeth to be and be reputed child of the said Richard Edwards, and for their incontinency before marriage, they are adjudged to pay [as] a fine to the public treasury of the County of Hartford, the sum of five pounds."'
• Richard subsequently learned that he was not the father of the first child, Mary, and on July 2, 1689, he filed a petition to divorce her. He rather plantively based his divorce action on the following four reasons: "(1) Her being guilty at first of a fact of ye same nature; (2) Her refusing me so longer together; (3) Her carage having been observed by some to bee very fond and unseemly to some other man than my self; (4) Her often comending on other man with show or ye like words...hee was worth a thousand of my self." That "other man" may have been one William Pitkin, for he brought suit against Richards Edwards in May of 1691 for using a term in his divorce case that was "derogatory of his (Pitkin's) honor." The records found in "Crimes and Misdemeanors, Divorces, 1664-1732, Document No. 235" read:
• "He found, three mo. after marriage, that she was with child by another (Mr. Randolph), who she accused before 2 magistrates; and her father [William Tuttle] took and brought up the child; which from regard to her and relying upon her fair promises, he [Richard] neglected to take advantage of her, for which he had bitter cause to repent. He lived with her eight or nine years, when she obstinately refused conjugal communion with him, and deserted his bed; and her conduct was so intolerable that by advice, he travelled abroad, hoping by his absence she would relent. On his return, for a while, she behaved herself, but soon, in answer to some question, she said she had committed folly with another man, whom she named, and fell into her old fits of obstinacy; and he renounced her as a wife, and so has since lived. She has caused him intolerable and insupportable afflictions. He enters into a long scriptural argument for divorce and quotes early Christian examples and authorities. She is guilty of adultery, and he prays a release."
• Edwards' plea for divorce was denied despite the fact that Elizabeth's two eldest children by Edwards, Timothy and Abigail, testified against her, "to the great obstinacy of their mother and to her absenting herself from their father's bed and society."
• Two years later, in Oct of 1691, a council of "able divines (including the famous Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Increase Mather) were assembled to consider the divorce action again. At that time Richard made a second, more long-winded plea. By then he was calling himself an attorney, though he was self taught. Besides, he needed to be free to marry Mary Talcott, with whom he had lain already. In fact, Mary Talcott had been fined for fornication with him.
• On top of that, Mercy Brown, Elizabeth's sister, had killed her son the previous spring and her brother Benjamin had been executed for murdering their sister, Sarah prior to that. It became clear that Elizabeth herself was, at times, not in her right mind, and often threatened to murder her husband while he was asleep. Surely the judges would understand that Richard's fear of Elizabeth was not ungrounded. The upshot of this second plea was that the ministers decided "it is not within the compass of human power to deny him a divorce." Edwards was granted the divorce and eventually married Mary Talcott, with whom he had six children.
• After the divorce, there is no record of Elizabeth ever marrying again. Nor was the date of her death recorded, which leads one to believe that she may have been leading a marginal existence by the time she died. It is possible, too, that she committed suicide. Suicide was a grave sin in those times, and a person who had committed suicide could not be buried in a cemetery. Perhaps she had wandered to another, wilder part of the country and died in an area where records were not kept.
• Ironically, Elizabeth Tuttle was the ancestor of a family that was to have an amazing impact on American history. Her son Timothy married a Stoddard, and he became the father of Jonathan Edwards, the brilliant, neurotic minister who has been called the last of the great Puritans. Jonathan Edwards married a Pierepont. His descendants went on to be influential ministers, college presidents, financiers, surgeons and judges. Perhaps the most famous descendant was Aaron Burr.
• Notes for 'RICHARD EDWARDS: Richard Edwards was a well-to-do merchant, later became an attorney-at-law, and practicing his profession as early as 1684; in 1702-3 he argued a fugitive slave case against Saltonstall. He was probably the first Queen's Attorney, appointed as such in April, 1705, the office having been created in May, 1704.
• His eldest son, Timothy, wrote as follows concerning him: "He was a noble stature of a straight, well-formed body and of a comely countenance. His smile had a pleasantcy beyond which I have seen in many, yea, in most others. He was quick and nimble in his movements even to old age and was of a strong and healthy constitution. He had a strong clear mind. and had a very good utterance. He had a quick fancy; a pleasant. ready wit, with a very good judgment. He could argue in a matter and reason in a case very well. He was a man of considerable reading; both in Law History, and Divinity; was well furnished for society and very pleasant in consultation. Thus it pleased the Most High to endow and adorn my dear departed father with many virtues which rendered him very lovely and desirable in his life and much lamented in his death.
• ---------------------------------------------
• Early families of Wallingford, Connecticut By Charles Henry Stanley Davis
• http://books.google.com/books?id=QjNVJnNF7_MC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=Mar...
• Pg. 305
• '8. Elizabeth Tuttle, daughter of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, married Richard Edwards of Windsor, Conn. She was the maternal ancestor of the late Gov. Henry W. Edwards, of New Haven.
• Children: 46 Mary, b. 1668; 47 Timothy, b. May 14, 1669, m. Esther Stoddard; 48 Abigail, b. 1671; 49 Elizabeth, b. 1675; 50 Ann, b. 1678; 51 Mabel, b. 1685; 52 Cynthia __.
• ---------------------------

