John Edenfield
Born: June 25, 1655 in Ovenden, W. Yourkshire, England
Died: Dec 1720
Married: Rebecca French after 1702
Rebecca French
Born: about 1675
Died: 1726
Children of Rebecca French and John Edenfield:
1. Thomas Edenfield (1717-1776)
2. Elinore Eddenfield
3. Ann Edenfield
4. John Edenfield Jr.
5. Jonas Edenfield
6. William Edenfield
Born: June 25, 1655 in Ovenden, W. Yourkshire, England
Died: Dec 1720
Married: Rebecca French after 1702
Rebecca French
Born: about 1675
Died: 1726
Children of Rebecca French and John Edenfield:
1. Thomas Edenfield (1717-1776)
2. Elinore Eddenfield
3. Ann Edenfield
4. John Edenfield Jr.
5. Jonas Edenfield
6. William Edenfield
By 1695, there was a man living in Calvert County, Maryland by the name of
John Edenfield. By 1700, he was living in the town of Dover in Kent County,
Delaware, and within a few years he was married to Rebecca Wilson. We know
nothing conclusive about his origins. He appears to have been a first
generation immigrant and is very likely teh primogenitur (the first ancestor,
or forefather) of nearly all America Edenfields, the ancestor from whom almost
all America Edenfields derive their surname.
It is also likely, although not definitively prove, that Hohn originated from
near the town of Halifax, in W. Yourkshire County in England. This is based on
some circumstantial evidence.
There are two brothers, John and William Etenfield, who were born in 1655 and
1659 in Halifax, Yourkshire. This birthdate fits well for the American Joh, who
would have been 65 when he died. There is also a William Edenfield who begins
showing up in the early records of Delaware, New Jersy, and New York whou could
have been this John's brother, although there is no evidence for their
relationship.
The American John named his oldest daughter Ann. The mother of John and
William Etenfield of Halifax, Yourkshire, was also named Ann.
Names among the Halifax Etenfields run similarly to those first generation of
English Edenfield: John, Thomas, William, and Jonas.
There was a significan population of Youkshire immigrants in the late 1600s
in Maryland and Delaware.
The friends and extended family of the earliest Edenfield in Delaware were
mostly of English ancestry.
The extract below present a chronology of what is known about John
Edenfield.
1655 June 25: Baptism of John, illegitimate son of William Ettonfield and Ann
Nowell, in Ovenden. Actual text: "Spur: Jo: Will,. Ettonfield, Halifax &
An. Nowell Ovenden" (Unpublished Halifax Bishop's Transcripts, FHL
0990596).
1665 Dec 4: John ("Jo") Etenfeild appears in a charity list in Halifax, W.
Yourkshire. He received 8 pence (BCC).
1695: According to the deceased family historian Katholeen Oglesby, John is
mentioned in a 1695 entry of the journal of William Rodney of Kent County, DE.
This record has not yet been verified.
c. 1695: John Edenfield listed as a creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Joseph and Elsabeth Fry's estate. (PCM)
1695 Jan 23: John Edenfield listed as a creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Henry Trumand's estate (PCM)
1696 July 31: John Edenfield listed a s creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Richard Charlett's estate. (PCM)
c 1696: John Edenfield listed as a creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Christopher Beanes' estate. (PCM)
1698 March 17: John Edmyfeild listed as a creditor in the Charles County, MD
inventory of CHarles Watson's estate. Despite the odd spelling, theis may be
John Edenfield. Charles County is adjacent to Calvert County. (PCM)
1700 Feb 7: John Edinfield witnesses the will of Nathaniel Lewkins, mariner
(Kent County Probate).
1700 July 9-11: "John Edenfield (and 9 others) who haveing been by the
Sheriffs Summoned to appear as Juriors, adn now making default. It is
therefore ordered that they be Summoned to answer teh same at the next Court."
(de Valinger, Court Records of Kent County, DE)
1701-1702: John Edenfield mentioned in regard to several lawsuits, in which
he appears sometimes as litigant, sometimes as defendent. The nature of these
lawsuits is not indicated. (de Valinger, Court Records of Kent Co., DE).
1702 May 24: Earmarks for cattle recorded for John Edinfield (de Valinger,
Court Records of Kent Co., DE).
