Descendants of James M. Edwards

Edwards Families of Giles County

	1.	James M Edwards  was born about 1815 in VA. 

10. File Box E - 9 Case 3521                         1876 
	James M. EDWARDS vs. Thomas S. McCANLESS 
	James M. EDWARDS sold Thomas S. McCANLESS a tract of land in Giles 
County in District 11 on Bradshaw Creek, containing 30 acres for the 
sum of $1,071.00. January 1, 1872, McCANLESS took possession and 
resided on land.  He paid all but about $400.00 plus interest.  This 
money, that has not been paid is why this case is in Court.
3473
    James M. EDWARDS vs George W. McGREW
    James M. EDWARDS was Sureity on Note for George W. McGREW.  This 
Note was made to ROBERTSON, HUGGINS and FINCH, merchants of Nashville.  
EDWARDS should pay Note and cost.
 File Box E 12   Case 1221                          1855

    James M. EDWARDS vs. A. PITTS, James and J. N. PATTERSON and A. L. 
CROW 
    James M. EDWARDS states he is a mechanic by trade being a house 
carpenter and that sometime about November 1854 he made a special 
contract with Ananias PITTS to finish and complete a house for him which 
was partly built.  EDWARDS also built a mansion house or tavern known 
as Eutau House and other houses situated on lots #67 -120 - 121 and 
being same purchased by PITTS in May 1853 from James and John PATTERSON.  
PITTS sold Tavern House to Andrew L. CROW.  EDWARDS also built a house 
for PITTS on part of large lot #27 and purchased by PITTS from Thomas 
D. ELDRIDGE. EDWARDS attached houses and lots for non-payment of work.

    W. R. GARRETT, County Superintendent of Public Schools of Giles 
County, in compliance with an Act of the General Assembly of Tennessee 
passed March 6, 1873 and known as the Public School Law and in compliance 
with Section 45 of said Law would respectfully report the following as 
a correct list of the School Districts of the County.  
District #1, Directors: F. N. KING, W. J. McNEELY, and W. S. EZELL. 
District #2, Directors: A. J. REED, J. A. BROWNING and John F. WESTMORELAND.  
District #3, Directors: James H. JONES, John E. GILBERT and Thomas HANNA.  
District #4, Directors: James M. HOWARD, Ira HANEY and William MALONE.  
District #5, Directors: W. F. CARTER, H. H. HANCOCK and S. C. JOHNSON.  
District #6, Directors: J. G. SMITHSON, T. A. MAULTSBY and S. S. WILLIAMSON.  
District #7, Directors: James A. SUMPTER, Marion CHILDRESS and Daniel G. 
ANDERSON.  
District #8, Directors: James W. RIVERS, J. M. EDWARDS and Samuel BUTLER.  
District #9, Directors: J. P. ABERNATHY, W. A. BAUGH and W. J. RIDGEWAY.  
District #10, Directors: B. F. WHITE, C. A. HARWELL and Willis WORLEY.  
District #11, Directors: A. M. EZELL, J. A. WOODWARD and M. MARKS.  
District #12, Directors: Albert BUFORD, William RIVERS and E. G. YANCY.  
District #13,
  File Box H - 6 Case 3568                           1876

	G. A. HOPKINS vs. A. COX et al
	G. A. HOPKINS of Giles County vs. A. COX citizen of the State of 
Arkansas and Robert A. Blow a citizen of Giles County. G. A. HOPKINS 
stated to the Court that Defendant A. COX as Clerk and Master under 
orders of Chancery Court in the Cause of A. D. SMITH et al vs. Thomas 
P. SMITH et al on the 4th of December 1868 sold lands of William SMITH, 
deceased. James M. Edwards became the purchaser of 146 acres for which 
he executed his Notes, with REASONOVER, G. W. and G. A. HOPKINS as his 
sureties.
File Box L - 3 Case 3369  Administration Bill      1874
	Harriet LITERAL, Administratrix vs. W. H. WEBB et al

	Will of Martha WEBB, marked Exhibit "A". Martha WEBB, a single woman 
died at her residence in Giles County October 26, 1873 without issue. 
Martha WEBB was appointed Guardian of WOODson H. and  Thomas S. WEBB and  
Mary Neil Edwards and Nancy J. WEBB, their sister who died about 1870 
when about 16 or 17 years of age. James M. Edwards testified that he was 
59 years of age and was a brother-in-law of Martha WEBB. WOODson H., 
Thomas S. and  Mary Neil Edwards wife of Washington Edwards were niece 
and nephew of Martha WEBB. Maclin MARKS was purchaser of the land with 
L. B. and  John W. his securities.


