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John Jackson Edwards & Ruth Crabtree
Husband John Jackson Edwards
Born: September 1750 - MD Christened: Died: 17 October 1833 - TN 207 Buried:
Father: William Edwards (1720-Abt 1757) Mother: Sarah Hilliard (1710-1784)
Married: 1770 - VA 206,207
Noted events in his life were:
• New Tag 206
Atfter moving to McAllister Town, PA, he later moved to Bedford Co.,VA
where he resided until the Revolutionary War was declared. His pension
records show that he volunteered and served many different hitches in the
Army, including clashes with the Cherokee Indians and Creek Indians as he
and his division marched from Bedford County to South Carolina in late
1776. After his tours in The Revolutionary army, he moved to Jonesboro,
TN. John served as sergeant in the company's of Col. Christy in the
Maryland line along with Capt. Buford for fifteen months and fifteen
days. from: Clint Edwards• Event-Misc, 1792 - North Carolina
Ordered that John Edwards, Robert Tredway, Will. Devor, Alexander St.
Clair, & John Patton Jr. be appointed
constables in said County for the ensuing
year.• Bio 20
A history of the Toe River Valley would not be complete without
some statement of the impact that John Jackson Edwards (Sr.) had on the
region. Born is September of 1750 in Baltimore Co., MD (near Deer Creek,
a tributary of the susquehanna River, he was the son of William Edwards
(born in Philadelphia in 1720), grandson of Thomas Edwards (born in
Hartford, Conn. in 1690), and great-grandson of William Edwards of
England (who migrated to the "new world" in 1638).
In Superior Court depositions filed in 1833, John Edwards stated
that his father (William) had removed the family "back to McAllister
Town, PA, and then down the Shenandoah to Bedford County, Virginia."
William died there in 1757, leaving a will dated June 26, 1756, wherein
he named all his children. William's wife was named Sarah, family name
unknown. She m. (2nd) a Cantrell and died in Bedford Co. in 1794
(leaving a will dated 1784 in which she names John and Mary Edwards,
children of her first marriage).
Mary Nancy Edwards, older sister of John Edwards, m. Christopher
Taylor in Bedford Co. in 1768. He was to become a historical figure in
East Tennessee. He and Mary operated an INN in Jonesboro. One of their
guests in residence for a long period of time (while he practiced law)
was Andrew Jackson, later to be the seventh President of the U.S. This
building is now on the National Register of Historic Places and is in the
Town Square of Jonesboro.
In April of 1770, in Bedford Co., John Edwards m. Mary Ruth Crabtree
(dau. of William Crabtree III and Hannah Whitaker). Born to this union
while they resided in Bedford were: william (1771), Sally (Sarah; 1773),
Meredith (1775), James (1778), John Jackson, Jr. (1780), and Stephen
(1785). The family then moved to Washington Co., Tenn. (then N.C.) where
son Edmond was born in 1789. In that year the family moved to what is
now Yancey Co., N.C. (then Burk), where the last child, Anna, was born in
1790.
As a citizen of Virginia, John Edwards had been a member of the
militia. He served as Orderly Sergeant in two campains against the
cherokee Indians (one deep into S.C.), one against the Creek Indians, and
two against the British Gen. Cornwallis (including the final battle at
Yorktown). Subsequent to the War, he rose to the rank of Major in the
militia.
The lure of the wide valleys to the south then drew him and many of
his compatriots into the high splendor of the Toe River Valley region.
After the formation of Buncombe Co., N.C., in 1790, John Edwards was an
integral part of the fledgling government when the first session of
Superior Court met in April of 1792, the Minutes record that "It is
hereby ordered that John Edwards, and Joseph Patton, Jr., be appointed
Constables in the said County for the ensuing year.". In the following
years, he was an active participant in many civil duties for the court
and County, serving (for example) on Grand Juries to lay out and survey
routes that are today major roads in the area.
