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| 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), believed to be the only daughter of the Lord Pannewell. Family tradition holds 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 (ref 1). 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 liscence, Richard Edelen and Elizabeth Banton were married in the Anglican Church, of which it appears she is a member (ref 26). 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) Tho. ffrench Even though it is unknown whether their conversion to Catholicism was 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" (ref 4). The Maryland Records of Land Patents show Richard and Elizabeth Edelen arriving in the colony in 1664 (ref 2). At this time, there were only about 3,000 people living in the province (ref 3). 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 (ref 4): "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. Richard returned to America prior to March 22, 1667, on which date he registered for a cattle mark in the Provincial Court (ref 27). 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 (ref 4): "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). 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 (ref 4). 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 (ref 5). Richard and Elizabeth (Banton) Edelen resided in St. Mary's County and had six children4: Philip Edelen (d.s.p.) Catherine Edelen Richard Edelen married Sarah Hagan Thomas Edelen (d.s.p.) 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 (abbreviated as d.s.p. for the Latin "decessit sine prole"). Crolian Edelen states that an old family legend has it that he was eaten by sharks in the Caribbean Sea (ref 6). 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, and will be described in more detail below. 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 useing 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" (ref 3). 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 service (ref 3). 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 (ref 4). 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, Sr, 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." Chris Edelen http://www.ghgcorp.com/edelen/People1.html | ||||||||||||
| Last Modified New | Created 5 Sep 2005 by Charles Lee Mudd, Jr. using Reunion for Mac |