Description
Our branch of the tree from 1630 to Present (2007) Alexander Edwards came from a border town in Wales to Newtowne (Cambridge), MA about 1630. From Newtowne he came with the Rev. Thomas Hooker party in 1636 to the Connecticut river country and settled in what is now Springfield, MA, his home lot being on the west side of Main street below State street. Here he married Sarah (Baldwin) Searle, the widow of John Searle on April 12, 1642. Note: Many published family histories indicate that Alexander came from Wales in 1640. Since the article "Ancient Days Recalled" published October 31, 1910 in the Hampshire Gazette, tells of Alexander being part of the Rev. Thomas Hooker party that left Newtowne and traveled west in 1636, the 1630 date of his arrival from Wales is more logical. A search of the ship lists for the period 1630 to 1640 do not list an Alexander Edwards. It should be noted, however, that a large number of persons arrived in New England in 1630 and that many of the passenger lists have never been found. The records indicate that in 1651 Alexander gave evidence in the witchcraft trial of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Parsons. Alexander and Sarah came to Northampton, MA in 1655 and were among the original settlers there. They became prominent members of that community. The house and home lot of Alexander was the westerly one of two located on Main street between Pleasant and Hawley streets. The house was of logs. Here he lived for five or six years when he sold out and moved to the present (1910) site of Plymouth Inn. Early Plot Map Here he opened a street now called Green street to and beyond Mill river which was crossed by fording for many years. By vote of the town he was allowed to maintain a gate at the entrance to the road so that he may cultivate his land. The ford and later a bridge were called "Welch End" since the Edwards family were all living in that vicinity and were Welchmen originally. The laying out of this street is the first recorded layout in the town and upon it was maintanined a grist mill. Alexander was part owner of the mill and an old record indicates that in 1662 he contributed eight pounds of flax to Harvard College. Alexander died September 4, 1690 along with 48 other members of the town in the epidemic of "Agues and Fevers" during the winter of 1690-91. Sarah died on October 3, 1690. Note: The "Northampton, MA - Deaths in Vital Records to 1840" list the death of "Goodwife Edwards" on October 3, 1690. It was probably Sarah since she is not listed elsewhere on the list. Alexander had the following children: -Hannah (b. February 18, 1645) (d. September 11, 1690) (m. Samuel Davis 1668) -Mary (b. January 20, 1650) (d. ) (m. John Field 1670) -Sarah (b. November 21, 1654) (d. ) (m. James North 1677) -Elisabeth (b. February 22, 1660) (d. 1690) (m. Samuel Clark 1681) Samuel Edwards married Sarah Boykin, the daughter of Jaruis Boykin of New Haven on May 16th, 1675. Samuel died on April 13, 1712. Sarah died on August 15, 1724. Samuel had the following children: -Sarah (b. May 8, 1678) (d. ) (m. Joseph Pettey 1703) -Hannah (b. June 6, 1683) (d. ) (m. Eliphalet Pardee 1703) -Ruth (b. April 26th 1688) (d. May 24, 1724 ) (m.