A Connection to King Henry VIII?

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King Henry Tudor VIII Here's some info I found on Sarah Sally Edwards Whitsell, the daughter of George Whitsell Sr.  She married Littlebury Brittain Edwards. It is his family that adds some real flavor to the history of our ancestors. Wayne Brown,  Mayor of Manchester, TN. reveals that Sarah Sally Whitsell, the daughter of our ggggGrandfather, George Whitsell Sr., married into a rather royal family. Her husband, Littlebury Edwards, was the ggggggGrandson of Rev. Richard Edwards who appears to have been the child of Henry VIII and was adopted by William Edwards (abt 1500-abt 1547) who married Agnes Blewitt. The story says Henry VIII is known to have had 6 wives and 2 or 3 mistresses during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. One mistress must have been Agnes Bewitt. Henry the VIII fathered a son with her, whom was born after her marriage to William Edwardes. She and William named the son Richard Edwardes. Agnes and William Edwardes had other children. It is suggested in some documents, including in the book 'Edward's Legacy' by David Dean Edwards (1992), that it was whispered among some Tudor researchers that Agnes was mistress to King Henry VIII of England and that the son RICHARD was fathered by King Henry and not by William.  But no solid proof has yet to be found if it ever will be.  Nor has solid proof been found that Richard was the son of William either. It will be up to the researcher as to which line to follow.  It the believe that the evidence leans more towards the fact that Richard was the "bastard" son of the King and Agnes and my documentation here will reveal that line.  It is documented that Agnes did have a son named Richard, but only 2 sons, William and Henry are shown to be positively the sons of William.  Richard is said to have kept his Edwards last name out of shame for the indescency that his mother had engaged in. See Site Map
Henry Tudor VIII   Henry Tudor VIII was born in 1491 and died in 1597, at age 106.    Henry married Agnes Bewitt (Blewitt).  Agnes was born in 1509 and died in 1578, at age 69. They had one child: Richard.   General Notes:   It is suggested in some documents including in the book 'Edward's Legacy' by David Dean Edwards (1992), that it was whispered among some Tudor researchers that Agnes was mistress to King Henry VIII of England and that the son RICHARD was fathered by King Henry and not by William. But no solid proof has yet to be found if it ever will be. Nor has solid proof been found that Richard was the son of William either. It will be up to the researcher as to which line to follow. I believe that the evidence leans more towards the fact that Richard was the "bastard" son of the King and Agnes and my documentation here will reveal that line. It is documented that Agnes did have a son named Richard, but only 2 sons, William and Henry are shown to be positively the sons of William. Richard is said to have kept his Edwards last name out of shame for the indecency that his month engaged in.  King Henry VIII Tudor was born ca. 1491 and died ca. 1546. He had a mistress named Agnes Blewitt who was born 1509 and she died ca.1575.   The child of King Henry VIII Tudor and Agnes is as follows:   I. Richard Edwardes  ** Note ** It has also been suggested that Agnes was the wife of William Edwardes, born ca. 1500 in England and died ca. 1547. The son Richard is the son that cannot be positively linked to William because records suggest that he was born from another man, King Henry VIII. He is known as the "bastard child" of Agnes. The 2 known children of William Edwardes and Agnes are as follows:   William Edwards   Henry Edwards   SEE: http://www.jaimeadams.com/edwards.html     General Notes: Some information tells us that Squire Madison SAM Edwards of North Carolina descends from Henry the VIII (Henry Tudor). The story says Henry VIII is known to have had 6 wives and 2 or 3 mistresses during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. One mistress must have been Agnes Bewitt. Henry the VIII fathered a son with her, whom was born after her marriage to William Edwardes. She and William named the son Richard Edwardes. Agnes and William Edwardes had other children.   Research Notes: http://www.karensgen.com/lowe/edwardssam.php   Rev. Richard Edwards   Richard Edwards Rev. was born about 1523 in Somersetshire, England and died about 1566 in Edward's Hall, Cardiff, Glenmorganshire, Wales, about age 43.    