In 1792, John and Ruth Edwards were divorced. John Edwards received
all the lands jointly held [which were considerable] and Ruth Edwards
received "a roane mare and a bed.".
The first sixteen deed books in Buncombe (1792-1827) reflect many
transactions involving him. Five of his sons received lands from him
(located on Jacks Creek [McDowells Creek] and on Caney Creek and the
French Broad River. His interests were both in Tenn. and N.C., since
some of his children lived in the former state and reared their families
there. However, the larger number of his descendants remained in the Toe
River Valley of N.C., and many are there to the present day. John
Edwards (Sr.) died in Washington Co., Tenn. on Oct. 17, 1833. His place
of internment is not known, but his memory is very much alive among a
number of his descendants who today are attempting to record all of his
family accomplishments and statistics.
Submitted by Bobby M. Edwards, Rt. 2 Box 56-C, Robbinsville, NC, 28771
(704-479-6596• Rev War 12, 1776 - VA
was a Sergent during two campains against the Cherokee, one against the
Creek Indians, and two against British General Cornwallis ( including the
final battle at Yorktown).• Pension, 9 September 1833 - Tennessee
On this ninth day of September, 1833, personally appeared before the
Honorable Judge of Circuit court of law & Equality for said County within
the First Judicial Circuit, John Edwards, a citizen of said county who
being first duly sworn made and stated the following declaration in order
to obtain the benefits of the act of Congress passed 7th June 1832, that
he served under the following named officers at the times specified
herein after stated to wit. That he is now aged Eighty three, was born
in September (day unknown) of 1750, in Baltimore County, state of
Maryland, but has no record of his age but this is the tradition of his
ancestors and he believes it true. That his father moved from Maryland
when he was very young to McAllister Town, Pennsylvania, and from there
to Shenandoah, and then to Bedford County, Virginia, where he resided
when the War of the Revolution broke out, and where he proceeded during
the time that he served as a militia man in said War and which is as
follows:
First in the month of October 1776, volunteered under Captain
Blueford (Buford), in Bedford County, aforesaid, being at the time a
sergeant in the company to perform a tour of duty of six months. "I
marched to the frontiers against the Cherokee Indians. On the way, I
joined Col. Christy (William Christian) at the big Lick and marched under
Col. Christy to the Long Island and Holstein and from there to the
Cherokee Nation and served under Col. Christy for four months, as
sergeant on said tour, well known as "Christy's Fighters" against the
Cherokees." He was discharged verbally by Captain Blueford at Long
Island, under pressure to give written discharges or return home, which
he never obtained for him. This service, he has proved by the affidavit
of Captain Christopher Taylor, hereto attached.
Again, in the month of April 1777, he volunteered in the Bedford
Militia under Captain Thomas Arthure, he being orderly sergeant in the
company war. After being enrolled at Bedford, he marched for a three
month tour of duty to Richmond, from there to Petersburg with James
Sherbourne and served out his three month tour under said Sherbourne at
Petersburg. And was verbally discharged by Captain Arthur at Petersburg
and returned home.
Again, in the Fall of 1778, he volunteered for a three month tour of
duty under Captain William Leftwich, to go against the Shawnee Indians
and guard their position. They marched under Captain Leftwich to
Greenbriar and being again orderly sergeant of the Leftwich company.
Col. Andrew Lewis was the colonel who commanded on said tour, and on said
tour guarded the frontier for three months and after the experience of
the three months was verbally discharged by Captain Leftwich and returned
home.
Again, in May 1781, he volunteered under Captain Taylor in bedford
Virginia, to go a three months tour of duty to the South to join Col.
Greene. Cornwallis was on his march south and again was appointed
orderly sergeant in Taylor's company. Major Ward commanded the Virginia
militia to South carolina where he joined Col. Greene for security and
before the engagement march for a while. He was in said battle and
retreated to Broad River under Gen. Gates, when he was discharged by
Captain Taylor, the three months having expired, said discharge was
verbal.
