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I (Marty Grant) am a 5th Great Grand Nephew of Britton Miles Edwards.
Britton Miles Edwards was born ca 1793/94 (per 1850 census), in Wayne County, North Carolina.
Britton Miles is a proven child of John Edwards and Winifred Miles, and was apparently born out of wedlock. He used the "Miles" surname in the first few records I've found. He began using "Edwards" after his father's death, so most records after 1810 show him as "Britton M. Edwards" or just "Britton Edwards", and at least one record as "Britton Miles Edwards". Also keep in mind that "Britton" can be spelled several different ways, so I'm not sure which way is "correct" in this case.
He may have been home with John Edwards for the 1800 census, for John did have three apparent sons in the "under 10" age group (born ca 1790/1800). This could be Britton Miles and his brothers Samuel Miles and John Miles.
On 14 May 1801, John Edwards "for good will and affection" deeded property to Winifred Miles and Britin Miles. Witnesses were Isom Edwards (Britton's half-brother), John Miles (his brother), and A. Fulghum. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 7 page 135).
I don't know where Britton Miles was living for the 1810 census. There were no Miles households in Wayne County that year, and I did not find John Edwards listed either.
Britton was named in the Will of his father John Edwards (dated 1 Aug 1810) as "my sun Briton Miles".
Using census and tax records, I found a Samuel M. Edwards and Britton M. Edwards in Muhlenberg Co, KY after 1810. The names were listed together, and it seemed too much to be a coincidence, so I always felt strongly that they were the same two sons of John Edwards and Winifred Miles. Recently, Nathan W. Murphy found two records that confirm that these Muhlenberg folks are the same from Wayne Co, NC. He found an 1841 court record where Samuel M. Edwards was paid for caring for his mother, and the list of poor persons in the county the following year shows "Winney Miles" in Samuel M. Edwards' care. This evidence makes it certain that Samuel and Britton and their mother Winifred ("Winney") from Wayne County, North Carolina are the same people who wound up in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky in the 1810-1820 timeframe. I wonder why their brother John Miles Edwards did not also go there.
I had also found a Richard Edwards in Muhlenberg Co, KY, and he was there before the Miles boys, so I think he may be their older half-brother, and his presence there may have been their reason for going. I'm not totally sure it is the same Richard Edwards, but it seems like it based only on the scant evidence I've found so far. If this is the same Richard, then it seems likely he sent word back home about how good it was there, so his half-brothers Briton and Samuel Miles Edwards soon joined him there.
Brittan Edwards was listed on an 1814 tax list in Muhlenberg Co, KY.
Britton Edwards was listed on an 1818 tax list in Muhlenberg County.
On 27 Jan 1819 Britton Miles Edwards "of Wayne Co, NC" (probably an error) deeded property to Joseph Everitt. Witnesses were James Bradbury, Joseph Taylor and John Taylor. This deed made me think that Britton was still living in Wayne County in 1819, though other records show he was in Kentucky at that time. He may have traveled back home to make this deed, or he could have made it while living in Kentucky. (Wayne Co, NC Deed Book 12 page 48).
Britton Miles Edwards married Ann --- before 1820, probably in Muhlenberg County, or possibly in Wayne Co, NC before moving to KY. I don't know what her maiden name was. She was born in North Carolina also, so she could be from Wayne County as well, or perhaps they met in Kentucky after her family moved there from somewhere else in NC.
Britton was listed on the 1820 census in Muhlenberg County, just a few houses from his brother Samuel M. Edwards.
1820 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1820 Muhlenberg Co, KY pg 133 Briton M. Edwards 100010-00010 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Britton Miles EDWARDS (1793/94) s/o John & Winifred 1 Male(s) 0-9 (1810-1820) Son? (1815/20) 1 Female(s) 26-44 (1775-1794) Ann — Edwards (1793/94) wife
Samuel M. Edwards & Britton Edwards were listed together on an 1821 tax list in Muhlenberg.
Britton was listed on the 1830 census in Muhlenberg. He was not near any of the other Edwards at that time.
1830 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1830 Muhlenberg Co, KY pg 100 Britain Edwards 0010010000000-0100010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Britton Miles EDWARDS (1793/94) s/o John & Winifred 1 Male(s) 10-14 (1815-1820) Son? (1815/20) --> gone by 1840 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1790-1800) Ann — Edwards (1793/94) wife 1 Female(s) 5-9 (1820-1825) Daughter? (1820/25)
Britton was listed on the 1840 census in Muhlenberg County. He was just a few houses from an apparent widow Julia Edwards. I don't know who she was, nor if they are related.
