Family Tree Maker's Genealogy Site: Genealogy Report: Ancestors of Christina Marie Wise Brown

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Ancestors of Christina Marie Wise Brown

3833. Elizabeth Banton, born Abt. 1639 in England; died in St. Mary's Co., Maryland. She was the daughter of 7666. Lord ? Pannewell.

Notes for Richard Edelen:
Philip's son, Richard, was born about 1639, and was named after the family's patron saint. He was apprenticed to James Hills, the husband of his sister Ann, and under him probably learned the skills of surveying and/or law based on his later work in Maryland. In 1663, Richard married Elizabeth Banton (born c. 1639). Family tradition holds her to be the only daughter of the Lord Pannewell, but this has not been verified. This tradition maintains that the two eloped and fled to Maryland to escape Elizabeth's enraged father, a staunch Catholic. Richard, though the son of an Anglican minister, himself became a Catholic and all of their children were raised Catholic. It is possible that the Catholic faith held by many of their descendants today originated with this matriarch.
More recent research by Charmaine Welker presents a different story than that in reference 1. As can be seen from a transcript of their marriage license, Richard Edelen and Elizabeth Banton were married in the Anglican Church, of which it appears she is a member.

October 29, 1663

"w(hi)ch day appeared personally Thomas French of the Parish of St. Peter neare Paules Warfe Lond(on) Parish clerke (and) alledged that Richard Edelen of the Parish of St. Andrewes Undershaft Lond(on) Merchant age d about 24 years intendeth to marry w(i)th Elizabeth Banton of the same Parish spinster aged likewise 24 years or thereabouts (and) soe at her owne disposall: of the truth of all w(hi)ch as alsoe (that)t there is no lawfull Lett or impedim(en)t by reason of any p(re) contract Affinity Consanguinity or otherwise to hinder the sayd intended Marryage he made Oath (and) prayed liscence for them to be marryed in the Parish Church of St. Peter afores(ai)d."

(signed) Thomas French

Their home parish was St. Andrew Undershaft, rebuilt in 1532, which still stands today in London near the river Thames. Even though it is unknown whether their conversion to Catholicism occurred prior to or after they had immigrated, they definitely practiced this faith in Maryland. Henry W. Newman states that Edward Watson of Calvert County attested in Council that "Rychard Edelen was a knowne Papist". The Maryland Records of Land Patents show Richard and Elizabeth Edelen arriving in the colony in 1664. Crossing the Atlantic ocean at this time must have been quite an adventure, since the journey usually took several months in a small ship such as the ones shown here (a painting of the Ark and Dove arriving in Maryland). In 1664, there were only about 3,000 people living in the province. Presumably, they first set foot upon American soil at St. Mary's City, the capital and main port of the fledgling colony. During this period, 100 acres of free land were granted to each arrivee who provided their own transportation under the 1632 Charter of Maryland granted to Lord Baltimore, Cecilius Calvert. However, Richard seems to have waived this right in exchange for transportation costs as the following document attests:

"I Richard Edelen do from me and my heirs assign and make over unto Daniel Jenifer and his heirs all my full rights title and interest of mine and Elizabeth's my wife to land for either our transportation unto this Province as Witness my hand this ninth day of February one thousand six hundred and sixty-four"

(signed) "Richard Edelen"

(witness) Edward Savage

Richard and Elizabeth returned to England in 1665, where their first son, Philip, was born. This would seem to indicate some level of affluence. Richard returned to America prior to March 22, 1667, on which date he registered for a cattle mark in the Provincial Court. Crolian Edelen notes that this date follows the Great London Fire. Possibly Richard Edelen lost his property in the fire and may have returned to Maryland for this reason. Furthermore, he notes that the Buebonic Plague was raging about 1665, possibly providing further impetous to leave England. Elizabeth and son returned to Maryland in 1669 at which time the following land was obtained:

"6 May 1669, Richard Edelen proved rights to 100 acres of land for Elizabeth his wife and Philip his son proved in Common form"

(signed) John Bloomfield

In 1670 Richard was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Province (ref 4).(see reference below) This skill must have been quite in demand, since as mentioned above, as each immigrant to the new colony was awarded a land grant for each person they transported (themselves, family members, and any indentured servants). A surveyor was directed to lay out and survey the specified amount of land and return a certificate, describing the boundaries of land, to the Secretary's Office. A patent was prepared and approved , and then forwarded the Governor for signature. A glimpse of other work performed by Richard Edelen can be found in records stating that he officiated the Maryland Assembly as doorkeeper from November 14 to December 8, 1688, and in compensation received 1,200 lbs of tobacco.