Richard married Helene Griffith on an unknown date.   They had one child: Richard.   Research Notes: The story says Henry VIII is known to have had 6 wives and 2 or 3 mistresses during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. One mistress must have been Agnes Bewitt. Henry the VIII fathered a son with her, whom was born after her marriage to William Edwardes. She and William named the son Richard Edwardes. Agnes and William Edwardes had other children. Additional History and Research on Richard Edwardes   Thomas Edwards   Thomas Edwards was born in 1730 in Lunenburg County, VA and died on 17 Nov 1790 in Pittsylvania County, VA, at age 60.    Thomas married unknown.   They had one child: William.   General Notes: In the name of God Amen, I Thomas EDWARDS of Pittsylvania County Virginia State, being sick and weakin body, but of sound memory, Thanks be to God for the same and calling to mind and knowing. It is once appointed for all men to die, when it shall please God to call them, and first I give my soul to God, and body to the dust, from whence it came, to be decently buried at the discretion of my wife and Executors, and now do make constitute and ordain, this my las Will and Testament, hereby revoking all other Wills formerly made by me and for settling and desposing of my temporal estate.   I first Will and Ordain that all my lawful debts be paid and for such goods and chattles, which it has pleased God to bestow on me, I do give and bequeath the same in following manner to wit:   Item I give and bequeath unto my son Edmund EDWARDS five shillings current money of Virginia.   Item I give and bequeath unto James EDWARDS, the tract of land whereon he now lives, containing onehundred forty acres more or less to his and his heirs forever.   Item I give and bequeath unto John EDWARDS five shillings current money of Virginia.   Item I give and bequeath unto Thomas EDWARDS fifty pounds in property.   Item I give and bequeath unto Nathan EDWARDS fifty pounds in property.   Item I give and bequeath unto William EDWARDS fifty pounds in property, also one bay mare named Easley, now in his possession.   Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Martha SOURS (maybe Soura) one negro girl named Jane now in her possession, to her and her heirs forever.   Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth SANFORD, five shillings current money of Virginia.   Item I give and bequeath unto Hannah SCROGGINS my daughter, one negro girl named Easter, now in her possession, to her and her heirs forever.   Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary BRITTIAN one negro girl named Hannah now in her possession to her and her heirs forever.   Lastly I leave all my residue of my estate unto my beloved wife Lucy EDWARDS, during her natural life or widowhood, and at her death or marriage for all my negroes together with a debt to me from John MARR ( being all the balance due for the land I sold him lying on Smith River, whereon the said Marr now lives) to be equally divided between my six sons above named and Elizabeth SANFORD my daughter, and all the balance of my estate to be equally divided between my other three daughters above named to them and their heirs forever and now after all , I choose my beloved wife Lucy EDWARDS and my son James EDWARDS and Henry SANFORD to be my whole Executors to this my last Will and Testament given under my hand this 6 th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety. Thomas EDWARDS. (SEAL) signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of Clement Nance, Mary x Nance ( her mark) Ann x Duncan (her mark) Isaiah Sanford, Thomas Harris.   At a court held for Pittsylvania County the 18th day of April 1791 The within written last Will and Testament of Thomas Edwards deceased was exhibited into court by James Edwards and Henry Sanford, the Excecutors herein named who made oath thereto according to law, and the same was proved by the oaths of two of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executors , who having first together with Selvanus Stokes and Joel Clark their securities entered into bond acknowledged the same, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of the said Will in due form, and leave is given the Executrix herein named to join in the probate when she thinks fit. TESTE, Will Tunstall   Research Notes: Will & Deed Book 11 pg. 202, Court held for Pittsylvania County, Pittsylvania County, VA   William Edwards   William Edwards was born on 12 May 1762 in Henry County, VA, died before 2 Mar 1818 in Oglethorpe County, GA, before age 55, and was buried before 2 Mar 1818 in Oglethorpe County, GA.   