First wife of Sanford Edwards; they married 1 October 1825 in Miami County, Ohio.
The year and place of Margaret's birth are what I consider most likely based on extensive research of Margaret's life; however, I've not found a record of her birth. In October 2019, I visited Miami and Warren Counties, Ohio to further research the Mills family, but did not find any records documenting her birth. In preparing for this trip, I did learn, however, that her likely parents, Alexander and Eunice Mills, were already in the Miami Valley area in late 1802, one of the original 9 Quaker families to settle there from South Carolina. This date supports my conclusion that Margaret was born after her parents immigrated from South Carolina.
Margaret had at least 5 children with Sanford per the 1840 Census; they include:
--- Martin Edwards: Born: 1 Nov 1835 Greene County, Indiana. Died 7 Nov 1911 Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
--- Lewis (or Louis) B Edwards: Born 5 Jan 1842, Grant County, Wisconsin. Died 11 August 1919 Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff County, Nebraska
--- Harriet Edwards Lyons: 1828 - 1908
Margaret is clearly still living in 1840 per that US Census (under the record for Sanford Edwards in Grant County, Wisconsin) as it includes a White Female age 30 - 39 (= born 1801 - 1810). I have been unable to find Sanford in the 1850 US Census, but believe he is most likely still living in Patch Grove, Grant County, Wisconsin as he is there in 2 records after 1850.
Because Sanford married again in 1854 in Grant County, Wisconsin, it was clear Margaret had either died or the couple had separated. Given the marriage patterns of their descendants, particularly for my direct line, I knew separation was a possibility. Yet, given Margaret's likely family and religious background, I thought that unlikely.
Then on 9 Mar 2019, I reviewed the Civil War Pension file of Sanford and Margaret's youngest son, Lewis B Edwards. I was rewarded with more of an answer to Margaret's fate than I anticipated, all because the Pension Office questioned Lewis about two different birth dates he had earlier documented when he applied for a pension increase allowed by 11 May 1912 legislation: 5 July1841 or 5 January 1842.
Lewis answered the question by relating that "until he was about 6 years old", he assumed his birth date was 5 July 1841. However, he was much later told by his brother, Martin, that his correct birth date was 5 January 1842.
Detail that revealed the approximate year of Margaret's death was included in Lewis' 12 June 1912 explanation, copied here per Lewis' notarized answer regarding his two conflicting birth dates:
"That when he [Lewis] was a small boy, about six years old, his mother died and he ran away from the fathers control and that he had the understanding at that time that his birthday was July 5, 1841 and so believed until the GAR Encampment at Minneapolis, Minn. several years ago, when he met an older brother who told him that his right birthday was Jany 5, 1842. That the brother then had in his possession at home the family bible. This has since been destroyed by fire and the brother is dead. That he does not know of any other or further proof that can be obtained. That affiant believes his correct birthday to have been January 5, 1842, which would make him seventy years old last January."
My estimation of Margaret's death is based on Lewis' believing at the age of "about six" that he was born in July 1841. So age 6 was when his mother (her name documented in his Death Certificate) had died and he left home; this equates to 1847.
Since Death Records/Certificates were uncommon in most of America in the 1840's, this notarized statement from Margaret's youngest child is undoubtedly the best record I am likely to find of her death.
Margaret's death approximately 1847 may also help explain why I've been unable to locate an 1850 Census for Sanford and any children who remained in the household. My hunch is Margaret most likely died either in childbirth (in which case the child also died) or possibly of cholera. In a historical record of Grant County, it was noted a cholera epidemic hit the area in 1850. This, of course, would suggest that possibly Margaret died in 1850, not 1847; however it seems feasible given Lewis' recollection of his age when his mother died was post-Civil War, likely in the 1870's or later, when Lewis was relying on his memory from at least 30 years earlier.
IDENTIFYING MARGARET'S PARENTS
Last year (2018) I spent significant time researching Sanford Edwards and his first wife based on the Miami County, Ohio marriage record and several Ancestry Family Trees which stated her name as Margaret Mills, daughter of Alexander Mills and Eunice Pearson.