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From http://home.earthlink.net/~herblst/tuttle_family.htm:

From the minutes of "A County Court holden by adjournment at Hartford, 1668" came this note: "Richard Edwards and Elizabeth his wife, being called to an account of incontinency before marriage, the Court having considered what hath been presented, with the acknowledgement of the said Ricahrd that he was upon the bed with her at Mr. Wells, his house, before marriage, the best part of one night, and in company with her at New Haven (according to which the child was borne), this Court cannot but judge and declare the child borne of the said Elizaeth to be and be reputed child of the said Richard Edwards, and for their incontinency before marriage, they are adjudged to pay [as] a fine to the public treasury of the County of Hartford, the sum of five pounds."

Richard subsequently learned that he was not the father of the first child, Mary, and on July 2, 1689, he filed a petition to divorce her. He rather plantively based his divorce action on the following four reasons: "(1) Her being guilty at first of a fact of ye same nature; (2) Her refusing me so longer together; (3) Her carage having been observed by some to bee very fond and unseemly to some other man than my self; (4) Her often comending on other man with show or ye like words...hee was worth a thousand of my self." That "other man" may have been one William Pitkin, for he brought suit against Richards Edwards in May of 1691 for using a term in his divorce case that was "derogatory of his (Pitkin's) honor." The records found in "Crimes and Misdemeanors, Divorces, 1664-1732, Document No. 235" read:

"He found, three mo. after marriage, that she was with child by another (Mr. Randolph), who she accused before 2 magistrates; and her father [William Tuttle] took and brought up the child; which from regard to her and relying upon her fair promises, he [Richard] neglected to take advantage of her, for which he had bitter cause to repent. He lived with her eight or nine years, when she obstinately refused conjugal communion with him, and deserted his bed; and her conduct was so intolerable that by advice, he travelled abroad, hoping by his absence she would relent. On his return, for a while, she behaved herself, but soon, in answer to some question, she said she had committed folly with another man, whom she named, and fell into her old fits of obstinacy; and he renounced her as a wife, and so has since lived. She has caused him intolerable and insupportable afflictions. He enters into a long scriptural argument for divorce and quotes early Christian examples and authorities. She is guilty of adultery, and he prays a release."

Edwards' plea for divorce was denied despite the fact that Elizabeth's two eldest children by Edwards, Timothy and Abigail, testified against her, "to the great obstinacy of their mother and to her absenting herself from their father's bed and society."

Two years later, in Oct of 1691, a council of "able divines (including the famous Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Increase Mather) were assembled to consider the divorce action again. At that time Richard made a second, more long-winded plea. By then he was calling himself an attorney, though he was self taught. Besides, he needed to be free to marry Mary Talcott, with whom he had lain already. In fact, Mary Talcott had been fined for fornication with him.