1709 May: John Edenfield against Thomas Collman, to be continued at next
court date (Unpublished Kent Co. Court Records, FHL 0006511).
1709 May: John Edenfield against Thomas Colman, agreed bfore case went to
court (FHL 0006511).
1710 Aug: George Liester vs. John Edinfield regarding a mare. Found for the
plaintiff. (FHL 0006511).
1712 Feb.: Thomas Bedwell vs. John Edinfield, dicontinued. (FHL 0006511)
1717 Feb.: John Edinfield Sr. paid 20 punds for laying of road from Jones
Bridge to Little Creek landing. (FHL 0006511)
1717 May: John Edenfield appears as a juror in a felony case. (FHL
0006511)
1718 May: John Edenfield appears as a juror (FHL 0006511).
1720 Dec. 2: The following is a transcript of the will of John Edinfield that
is found in the Hall of Records, Dover, DE.
"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN teh second day of December on thousand
seven hundred and twenty I John Edinfield of Dover hundred in the County of
Kent on Delaware Taylor (John was a tailor) being sick of body but of perfect
mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the
mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye
do make and ordain this last will and testament that is to say prencipally and
first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it
and for my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Chrstian like and
decent manner at the discrestion of my executirix hereafter named nothing
doubting but as the general resurection I shall receive the same again by the
Mighty power of God and as thouching such worldly estate wherewith it hath
pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and devise and dispose of the
same in the following manner and form. IMPRIMIS after my just debt and funeral
expnces paid I give and bequeth unto Rebecca my darly beloved wife on third
part of all my moveable goods estate chattells also I ordain and appoint my
dearly beloved wife to be executrix of this my last will and testament I leave
to my sons John and Jonas Edinfield twelve pence oa piece ITEM I give to my
dauthere Elenore Edinfield a third part of my estate good and chattles ITEM It
is my desire that after my decease and debs is paid my state be equally divided
by Thomas French and John Bland as is afore mentioned ITEM It is my desire that
after my wife's decease her third part of my estate is to be delivered to my
son Thomas Edinfield ITEM It is my desire that my son Thomas shall live with is
brother John Edinfield there thill he is nineteen years of age and my daughter
Elinor shall live with her sister Ann Harte till she is fifteen years of age
and I do hearby utterly disallow and revoke and disannul all and every other
former will testaments and legacies bequests and executors by me in any wise
before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this to
be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal the day and year above written.
Signed sealed and pronounced and declared in teh presence of: Thomas
Winsmore, Christopher Corkram (his mark), John Bland, John Edinfield (his
mark).
1741 Jan 26: "Deposition. Christopher Cockram aged about 49 years legally
sworn, saith that about 23 years ago he did live then on the plantation that
had been Thomas Willson's being pt/o a tr of land called Great Pipelm, then in
possession of John Edenfiel who intermarried Rebecca, widow & relict of
Thmas Willson, & this deponent saith that about the time afsd there appened
a difference about the bounds betwwen Richard Nixon & the afs John
Edenfield who said that as Richard Nixon had possett on his land, that he would
press & have his quantity of land out of the land of William Winmore, who
carried said John Edenfield unto a black oak standing near a swamp (sw from
said tree, now dead, standing nw by n 21 ft from a white oak, this day marked
by Samuel Galloway for Joshua Nickerson & George Hart & George Robisson
parties concerned in order to perpetuate their bounds) & that said Wn
Winsmore at the time, about 23 years ago, said in this deponent's hearing unto
John Edenfield that the dead black oak before mentioned was the first bounded
tree of his land & that he could not come any farther into his land &
farther saith that said Wm Winsmore brought Benjamin Shurmer to survey teh trs
of land in dipute who begu to first butt at the black oak now dead, and further
saith not. Before me Jno David. Attest. Jno Housman recorder." (KCDLR)
John Edenfield. By 1700, he was living in the town of Dover in Kent County,
Delaware, and within a few years he was married to Rebecca Wilson. We know
nothing conclusive about his origins. He appears to have been a first
generation immigrant and is very likely teh primogenitur (the first ancestor,
or forefather) of nearly all America Edenfields, the ancestor from whom almost
all America Edenfields derive their surname.