William married Elizabeth Brittain.  Elizabeth was born on 26 Jun 1772 in VA. They had one child: Littlebury Brittain.   General Notes: In the name of God Amen, I William EDWARDS of the county of Oglethorpe and state of Georgia, being sick and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and of perfect memory , yet callling to mind my mortality and knowing it is appointed for all men to die, think fit to make this my last Will and Testament, that is to say, principally and first of all , I give and recommend my soul to God who gave it, my body I recommend to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executors and as touching what worldly property it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and dispose of the following manner and form.   1st It is my will that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid.   2nd. I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife, Elizabeth EDWARDS, my negro woman named Nelly during her my wife's life time and at my wifes death , said Nelly and issue, if any, to be equally divided among all my children and it is my will that my wife and all my children that are not yet full age or live on the land on which I now live and then be supported on my property both of negroes, stock , household furniture, plantation tools, ect; and that it shall be in the power of my executors to sell at any time any of the perishable property as they may think best for the benefit of my family.   3rd. I will and bequeath to my son Littleberry B.EDWARDS the tract of land on which he now lives, to be his forever. It is to be accounted to him when a final division of my property takes place at one hundred and fifty dollars. Also one horse, one bed and furniture at one hundred dollars to be also deducted as above.   4th. I will and bequeath to my daughter Susannah LUMPKIN, one bed and furniture and when the final division takes place among all my children, that bed and furniture to discount in her part thirtysix dollars , also to be discounted in her part one hundred dollars which I gave her in money.   5th. I will to my son Thomas EDWARDS one horse known by name of Dick, one set of smith tools , horse and tools to discount in his part and when the final division takes place he shall for his trade I have given him for horse and tools and trade two hundred and fifty dollars.   6th. It is my will that my children not above named, Viz; my sons LEMUEL, SEABORN, WILLIAM and MORDECIA and GRESHAM do live with their mother , except that my executors should think at a proper age to put any of them to a trade. I also do allow my daughters, ELIZABETH, POLLY, NANCY, CINTHIA, REBECCA and JUDITH to be under the care of their mother untill they come of full age or may marry , if their mother does a good part by them. then they are be at the disposal of my executors and at the death or marriage of my wife, all my property then in being to be equally divided among all my children.  But if my wife marries, she is to draw a childs part and my son WILLIAM to have one hundred dollars left on amount of his trade.   I appoint my sons Littleberry B.EDWARDS, Thomas EDWARDS, Lemuel EDWARDS and William LUMPKIN Sen'r to be my excecutors of this my last Will and Testament.   I do revoke disallow and disapprove of all former wills by me and do declare this to be my last Will and Testament. In witness of which I set my hand and affix my seal this second day of November and in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand eight hundred and seventeen and of the independence of the United States of America the forty second.   his William x Edwards mark   Signed sealed and pronounced in preasence of: Alexander McEwen Thomas Scroggins Henry Brittian   State of Georgia, Oglethorpe County, March 2nd 1818 In vacation present their honors George Hudspeth and Yelvinton Thaxton.   You, Alexander McEwen, Thomas Scroggins and Henry Brittian do solomly swear that you saw the within William Edwards sign, seal publish and declare the within instrument of writing to be of sound mind and memory to the best of your knowledge and belief, so help us God.   