I indeed found Alexander and Eunice in Miami County, Ohio as of 1807, having migrated there from Newberry County, South Carolina. Very surprising to me was the discovery they were Quakers and the migration was prompted by their belief that slavery was wrong. Their migration was with most of the Quakers living in Newberry County, SC; it is well documented in Quaker and other records.
This past October (2019), I made a visit to Miami, Warren, and Clinton Counties, Ohio to research my Edwards line. I was particularly hopeful that a visit to the Quaker Home Museum in Waynesville (Warren County) which has a small research library might yield records regarding the Mills family. The Clerk of the Miami Monthly Meeting (local Quaker organization that still meets and worships at the 1811 Meetinghouse) met with me and checked some records I had not previously seen. Unfortunately, none of them yielded any information about Margaret or her likely parents.
Once I returned from Ohio I worked further on my 4X Great Grandfather, Jesse Edwards, who lived most of his adult life in Miami County. I had not previously researched any of Jesse's children other than Sanford, Margaret's husband. I was stunned to find that Jesse's oldest son, David (named for Jesse's father), had at least 7 children including one named Alexander [1827 - 1875]). I've thought a lot about Sanford Edwards' brother, David, naming a son Alexander which is not among common male names I've encountered in the late 18th and 19th century over the last 8 years of my research. Since David also named a son Sanford (after his younger brother), a son after his father (Jesse) and a daughter after his wife (Cinthia), it's clear he and his wife followed the tradition of naming their children after family members. And so, after a lot of thought and work to identify Margaret's parents, I am at last ready to conclude that she is indeed the daughter of Alexander and Eunice Mills.
MARGARET'S BURIAL LOCATION
I have settled on Union-Lumpkin Cemetery as the likely burial location for Margaret based on several factors:
1. It is less than 6 miles (south) from Patch Grove where Sanford and Margaret lived in 1840 per that Census.
2. Union-Lumpkin was established in 1825 per the sign in the FAG photo.
3. Sanford did not appear to own land in Patch Grove as I did not find any land records for him, eliminating the possibility of Margaret being buried on their land.
4. Living "next door" to Sanford and Margaret per the 1840 Census was Christopher and Matilda Peck. This couple became important in my research as it was their home in 1850 that I found "runaway" son Lewis living per that Census. Both Christopher and Matilda are buried in Union-Lumpkin (both died in 1874) per their FAG Memorials. While this is not a "definitive" factor, it demonstrates that people living in Patch Grove were buried in this cemetery.
5. From aerial photographs I found on the cemetery's Facebook page, numerous sections of the cemetery appear not to have grave markers. Since I could not find burial records for this cemetery online, surveys seem to be the only means by which names of those interred can be identified. Also, if indeed Margaret was a Quaker, she may have not wanted a marker installed at her grave and from research it appears Sanford was unlikely to have had the financial means to purchase a marker.
10 March 2019: Draft
14 March 2019: Additions re Margaret's birth data, possible causes of death, and minor corrections
10 October 2019: Comments at beginning of bio regarding upcoming research in Warren County, Ohio
23 Nov 2019: Based on local Ohio research in Oct 2019 and the naming pattern used by Margaret's bother-in-law, David Edwards, for his children, linked Margaret to Alexander and Eunice Pearson Mills as her parents
Vicki Edwards
3X Great Granddaughter of Margaret Mills Edwards
The year and place of Margaret's birth are what I consider most likely based on extensive research of Margaret's life; however, I've not found a record of her birth. In October 2019, I visited Miami and Warren Counties, Ohio to further research the Mills family, but did not find any records documenting her birth. In preparing for this trip, I did learn, however, that her likely parents, Alexander and Eunice Mills, were already in the Miami Valley area in late 1802, one of the original 9 Quaker families to settle there from South Carolina. This date supports my conclusion that Margaret was born after her parents immigrated from South Carolina.