On top of that, Mercy Brown, Elizabeth's sister, had killed her son the previous spring and her brother Benjamin had been executed for murdering their sister, Sarah prior to that. It became clear that Elizabeth herself was, at times, not in her right mind, and often threatened to murder her husband while he was asleep. Surely the judges would understand that Richard's fear of Elizabeth was not ungrounded. The upshot of this second plea was that the ministers decided "it is not within the compass of human power to deny him a divorce." Edwards was granted the divorce and eventually married Mary Talcott, with whom he had six children.

After the divorce, there is no record of Elizabeth ever marrying again. Nor was the date of her death recorded, which leads one to believe that she may have been leading a marginal existence by the time she died. It is possible, too, that she committed suicide. Suicide was a grave sin in those times, and a person who had committed suicide could not be buried in a cemetery. Perhaps she had wandered to another, wilder part of the country and died in an area where records were not kept.

Ironically, Elizabeth Tuttle was the ancestor of a family that was to have an amazing impact on American history. Her son Timothy married a Stoddard, and he became the father of Jonathan Edwards, the brilliant, neurotic minister who has been called the last of the great Puritans. Jonathan Edwards married a Pierepont. His descendants went on to be influential ministers, college presidents, financiers, surgeons and judges. Perhaps the most famous descendant was Aaron Burr.

Notes for RICHARD EDWARDS: Richard Edwards was a well-to-do merchant, later became an attorney-at-law, and practicing his profession as early as 1684; in 1702-3 he argued a fugitive slave case against Saltonstall. He was probably the first Queen's Attorney, appointed as such in April, 1705, the office having been created in May, 1704.

His eldest son, Timothy, wrote as follows concerning him: "He was a noble stature of a straight, well-formed body and of a comely countenance. His smile had a pleasantcy beyond which I have seen in many, yea, in most others. He was quick and nimble in his movements even to old age and was of a strong and healthy constitution. He had a strong clear mind. and had a very good utterance. He had a quick fancy; a pleasant. ready wit, with a very good judgment. He could argue in a matter and reason in a case very well. He was a man of considerable reading; both in Law History, and Divinity; was well furnished for society and very pleasant in consultation. Thus it pleased the Most High to endow and adorn my dear departed father with many virtues which rendered him very lovely and desirable in his life and much lamented in his death.

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The descendants of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, who came from old to New England in 1635, and settled in New Haven in 1639, with numerous biographical notes and sketches : also, some account of the descendants of John Tuttle, of Ipswich; and Henry Tuthill, of Hingham, Mass. (1883) http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n141/mode... Children of William and Elizabeth Tuttle VIII. 'Elizabeth, bap. in N. H., Nov. 9, 1545; m. Nov. 19, 1667 Richard Edwards. http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n305/mode...