Sworn to and subscribed in open court the above day and date filed until May term and then orderd to be recorded. Alexander McEwen Thomas Scroggins Henry Brittian Mat Rainey C.C.O. Recorded 12th May 1818e   Research Notes: Will book "B" pg. 151, Oglethorpe County, GA:SO]; and [SO15:Jake P. Lindsay, The History of the Salem Baptist Church   Littlebury Brittain Edwards   Littlebury Brittain Edwards was born on 18 Jun 1792 in Wilkes, GA, died in 1833 in Hampton, Henry, GA, at age 41, and was buried in 1833 in Hampton, Henry, GA.    Littlebury married Sarah Sally Whitsell, daughter of George Whitsell Sr. and Unknown.  Sarah was born in 1794 and died in 1855 in Henry County, GA, at age 61. They had four children: James W., William G., Thomas J., and Martha S..   Research Notes: Re: Reynolds/Oglethorpe Co/1790's-1800      Author: Deanna Date: 15 Aug 2001 9:43 PM GMT      Classification: Query Here's some info I found on the Georgia    Clan.....Sarah Sally Whitsell was our George's sister and the daughter of George Whitsell Sr.   This information was taken from Ancestors Unlimited Edition Vol 8-10 1986-1988: Edwards Graveyard pages 96/97   Mrs. Ponder was the former Sarah Whitsell of Wilkes and Oglethorpe Counties, GA, and the widow of Littlebury B. Edwards who died in Oglethorpe County about 1827. He had drawn land in the 1821 Georgia Lottery, securing his grant in 1824, in Henry County. It is not certain whether his widow was married to Major Ponder before of after her move to Henry County. The marriage record is not found in Henry County and in the 1831 Tax Digest,  Major Ponder is show as owning land in Franklin County, GA, while Sarah Whitsell's brother-in-law Thomas Edwards, is shown as the guardian of her    minor children: James W. Edwards, William G. Edwards, Thomas J. Edwards and Martha S. Edwards.  At that time Sarah and her children, Thomas Edwards and Major Ponder were all living in the 3rd District of Henry County on and  near Thompson's Creek and Towaliga River. In 1833 their friend and neighbor the Reverend William Moseley, was appointed guardian for the Edwards children, which suggests that Thomas Edwards had either died or moved from the county. William G. Edwards, another brother-in-law of Sarah Whitsell, had also settled in Henry County, above the later community of Luella.    Sarah Whitsell Edwards Ponder was born in 1794, probably in Wilkes County, and died sometime between 1850 and 1860, Her grave was likely among the first to be placed in the Edwards Graveyard. She and her connections formed a significant settlement in the early days of Henry County. These connections included a group of Greene County, GA families who settled southeast of present Hampton on and near Thompson's Creek and Towaliga River: Whitsell’s, Fears, Barnetts, Aandrews, Griffins, Johnsons and allied families. These people included ancestors and relatives of President Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas.   This compiler (Joseph Henry Hightower Moore - 6/17/1987)  has identified this site as the Edwards Graveyard rather than as the Hand Graveyard, as Mr. Welch gave it, because deed records indicate that at the time it came into use it was on the plantation of James Whitsell Edwards and, in addition, the oldest inscribed graves are of members of the Edwards family. James Whitsell Edwards and his brother, Thomas J. Edwards, and various members of their families are buried here, including their mother and stepfather, Major and Mrs. John M. Ponder.   Mrs. Ponder was the former Sarah Whitsell of Wilkes and Oglethorpe Counties, GA, and the widow of Littlebury B. Edwards who died in Oglethorpe County about 1827. He had drawn land in the 1821 Georgia Lottery, securing his grant in 1824, in Henry County. It is not certain whether his widow was married to Major Ponder before or after her move to Henry County. The marriage record is not found in Henry County and in the 1831 Tax Digest, Major Ponder is shown as owning 1and in Franklin County, Ga., while Sarah Whitsell's brother-in-law, Thomas Edwards, is shown as the guardian of her minor children: James Edwards, William G. Edwards, Thomas J. Edwards and Martha S. Edwards. At that time Sarah and her children, Thomas Edwards and Major Ponder were all living in the 3rd District of Henry County, on and near Thompson's Creek and Towaliga River. In 1833 their friend and neighbor, the Reverend William