Robert Edmunds

The records show that Robert Edmunds (as Edmonds) came to Virginia on the Ship "Marigold" in 1619, the ship that Captain Christopher Lawne brought to the colony of Virginia. Robert appears on the Muster (census) of Feb 16 1623/24 at Eastern Shore, Virginia as Robert Edmonds among those living at the Eastern Shore with Capt. William Epps. He was listed in the Muster of Feb 4 1624/25 at Treasurer's Plantation, James City, Virginia and shown as Robert Edmunds who came in the Marygold in 1619. He was on George Sandy's property, the Treasurer's Plantation on the lower side of the James River, across from Jamestown, where he was living with several others who had arrived on the "Marigold" in 1619. Anthony West, who had arrived on the "James" in 1622 and who later settled on the Eastern Shore, was also on the Treasurer's Plantation.

His statement was recorded in court records on Apr 11 1625 at Treasurer's Plantation, James City, as part of an inquest held to investigate the cause of John Verone's death. Robert Edmundes who said that on Mar 28 1625 coming along with Mr. Threar to the house of Mr. Hugh Crowther he did see the body of John Verone a servant boy of the same Mr. Crowthers and it hung in a chain in a loft in the house and he hoped to take him down and viewed the body being striptes by Pawle Reighnolls servant to Mr. Crowthers and found no show of any blowes or stripes upon his body but only under his jaw which was done with the chain as he veryly believed and he never heard from the boy himself in his life time, nor by any servant in the house or otherwise or any threating or heard sing offered to the said boy or complained of by himself. And further this examined thinketh the said boy did willfully hang himself for he might safely have saved himself by the ftanchione one either hand by which he might have ftaid and recovered him self

He made another statement for the court records on Jan 3 1625/26 at Treasurer's Plantation, James City in which he testified about some corn that belonged to John Evans and was stored in a loft belonging to Treasurer George Sandys. Robert Edmundes and John Parsones testified that two barells of sheald corn belonging to John Evins was putt into the loft at the old fort of Mr. George Sandys, and that he gave certain nubbins for the allowance of shrinkage and was to have the two barrells forth again when he should demand it.

One other statement survives in court records from Jan 11 1626/27 at James City Co. when Robert Edmonds had leave given unto him to remove from Warresqueak and plant himself at Elizabeth City.

Robert Edmunds (as Edmound) wrote his will on Dec 27 1633 at Northampton Co., VA and it was proven Nov 16 1635:
Heere liinge on my death bed.
- To my wife and child (no names) 410 lbs tobacco for my plantation in the hands of Thomas Cole, John Dennis, and Robert Swanson, and 450 lbs tobacco to be paid to John Sands for the plantation; 8 lbs. of beaver that Thomas owes me; and 1000 lbs tobacco that Daniell Cugly owes me.
- To my boy George Smith 3 barrels of corn and he to pay 6 bushels to (Capt.) Clayborne.
- To my boy George, pots and hoes at Robert Swanson's or at Mr. Burdetts, and a coat Peter Nowell is making for him.
- To John Thomkins 2000 nails that Thomas Wyatt owes me of his own making, and my dogg.
- My friends John Thomkins and John Ashcome to be executors.
Witnesses: John Farr, Evan Joans, John Symons. (NoVAW-I-1:59)

From the "Miles Files": In his Dec 27 1633 will, Robert Edmunds (as Edmound) left to John Thomkins 2,000 6-penny nails which Thomas Wyatt owes me of his own making. In 1640 Thomas Wyatt was given a patent for 400a of tract N69 (See Whitelaw, 1968) at Bridgetown on Church Creek. The original patent to Wyatt is not recorded, but it is mentioned with its date in the record of a patent of 1664 to Elias Hartree for 600a, 200a said to have been assigned by Wyatt. In 1666, Elias Hartree's widow Jane (Cutting) left a suit of clothes that was her husband's to Owen Edmuns (sic). This places Owen Edmunds in or near the same general location in Northampton County as Thomas Wyatt who was named in Robert Edmund's will. Owen Edmunds was never named as a headright or on a land certificate issued in Northampton or Accomack Counties which implies that he did not immigrate into these counties and was evidently born in Northampton County. He was also the only Edmunds named in Northampton or Accomack County records between the 1633 will of Robert Edmunds and his will of 1696 when he named a son David. From these facts it seems evident that he is the only possible person who could have been the child named in Robert Edmund's will of 1633.

There are three post-humous mentions of Robert Edmounds in Northampton Co. depositions:
On Jan 1 1636/7, John Fisher, aged 37 or there abouts sworn and examined sayth concerning the accounts between Daniell Cugly and Robert Edmounds that in this deponents house, that the said Cugly and Edmounds made their accounts even, and that there was due to the said Edmounds 600 lbs tobacco or there abouts which tobacco as near as I can remember the said Culgy paid part or I know no what to John Sands for the said Edmounds.
On Nov 20 1637, the deposition of Richard Newman taken in open court, saieth that Roberte Edmunds about 4 years lying sick gave unto his man George Smith a bed which was then at the house of John Fisher.
On Aug 13 1638, John Fisher deposed that Garrett Anderson came to him and demanded him to show him what order Capt. Epes had left with someone to seat upon land by the Bay side, whereupon this deponent showed him what order he had which was about 7 or 8 years since, and as this deponent remembreth the said Garrett gave to Roberte Edmonds two barrells of corn as satisfaction for the labor which the said Edmonds had done upon the ground now in question.

Robert married.