Margaret had at least 5 children with Sanford per the 1840 Census; they include:
--- Martin Edwards: Born: 1 Nov 1835 Greene County, Indiana. Died 7 Nov 1911 Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
--- Lewis (or Louis) B Edwards: Born 5 Jan 1842, Grant County, Wisconsin. Died 11 August 1919 Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff County, Nebraska
--- Harriet Edwards Lyons: 1828 - 1908
Margaret is clearly still living in 1840 per that US Census (under the record for Sanford Edwards in Grant County, Wisconsin) as it includes a White Female age 30 - 39 (= born 1801 - 1810). I have been unable to find Sanford in the 1850 US Census, but believe he is most likely still living in Patch Grove, Grant County, Wisconsin as he is there in 2 records after 1850.
Because Sanford married again in 1854 in Grant County, Wisconsin, it was clear Margaret had either died or the couple had separated. Given the marriage patterns of their descendants, particularly for my direct line, I knew separation was a possibility. Yet, given Margaret's likely family and religious background, I thought that unlikely.
Then on 9 Mar 2019, I reviewed the Civil War Pension file of Sanford and Margaret's youngest son, Lewis B Edwards. I was rewarded with more of an answer to Margaret's fate than I anticipated, all because the Pension Office questioned Lewis about two different birth dates he had earlier documented when he applied for a pension increase allowed by 11 May 1912 legislation: 5 July1841 or 5 January 1842.
Lewis answered the question by relating that "until he was about 6 years old", he assumed his birth date was 5 July 1841. However, he was much later told by his brother, Martin, that his correct birth date was 5 January 1842.
Detail that revealed the approximate year of Margaret's death was included in Lewis' 12 June 1912 explanation, copied here per Lewis' notarized answer regarding his two conflicting birth dates:
"That when he [Lewis] was a small boy, about six years old, his mother died and he ran away from the fathers control and that he had the understanding at that time that his birthday was July 5, 1841 and so believed until the GAR Encampment at Minneapolis, Minn. several years ago, when he met an older brother who told him that his right birthday was Jany 5, 1842. That the brother then had in his possession at home the family bible. This has since been destroyed by fire and the brother is dead. That he does not know of any other or further proof that can be obtained. That affiant believes his correct birthday to have been January 5, 1842, which would make him seventy years old last January."
My estimation of Margaret's death is based on Lewis' believing at the age of "about six" that he was born in July 1841. So age 6 was when his mother (her name documented in his Death Certificate) had died and he left home; this equates to 1847.
Since Death Records/Certificates were uncommon in most of America in the 1840's, this notarized statement from Margaret's youngest child is undoubtedly the best record I am likely to find of her death.
Margaret's death approximately 1847 may also help explain why I've been unable to locate an 1850 Census for Sanford and any children who remained in the household. My hunch is Margaret most likely died either in childbirth (in which case the child also died) or possibly of cholera. In a historical record of Grant County, it was noted a cholera epidemic hit the area in 1850. This, of course, would suggest that possibly Margaret died in 1850, not 1847; however it seems feasible given Lewis' recollection of his age when his mother died was post-Civil War, likely in the 1870's or later, when Lewis was relying on his memory from at least 30 years earlier.
IDENTIFYING MARGARET'S PARENTS
Last year (2018) I spent significant time researching Sanford Edwards and his first wife based on the Miami County, Ohio marriage record and several Ancestry Family Trees which stated her name as Margaret Mills, daughter of Alexander Mills and Eunice Pearson.
I indeed found Alexander and Eunice in Miami County, Ohio as of 1807, having migrated there from Newberry County, South Carolina. Very surprising to me was the discovery they were Quakers and the migration was prompted by their belief that slavery was wrong. Their migration was with most of the Quakers living in Newberry County, SC; it is well documented in Quaker and other records.
This past October (2019), I made a visit to Miami, Warren, and Clinton Counties, Ohio to research my Edwards line. I was particularly hopeful that a visit to the Quaker Home Museum in Waynesville (Warren County) which has a small research library might yield records regarding the Mills family. The Clerk of the Miami Monthly Meeting (local Quaker organization that still meets and worships at the 1811 Meetinghouse) met with me and checked some records I had not previously seen. Unfortunately, none of them yielded any information about Margaret or her likely parents.