Moseley, was appointed guardian for the Edwards children, which suggests that Thomas Edwards had either died or moved from the county. William G. Edwards, another brother-in-law of Sarah Whitsell, had also settled in Henry County, above the later community of Luella. (The William G. Edwards Graveyard on his homestead on Ga. Hwy. 155 is not to be confused with the Edwards Graveyard of this account. Children and grandchildren of William G. Edwards married into some of the same families and connections as did the children and grandchildren of Littlebury B. Edwards. This and the use of the same given names among both branches of the Edwards family causes confusion in research.  Members of both branches, for example, married into the Crawford family - near relatives of the Crawford's of Lovejoy's Station in Henry and Clayton Counties and into the Hightower family of Fayette County and into the Couch family of Coweta and Spalding Counties.)   Sarah (Whitsell) Edwards Ponder was born in 1794, probably in Wilkes County, and died sometime between 1850 and 1860. Her grave was likely among the first to be placed in the Edwards Graveyard. She and her connections formed a significant settlement in the early days of Henry County. These connections included a group of Greene County, Ga., families who settled southeast of present Hampton on and near Thompson's Creek and Towaliga River: Whitsell’s, Fears, Barnetts, Andrews, Griffins, Johnsons and allied families. These people included ancestors and relatives of President Lyndon Baines Johnson of Texas. (See articles in Georgia Magazine, "What's Your Family Line?" by Adelle Bartlett Harper, issues of June-July, 1964, and August-September, 1964, including research of Vessie Thrasher Rainer on these families in Greene and Henry Counties, primarily on the Johnson and Barnett lines.)   Sarah Sally Edwards Whitsell, the daughter of George Whitsell Sr.,  married Littlebury Brittain Edwards. It is his family that adds some real flavor to the history of our ancestors.  If you follow his lineage back you find the following taken from research by John Wayne Brown, He is (was) Mayor of Manchester, TN. Sarah Sally Whitsell, the daughter of our ggggGrandfather, George Whitsell Sr., married into a rather royal family. Her husband, Littlebury Edwards, was the ggggggGrandson of Rev. Richard Edwards who appears to have been the child of Henry VIII and was adopted by the William Edwards (abt 1500-abt 1547) who married Agnes Blewitt.  The story says Henry VIII is known to have had 6 wives and 2 or 3 mistresses during his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. One mistress must have been Agnes Bewitt. Henry the VIII fathered a son with her, whom was born after her marriage to William Edwardes. She and William named the son Richard Edwardes. Agnes and William Edwardes had other children.   That lineage goes back to Rhodri Mawr, King of all Wales and well over 1000+ years of history. Interesting?   SEE: http://edge.net/~jwbrown/Direct%20lines/Edwards.htm and http://www.jaimeadams.com/edwards.html   Rhodri Mawr, King of all Wales M. ? Cadell, King of South Wales m. Angharad Howel, King of South Wales m. ? Owen, King of South Wales m. Angharad Verch Llewlyn, Queen of Powys Einion (  -983) m. Ellenor Tewder Mawr m. Gwenllian Rhys, King of South Wales m. ? Griffith, Lord of South Wales ( -1137) m. ? Rhys (  -1196) m. daughter of Madog Griffith m. Susan Owen, Lord of South Wales (  -1275) m. Angharad Llywelyn, Lord of South Wales m. Eleanor Thomas, Last Lord of South Wales m. Lady Eleanor Goch Tudor Vychan (   -1367) m. Lady Margaret Meredydd m. Margaret Owen Tudor (   -1460) m. Queen Catherine, of Valois (1401-1436) Edmund Tuder, Earl of Richmond m. Lady Margaret Beauford Henry VII (1456-1509) m. Elizabeth Henry VIII (1491-1547)  i. Agnes Blewitt   John Edwards (abt 1420-  ) m. ? John Edwards (1450-  ) m. ? Robert Edwards, Rev. (abt 1475- ) m. ? William Edwards (abt 1500-abt 1547) m. Agnes Blewitt Richard Edwards, Rev. (1525-1566) m. Helene Griffith [Adopted by William Edwards] Birth father    Henry VIII   James W. Edwards   James W. Edwards was buried in Edwards-Stanfield-Turnipseed Family Cemetery, Henry Co, GA.  James married Sallie Unknown.  Sallie was born on 2 Nov 1809 and died on 26 Aug 1899, at age 89.   