• Thomas Welles, b. 1598; came from Northampton Co., Eng., and was the among the first settlers of Hartf., 1636. He was the first treasurer of the Conn. Col., and its 4th Gov., 1656-7-8. He m. in Eng. Elizabeth Hunt; (2) abt. 1646, Elizabeth, dau. of John Deming, and wid. of Nathaniel Foote; s. i. by 2d m. She was sis. of John Deming, named in Gov. Winthrop's charter as one of the grantees, whose g. s., Jacob Deming, m. Elizabeth, dau. of 'Richard and Elizabeth (Tuttle) Edwards'. Gov. Welles d. Jan. 15, 1759-60, and was bu. in Wethersfield, but his remains were rem. to Hartf. and rest with those of several of the other early governors. His will, dated Nov. 7, 1659, gives to s. Thomas "my meadow and swamp in Penny Wise, on the south side of the fence; also that four acres of swamp which I bought of Nathaniel Willett, and my upland on the east side of the great river, by the Hopkins farm, without the fence, having sold that within the fence to Capt. Cole." Will names Mr. Wadsworth and John Deming, sr., supervisors. Mrs. Welles d. July 20, 1683, in 88th yr.; names John Deming, sr., (bro.) and Capt. John Allyn, Esq. 1. John, m. abt. 1647 Elizabeth Bourne. She m. (2) John Wilcoxson and rem. with four ss. to Stratford. 2. Thomas, m. Hannah (Tuttle) Pantry. 3. Samuel [Ruth; Capt. Samuel, 1663/5; Thaddeus, 1695; Samuel, 1731; Samuel, 1754; Hon. Gideon was Sec. of the Navy; Samuel, bro. of Thaddeus, 1695, had Samuel, who was the f. of Samuel, the celebrated banker of Paris, France]. 4. Mary. 5. Anne. 6. Sarah, m. Capt. John Chester. http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n841/mode... 8. 'Elizabeth Tuttle, bap. Nov. 9, 1645; m. Nov. 19, 1667, Richard Edwards,* b. in Hartford May, 1667. "He was a merchant." (See Dr. Dwight's ed. Life and Works of Jonathan Edwards for some account of his character and last sickness,) " I Richard Edwards of Hartford, and by my agent Samuel Brown [.II.], sold to Thomas Tuttle of New Haven [3] ye whole of ye land and ye meadow that was Benjamin Tuttle's, viz; 1/3 part of 4 acres of meadow by west side of East River near bro. Joseph Tuttle and bro. John Tuttle, and 2 acres of land in ye Yorkshire Quarter bounded by Mr. Miles' land near side, and by my own land that I bought of bro. David Tuttle [5] on the other side, and one-quarter part of 9 1/2 acres towards ye mill between Jones and Bradley, and 6 acres within ye neck. * * * Of 2d division 1/3 part of 6 acres lying near Stoney River, near ye iron works; consideration (english pound)12 in full for all ye above lands. Acknowledged before William Jones, assistant a true record of the original compact and recorded April 20, 1705; dated Jan 17, 1680; signed Richard Edwards, Jonathan Tuttle, John Sizer."--New Hav. Land Rec. At a court held May, 1696, Mr. Richard Edwards as attorney for Isaac Curtis of Wallingford petitioned to grant said Curtis execution on verdict of jury given by county court at New Haven 1695 in an action between Curtis and Mr. John Hull of W.' Curtis plaintiff. Said Hull had illegally entered upon, and made improvements on 3 3/4 acres of meadow in a place called "Dog's Misery." in Meriden. Capt. Thomas Yale attorney for Dr. John Hull. The name of Richards Edwards elsewhere appears as attorney in civil suits. He m. (2) Mary, dau. of Lieut. Col. John Talcott of Hartf. and his wf., Helena, dau. of John Wakeman of New Haven, who d. April 19, 1722, a. 62. He d. April, 20, 1718, a. 71. I. Mary Edwards, b. 1668; chil. b. in Hartford. II. Timothy Edwards, May 14, 1669; m. Esther Stoddard Nov. 6, 1694. III. Abigail Edwards, 1671; m. 1689 Benjamin Lathrop; (2) Capt. Thos. Stoughton. IV. Elizabeth Edwards, 1675; m. March 14, 1695, Jacob Deming; (2) __ Hinckley. V. Ann Edwards, b. 1678; m. 1696 Jonathan Richardson; (2) William Davenport. VI. Mabel Edwards, b. Dec. 13, 1685; m. Dec. 14 1699, Jonathan Bigelow. VII. Martha Edwards. http://www.archive.org/stream/descendantsofwil01tutt#page/n841/mode...
• Rev. Richard Edwards came from Wales to London, time Queen Elizabeth; he was a minister of the established chh. His wf. Anne was employed in some capacity in the Queen's household. She m. 2d hus. James Coles and came with her only child William Edwards to America. She d. in Hartford Feb. 20, 1679, leaving by will the use of her house and land to her son William during his life, then to her gr. s. Richard Edwards and his heirs forever. Wm. Edwards is named with Wm. Tuttle and others as concerned in the East Haven settlement. He m. about 1643 Agnes __, wid. of William Spencer; the latter of Hartford; selectman 1639, and d. 1640. Agnes, it is said, had two brothers in England, one of them Mayor of Exeter the other of Barnstable, Devon. By William Edwards she had an only child, 'Richard, who m. Elizabeth Tuttle'; (2) Mary, dau. of Lieut-Col. John Talcott of Hartf. Col. Talcott was Justice of the Peace, Assistant from 1662 to 1668, Treasurer of the colony nineteen years, and distinguished himself as an officer in King Philip's war, in which he commanded a body of 550 men, composed of Englishmen and Mohegan Indians. He d. July 23, 1688. Inv. (english pound)2,272. Chil. of Richard Edwards by 2d m. 5 sons and 1 dau. 1. Jonathan, b. June 20, 1692; d. March 11, 1693. 2. John, Feb. 22, 1694; Dea.; d. May 16, 1769; m. Dec. 14, 1719, Christian Williamson, who d. June 18, 1769. 3. Hannah, Jan. 3, 1696; d. Oct. 17, 1747; m. March 1, 1722, Joseph Backus, jr. 4. Richard, Jan. 5, 1608; d. May 10, 1713. 5. Daniel, April 11, 1701; Hon.; d. Sept. 6, 1765; m. 1728 Sarah Hooker (gr. dau. of Rev. Thomas), who d. July 31, 1775, a. 70 yrs. 6. Samuel, Nov. 1, 1702; d. Nov. 4, 1732; m. 1731 Jerusha Pitkin, who d. July 31, 1799, a. 89 yrs--Godwin's Gen. Notes of Conn.