James married (1) Harriet Overton Childress  about 1839 in Giles Co., 
Tn. Harriet was born in 1821 in Giles Co., Tn. She died on 14 Sep 1854 
in Giles Co., Tn. She was buried in James M. Edwards Cemetery. 

They had the following children:

+	2	M	i.	John Wesley Edwards  was born on 3 Sep 1841. He died on 
                 28 Sep 1924. 

	3	M	ii.	Joseph Harris Edwards  was born on 4 Nov 1843 in Giles 
                 Co., Tn. He died on 1 Mar 1932 in Ellis, Texas. 

	4	F	iii.	Sarah Edwards  was born in 1847 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	5	F	iv.	Mary Frances Edwards  was born on 31 Mar 1849 in Giles 
                 Co., Tn. She died on 17 Jul 1931 in Ellis, Texas. 

	6	M	v.	Henry Edwards  was born on 17 Oct 1851 in Giles Co., Tn. 
                 He died on 14 Mar 1936 in Ellis, Texas. 


James married (2) Adeline Haley  daughter of Woodson Haley about 1855 
in Giles Co., Tn. 

They had the following children:

	7	M	vi.	William J Edwards  was born on 18 Nov 1855 in Giles Co., 
                    Tn. He died on 22 May 1923 in Ellis, Texas. 

	8	M	vii.	Alfred Edwards  was born on 23 Feb 1857 in Giles Co., 
                    Tn. He died on 27 Aug 1883 in Ellis, Texas. 

	9	F	viii.	Martha A Edwards  was born on 13 Apr 1861 in Giles Co., 
                    Tn. She died in 1864 in Giles Co., Tn. She was 
                    buried in James M. Edwards Cemetery. 

	10	F	ix.	Eliza Belle Edwards  was born on 15 Sep 1863 in Giles 
                    Co., Tn. She died in 1865 in Giles Co., Tn. She 
                    was buried in James M. Edwards Cemetery. 

	11	M	x.	Neil Edwards  was born in 1866 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	12	F	xi.	Beulah Edwards  was born in 1868 in Giles Co., Tn. 


James married (3) Mary E. Marks  daughter of James Milton Marks 
and Eliza Ann McCormick on 30 Apr 1870 in Giles Co., Tn. Mary was born 
about 1840 in Giles Co., Tn. 

They had the following children:

	13	F	xii.	Myrtle Edwards  was born in 1872 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	14	F	xiii.	Blanche Edwards  was born in 1876 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	15	F	xiv.	Bertha Edwards  was born on 21 Apr 1878 in Giles Co., Tn. 


Second Generation

	2.	John Wesley Edwards  (James M) was born on 3 Sep 1841 in Giles 
Co., Tn. He died on 28 Sep 1924 in Giles Co., Tn. He was buried in 
Claud Cemetery Lester Station.
23. File Box C - 21   Case 367                               	1841

    Richard H. CLAYTON, Jesse ABERNATHY, James M. EDWARDS and Wife and 
Lewis B. MARKS  
Ex Parte
	Elisha SMART died April 8, 1840, intestate with Richard H. CLAYTON 
and Jesse ABERNATHY as Administrators.  In his Will he ordered his 
Negro boy Grandison to be set free and given 60 acres of land.  To 
Eliza C. CLAYTON, wife of Richard H. CLAYTON, four Negroes: Jenny, 
Clary Ann, Ben and Amy Jane and one half of 250 acres and to Harriet 
Overton CHILDRESS, a young girl that Elisha and his wife Martha raised.  
To her, he also gave the west end of one half of 250 acres, also Negro 
Aaron.  
Two rod squares to be reserved where wife Martha and Elisha live.
23. File Box C - 21   Case 367                               	1841

John married (1) Willie Ann Hardiman  daughter of William J Hardiman 
and Mary A. Willie was born in 1846 in Charlotte Co, Va. She died 
about 1881 in Giles Co., Tn. 

They had the following children:

	16	F	i.	Mary Edwards  was born in 1867 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	17	F	ii.	Lizzie Lee Edwards  was born on 18 Jan 1878 in 
                   Limestone Co., Al. She died on 25 Dec 1953 in Giles 
                   Co., Tn. She was buried in Edwards Cem. Lester , Al. 