It is also likely, although not definitively prove, that Hohn originated from
near the town of Halifax, in W. Yourkshire County in England. This is based on
some circumstantial evidence.
There are two brothers, John and William Etenfield, who were born in 1655 and
1659 in Halifax, Yourkshire. This birthdate fits well for the American Joh, who
would have been 65 when he died. There is also a William Edenfield who begins
showing up in the early records of Delaware, New Jersy, and New York whou could
have been this John's brother, although there is no evidence for their
relationship.
The American John named his oldest daughter Ann. The mother of John and
William Etenfield of Halifax, Yourkshire, was also named Ann.
Names among the Halifax Etenfields run similarly to those first generation of
English Edenfield: John, Thomas, William, and Jonas.
There was a significan population of Youkshire immigrants in the late 1600s
in Maryland and Delaware.
The friends and extended family of the earliest Edenfield in Delaware were
mostly of English ancestry.
The extract below present a chronology of what is known about John
Edenfield.
1655 June 25: Baptism of John, illegitimate son of William Ettonfield and Ann
Nowell, in Ovenden. Actual text: "Spur: Jo: Will,. Ettonfield, Halifax &
An. Nowell Ovenden" (Unpublished Halifax Bishop's Transcripts, FHL
0990596).
1665 Dec 4: John ("Jo") Etenfeild appears in a charity list in Halifax, W.
Yourkshire. He received 8 pence (BCC).
1695: According to the deceased family historian Katholeen Oglesby, John is
mentioned in a 1695 entry of the journal of William Rodney of Kent County, DE.
This record has not yet been verified.
c. 1695: John Edenfield listed as a creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Joseph and Elsabeth Fry's estate. (PCM)
1695 Jan 23: John Edenfield listed as a creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Henry Trumand's estate (PCM)
1696 July 31: John Edenfield listed a s creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Richard Charlett's estate. (PCM)
c 1696: John Edenfield listed as a creditor in the Calvert County, MD
inventory of Christopher Beanes' estate. (PCM)
1698 March 17: John Edmyfeild listed as a creditor in the Charles County, MD
inventory of CHarles Watson's estate. Despite the odd spelling, theis may be
John Edenfield. Charles County is adjacent to Calvert County. (PCM)
1700 Feb 7: John Edinfield witnesses the will of Nathaniel Lewkins, mariner
(Kent County Probate).
1700 July 9-11: "John Edenfield (and 9 others) who haveing been by the
Sheriffs Summoned to appear as Juriors, adn now making default. It is
therefore ordered that they be Summoned to answer teh same at the next Court."
(de Valinger, Court Records of Kent County, DE)
1701-1702: John Edenfield mentioned in regard to several lawsuits, in which
he appears sometimes as litigant, sometimes as defendent. The nature of these
lawsuits is not indicated. (de Valinger, Court Records of Kent Co., DE).
1702 May 24: Earmarks for cattle recorded for John Edinfield (de Valinger,
Court Records of Kent Co., DE).
1709 May: John Edenfield against Thomas Collman, to be continued at next
court date (Unpublished Kent Co. Court Records, FHL 0006511).
1709 May: John Edenfield against Thomas Colman, agreed bfore case went to
court (FHL 0006511).
1710 Aug: George Liester vs. John Edinfield regarding a mare. Found for the
plaintiff. (FHL 0006511).
1712 Feb.: Thomas Bedwell vs. John Edinfield, dicontinued. (FHL 0006511)
1717 Feb.: John Edinfield Sr. paid 20 punds for laying of road from Jones
Bridge to Little Creek landing. (FHL 0006511)
1717 May: John Edenfield appears as a juror in a felony case. (FHL
0006511)
1718 May: John Edenfield appears as a juror (FHL 0006511).
1720 Dec. 2: The following is a transcript of the will of John Edinfield that
is found in the Hall of Records, Dover, DE.
"IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN teh second day of December on thousand
seven hundred and twenty I John Edinfield of Dover hundred in the County of
Kent on Delaware Taylor (John was a tailor) being sick of body but of perfect
mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefore calling to mind the
mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye
do make and ordain this last will and testament that is to say prencipally and
first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it
and for my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a Chrstian like and
decent manner at the discrestion of my executirix hereafter named nothing
doubting but as the general resurection I shall receive the same again by the
Mighty power of God and as thouching such worldly estate wherewith it hath
pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and devise and dispose of the
same in the following manner and form. IMPRIMIS after my just debt and funeral
expnces paid I give and bequeth unto Rebecca my darly beloved wife on third
part of all my moveable goods estate chattells also I ordain and appoint my
dearly beloved wife to be executrix of this my last will and testament I leave
to my sons John and Jonas Edinfield twelve pence oa piece ITEM I give to my
dauthere Elenore Edinfield a third part of my estate good and chattles ITEM It
is my desire that after my decease and debs is paid my state be equally divided
by Thomas French and John Bland as is afore mentioned ITEM It is my desire that
after my wife's decease her third part of my estate is to be delivered to my
son Thomas Edinfield ITEM It is my desire that my son Thomas shall live with is
brother John Edinfield there thill he is nineteen years of age and my daughter
Elinor shall live with her sister Ann Harte till she is fifteen years of age
and I do hearby utterly disallow and revoke and disannul all and every other
former will testaments and legacies bequests and executors by me in any wise
before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this to
be my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal the day and year above written.
Signed sealed and pronounced and declared in teh presence of: Thomas
Winsmore, Christopher Corkram (his mark), John Bland, John Edinfield (his
mark).
1741 Jan 26: "Deposition. Christopher Cockram aged about 49 years legally
sworn, saith that about 23 years ago he did live then on the plantation that
had been Thomas Willson's being pt/o a tr of land called Great Pipelm, then in
possession of John Edenfiel who intermarried Rebecca, widow & relict of
Thmas Willson, & this deponent saith that about the time afsd there appened
a difference about the bounds betwwen Richard Nixon & the afs John
Edenfield who said that as Richard Nixon had possett on his land, that he would
press & have his quantity of land out of the land of William Winmore, who
carried said John Edenfield unto a black oak standing near a swamp (sw from
said tree, now dead, standing nw by n 21 ft from a white oak, this day marked
by Samuel Galloway for Joshua Nickerson & George Hart & George Robisson
parties concerned in order to perpetuate their bounds) & that said Wn
Winsmore at the time, about 23 years ago, said in this deponent's hearing unto
John Edenfield that the dead black oak before mentioned was the first bounded
tree of his land & that he could not come any farther into his land &
farther saith that said Wm Winsmore brought Benjamin Shurmer to survey teh trs
of land in dipute who begu to first butt at the black oak now dead, and further
saith not. Before me Jno David. Attest. Jno Housman recorder." (KCDLR)
A book, titled "Calender of Kent County, Delaware Probate Record, 1680-1800",
has the following informatino about John. Page 40.
"Edinfield, John. Tailor. Will (copy). Made Dec 2, 1720. Dover Hd. Heirs:
wife Rebecca; sons John, Jonas, Thomas; daus. Elinor Edinfield & ann Harte.
Exec's, Rebecca, wife. Trustees, Thomas French and John Bland. Wits., Thomas
Winsmore, Christopher Corkram, John Bland. Prob. Jan 7, 1720. Arch. vol. A16,
page 14. Reg. of Wills, Liver D, folio 32."
The will provided that John's estate be divided equally between the youngest
son Thomas, the youngest daughter Elinor, and his wife Rebecca. The two older
sons, John Jr. and Jonas, were each willed twelve pence in cash.
has the following informatino about John. Page 40.
"Edinfield, John. Tailor. Will (copy). Made Dec 2, 1720. Dover Hd. Heirs:
wife Rebecca; sons John, Jonas, Thomas; daus. Elinor Edinfield & ann Harte.
Exec's, Rebecca, wife. Trustees, Thomas French and John Bland. Wits., Thomas
Winsmore, Christopher Corkram, John Bland. Prob. Jan 7, 1720. Arch. vol. A16,
page 14. Reg. of Wills, Liver D, folio 32."
The will provided that John's estate be divided equally between the youngest
son Thomas, the youngest daughter Elinor, and his wife Rebecca. The two older
sons, John Jr. and Jonas, were each willed twelve pence in cash.