Once I returned from Ohio I worked further on my 4X Great Grandfather, Jesse Edwards, who lived most of his adult life in Miami County. I had not previously researched any of Jesse's children other than Sanford, Margaret's husband. I was stunned to find that Jesse's oldest son, David (named for Jesse's father), had at least 7 children including one named Alexander [1827 - 1875]). I've thought a lot about Sanford Edwards' brother, David, naming a son Alexander which is not among common male names I've encountered in the late 18th and 19th century over the last 8 years of my research. Since David also named a son Sanford (after his younger brother), a son after his father (Jesse) and a daughter after his wife (Cinthia), it's clear he and his wife followed the tradition of naming their children after family members. And so, after a lot of thought and work to identify Margaret's parents, I am at last ready to conclude that she is indeed the daughter of Alexander and Eunice Mills.
MARGARET'S BURIAL LOCATION
I have settled on Union-Lumpkin Cemetery as the likely burial location for Margaret based on several factors:
1. It is less than 6 miles (south) from Patch Grove where Sanford and Margaret lived in 1840 per that Census.
2. Union-Lumpkin was established in 1825 per the sign in the FAG photo.
3. Sanford did not appear to own land in Patch Grove as I did not find any land records for him, eliminating the possibility of Margaret being buried on their land.
4. Living "next door" to Sanford and Margaret per the 1840 Census was Christopher and Matilda Peck. This couple became important in my research as it was their home in 1850 that I found "runaway" son Lewis living per that Census. Both Christopher and Matilda are buried in Union-Lumpkin (both died in 1874) per their FAG Memorials. While this is not a "definitive" factor, it demonstrates that people living in Patch Grove were buried in this cemetery.
5. From aerial photographs I found on the cemetery's Facebook page, numerous sections of the cemetery appear not to have grave markers. Since I could not find burial records for this cemetery online, surveys seem to be the only means by which names of those interred can be identified. Also, if indeed Margaret was a Quaker, she may have not wanted a marker installed at her grave and from research it appears Sanford was unlikely to have had the financial means to purchase a marker.
10 March 2019: Draft
14 March 2019: Additions re Margaret's birth data, possible causes of death, and minor corrections
10 October 2019: Comments at beginning of bio regarding upcoming research in Warren County, Ohio
23 Nov 2019: Based on local Ohio research in Oct 2019 and the naming pattern used by Margaret's bother-in-law, David Edwards, for his children, linked Margaret to Alexander and Eunice Pearson Mills as her parents
Vicki Edwards
3X Great Granddaughter of Margaret Mills Edwards
First wife of Sanford Edwards; they married 1 October 1825 in Miami County, Ohio.
The year and place of Margaret's birth are what I consider most likely based on extensive research of Margaret's life; however, I've not found a record of her birth. In October 2019, I visited Miami and Warren Counties, Ohio to further research the Mills family, but did not find any records documenting her birth. In preparing for this trip, I did learn, however, that her likely parents, Alexander and Eunice Mills, were already in the Miami Valley area in late 1802, one of the original 9 Quaker families to settle there from South Carolina. This date supports my conclusion that Margaret was born after her parents immigrated from South Carolina.
Margaret had at least 5 children with Sanford per the 1840 Census; they include:
--- Martin Edwards: Born: 1 Nov 1835 Greene County, Indiana. Died 7 Nov 1911 Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
--- Lewis (or Louis) B Edwards: Born 5 Jan 1842, Grant County, Wisconsin. Died 11 August 1919 Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff County, Nebraska
--- Harriet Edwards Lyons: 1828 - 1908
Margaret is clearly still living in 1840 per that US Census (under the record for Sanford Edwards in Grant County, Wisconsin) as it includes a White Female age 30 - 39 (= born 1801 - 1810). I have been unable to find Sanford in the 1850 US Census, but believe he is most likely still living in Patch Grove, Grant County, Wisconsin as he is there in 2 records after 1850.