1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)
1840 Muhlenberg Co, KY pg 343 Britain Edwards 0000001000000-0010010000000 Analysis: 1 Male(s) 40-49 (1790-1800) Britton Miles EDWARDS (1793/94) s/o John & Winifred 1 Female(s) 30-39 (1800-1810) Ann — Edwards (1793/94) wife 1 Female(s) 10-14 (1825-1830) Daughter? (1825/30) * Not in 1830 unless 1820/25
Britton and wife were listed on the 1850 census in Muhlenberg County, just two pages from widow Julia Edwards (c1800), relationship unknown. By this time, no children were home with Britton and Ann.
1850 MUHLENBERG CO, KY Page 245B House/Family # 282/ 282 - SUBDIVISION NO 2 Twp EDWARDS BRITON 56 M W FARMER 200 NC 1793/1794 EDWARDS ANN 55 F W NC 1794/1795
I didn't find Britton on the 1860 census in Muhlenberg County.
Nathan W. Murphy has shared several records of interest for Britton M. Edwards in Kentucky. I'll present them here without comment or editing. Some of these records pertain to Britton's brother Samuel Edwards as well. These are reprinted with Nathan's permission:
Samuel Miles Edwards and Britton Miles Edwards were neighbors along Pond
Creek in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky near what is today the town of Central
City. They lived next to the same neighbors that had been the neighbors of
Richard Edwards, their probable half brother, a decade earlier (Hardy Hynes,
etc).
Muhlenberg Co., KY County Court Order Book 3 [I didn't record the page
number], in about 1830/31 [page torn]:
"Ordered that Azariah Doss be and he is hereby appointed Surveyor of the
part of the road leading from Greenvile to Mortons ferry that lies between
the forks of the Lewisberg road and Smith mill in place of Gabriel Doss and
that he with the following hands towit: John Salmon, William Stembridge,
Michael Severs, Andrew _____, George Clark and the hands living in said ____
also Samuel Edwards & Brittain Edwards ___ and keep the same in repair 30
feet wide as the law directs."
Muhlenberg Co., KY County Court Order Book 3, 33 [1830/31?]:
"Ord. James Rose app. Surveyor.road.from Greenville to Mortons ferry where
of James Griffeth was formerly surveyor.Beg. At the Hurricane thence with
the line of the 1st precinct of sd road to Charles Whitehouse including him
thence to include Isaac Cundiff, Azariah Doss (name crossed out), Lewis
Stewart, James Rose, Hardy Hynes & son, John Birds farm."
Tax Lists of Muhlenberg Co., KY (1822-1825)
1822
. p 9, Saml. M. Edwards, no land, one male, no horses, two children aged
4-14.
. p 9, Britton M. Edwards, no land, one male, no horses, one child aged
4-14.
1823
. p 10, Brituan [Britton] Edwards, no land, one male, no horses, $0 value of
property.
. p 10, George Edwards, 200 acres Cypress, $500 value, one male, one slave
over age 16, one slave under age 16, total value of property $1000.
. Saml. M. Edwards, 50 acres W [West] Cypress, value $100, Entered under
name S.M. Edwards, one male, one horse, total value $120 [or $130].
. [next to:] William Edwards, 100 acres W Cypress, value $400, one male, no
horses, no slaves, total value $1000.
. [next to:] D. Lewis Edwards, 75 acres W Cypress, value $225, one male, no
horses, no slaves, land entered under name: W. Henderson, land patented
under name J. Martin, total value $225.
1824
. p 12, George E. Edwards, no land, one male, two horses, total value $150.
. p 12, William Edwards, no land, one male, one slave over age 16, one
horse, total value $520.
. p 13, Britton Edwards, no land, one male, no horses, total value $0.
1825
. p 12, George E. Edwards, no land, one male, three horses, total value
$300.
. p 12, William Edwards, no land, one male, one slave under age 16, one
slave over age 16, two horses, total value $900.
. p 12, Britton Edwards, no land, one male, no horses, total value $0.
. p 13, Saml. M. Edwards, 100 acres Cypress, $100, entered under name S.M.
Edwards, surveyed under name "same," total value $100.
Here is the will of Britton Miles Edwards:
Muhlenberg Co., KY Will Book 3, 160-161:
B. M. Edwards, will of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky dated August 29, 1855.
To daughter Sarah Garrett, to W. B. Edwards [no relationship stated] and to
Mary Ann Garrett [no relationship stated]. Witnesses: W. T. Brown and
Sampson Bethel. Proven Muhlenberg County Court November 26, 1855. Book
III, page 160-161.
Source: Marion Hammers, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky Abstracts of Wills and
Administrations. (Evansville Bindery Inc: Evansville, IN, 1968), 63.
Britton Miles Edwards had at least two children per the various census records, but I don't know who either of them are yet. More research is needed.
Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):
1. Briton Miles1 Edwards, born 1793/94 in Wayne Co, NC; died aft 1850 in Muhlenberg Co, KY, son of John Edwards and Winifred Miles. He married bef 1820 in Muhlenberg Co, KY Ann (---), born 1794/95 in NC; died aft 1850 in Muhlenberg Co, KY.
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