| Notes |
- Alexander was one of five children born to Alexander and Gwen (Foulke) Edwards. They were Quakers. He married Ann Marshall daughter of William and Sarah Marshall of Philadelphia County, on July 23, 1737.
Ann and Alexander Edwards had 9 children (Pennepack Church Record p. 473)
The were:
Elizabeth b. May 14, 1738
Margaret (1st) b. Feb 28, 1741
William b. May 1, 1743
Marshall b. May 18, 1746
Thomas b. Apr 18, 1748
Enoch b. Aug 7, 1750
Even born Dec 11, 1752
Ann b. Oct 20, 1755
Margaret (2nd) b. Apr 18, 1760
Margaret (1st) may have died in infancy.
Three of the sons, Marshall, Enoch and Evan served Philadelphia County in the Revolutionary War.
Alexander was commissioned as the first Justice of the Peace of Lower Dublin township, and was appointed to the Court for Philadelphia County by the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania from 1770 until his death. He and his wife Ann converted to the Baptist faith and were baptized by Jenkin Jones at Pennepack Church on April 25, 1745. He was elected Deacon of the church on August 2, 1746. Both Alexander and his son Alexander were landowners in Philadelphia County, as was their ancestor, Alexander, who was an 1684 immigrant from Wales.
After the death of his wife Ann, he married Elizabeth Moragn on 6 November, 1772 at Pennpack Baptist Church (no children).
Alexander's parents Alexander and Gwen (Foulke) Edwards, his wife Ann (Marshall) Edwards, sons, Major Marshall Edwards, Dr. Enoch Edwards and several other family members are also interred here.
OBITUARY
The Pennsylvania Gazette, May 21, 1777
On Thursday, the 15th instant, departed this life, in the 68th year of his age, ALEXANDER EDWARDS, Esq; of this county. He sustained to this venerable old age an unblemished character, and after a tedious indisposition, with every symptom of a calm resignation, yielded to the uncontrouled [sic] messenger of God a soul that possessed every mark of integrity, honour, humanity and piety. He had distinguished himself as a most useful and disinterested benefactor to society, both civil and religious. On Sunday his remains, attended by a most respectable number of his friends, were interred at the Baptist Church in Lower Dublin, and a funeral sermon, suitable to the solemnity of the occasion, preached by the Rev. Mr. Samuel Jones, from Revelations xiv. 13. AND I HEARD A VOICE FROM HEAVEN, SAYING UNTO ME, WRITE, BLESSED ARE THE DEAD WHICH DIE IN THE LORD, FROM HENCEFORTH YEA, SAITH THE SPIRIT, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.
Alexander's father (abt 1675-1764) and grandfather (abt 1640-1712) were also named Alexander Edwards. Both were Quaker emigrants from Wales to Philadelphia in 1684.
Obit and Quaker records show date of death May 15 rather than 16. Pennepack Baptist Church record states burial on May 16, 1777. Plot photos courtesy of Timothy Unruh of Pennepack Church.
Inscription
In Memory of Alexander Edwards who Departed this Life May 16th 1777 aged 66 years
Gravesite Details
There are 10 known graves in the Edwards family plot.
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1711 - 1777 (66 years)