Because Sanford married again in 1854 in Grant County, Wisconsin, it was clear Margaret had either died or the couple had separated. Given the marriage patterns of their descendants, particularly for my direct line, I knew separation was a possibility. Yet, given Margaret's likely family and religious background, I thought that unlikely.
Then on 9 Mar 2019, I reviewed the Civil War Pension file of Sanford and Margaret's youngest son, Lewis B Edwards. I was rewarded with more of an answer to Margaret's fate than I anticipated, all because the Pension Office questioned Lewis about two different birth dates he had earlier documented when he applied for a pension increase allowed by 11 May 1912 legislation: 5 July1841 or 5 January 1842.
Lewis answered the question by relating that "until he was about 6 years old", he assumed his birth date was 5 July 1841. However, he was much later told by his brother, Martin, that his correct birth date was 5 January 1842.
Detail that revealed the approximate year of Margaret's death was included in Lewis' 12 June 1912 explanation, copied here per Lewis' notarized answer regarding his two conflicting birth dates:
"That when he [Lewis] was a small boy, about six years old, his mother died and he ran away from the fathers control and that he had the understanding at that time that his birthday was July 5, 1841 and so believed until the GAR Encampment at Minneapolis, Minn. several years ago, when he met an older brother who told him that his right birthday was Jany 5, 1842. That the brother then had in his possession at home the family bible. This has since been destroyed by fire and the brother is dead. That he does not know of any other or further proof that can be obtained. That affiant believes his correct birthday to have been January 5, 1842, which would make him seventy years old last January."
My estimation of Margaret's death is based on Lewis' believing at the age of "about six" that he was born in July 1841. So age 6 was when his mother (her name documented in his Death Certificate) had died and he left home; this equates to 1847.
Since Death Records/Certificates were uncommon in most of America in the 1840's, this notarized statement from Margaret's youngest child is undoubtedly the best record I am likely to find of her death.
Margaret's death approximately 1847 may also help explain why I've been unable to locate an 1850 Census for Sanford and any children who remained in the household. My hunch is Margaret most likely died either in childbirth (in which case the child also died) or possibly of cholera. In a historical record of Grant County, it was noted a cholera epidemic hit the area in 1850. This, of course, would suggest that possibly Margaret died in 1850, not 1847; however it seems feasible given Lewis' recollection of his age when his mother died was post-Civil War, likely in the 1870's or later, when Lewis was relying on his memory from at least 30 years earlier.
IDENTIFYING MARGARET'S PARENTS
Last year (2018) I spent significant time researching Sanford Edwards and his first wife based on the Miami County, Ohio marriage record and several Ancestry Family Trees which stated her name as Margaret Mills, daughter of Alexander Mills and Eunice Pearson.
I indeed found Alexander and Eunice in Miami County, Ohio as of 1807, having migrated there from Newberry County, South Carolina. Very surprising to me was the discovery they were Quakers and the migration was prompted by their belief that slavery was wrong. Their migration was with most of the Quakers living in Newberry County, SC; it is well documented in Quaker and other records.
This past October (2019), I made a visit to Miami, Warren, and Clinton Counties, Ohio to research my Edwards line. I was particularly hopeful that a visit to the Quaker Home Museum in Waynesville (Warren County) which has a small research library might yield records regarding the Mills family. The Clerk of the Miami Monthly Meeting (local Quaker organization that still meets and worships at the 1811 Meetinghouse) met with me and checked some records I had not previously seen. Unfortunately, none of them yielded any information about Margaret or her likely parents.
Once I returned from Ohio I worked further on my 4X Great Grandfather, Jesse Edwards, who lived most of his adult life in Miami County. I had not previously researched any of Jesse's children other than Sanford, Margaret's husband. I was stunned to find that Jesse's oldest son, David (named for Jesse's father), had at least 7 children including one named Alexander [1827 - 1875]). I've thought a lot about Sanford Edwards' brother, David, naming a son Alexander which is not among common male names I've encountered in the late 18th and 19th century over the last 8 years of my research. Since David also named a son Sanford (after his younger brother), a son after his father (Jesse) and a daughter after his wife (Cinthia), it's clear he and his wife followed the tradition of naming their children after family members. And so, after a lot of thought and work to identify Margaret's parents, I am at last ready to conclude that she is indeed the daughter of Alexander and Eunice Mills.
