Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. was baptized
24 August 1717 (probably born 1716 or 1717) at St. Mary’s Church at Houghton on
the Hill Parish in Norfolk County (the record was also found at North Pickenham
Parish). The record shows that he was
the son of Esdras Theodore Edzard Sr. and Elizabeth (unknown surname). Only one
other birth was recorded – a brother Georgius Eleazer Edzard who was buried 2
January 1718 (also found 23 January 1718) at All Saints Church, South
Pickenham, Norfolk County, England. George
is presumed to have been a younger brother to Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. No other verified information is known
regarding this family. However, some
good guesses can be made…
The connection to the
following biographical information is based on the Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr.
baptism, potential birth dates, matching age, the scarcity of the Esdras given
name, and the use of Theodore as a middle name.
Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr.’s father died in the Maryland
Colony in 1734. His mother
Elizabeth/Elizabetha (two records each show a different name variant) then
married Thomas Scarlett on 11 January 1735 at St. Peter and St. Paul Church,
East Harling, Norfolk County, England.
The widow Elizabeth (as the marriage record indicates) was living in
East harling at the time. The next year,
Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. married Rachel Halman (baptized 26 November 1719
Illington, Norwich, Norfolk County, daughter of James and Mary Halman) on 20
July 1736 at St. Helen Church in Norwich, Norfolk County. In 1736, he was living in East Harling (like
his mother) and she was from Larkingford, Norfolk County. Note: Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. was
identified as “Esdras Edzard” in the marriage record and in subsequent Norfolk
County vital records.
Over the next six years, Esdras and Rachel Edzard had three
children, each baptized at St. Ethelbert Church in Larling Parish, Norfolk
County. These children were:
· Mary Edzard, born 1737, baptized 24 August
1737, buried 31 August 1737 St. Andrew Church, Illington Parish, Norfolk County
· Jimmy Theodore Edzard, born 1738, baptized 20 October
1738, married Alice Alderton 3/5 June 1759 Larling Parish, Norfolk County, had
four children: Esdrass (1760), Mary (1761), Elizabeth (1762), and Sarah (1763)
· Jemima Edzard, born 1741, baptized 26 April
1741
Esdras Theodore Edzard’s wife Rachel died September 1742 and
was buried 24 September 1742 at St. Andrew Church, Illington Parish, Norfolk
County by her daughter Mary.
Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. disappeared from records after
1742 in Norfolk County. In 1754, his
brother James Edzard was in Stafford County, Virginia Colony where he
married. James Edzard was known to have
owned land in Stafford and Orange County, Virginia Colony (1789 record). Then Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. is found in
King George County, Virginia Colony Fiduciary Accounts in 1757 which reveals
that he received a license to operate an ordinary. He received this same license in King George
County for 1759, 1760, and 1761. Note:
King George County was the location at which his father arrived in 1726.
Esdras Theodore Edzard had settled in Hanover Parish, King
George County, Virginia Colony at the latest in 1757 (but possibly earlier, had
he been in America with his younger brother James Edzard in 1754?). Note: Between 1742 and 1757 nothing is known
of his whereabouts. My guess is that he
arrived in the American colonies between 1750 and 1756. He ran a tavern in Falmouth, King George
County on the Rappahannock River just across from Fredericksburg. He was also
known to be an Episcopalian, a carpenter, and an innkeeper in Falmouth. His wife was named Frances (unknown surname)
and they had been married at an unknown date and location. And, he must have been successful. On 15 October 1762, he purchased 300 acres in
Brunswick Parish, King George County from Bryan O’Bannon (only to sell it back
in December 1762). He was a resident of
Brunswick Parish prior to this land transaction (his March 1762 will – “of
Brunswick Parish”).
Between October 1762 and July 1763 (possibly in the first
half of 1763), Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. died at the age of about 46. His will was probated in King George County
(proven 7 July 1763) and then an inventory was recorded later in 1763 (5
December). His widow Frances applied for
administrator’s bond in the name of her deceased husband Esdras Theodore Edzard
Jr., according to King George County Fiduciary Accounts. Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. had written his
will on 15 March 1762 as a resident of Brunswick Parish, King George
County. He stated –
…being in perfect senses and memory as make and ordain this
my last will and testament first I recommend my soul to the mercy of Almighty
God hoping for salvation through the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ and my
body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my
executor hereafter named…
He mentions two slaves that belonged to his wife Frances
prior to their marriage. Note:
this implies that she was older when they were married and also that they may
not have been married for a long time.
It also implies that she was American because a recent female British
immigrant would likely not have slaves. He
also mentions that he was willing items to Frances “and her heirs forever.” This implies that she either had children previously
or that she was of the age to have children after his death. Note: She does not mention children in her
will of 1765. This means that she did
not have children or that she had them but they remained in England when she
traveled to America, like the children of her husband. Many items were given to his wife but upon
her death those items were to go to his brother James Edzard (James ended up
dying the next year and well before Frances’ death). He did give his brother his “wearing clothes,
watch, pair of silver knee buckles, carpenter tools, and joiner tools.” He also gave his mother “Isable Odle” fifty
shillings and his sisters Rebecca Plat and Mary Odle 30 shillings each.
Esdras Theodore Edzard’s wife Frances wrote her will in King
George County on 18 October 1765 just two years after her husband’s death. She left items to various persons that were
members of her own birth family.
However, she makes no mention of children. She does leave her husband’s sister Mary Odle
one pair of silver shoe buckles. Note:
this may imply that she and Esdras Theodore Edzard Jr. had not been married
long and that she had not known them long. The will was not probated until 7 May 1772.
Another interesting
tidbit must be addressed…A document for an Esdras Theodore Edzard was
“probated” at the Commissary Court of London in April 1762. The record type is defined as a will and the
record is found in the London Probate index.
This will and probate have not been seen. Who was this man? There is no record of another Esdras Theodore
Edzard in England. So, was Esdras
Theodore Edzard Jr. who died in Virginia the same man as the Esdras Theodore
Edzard whose will was probated in England?
Certainly his death would have impacted his children/family who were still
living in England.
Just to be clear, there is
no smoking gun evidence that connects the minster Esdras Theodore Edzard (died
1734) with the tavern keeper Esdras Theodore Edzard (died 1763). However, enough incidental evidence exists to
convince me – the connection is clear in my mind. And also there is no certainty that the
Esdras Edzard who had children in Norfolk County, England between 1737 and 1741
was the child of minister Esdras Theodore Edzard (died 1734) or the same man as
the tavern keeper Esdras Theodore Edzard (died 1763). There is nothing to disprove these
connections. It is possible if the
Esdras Theodore Edzard probate of 1762 London, England is seen, this all may be
cleared up. And…I am sure there are more
records that exist which have eluded me.
The story has yet to be completely verified.
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