It is also possible that Richard Edelen functioned as an attorney in Charles county in the 1670s. In 1674 Richard Edelen and Justinian Funnis were appointed by the Prerogative Court to appraise the estate of Captain William Boarman, which included Boarman's Manor in Charles County, near present-day Bryantown. Some of this land would later come into Edelen hands--indeed remnants of it are farmed by Edelen's to this day.

Richard and Elizabeth (Banton) Edelen resided in St. Mary's County and had six children:

Philip Edelen
Catherine Edelen
Richard Edelen married Sarah Hagan
Thomas Edelen married Comfort Barnes
Edward Edelen married Elizabeth Jenkins
Christopher Edelen married Jane Jones

Richard Edelen and his sons signed themselves as "Gentlemen", meaning they were members of the land-owning upper-middleclass. The term comes from the English class system and denotes those of "good breeding", and being landowners ranking just below the nobility.

Philip the eldest son "died without issue", that is, he left no offspring. Crolian Edelen states that an old family legend has it that he was eaten by sharks in the Caribbean Sea. Another son, Thomas, settled and married in Piscataway Parish of Prince George's County, but did not produce any offspring. The remaining male children each went on to have families. Marriage records, if any, for Catherine the only daughter, have not been located as of yet. Charmaine Welker notes that in the will of Richard Edelen, he does not refer to Catherine using a married surname.

Religious tolerance was an early virtue of the Maryland colony under the guidance of its founders. Lord Baltimore required of his brother Leonard Calvert, first governor of Maryland, that he sign a pledge testifying he would practice and enforce a policy of religious tolerance for "any person professing a belief in Christ". Unfortunately, that period ended in 1689 with the Protestant Revolution, a takeover of the colony's government by members of the Church of England. Results of this were the establishment of the Anglican Church as the official church of the colony, mandatory taxes to support the church regardless of individual religious affiliation, and the barring of all Catholics from public office. Indeed, in 1704 all Catholic churches and schools in the province were ordered to be closed, forcing Catholics to worship at private residences. This condition persisted until after the Revolutionary War. After 1689, Richard Edelen was probably removed from his position as deputy surveyor or threatened with removal, however, a 1693 order of the Council did request that he continue his services until further notice. Later generations of Edelens that remained Catholic were excluded from holding public office in Maryland until after the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, guaranteeing freedom of religion for all.

Richard Edelen survived his wife by several years, and died around 1694 or 1695. His will was admitted to probate in St. Mary's County. He divided his property in St. Mary's County equally amongst his five surviving children. In addition, each of the sons was devised several hundred acres of land in Charles County.

Source: http://www.ghgcorp.com/edelen/People1.html

Children of Richard Edelen and Elizabeth Banton are:

Philip Edelen, born 1664.

Notes for Philip Edelen:
Crolian Edelen states that an old family legend has it that he was eaten by sharks in the Caribbean Sea.

Reference: http://www.ghgcorp.com/edelen/People1.html

	ii.	Catherine Edelen, born Abt. 1670.
1916	iii.	Richard Edelen, born 1671 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died 1761 in Charles Co., Maryland; married (1) Ann Craycroft; married (2) Anna Maria Neale; married (3) Sarah Hagan 1694 in Charles Co., Maryland.
	iv.	Thomas Edelen, born Abt. 1672 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died 1757 in Prince George Co., Maryland; married Comfort Barnes 1720.
	v.	Edward Edelen, born Abt. 1676 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died Abt. March 30, 1756 in Prince George Co., Maryland; married Elizabeth Jenkins 1705 in Maryland; born 1678 in Pope's Creek, Charles Co., Maryland; died Bef. 1731.