John married (2) Julia Fannie Smith  daughter of James A Smith and 
Elizabeth on 18 Oct 1883 in Giles Co., Tn. Julia was born on 29 Aug 1864 
in Giles Co., Tn. She died on 26 Jul 1925 in Giles Co., Tn. She was 
buried in Kedron Cemetery. 

EDWARDS, Fannie Smith	29 Dec 1872	26 Jul 1925  acc to 1900 census 
she was born Aug 1864
	(w/o John Wesley Edwards)
	(d/o ____________ and ____________ Smith)


John and Julia had the following children:

	18	F	iii.	Mable Edwards  was born in 1888 in Giles Co., Tn. 
She died in 1983 in Giles Co., Tn. She was buried in Kedron Cemetery. 

GRIGGS, Mable Edwards	__ ___  1888	__ ___   1983
	(w/o Henry Aymett Griggs)
	(d/o Wesley and Fannie Smith Edwards)


Mable married Henry Aymett Griggs  son of Nicholas Griggs and 
Sally Lucretia "Tish" Lawhorn. Henry was born in 1888 in Giles Co., Tn. 
He died in 1956 in Giles Co., Tn. He was buried in Kedron Cemetery. 


GRIGGS, Henry Aymett	__ ___ 1888	__ ___ 1956
	(h/o Mable Edwards Griggs)
	(s/o Nicholas and Lucretia Lawhorn Griggs)
	Obituary:    The Pulaski Citizen   22 Aug 1956
Funeral services for Aymett Griggs, 67, farmer of the Kedron community, 
were held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon at Kedron Methodist Church and 
burial took place in the church cemetery. He died of a heart attack 
early Saturday morning at his home. Mr. Griggs is survived by his wife,
Mrs. Mable Edwards Griggs; one daughter, Mrs. Juanita Beddingfield, 
Nashville; and one son, Garland Griggs, Kedron.


	19	F	iv.	Geraldeen Edwards  was born on 26 Sep 1884 in 
Giles Co., Tn. She died on 20 Dec 1966 in Giles Co., Tn. She was 
buried in Kedron Cem. Giles Co., Tn. 

GRIGGS, Geraldeen Edwards	26 Sep 1884	20 Dec 1966
	(w/o Lynn Griggs)
	(d/o Wesley and Fannie Smith Edwards)
	Obituary:   The Pulaski Citizen 21 Dec 1966
Funeral services for Mrs. Geraldean Griggs, 82, will be conducted on 
Thursday afternoon at 1:00 o'clock at the Kedron Methodist Church, with 
burial in the Kedron Cemetery. The Rev. James Jolly will officiate. 
Mrs. Griggs died Tuesday, December 20, in Giles County Hospital.  She 
was a native of Giles County, born September 10, 1884, the daughter of 
the late Wesley and Fannie Smith Edwards.  Her husband, Lynn Griggs, 
died in 1955. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. John Ed Hughes and
Mrs. Marvin Hughes, Prospect; one son, Willie Griggs, Goodsprings; nine
grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; three brothers, Clayburn 
Edwards, Pulaski, Neal Edwards, Prospect, and Buford Edwards, Brentwood, 
Tenn.; three sisters, Mrs. Aymett Griggs, Prospect, Mrs. Rachel Rainey, 
Pulaski, and Mrs. Zelma Hurd, Prospect. Pulaski Funeral Home in charge 
of arrangements.

Geraldeen married Ernest Leonard "Len" Griggs  son of Nicholas 
Griggs and Sally Lucretia "Tish" Lawhorn. Ernest was born on 1 Mar 1875 
in Lee Co., Miss. He died on 5 Aug 1955 in Giles Co., Tn. He was buried 
in Kedron Cemetery. 

GRIGGS, Lynn	 1 Mar 1875	 5 Aug 1955
	(h/o Geraldeen Griggs)
	(s/o Nicholas and Lucretia Lawhorn Griggs)
	Obituary:   The Pulaski Citizen 10 Aug 1955
Funeral services for Ernest Lynn Griggs, 80, retired farmer of the 
Stella community, were held at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon at Kedron 
Methodist Church, with the Rev. W. C. Folks, pastor of the church, 
officiating.  Burial took place in the church cemetery. Mr. Grggs died 
at his home early Friday morning. A native of the county, he was born 
March 1, 1875, the son of the late Nix Griggs and Lutishia Lawhorne, 
Griggs, and was a member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Griggs is survived 
by his wife, Mrs. Geraldine Edwards Griggs; two daughters, Mrs. John E. 
Hughes and Mrs. Marvin Hughes; one son, Willie Griggs, Giles County; 
nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren; and one brother, 
Aymett Griggs, Giles County. Pulaski Funeral Home, Morticians in charge.