--------------------------------- Genealogy as Pastime and Profession By Donald Lines Jacobus http://books.google.com/books?id=woTUU8txumkC&pg=PA38&lpg=PA38&dq=J... Pg.104 It is also a matter of interest that Elizabeth, one of the insane daughters of William Tuttle, became an ancestress of the illustrious Jonathan Edwards family, which has come almost a classic example of "good" heredity. In this branch, the energy and vigor of the early Tuttles was retained without the insanity, and union with the sane, shrewd normality of the Edwards family and the brilliance of the Stoddard connection, produced unusually happy results. Later marriages into families of mental ability have maintained the superior endowment of the descendants, although education and social environment may well have been factors in maintaining the superiority of the Edwards group.
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The True Aaron Burr: A Biographical Sketch By Charles Burr Todd http://books.google.com/books?id=fypwlIUgxEYC&pg=PA1&lpg=PA1&dq=Joa... Pg.1 Burr's grandfather, the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, was the son of Rev. Thomas Edwards, who was the son of 'Richard Edwards, who in 1667 married Elisabeth, daughter of that William Tuthil who in 1635 removed from Old England to New England and became on of the founders of the city of New Haven, Conn'. This William Tuthull was a great-great grandson of Joan Grafton, daughter of Richard Grafton, who descended in direct line from Alfred the Great. Considering the blood in his veins one might assert with confidence that is was impossible for Aaron Burr to have been a traitor.