Again, in the month of August 1781, a general call was made for the
Virginia Militia to go to Yorktown against Cornwallis himself, and
marched his group to Shingle Block on Goose creek to continue to join
Washington at Yorktown when word reached them that Cornwallis had
surrendered and they were allowed to return home, having been a few days,
the time not exactly known. That in the first several tours first set
forth, he served fifteen months, and the last he earned, not exactly
recalling the time but could not have been less than half a month, for
which fifteen months and a half he claims a pension as orderly sergeant,
having served all the time in that capacity, that he has no documentary
accounts in his possession, nor can he make any of them proof of actual
service than that announced, which goes to twelve of the fifteen and half
months service, which proof is announced, but that Henry Taylor and Capt.
Blueford are herein known to him and he to them and by where he can not
establish the exact time of his said service, that there is truthful men
of the Gospel in his vicinity by whom he can establish the fair request
to the declaration of the War Department, that his name is not on the
pension roll of the agency of any state, and he hereby relinquishes every
claim whatsoever to a pension except this period.
Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 2nd day of June, 1832.
John (x his mark) Edwards• Affidavit 207, 23 August 1833 - Tennessee
Christopher (X) Taylor of said county declares he served in the
Revolution and there became acquainted with John Edwards. They both
served six months. Edwards was in Capt. Bluford's company under Gen.
Christee (Christian) and marched from Bedford Co., Va., against the
Cherokee and Creek Indians in 1776.• Aff II 207, 9 September 1833 - Tennessee
William (X) Edwards declares he was in the Revolutionary War and knows
John Edwards served three months under Capt. Leftwich against the Shawnee
Indians and three months to Ninety Six under Capt. Payte. The first tour
was in the fall of 1788 and the last in the Spring of 1781.
Wife Ruth Crabtree
AKA: Edwards Born: 1752 - VA Christened: Died: 16 November 1845 - North Carolina 207 Buried:
Father: William Crabtree III (1726-1779) Mother: Hannah Whitaker (1729- )
Noted events in her life were:
• Misc. III
A story about Ruth's brother, Job:<CR>As requested, here is the excert on
"Old Job" Crabtree of Lee Co., VA.
Unfortunately, I do not have the publisher or date of publication. I
found
the book in the Fentress Co., TN Library in Jamestown, Fentress Co., TN.
They should be able to supply you with the information on that. The book
was entitled "Faith of Our Fathers, Ancestors and Relatives of George and
Pearl (Green)Patton" and was written by Castor D. Patton. One of the
chapters was entitled, "Job Crabtree, Methodist Minister of Lee County,
Virginia". Here it is:
"JOB CRABTREE, son of WILLIAM II AND HANNAH (WHITAKER) CRABTREE, was born
April 29, 1765. He died in Lee County, Virginia on January 12, 1828.
JOB
owned large boundaries of land in Lee County, and much of it remained in
the
hands of his descendants for a long period of time. he married REBECCA
SMYTHE, daughter of TOBIAS SMITH on December 17, 1790."
"Tradition has brought us the following story of the conversion of JOB
CRABTREE. He was indisposed in religion, but his wife was a pious member
of
the Methodist Church. A camp meeting was appointed in the county and she
requested that he take her to the meeting. He replied that a camp
meeting
was no place for decent women. His grandfather, WILLIAM, the immigrant,
was
a member of St. John's Church, a Church of England affiliate back in
Maryland. So I presume such prejudice against the Methodist Church was a
carry-over from the past family church associations. However, knowing
her
influence with JOB, she made preparation for the trip. On the morning
she
wished to start, she kindly asked him to catch out the horses which he
relunctantly did. As they went toward the campground, he separated from
her
for a while to go by a stillhouse to procure a bottle of whiskey. When
they
reached the campground, he put his bottle in the spring to keep the
contents
cool and invited friends to drink with him after the preaching was over.
He
then went to the shed to hear the sermon."
"While the sermon was in progress, he became powerfully convicted of sin.
