This is in response to a recent post under the topic
Sutton and Great Glenham PRS from Toffee203, seeking the parents of George Edwards, a surgeon in Eye.
There is good reason to believe that George was a son of John Edwards of Brockford and Thorndon (c.1766-1817) and Rebecca née Fiske (c.1777-1809) who were married at Rattlesden in 1797.
They had four sons baptized in Wetheringsett cum Brockford parish church:
1799 John Jackson
1800 Thomas
1801 George
1804 Frederic
And two in Thorndon:
1806 John Henry
1807 Richard
The Edwards burials at Thorndon include:
1809 Rebecca aged 32
1817 John of Thorndon aged 50
1817 Richard of Thorndon aged 9
1832 John Jackson of Eye (late Hill Farm [Thorndon]) aged 32
1863 John Henry of Ipswich aged 57
Exact dates are given in the parish register transcripts available from the Suffolk Family History Society.
John's will (PCC, 1817) left everything to his six sons, John Jackson, Thomas, George, Frederick, John Henry and Richard. He wanted his farm to be carried on for their benefit under the direction of the executors, his brother Thomas Edwards of Brockford, John Jacob of Dagworth [in Old Newton], James Ward the younger of Hawleigh [Haughley] and son John Jackson Edwards.
John's brother Thomas died on 29 December 1841 aged 76, six days before being buried at Wetheringsett cum Brockford. Images of his will (Consistory Court of Norwich, 1842) can be downloaded from
Norfolk Sources. Made in 1838, it focuses on his surviving children, John Edwards, William Lea Edwards, Edwin Edwards and Dorothy Edwards. Also mentioned are deceased daughters Mary and Emma.
The baptisms of most of the children of Thomas Edwards (c.1765-1841) and Dorothy née Hawys (c.1765-1835) took place at Occold between 1786 and 1798 but Emma (c.1801-1836) was christened at Wetheringsett cum Brockford. She married her cousin, Frederic(k) Edwards (c.1804-1835) of Dagworth Hall, at Wetheringsett in 1833 (Suffolk Chronicle 19 Oct. page 3 column 2).
The surgeon's kinship with this family is indicated by a notice in the Suffolk Chronicle (18 Feb. 1832 page 2 column 1):
"All Persons who were indebted to the late Mr. JOHN JACKSON EDWARDS, deceased, at Thorndon, Suffolk, are desired to pay the same immediately to Mr. George Edwards, Surgeon, Eye, or Mr. Frederic Edwards, Dagworth, near Stowmarket, Suffolk, and all persons to whom the said Mr. John Jackson Edwards was indebted, are requested to deliver the same to either of the said Mr. Edwards', at Eye or Dagworth."
John Jackson Edwards, an unmarried farmer, died intestate. For proof that the administrators of his estate were brothers, it may be necessary to ask the Suffolk Record Office in Bury St Edmunds to copy his administration bond (IC/500/4/173/8) or Frederick's will (
IC/500/1/290/6). Emma's will (
IC/500/1/291/6) is also there.
David