	20 M	v.	James Edwards  was born on 5 Jan 1891 in Giles Co., 
Tn. He died on 8 Feb 1944 in Giles Co., Tn. He was buried in Kedron 
Cemetery. 

EDWARDS, James A.	 5 Jan 1891	 8 Feb 1944

	(h/o Rebecca Griggs Edwards)
	(s/o John Wesley and Fannie Smith Edwards)


James married Rebecca Griggs  daughter of Nicholas Griggs and Sally 
Lucretia "Tish" Lawhorn on 7 Jan 1924 in Giles Co., Tn. Rebecca was 
born on 1 Aug 1890 in Giles Co., Tn. She died on 1 Jul 1935 in Giles 
Co., Tn. She was buried in Kedron Cemetery. 

	21	M	vi.	Neal Calbert Edwards  was born on 5 Jan 1891 in Giles 
Co., Tn. He died on 13 Jul 1972 in Giles Co., Tn. 

EDWARDS, Neal Calbert	 5 Jan 1891	13 Jul 1972
	(s/o Wesley and Fannie Smith Edwards)


	22	M	vii.	Buford Edwards.
Buford married Willie Mae Chapman  on 18 Dec 1919 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	23	M	viii.	Clayborn Holmes Edwards  was born on 16 May 1896 in 
Giles Co., Tn. He died on 27 Apr 1982 in Giles Co., Tn. 
Clayborn married Nina Pearl Turner  on 30 Dec 1917 in Giles Co., Tn. 
Nina was born on 20 May 1900 in Giles Co., Tn. She died on 26 Apr 1982 
in Giles Co., Tn. 


John married (3) Louella Augusta Griggs  daughter of Nicholas Griggs and 
Sally Lucretia "Tish" Lawhorn on 18 Sep 1904 in Giles Co., Tn. Louella 
was born in 1878 in Lee Co., Miss. 

GRIGGS, Louetta A. 	EDWARDS, J. W.	18 Sep 1904 Giles Co. Tn


John and Louella had the following children:

	24	F	ix.	Rachel Louticia Edwards was born on 23 Oct 1908 in Giles 
Co., Tn. She died on 6 Apr 1998 in Giles Co., Tn. Rachel married (1) 
James Ozro Miller on 13 Dec 1925 in Giles Co., Tn. James was born in 
1907 in Giles Co., Tn. He died on 18 Jun 1952 in Giles Co., Tn. Rachel 
married (2) Fletcher Rainey son of Sam Rainey and Susan Englett. 
Fletcher was born on 29 Jul 1901 in Giles Co., Tn. He died on 8 Jan 1981 
in Giles Co., Tn. He was buried in New Hope Cemetery. 

	25	F	x.	Zelmara Edwards  was born on 17 Apr 1911 in Giles Co., Tn. 
She died on 8 Jul 1998 in Giles Co., Tn. 

HURD, Zelmar Edwards	17 Apr 1911
	(w/o William Henry Hurd)	
	(d/o Wesley and Fannie Smith Edwards)


Zelmara married (1) William H. Hurd. William was born on 10 Jun 1911 
in Giles Co., Tn. He died on 30 Mar 1977 in Giles Co., Tn. 
Zelmara married (2) Raymond Miller on 8 Nov 1926 in Giles Co., Tn. 

	26	F	xi.	Wesley Edwards  was born on 4 Sep 1915 in Giles Co., Tn. 
She died on 21 Aug 1941 in Giles Co., Tn. She is my Aunt and the reason 
for this research..Shirley

EDWARDS, Wesley	RANDOLPH, Carson	17 Aug 1935
Giles County Tn marriages

RANDOLPH, Wesley	 4 Sep 1915	21 Aug 1941

	(w/o Carson Randolph)
	(d/o Wesley and Etta Griggs Edwards)


Wesley married Carson William Randolph son of Samuel Carson 
Randolph and Mary Octavia Lee Boston on 17 Aug 1935 in Giles, Tn. 
Carson was born on 22 Nov 1916 in Giles, Tn. He died on 29 Aug 1988 
in Dellrose, Tn.