648–649. John Edwards of Fairfield, Connecticut was born in 1661-1662, and died in Stratfield, Connecticut, in August, 1744. Mary Hanford was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, on Monday, November 30, 1663, and died between 1705 and 1723. They were married about 1690. She took the name Mary Edwards. She is the daughter of Thomas and Mary (Miles) Hanford. They had seven children:
| i. | William Edwards [#324]: He was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, in—say—1691, and died before 1754. | |
| ii. | Thomas Edwards was baptized in Fairfield on July 7, 1695. | |
| iii. | Mary Edwards was baptized in Fairfield in 7 July 1695. She married John Dennie. | |
| iv. | John Edwards was baptized in Fairfield on August 14, 1698, and died in Fairfield by 1784. He married first, Rebecca Porter; and second, Hannah _____. His will was dated September 3, 1766, and proved February 2, 1784. | |
| v. | Samuel Edwards was baptized in Fairfield on December 8, 1700. He died young. | |
| vi. | Abigail Edwards was baptized in Fairfield on April 25, 1703. She married Ebenezer Wheeler. | |
| vii. | Joseph Edwards was baptized in Fairfield on June 17, 1705. He married Prudence Wakelee, recorded at Stratford on December 18, 1731. |
His second marriage was to Mary _____. She was born in 1666-7, and died in Stratfield on March 6, 1749. She died at age 82 per her tombstone in Stratfield.
John Edwards was a clothier in Fairfield. He purchased realty from Joseph Rowland on November 12, 1691. He was admitted to the Stratfield Church before 1731. He was probably related to Thomas Edwards, (Capt.) of Stratford.
John was a Deputy from Fairfield to the Connecticut Legislature October 1702, May 1706, October 1711, October 1712, and May 1718; he was a naval officer at the Port of Fairfield, May 1714; and a justice 1714–21.
The will of John Edwards was dated December 3, 1735, with a codicil added on July 4, 1737; it was proved on September 23, 1744. It mentioned his wife, Mary, his daughter, Abigail Wheeler, children of late daughter, Mary Dennie, eldest son, William, and other sons Thomas, John, and Joseph. It also included land at Sackett's Farm (New York), Stratford, and Fairfield. He gave £30 to the Church of Christ of Stratfield for a silver vessell; he had slaves and a large estate. His son, William, appealed the will.
The will of Mary Edwards (John's second wife) was dated February 15, 1745/6,
and proved on April 4, 1749.
It mentioned Mary and Sarah, daughters of (her late husband's son) Thomas and
his wife, Sarah; Prudence, Rhoda, Eunice, Joseph, and William, children of
(her late husband's son) Joseph; son-in-law Joseph, youngest son of her
late husband, John Edwards.