In the meanwhile his companions became impatient and came to him, touched
him on the shoulder gently, saying in a low tone, "Let us go and have a
drink". He replied curtly, "I won't do it." After the sermon, he went
to
the grove to pray. Hiding himself in the lap of a fallen tree, he began
to
confess his sins to God, when a faithful old Methodist layman, who by
that
kind discernment of spirit was characteristic of the early Methodists,
had
discovered that JOB was under conviction, and had followed him into his
covert. He then kinly instructed and prayed with him. Job joined the
church without professing regeneration."
"After he had returned home, one of his old companions determined to test
the genuineness of JOB's change. As JOB was riding along the road one
day,
this man galloped up to him and said in an apparently sincere tone, "JOB
CRABTEE, I can whip you." JOB said, "You can't do it.", and alighted,
but
his tantalizer just galloped ahead, looked over his shoulder and said,
"You
are a pretty Christian, fighting as you do." The rebuke went home, and
JOB
turned aside into the woods, got upon his knees, and vowed to God that he
would not leave the spot till his sins had been forgiven and his heart
changed. In a short time the blessing came, and JOB CRABTREE was a new
man."
"In the publication "The Crabtrees of Southwestern Virginia", JOB
CRABTREE
is described as one who followed a career in piety in which he served God
faithfully. The Christian religion was his theme and to do the will of
God
was his meat and drink. He seldom parted from a friend without a word of
prayer. As a burning and shining light, his good influence in Lee
County,
Virginia and the surrounding counties will be revealed only in eternity."
"JOB served in the Virginia militia during the Revolutionary War. He had
five sisters all of whom lived and died in Washington County, Virginia.
JOB
and four of his brothers lived and died in southwestern Virginia. His
brother JAMES lived for many years near Nashville, Tennessee but died in
Washington, Indiana(should be Illinois?). The other brother ISAAC, was
recorded in early Kentucky history as being one of the "Long Hunters"
with
Colonels Knox, Skaggs, Terrell, and Mansker. ISAAC lived at
Boonesborough,
and in Wayne County, Kentucky and in Overton County, Tennessee. I would
guess that JOB and five of his six brothers were involved in the
Revolutionary War."
"Mary Polly CRABTREE, the eldest daughter of JOB married Rev. Robert W.
Wynn. He was among the local preacher pioneers of the Holston and it was
said that he stood prominent among the Methodist in Lee County, Virginia.
Robert and Polly (CRABTREE) Wynn were the grandparents of John C. and
Reverend A. Orr of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church."
• New Tag 207, Bef 1845
According to family tradition, she lived in the Crabtree community, in
her daughters home, and was buried in Yancey County
Children
1 M William Edwards
Born: 1771 - VA Christened: Died: February 1850 - North Carolina Buried:
2 F Sally Edwards
Born: 1773 Christened: Died: Buried:
3 F Meridith Edwards
Born: 1775 Christened: Died: Buried:
4 M James Edwards
Born: 1778 206 Christened: Died: 1825 206 Buried:Spouse: Sophia Deaton (1797-After 1880) Marr: 16 June 1817 - North Carolina 206 Spouse: Elizabeth Wilson (1780-1818) Marr: Bef 1800
5 M Stephen Edwards
Born: 1785 Christened: Died: 1865 Buried:
6 F Anna Edwards
Born: 1790 Christened: Died: Buried:
7 M Edmond Edwards
Born: 1793 Christened: Died: 1861 Buried:
General Notes for Child James Edwards
War of 1812, Bailey's Co. North Carolina Militia. A manuscript by Charles H. Edwards states, ' James Edwards served with Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in which the Creek Indians were crushed; and in the Battle of New Orleans in which the British were defeated'. 206
General Notes for Child Edmond Edwards
Served in War of 1812, NC Militia, 7th Cavalry, Bradford Regiment (Latham's) in Capt. J. W. Godley's Company. Had one ear bitten off in a fight. from Clinton Edwards
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