MARGARET'S BURIAL LOCATION
I have settled on Union-Lumpkin Cemetery as the likely burial location for Margaret based on several factors:
1. It is less than 6 miles (south) from Patch Grove where Sanford and Margaret lived in 1840 per that Census.
2. Union-Lumpkin was established in 1825 per the sign in the FAG photo.
3. Sanford did not appear to own land in Patch Grove as I did not find any land records for him, eliminating the possibility of Margaret being buried on their land.
4. Living "next door" to Sanford and Margaret per the 1840 Census was Christopher and Matilda Peck. This couple became important in my research as it was their home in 1850 that I found "runaway" son Lewis living per that Census. Both Christopher and Matilda are buried in Union-Lumpkin (both died in 1874) per their FAG Memorials. While this is not a "definitive" factor, it demonstrates that people living in Patch Grove were buried in this cemetery.
5. From aerial photographs I found on the cemetery's Facebook page, numerous sections of the cemetery appear not to have grave markers. Since I could not find burial records for this cemetery online, surveys seem to be the only means by which names of those interred can be identified. Also, if indeed Margaret was a Quaker, she may have not wanted a marker installed at her grave and from research it appears Sanford was unlikely to have had the financial means to purchase a marker.
10 March 2019: Draft
14 March 2019: Additions re Margaret's birth data, possible causes of death, and minor corrections
10 October 2019: Comments at beginning of bio regarding upcoming research in Warren County, Ohio
23 Nov 2019: Based on local Ohio research in Oct 2019 and the naming pattern used by Margaret's bother-in-law, David Edwards, for his children, linked Margaret to Alexander and Eunice Pearson Mills as her parents
Vicki Edwards
3X Great Granddaughter of Margaret Mills Edwards
The year and place of Margaret's birth are what I consider most likely based on extensive research of Margaret's life; however, I've not found a record of her birth. In October 2019, I visited Miami and Warren Counties, Ohio to further research the Mills family, but did not find any records documenting her birth. In preparing for this trip, I did learn, however, that her likely parents, Alexander and Eunice Mills, were already in the Miami Valley area in late 1802, one of the original 9 Quaker families to settle there from South Carolina. This date supports my conclusion that Margaret was born after her parents immigrated from South Carolina.
Margaret had at least 5 children with Sanford per the 1840 Census; they include:
--- Martin Edwards: Born: 1 Nov 1835 Greene County, Indiana. Died 7 Nov 1911 Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
--- Lewis (or Louis) B Edwards: Born 5 Jan 1842, Grant County, Wisconsin. Died 11 August 1919 Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff County, Nebraska
--- Harriet Edwards Lyons: 1828 - 1908
Margaret is clearly still living in 1840 per that US Census (under the record for Sanford Edwards in Grant County, Wisconsin) as it includes a White Female age 30 - 39 (= born 1801 - 1810). I have been unable to find Sanford in the 1850 US Census, but believe he is most likely still living in Patch Grove, Grant County, Wisconsin as he is there in 2 records after 1850.
Because Sanford married again in 1854 in Grant County, Wisconsin, it was clear Margaret had either died or the couple had separated. Given the marriage patterns of their descendants, particularly for my direct line, I knew separation was a possibility. Yet, given Margaret's likely family and religious background, I thought that unlikely.
Then on 9 Mar 2019, I reviewed the Civil War Pension file of Sanford and Margaret's youngest son, Lewis B Edwards. I was rewarded with more of an answer to Margaret's fate than I anticipated, all because the Pension Office questioned Lewis about two different birth dates he had earlier documented when he applied for a pension increase allowed by 11 May 1912 legislation: 5 July1841 or 5 January 1842.
Lewis answered the question by relating that "until he was about 6 years old", he assumed his birth date was 5 July 1841. However, he was much later told by his brother, Martin, that his correct birth date was 5 January 1842.
