Fayette County, Alabama
 
~ William A. Edmonds Family ~



The information following was provided by
Beverly Edmonds Downs
the great-great-granddaughter of William A. Edmonds

– 10 Dec 2003 –
 

William A. EDMONDS was born 15 Oct 1814 in Oglethorpe Co., GA, and passed away 8 Feb 1902 in Fayette Co., AL.  He was married on 5 Nov 1840 in Oglethorpe Co., GA, to Mary Frances APPLING, b. 27 Sep 1823, GA, d. 15 Feb 1880, Fayette Co., AL.  Mary Frances was the daughter of John APPLING & Mary (Polly) McELROY.  Both William & Mary were buried in the Edmonds-Musgrove Cemetery, Fayette Co., AL.
 
William & Mary EDMONDS had the following children:
 
1. John A. EDMONDS b. 1 Nov 1841, Oglethorpe Co., GA; d. 7 Nov 1910, Natural Bridge, Winston Co., AL; bd. Concord Cemetery, Lynn, Winston Co., AL; marr. 14 Oct 1866, Fayette Co., AL, to Manerva STUDDARD, b. 31 Jan 1845, Spencer, Pea Ridge, Fayette Co., AL; bd. Concord Cemetery, Lynn, AL.
 
2. Sarah Catherine EDMONDS b. 18 Apr 1844, GA; d. 10 Jun 1913, Funston, Jones Co., TX; bd. Bethel Baptist Cemetery, Funston, TX; marr. 23 Dec 1869, Fayette Co., AL, to William (Bill) Marion McDUFF Sr., b. 8 Feb 1849, Tuscaloosa Co., AL; d. 31 Jan 1923, Jones Co., TX; bd. Bethel Baptist Cemetery, Funston, TX. (Bill was a Baptist minister)
 
3. Augustus Newell (Gus) EDMONDS b. 9 May 1846, GA; d. 9 Oct 1920, Alice, Jim Wells Co., TX; bd. Grandview Cemetery, Grandview, Johnson Co., TX; marr. (#1) 4 Nov 1869, Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa Co., AL, to Elizabeth A. (Bettie) McDUFF, b. 7 Mar 1851 Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa Co., AL; d. 5 Feb 1891, Hill Co., TX; bd. Grandview Cemetery, Grandview, TX; (#2) 24 Aug 1892, Fayette Co., AL, to Amanda DAVIS, b. 7 Nov 1861, Fayette Co., AL; d. 5 Jan 1902, Itasca, Hill Co., TX; bd. Grandview Cemetery, Grandview, TX; (#3) 29 Jul 1902, Hill Co., TX, to Lee NAUGLE, b. 1853, Chickasaw Co., MS; d. 3 Jul 1943, Carter, Beckham Co., OK; bd. Carter, OK.
 
4. Mary Frances EDMONDS b. 20 Apr 1848, Fayette Co., AL; d. TX; marr. 5 Dec 1867, Fayette Co., AL, to Colombus M. RICHARDS, b. 1845, AL.
 
5. Martha Ann EDMONDS b. 24 Jul 1850, Fayette Co., AL; d. 2 Apr 1855, Fayette Co., AL; bd. Edmonds-Musgrove Cemetery, Fayette Co., AL.
 
6. Elizabeth Menervy (Precious) EDMONDS b. 18 Mar 1852, Fayette Co., AL; d. 8 Jan 1899, Fayette Co., AL; bd. Edmonds-Musgrove Cemetery, Fayette Co., AL; marr. 1 Mar 1869, AL, to Wiley Dyer BAGWELL, b. 11 Sep 1842, Jefferson Co., AL; d. 26 May 1923, Fayette Co., AL; bd. Edmonds-Musgrove Cemetery, Fayette Co., AL.
 
7. Amy Fatima (Tima) EDMONDS b. 3 Aug 1854, Fayette Co., AL; marr. 6 Feb 1873, Fayette Co., AL, to William Thomas STANLEY Sr.
 
8. Charles William EDMONDS b. 30 Jul 1858 Fayette Co., AL; d. after 1905, Hill Co., TX; marr. (#1) 31 Jul 1879, Fayette Co., AL, to Phalatia A. YERBY, b. 1864; d. 1880; (#2) 2 Dec 1880, Fayette Co., AL, to Manerva Josephine DAVIS, b. 16 Feb 1860, AL; d. after 1905.
 
9. Elvira Christian (Ella) EDMONDS b. 14 May 1860, Fayette Co., AL; d. 18 Oct 1934, Fayette Co., AL; bd. Edmonds-Musgrove Cemetery, Fayette Co., AL.
 
10. James Hill EDMONDS b. 28 Feb 1862, Fayette Co., AL; d. 16 Jun 1930, Anson, Jones Co., TX; bd. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Anson, TX; marr. (#1) 22 Jan 1882, Fayette Co., AL, to Drucilla MATHEWS, b. 12 Mar 1860; d. 21 Oct 1882, AL; (#2) 15 Nov 1885, Itasca, Hill Co., TX, to Mary Frances (Fannie) BARKLEY, b. 8 Feb 1865, Smith Co., TX; d. Jul 1957, Anson, TX; bd. Mt. Hope Cemetery, Anson, TX. (James was an ordained Baptist Minister And Teacher)
 
11. Exa Sephronia EDMONDS b. 26 Jul 1868, Fayette Co., AL; d. 5 Jul 1888, Itasca, Hill Co., TX; bd. Hill Co., TX; marr. 12 Apr 1883, Fayette Co., AL, to Benjamin F. WHITE.