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http://home.earthlink.net/~herblst/tuttle_family.htm Notes for 'ELIZABETH TUTTLE: "A remarkable feature in our family history, as it would be in any other, is the branch of Elizabeth. It is an interesting genealogical study. Both the parents were of the same Welsh race. There is evidence that the mother had the sensitive and excitable temperament of genius. Richard Edwards, being an only child, inherited ample means and gave his children the best education the country afforded. To educate is to bring out, and to train, it cannot create talents or character. The ministerial profession was then almost the only field for the employment of able and educated men. So all things conspired to favor the natural bent for their son Timothy. The process was continued and in the next generation reached its highest development in his son Jonathan. From the very beginning this branch has been noted for its high regard for education, its scholarly culture, and its religious disposition. It is said to include a larger number of eminent persons than have sprung from any other one of the New England founders. It is wonderful, says a late writer, how much of the grace and culture of American society has sprung from this root. The same pursuits continued generation after generation in the same families, or originally set apart by nature for a chosen work, has resulted in a heritage of confirmed aptitudes, enlarged natural capacities, delicacy and refinement of physical organization, manners, sentiments and tastes; a sort of 'Brahmin Caste in New England,' as Dr. Holmes put it, of which the Edwards family form a considerable proportion, and in which it holds a high rank." FROM CONN. QUARTERLY "The branch of the Tuttle family from which 'Elizabeth Tuttle' came, was erratic to the degree of insanity, and is so to a certain extent to the present day. This family taint was restrained by the strong will and great spirituality and intellectual vigor of Rev. Timothy and Rev. Jonathan, only to crop out again in renewed activity in the son (Pierpont Edwards) and the grandson (Aaron Burr), of the 'divine Jonathan,' both of whom were profligate, vicious and licentious. Mrs. Richard Edwards' brother was found guilty of slaying his sister, by the Colonial Court, and executed; and another sister was found guilty of killing her own son, but through the confusion existing at that time, she escaped the penalty of the law." 'Elizabeth Tuttle, the eighth child of William Tuttle and Elizabeth Mathews married Richard Edwards November 91, 1667. Elizabeth early on showed signs of an impetuous nature and lack of decorum, which was quite at odds with the Puritan standards of the day. From the minutes of "A County Court holden by adjournment at Hartford, 1668" came this note: '"Richard Edwards and Elizabeth his wife, being called to an account of incontinency before marriage, the Court having considered what hath been presented, with the acknowledgement of the said Ricahrd that he was upon the bed with her at Mr. Wells, his house, before marriage, the best part of one night, and in company with her at New Haven (according to which the child was borne), this Court cannot but judge and declare the child borne of the said Elizaeth to be and be reputed child of the said Richard Edwards, and for their incontinency before marriage, they are adjudged to pay [as] a fine to the public treasury of the County of Hartford, the sum of five pounds."' Richard subsequently learned that he was not the father of the first child, Mary, and on July 2, 1689, he filed a petition to divorce her. He rather plantively based his divorce action on the following four reasons: "(1) Her being guilty at first of a fact of ye same nature; (2) Her refusing me so longer together; (3) Her carage having been observed by some to bee very fond and unseemly to some other man than my self; (4) Her often comending on other man with show or ye like words...hee was worth a thousand of my self." That "other man" may have been one William Pitkin, for he brought suit against Richards Edwards in May of 1691 for using a term in his divorce case that was "derogatory of his (Pitkin's) honor." The records found in "Crimes and Misdemeanors, Divorces, 1664-1732, Document No. 235" read: "He found, three mo. after marriage, that she was with child by another (Mr. Randolph), who she accused before 2 magistrates; and her father [William Tuttle] took and brought up the child; which from regard to her and relying upon her fair promises, he [Richard] neglected to take advantage of her, for which he had bitter cause to repent. He lived with her eight or nine years, when she obstinately refused conjugal communion with him, and deserted his bed; and her conduct was