Research Notes: This compiler has been unable to locate the deed in which James Whitsell Edwards purchased Land Lot 228 in which the Edwards Graveyard is located, but he was in possession of Land Lot 221, where his home still stands on Little Road, prior to 1850, and it is likely that he had the graveyard tract at the same time. Major Ponder was living in this neighborhood, and adjacent to the J. W. Edwards property, by 1858 when Richard Henderson purchased his final home in Land Lots 229, 252 and 253, as the Henderson deed makes reference to Ponder's fence.   On 31 March 1860, James W. Edwards sold to Major Ponder a tract of110 acres, being the south part of Land Lot 228 including the graveyard, but no reference was made to it since the land was considered to be in the same family and Mrs. Ponder was already buried in the yard. (Henry County Deeds, Book P, page 157.) It was customary to make deeds only when a land purchase was fully paid for, hence it is possible that Ponder had been in possession of this land for some time prior to 1860.   William G. Edwards.    Research Notes: Joseph Henry Hightower Moore (6/17/87) Of the four children of Sarah Whitsell and Littlebury B. Edwards, only one moved away from Henry County. This was William G. Edwards (not to be confused with his uncle of the same name) who in 1843 married Jane H. Hightower of Fayette County and subsequently removed to Ashley County, Arkansas and to Texas. James Whitsell Edwards married in Henry, County in 1838, Sarah (Henderson) Crawford, daughter of Richard Henderson  and believed to be the widow of a son of George Crawford who lived variously in Henry, Monroe and Spalding Counties, Ga., and in Chambers County, Ala. George Crawford was in Chambers County, Ala., in 1850 and in the Census of that year is shown as 75 years of age, hence born in 1775, and a native of Virginia. He died in Griffin, Ga. in 1858 and was buried in Monroe County, presumably by his first wife who was the mother of his children. His widow, Melvina Crawford, subsequently became the second wife of Dr. James Madison Couch of Griffin. (His brother, Dr. William Bartley Couch of Spalding County, was the second husband of Susan Ann [Edwards] Hightower, daughter of James A. Edwards of Henry County and granddaughter of William G. Edwards of Henry County, and widow of Simeon C. Hightower of Fayette and Henry Counties.)   Thomas J. Edwards   Thomas J. Edwards was born in 1820 and died on 11 Nov 1899, at age 79.  Thomas married M.J. Unknown.   They had three children: Infant, Mary L., and Martha E..   Research Notes: Thomas J. Edwards, the youngest son of Sarah Whitsell and Littlebury B. Edwards, married in Henry County in 1842, Martha J. Crawford, daughter of George Crawford. After her death he married second, in 1886, Sarah (Glass) Harris, widow of Green B. Harris and daughter-of Pleasant Glass of Butts County, Ga. T. J. Edwards was a leading planter in Henry County and built Edwards' Mill, whose old millpond is now. known as Lake Amah Lee near Hampton. Soon after 1847 he built a fine house in the Greek Revival style at his plantation and, in later years had a town-house in Hampton, where he died. He was a Justice of the Peace, a trustee of Liberty Hill Baptist Church in 1860, and later instrumental in the formation of the Hampton Baptist Church, the land for which was given by his son John L. Edwards.   Martha S. Edwards.    Research Notes: Martha S. Edwards, the only daughter of Sarah Whitsell and Littlebury B. Edwards, married in Henry County in 1839, James Frederick Glass, son or ward of Manson Glass of Fayette and Clayton Counties, who came to Georgia from Virginia. Frederick and Martha (Edwards) Glass settled north of McDonough in Henry County on present U. S. Hwy. 23/State Hwy.42 and are buried on their home place. They were both under age at the time of their marriage and until reaching their majority, Manson Glass was guardian for James Frederick Glass, and the Rev. William Moseley continued as guardian for Martha (Edwards) Glass. This was owing to the substantial estates to which each of the young people was to be heir. They were ancestors of the Henry County branch of the Glass family.   Thomas next married Lucy Unknown about 1750 in VA.    Thomas next married Martha Unknown about 1723 in VA.  Martha was born about 1684.
LINKS TO THE KINGS Private research: http://edge.net/~jwbrown/Direct%20lines/Edwards.htm  and http://www.jaimeadams.com/edwards.html The TUDOR Family on "The 911 Encyclopedia: http://66.1911encyclopedia.org/T/TU/TUDOR_FAMILY_.htm