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The following article appeared in the Fayette (Ala) News in 1891 and was reprinted in 'The Texas Collection':
 
I, William A. Edmonds, am the great-grandson of John Edmonds, who was born and reared in Wales, and came to America in 1732 or 3.  He was banished for dogging a pet deer belonging to one of the princess', at 16 years of age, and settled at Jamestown, Va., where he married at the age of 20 years, and raised his family.  He and his oldest son (Harry) were engaged in a fight with the Indians at Braddock's defeat.  Harry was killed in this conflict, but his father came out unhurt.  Harry was 17 years old when he fell.  John had four other sons and one daughter.  Frank, (the oldest) Sidney, William — commonly called Buck — and John, who was my grandfather.  These four sons passed through the revolutionary war unhurt.  The daughter married Mathew Cox.

The above history was given to me by my grandfather, when I was about twelve years old, with a request that, if I lived to raise a family, to let my children know the origin of the Edmonds family in the United States.

I have seen and read in my grandfather's bible.  He used "o" in spelling his name as I do.

I was raised in Oglethorpe county, Ga., moved to Tuscaloosa county, Ala., in 1848, and in the fall of the same year, moved to Fayette county where I have lived ever since.

I was elected tax collector in 1851, which office I held by re-election until 1864 when I was disenfranchised until 1874.  I was re-elected tax collector in 1874, holding said office until April 1878, and I can say with clear conscience before the world, where the name of Edmonds is known, that, during the 17 years of my official work, I never defrauded the county or tax payer out of one dime knowingly.  I claim kin with every Edmonds in the United States, provided he is truthful, honest, industrious, and strictly sober.  If he lacks those traits of character, he is not as near me as he otherwise, might be.

I am today, 76 years, 10 months and 17 days old.  Tuesday, September 1, 1891.

If any of the readers of The News can give their lineage, let them do as I have done.

                 — William A. Edmonds in Fayette (Ala. News)

Regarding the ancestral showing of the above named parties, we desire to say that William A. Edmonds is the father of Mr. A.N. Edmonds living near Itasca and a man of known integrity throughout all of his dealings as a good citizen, neighbor, and Christian, and we regard the family history as meritorious and should be appreciated by all the lineal descendants.

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An oversized book at Clayton Library, Houston, Harris Co., TX, Looking Back: Fayette County, Alabama 1824-1874 (published by the Fayette County Historical Society, Dec. 1974, v. 3, on p. 175), has several copies of county tax receipts from 1852 handwritten by W.A. EDMONDS.  It is nice to see his signature.
 
The same book lists the Fayette Co. Tax List for 1864 (p. 183).  In the Holly Springs Beat is listed the following taxables for EDMONDS, W.A. — 736 acres valued at $3500; 1 poll tax (which at the time was assessed at $2.75); 2 slaves; $2200 specie [cash]; 1 clock; 1 silver watch.

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1860 US Census, East District, Fayette Co., AL, Page 384, Lines 27-37, Dwelling 268, Family 270, Enumerator, Daniel G. KIRKLAND (18 Jun 1860):
 
27. EDMONDS, William A. - 46 - GA - Farmer
28.                     , Mary F. - 37 - GA (Mary Frances APPLING)
29.                     , John A. - 18 - AL
30.                     , S.C.(Sarah Catherine) - 16 - AL
31.                     , Augustus N. - 14 - AL
32.                     , Mary F. - 12 - AL
33.                     , Elizabeth M. - 7 - AL
34.                     , Tima - 5 - AL
35.                     , Charles W. - 1 - AL
36.                     , Elvira C. - ½ - AL
37. FLOYD, Enoch - 21 - GA - Farmer
 
Note: Mary Frances APPLING's uncle, Hamner H. APPLING & family, was living next door to William A. EDMONDS in Fayette Co., AL, in 1860.

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Patent Description AL2910__.184
Cancelled: N Document Nr. : 36171 Misc. Document Nr. :
Patentee Name: EDMONDS, WILLIAM A
Warrantee Name:
Authority: April 24, 1820: Cash Entry Sale (3 Stat. 566)
Signature Present: Y
Signature Date: 06/01/1858  Metes/Bounds: N
Survey Date:  Subsurface Reserved: N
Land Office: TUSCALOOSA
 
Legal Land Descriptions
Nr. Aliquot Parts Sec Township Range Meridian Acres Counties
1
 W½NW 10
 16-S
 10-W
 N HUNTSVILLE 0
 FAYETTE
2
 N½SW 10
 16-S
 10-W
 N HUNTSVILLE 0
 FAYETTE
3
 NWSE 10
 16-S
 10-W
 N HUNTSVILLE 0
 FAYETTE
4
 SWNE 10
 16-S
 10-W
 N HUNTSVILLE 237.78 FAYETTE

       
Patent Description AL2940__.307
Cancelled: N Document Nr. : 37435 Misc. Document Nr. :
Patentee Name: EDMONDS, WILLIAM A
Warrantee Name:
Authority: April 24, 1820: Cash Entry Sale (3 Stat. 566)
Signature Present: Y
Signature Date: 07/02/1860  Metes/Bounds: N
Survey Date:  Subsurface Reserved: N
Land Office: TUSCALOOSA
 
Legal Land Descriptions
Nr. Aliquot Parts Sec Township Range Meridian Acres Counties
1
 SENE 10
 16-S
 10-W
 N HUNTSVILLE 0
 FAYETTE
2
 NWNE 10
 16-S
 10-W
 N HUNTSVILLE 79.26 FAYETTE




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This page last updated 10 Dec 2003.