so intolerable that by advice, he travelled abroad, hoping by his absence she would relent. On his return, for a while, she behaved herself, but soon, in answer to some question, she said she had committed folly with another man, whom she named, and fell into her old fits of obstinacy; and he renounced her as a wife, and so has since lived. She has caused him intolerable and insupportable afflictions. He enters into a long scriptural argument for divorce and quotes early Christian examples and authorities. She is guilty of adultery, and he prays a release." Edwards' plea for divorce was denied despite the fact that Elizabeth's two eldest children by Edwards, Timothy and Abigail, testified against her, "to the great obstinacy of their mother and to her absenting herself from their father's bed and society." Two years later, in Oct of 1691, a council of "able divines (including the famous Rev. Thomas Hooker and Rev. Increase Mather) were assembled to consider the divorce action again. At that time Richard made a second, more long-winded plea. By then he was calling himself an attorney, though he was self taught. Besides, he needed to be free to marry Mary Talcott, with whom he had lain already. In fact, Mary Talcott had been fined for fornication with him. On top of that, Mercy Brown, Elizabeth's sister, had killed her son the previous spring and her brother Benjamin had been executed for murdering their sister, Sarah prior to that. It became clear that Elizabeth herself was, at times, not in her right mind, and often threatened to murder her husband while he was asleep. Surely the judges would understand that Richard's fear of Elizabeth was not ungrounded. The upshot of this second plea was that the ministers decided "it is not within the compass of human power to deny him a divorce." Edwards was granted the divorce and eventually married Mary Talcott, with whom he had six children. After the divorce, there is no record of Elizabeth ever marrying again. Nor was the date of her death recorded, which leads one to believe that she may have been leading a marginal existence by the time she died. It is possible, too, that she committed suicide. Suicide was a grave sin in those times, and a person who had committed suicide could not be buried in a cemetery. Perhaps she had wandered to another, wilder part of the country and died in an area where records were not kept. Ironically, Elizabeth Tuttle was the ancestor of a family that was to have an amazing impact on American history. Her son Timothy married a Stoddard, and he became the father of Jonathan Edwards, the brilliant, neurotic minister who has been called the last of the great Puritans. Jonathan Edwards married a Pierepont. His descendants went on to be influential ministers, college presidents, financiers, surgeons and judges. Perhaps the most famous descendant was Aaron Burr. Notes for 'RICHARD EDWARDS: Richard Edwards was a well-to-do merchant, later became an attorney-at-law, and practicing his profession as early as 1684; in 1702-3 he argued a fugitive slave case against Saltonstall. He was probably the first Queen's Attorney, appointed as such in April, 1705, the office having been created in May, 1704. His eldest son, Timothy, wrote as follows concerning him: "He was a noble stature of a straight, well-formed body and of a comely countenance. His smile had a pleasantcy beyond which I have seen in many, yea, in most others. He was quick and nimble in his movements even to old age and was of a strong and healthy constitution. He had a strong clear mind. and had a very good utterance. He had a quick fancy; a pleasant. ready wit, with a very good judgment. He could argue in a matter and reason in a case very well. He was a man of considerable reading; both in Law History, and Divinity; was well furnished for society and very pleasant in consultation. Thus it pleased the Most High to endow and adorn my dear departed father with many virtues which rendered him very lovely and desirable in his life and much lamented in his death.
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Early families of Wallingford, Connecticut By Charles Henry Stanley Davis http://books.google.com/books?id=QjNVJnNF7_MC&pg=PA7&lpg=PA7&dq=Mar... Pg. 305 '8. Elizabeth Tuttle, daughter of William and Elizabeth Tuttle, married Richard Edwards of Windsor, Conn. She was the maternal ancestor of the late Gov. Henry W. Edwards, of New Haven. Children: 46 Mary, b. 1668; 47 Timothy, b. May 14, 1669, m. Esther Stoddard; 48 Abigail, b. 1671; 49 Elizabeth, b. 1675; 50 Ann, b. 1678; 51 Mabel, b. 1685; 52 Cynthia __. ---------------------------Birth: May 1, 1647 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA Death: Apr. 20, 1718 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

