George W Edwards1,2

#18336, (circa 1805 - 27 August 1861)

Family

Elizabeth R Whelan b. 1810, d. 1874
Children 1.Rosalie Edwards10 (1830 - )
 2.William A Edwards11 (c 1834 - 1860)
 3.John Hughes Edwards+11 (c 1840 - 1877)
 4.Ignatius Loyola Edwards+11 (c 1842 - 1871)
 5.Sr. Mary G Edwards12 (1844 - 1912)
 6.Elizabeth S Edwards+11 (c 1846 - 1890)
 7.George W Edwards Jr.+11 (c 1848 - 1888)
 8.Richard Stanislaus Edwards+11 (c 1850 - 1899)
 9.Joseph Francis Edwards11 (1853 - 1897)
 10.Thomas Aquinas Edwards11 (1857 - 1892)
"Mr. Edwards was an excellent type of a self-made man, a silk merchant, and later a broker and financier of Philadelphia. His real-estate holdings were among the most valuable in the city, such corners as Broadway, Walnut and Ninth and Chestnut Streets, his residence being at Eighteenth and Walnut Streets. Mr. Edwards for some time held the presidency of the Reading R. R. He was most generous in his charity and active in Catholic works, notably in his connection with St. John's Orphan Asylum and with the establishment of the nuns of the Sacred Heart in Philadelphia, two of his daughters entering the community, of whom Mary will be long remembered as Mother Edwards of the Sacred Heart Academy. Mr. Edward's wife was Elizabeth Whelan, of Philadelphia."3 
Birth*circa 1805He was born circa 1805 at IrelandG.4 
Marriage*10 February 1829He married Elizabeth R Whelan, daughter of William Whelan and Catherine Carney, on 10 February 1829 at St. Augustine Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.1 
1840He and Elizabeth R Whelan appeared on the census of 1840 at Cedar Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.5 
15 August 1850He and Elizabeth R Whelan appeared on the census of 15 August 1850 at Locust Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; (nei. Mrs. Jane Edwards (63) and three children, fam. 1159.)4 
June 1860He and Elizabeth R Whelan appeared on the census of June 1860 at Eighth Ward, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.6 
2 August 1861He left a will on 2 August 1861 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.7 
Death*27 August 1861He died on 27 August 1861 at Southeast Corner, 18th and Walnut, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.8 
Burial*30 August 1861He was buried on 30 August 1861 at St. John's Church Yard, 13th Street above Chestnut, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaG.9 

Citations

  1. [S1663] Early Pennsylvania Catholic Church Records, compiled by Barbara Brady O'Keefe, online freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reinsel/okeefe.htm, George Edwards and Elizabeth Whelan, marr. 10 Feb 1829; witnesses Thomas Edwards, Catharine and William Whelan, Samuel Wood. Citing Journal of the American Catholic Historical Society, Vol. 1 and Vol. 13 (1902), "Marriages at St. Augustine's Catholic Church."
  2. [S1762] General Register of the Members of the Phi Betta Kappa Fraternity, 1850-1910 (Philadelphia: John C Winston Co., printers, 1910), p. 82-83, in biography of son Thomas.
  3. [S1764] Rev. William J Lallou, "The Vaults in St. John's Churchyard", Records of the American Catholic Historical Society of Philadelphia XXIII:212-248 (1912): p. 223.
  4. [S20] 1850 U.S. Federal Census. Geo. W (45), b. Ireland, no occ., real estate value $350,000; Elizabeth (40), b. Phila. Also Sarah Cullen (22), b. Ireland, domestic, and George Cullen Edwinson (1), b. Phila.
  5. [S54] 1840 U.S. Federal Census. Geo. W (30-39); F (30-39) [Elizabeth]; 2 m (<5) [William, John Hughes]; f (20-30) [____].
  6. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census. Geo. W (55), b. Ireland, gentleman, real estate value $400,000, personal estate $10,000; Eliza. (49), b. PA. Also Aug Baker (28), b. Germany, waiter; Laura Smith (28), b. Germany, domestic; Susan Jordan (22), b. Ireland, domestic.
  7. [S1666] Pennsylvania Wills and Probate Records, 1683-1993, index and images, online Ancestry.com, Philadelphia, Wills, No 200-249, 1861, img 292-325/398. Last will of George W Edwards, 2 Aug 1861. Creates trust for benefit of wife Elizabeth R Edwards and care and education of children; executors wife Elizabeth R and friend James M Smith, co-executor and trustee son John Hughes Edwards. Witn. James W T Robbins and W J Black; codicil 18 Aug 1861, witn. Catherine Whelan and Berndine [sic] Smith.
  8. [S1582] Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915, online FamilySearch.com, Physician's Certificate. George W Edwards, marr., age 56, res. 8th Ward, S East Cor of 18th and Walnut; d. 27 Aug 1861, albuminuria, bur. St. John's 30 Aug.
  9. [S1764] Rev. William J Lallou, "Vaults in St. John's Churchyard", p. 222-223. Interments in Vault No. 10 of George W Edwards:
    Clement and Thomas, children of G. W. Edwards.
    05 Apr 1845, George, son of George W. Edwards.
    12 Nov 1851, George Edwards, a child of one hour.
    20 Jun 1860, Rosilia Edwards, aged 17 months, the child of W. A. Edwards and Sarah Devitt.
    13 Aug 1860, William A. Edwards, aged 30, son of George W. Edwards and Elizabeth Whelan.
    30 Jun 1860 ( ?), Eliza Roach Edwards, aged 17 months.
    30 Aug 1861, George W. Edwards, aged 56.
  10. [S1663] Early Pennsylvania Catholic Church Records, Barbara Brady O'Keefe, online freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~reinsel/okeefe.htm, St. Augustine baptisms, citing American Catholic Historical Society Journal Vol. 1. Rosalie Edwards, b. 16 Feb 1830, bapt. 15 Apr 1830, of George Edwards and Elizabeth R. Whelan; godparents Rev. John Hughes and Lucy Whelan.
  11. [S19] 1860 U.S. Federal Census.
  12. [S1582] Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915, online FamilySearch.com, Death Certificate Reg. No. 10292, Flder 004009249, img. 352/585. Mary G. Edwards, b. Phila. 18 Dec 1844, dau. of George W Edwards (b. Ireland) and Elizabeth R Whelan (b. Phila.) single, religious, res. 1819 Arch St., 10th Ward, Philadelphia PA; d. 24 Apr 1912, age 67y 4m 6d, carcinoma of left kidney, chronic nephritis; inf. W D Fetterman, M.D.; bur. Torrisdale [today Torresdale] PA 26 Apr 1912.