Will - Person Sheet
Will - Person Sheet
NameEDELEN, Richard 
, 10G Grandfather
, 10G GrandfatherBirth Dateabt 1639
Birth PlaceLondon, Middlesex, England
Death Dateabt 1694 Age: 55
Death PlaceSaint Mary's County, Maryland
FatherEDELEN, Philip (~1598-1657)
MotherOFFLEY, Catherine (~1605-~1639)
Misc. Notes
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
.
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 (ref 2). 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 (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:
"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 (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.
In 1670 Richard was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Province. 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 (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-middle class. The term comes from the English class system and denotes those of "good breeding," and being landowners ranking just below the nobility.
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
.
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 (ref 2). 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 (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:
"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 (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.
In 1670 Richard was appointed Deputy Surveyor of the Province. 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 (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-middle class. The term comes from the English class system and denotes those of "good breeding," and being landowners ranking just below the nobility.
Spouses
1BARTON, Elizabeth , 10G Grandmother
, 10G GrandmotherBirth Dateabt 1639
Birth PlaceEngland
Death Dateabt 1694 Age: 55
Death PlaceSaint Mary's County, Maryland
Marr Date29 Oct 1663
Marr PlaceLondon, Middlesex, England
ChildrenChristopher (~1671-1771)