Richard Edwards, only child of William Edwards and Agnes Harris, b. May 1, 1647 at Hartford, Conn. where he d. testate April 20, 1718, Æ 71. Richard is interrred at Hartford's Ancient Cemetery, with his gravestone recently repaired and preserved by the "Ancient Burying Ground Association" (see caption to his gravestone).

On Nov. 17, 1667 at New Haven, Conn., Richard m. Elizabeth Tuttle, dau. of William Tuttle and his wife Elizabeth, b. at New Haven where she was bapt. Nov. 9, 1645. After much trial and tribulation, Richard was granted a divorce from Elizabeth in 1691. When and where Elizabeth subsequently died is unknown, with an extended summary at her own memorial. Richard and Elizabeth had six children b. at Hartford and are outlined in their mother's memorial.

In circa 1692 Richard m. 2) at Hartford, Mary Talcott, dau. of Col. John Talcott and Helena Wakeman, b. Apr. 26, 1661 at Hartford where she d. Apr. 19, 1723, Æ 62. They had the following children b. of record at Hartford: Jonathan (d.y.), John, Hannah, Richard (d.y.), Daniel, and Samuel.

Family links:

Parents:

 William Edwards (1618 - ____)

 Agnes Harris Edwards (1604 - ____)

Spouses:

 Elizabeth Tuttle Edwards (1645 - ____)

 Mary Talcott Edwards (1661 - 1723)

Children:

 Abigail Edwards Stoughton (1671 - 1754)*

 Ann Edwards Davenport (1678 - 1764)*

 Mabel Edwards Bigelow (1685 - 1765)*

Siblings:

 Elizabeth Spencer Joy (1633 - ____)**

 Sarah Spencer Case (1636 - 1691)**

 Samuel Spencer (1639 - 1716)**

 Richard Edwards (1647 - 1718)

• Calculated relationship
  • Half-sibling

Inscription: Here Lies Interd ye Body of Mr Richard Edwa~ rds Who DYed April 20th ~~ 1718 Æ tatis Sue [sic] 71

On the day Richard died he was 70 years old, and "Ætatis suæ" (i.e., Æ, "Aged," in the XX year of his Age) 71. The Latin phrase Ætatis suae means "In the year of one's age."

Burial: Ancient Burying Ground Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

Created by: Don Blauvelt Record added: Jan 04, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial# 46347845

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Source 1: LDS records birthplace as Wales.

Source 2: records birthplace as Hartford, Ct. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=46347845&ref=wvr

Birth: May 1, 1647 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA Death: Apr. 20, 1718 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

Richard Edwards, only child of William Edwards and Agnes Harris, b. May 1, 1647 at Hartford, Conn. where he d. testate April 20, 1718, Æ 71. Richard is interrred at Hartford's Ancient Cemetery, with his gravestone recently repaired and preserved by the "Ancient Burying Ground Association" (see caption to his gravestone).

On Nov. 17, 1667 at New Haven, Conn., Richard m. Elizabeth Tuttle, dau. of William Tuttle and his wife Elizabeth, b. at New Haven where she was bapt. Nov. 9, 1645. After much trial and tribulation, Richard was granted a divorce from Elizabeth in 1691. When and where Elizabeth subsequently died is unknown, with an extended summary at her own memorial. Richard and Elizabeth had six children b. at Hartford and are outlined in their mother's memorial.

In circa 1692 Richard m. 2) at Hartford, Mary Talcott, dau. of Col. John Talcott and Helena Wakeman, b. Apr. 26, 1661 at Hartford where she d. Apr. 19, 1723, Æ 62. They had the following children b. of record at Hartford: Jonathan (d.y.), John, Hannah, Richard (d.y.), Daniel, and Samuel.

Family links:

Parents:

 William Edwards (1618 - ____)

 Agnes Harris Edwards (1604 - ____)

Spouses:

 Elizabeth Tuttle Edwards (1645 - ____)

 Mary Talcott Edwards (1661 - 1723)

Children:

 Abigail Edwards Stoughton (1671 - 1754)*

 Ann Edwards Davenport (1678 - 1764)*

 Mabel Edwards Bigelow (1685 - 1765)*

• Calculated relationship

Inscription: Here Lies Interd ye Body of Mr Richard Edwa~ rds Who DYed April 20th ~~ 1718 Æ tatis Sue [sic] 71

On the day Richard died he was 70 years old, and "Ætatis suæ" (i.e., Æ, "Aged," in the XX year of his Age) 71. The Latin phrase Ætatis suae means "In the year of one's age."

Burial: Ancient Burying Ground Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

Created by: Don Blauvelt Record added: Jan 04, 2010 Find A Grave Memorial# 46347845

Richard Edwards Added by: shirlee funk

Richard Edwards Cemetery Photo Added by: Jan Franco

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GEDCOM Source

Age: 70

GEDCOM Source

MH:S3 Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=110860350&pi...