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Archiver > EDWARDS > 1999-08 > 0935717035


From: "Richard E. Hills, Sr." <>
Subject: [EDWARDS-L] Re: EDWARDS-D Digest V99 #183
Date: Thu, 26 Aug 1999 21:23:55 -0400


Hello Edwards,

My grandmother, Cora Mae Edwards Hills was born in Michigan in 1873, died
there in 1950. Her father, Oliver Edwards was born in Lysander, Onondaga,
NY in 1846 and died near Lansing, MI in 1907. Oliver's parent were Ira
Edwards (born in 1801 in NJ, or possibly NY) and Phebe Gilbersleeve (b in
1803 in NJ, we think, and died 1869 in Ingham County, MI). It appears that
Ira and Phebe came to Onondaga about 1828.

A couple of us have been researching the NJ Edwards to find our kin and
have not been successful in tying Ira and Phebe to their respective
families. There are a number of Gildersleeves in NJ at the time.

We have Ira and Phebe and their progeny pretty well defined by family
letters, a will, old photos, etc. But who were Ira and Phebe's parents and
where were they born?

A 1920s family tree drawn by a long deceased, Edwards cousin of mine gives
details, no proof. She said that Ira's father was John Edwards, who in turn
was son of John Edwards (b1747), who in turn was son of Jacob Edwards of
Wales. Jacob Edwards had a string of about 10 or 11 sons and daughters. It
appears that about 5 of these kids were solders in the Revolution. This
tree indicates that the family was in Essex, NJ and sure enuf there were
Edwards with these names there. But we cannot find a tie to Ira.

We think that at the end of the 1700s and early 1800s records may have been
lost because of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812.

Interestingly, Jacob was a brother of the Edwards involved in the supposed
lease of property where the Trinity Cathedral now sits in NYC.

Anyone out there searching the NJ and NY Edwards families of the early
1800s and before?

Thanks for your help. Dick
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dick Hills'
335 Summit Avenue
Ligonier, PA 15658

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