Notes for Edward Edelen:
From his parent's estate of 1695, he inherited a portion of the tract "Dublin" north of Piscataway in Prince George's County and lying east of the Tinkers Creek, and made this his dwelling place (ref 4,9). In addition to being a planter, a 1719 land transaction referred to Edward Edelen as "carpenter", so, like his brother Richard, he may have pursued this additional occupation.

Around 1707 he married Elizabeth (Jenkins) Jones of Prince George's County, the widow of Moses Jones and daughter of Thomas and Anne Jenkins. From this union, Edward Edelen acquired the tracts "Thomas Chance" and "Pinner" both located just east of Piscataway.

Children of Edward Edelen and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Jones-Edelen were:

Sarah Edelen married Samuel Queen
James Edelen married Salome Noble

Both of these births are recorded in the Anglican Church in St. John's Parish. It is unknown whether this signaled a conversion from Catholicism to the Church of England for Edward Edelen, but likely his wife was a member of the established church as evidenced by her daughter by Moses Jones being married in the established church.

Other land that came into the possession of Edward Edelen included a portion of "Calvert Manor" which is located at the present-day Piscataway Park and surrounding areas on the Potomac River, "Littleworth" near Piscataway, "Little Ease" located adjacent to 'Thomas Chance", "No Name" lying on the Swanson Creek near where it joins the Patuxent River, and "Never Fear".

Court records show that Elizabeth (Jenkins) Jones-Edelen was deceased by 1731, and her share of her father's estate passed to her children Sarah (Edelen) Queen and James Edelen. Edward Edelen's will was probated in 1756, which granted to his son James the plantations "Thomas Chance", "Little Ease", and "Littleworth". His brother Christopher was granted "Dublin" on which he was then residing. Grandson Henry Queen was bequeathed "Pinner" which later passed into the hands of Henry's sisters Catherine (Queen) Edelen and Sarah (Queen) Jameson (ref 4).

Reference: http://www.ghg.net/edelen/People1.html

vi.

Christopher Edelen, born Abt. 1682 in St. Mary's Co., Maryland; died 1771 in Prince George Co., Maryland; married Jane Jones 1707 in St. John's Parish, Piscataway, Maryland; born Abt. 1690; died Abt. 1773.

Notes for Christopher Edelen:
Christopher Edelen inherited from his parents a portion of the estate "Dublin" just north of the town of Piscataway and made it his dwelling plantation. This is the same tract of land as was inhabited by his brother Edward Edelen and his family, so they must have been neighbors. In 1707 he married Jane Jones, a daughter of Moses and Elizabeth (Jenkins) Jones. At this time her father was deceased, and her mother had married Edward Edelen. Christopher Edelen and Jane Jones were married in the Church of England (otherwise know as Anglican, and later Episcopal Church) in St. John's Parish, Piscataway. All of their children's births are also recorded here as well, establishing another line of Protestant Edelens.

Children of Christopher and Jane (Jones) Edelen:

Elizabeth Edelen married Clement Wheeler
Anne Edelen married ____ Gardiner
John Edelen married Sarah ____
Richard Edelen married Sarah Stonestreet
Benjamin Edelen
Jane Edelen married Butler Stonestreet
Christopher Edelen married Rebecca Johnson
Eleanor Edelen married Edward Stonestreet
Catherine Edelen

Land purchases by Christopher Edelen recorded by Newman include: "Major's Choice" in 1737 just south of Dublin, "Edelen's Addition" and "Edelen's Folly" in 1748 (location unknown), a portion of "Piscataway Manor", otherwise known as "Calvert Manor" in 1765. In his will, probated in 1771, he devised his widow the homestead at "Dublin", and his grandson James Edelen the property "Major's Choice". After the decease of Jane (Jones) Edelen around 1773, their personal estate was divided among the children. The estate at "Dublin" went to their son Christopher.

Reference: http://www.ghg.net/edelen/People1.html

More About Christopher Edelen:
Date born 2: 1683
Died 2: 1771

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