Detail that revealed the approximate year of Margaret's death was included in Lewis' 12 June 1912 explanation, copied here per Lewis' notarized answer regarding his two conflicting birth dates:
"That when he [Lewis] was a small boy, about six years old, his mother died and he ran away from the fathers control and that he had the understanding at that time that his birthday was July 5, 1841 and so believed until the GAR Encampment at Minneapolis, Minn. several years ago, when he met an older brother who told him that his right birthday was Jany 5, 1842. That the brother then had in his possession at home the family bible. This has since been destroyed by fire and the brother is dead. That he does not know of any other or further proof that can be obtained. That affiant believes his correct birthday to have been January 5, 1842, which would make him seventy years old last January."
My estimation of Margaret's death is based on Lewis' believing at the age of "about six" that he was born in July 1841. So age 6 was when his mother (her name documented in his Death Certificate) had died and he left home; this equates to 1847.
Since Death Records/Certificates were uncommon in most of America in the 1840's, this notarized statement from Margaret's youngest child is undoubtedly the best record I am likely to find of her death.
Margaret's death approximately 1847 may also help explain why I've been unable to locate an 1850 Census for Sanford and any children who remained in the household. My hunch is Margaret most likely died either in childbirth (in which case the child also died) or possibly of cholera. In a historical record of Grant County, it was noted a cholera epidemic hit the area in 1850. This, of course, would suggest that possibly Margaret died in 1850, not 1847; however it seems feasible given Lewis' recollection of his age when his mother died was post-Civil War, likely in the 1870's or later, when Lewis was relying on his memory from at least 30 years earlier.
IDENTIFYING MARGARET'S PARENTS
Last year (2018) I spent significant time researching Sanford Edwards and his first wife based on the Miami County, Ohio marriage record and several Ancestry Family Trees which stated her name as Margaret Mills, daughter of Alexander Mills and Eunice Pearson.
I indeed found Alexander and Eunice in Miami County, Ohio as of 1807, having migrated there from Newberry County, South Carolina. Very surprising to me was the discovery they were Quakers and the migration was prompted by their belief that slavery was wrong. Their migration was with most of the Quakers living in Newberry County, SC; it is well documented in Quaker and other records.
This past October (2019), I made a visit to Miami, Warren, and Clinton Counties, Ohio to research my Edwards line. I was particularly hopeful that a visit to the Quaker Home Museum in Waynesville (Warren County) which has a small research library might yield records regarding the Mills family. The Clerk of the Miami Monthly Meeting (local Quaker organization that still meets and worships at the 1811 Meetinghouse) met with me and checked some records I had not previously seen. Unfortunately, none of them yielded any information about Margaret or her likely parents.
Once I returned from Ohio I worked further on my 4X Great Grandfather, Jesse Edwards, who lived most of his adult life in Miami County. I had not previously researched any of Jesse's children other than Sanford, Margaret's husband. I was stunned to find that Jesse's oldest son, David (named for Jesse's father), had at least 7 children including one named Alexander [1827 - 1875]). I've thought a lot about Sanford Edwards' brother, David, naming a son Alexander which is not among common male names I've encountered in the late 18th and 19th century over the last 8 years of my research. Since David also named a son Sanford (after his younger brother), a son after his father (Jesse) and a daughter after his wife (Cinthia), it's clear he and his wife followed the tradition of naming their children after family members. And so, after a lot of thought and work to identify Margaret's parents, I am at last ready to conclude that she is indeed the daughter of Alexander and Eunice Mills.
MARGARET'S BURIAL LOCATION
I have settled on Union-Lumpkin Cemetery as the likely burial location for Margaret based on several factors:
1. It is less than 6 miles (south) from Patch Grove where Sanford and Margaret lived in 1840 per that Census.
2. Union-Lumpkin was established in 1825 per the sign in the FAG photo.
3. Sanford did not appear to own land in Patch Grove as I did not find any land records for him, eliminating the possibility of Margaret being buried on their land.
4. Living "next door" to Sanford and Margaret per the 1840 Census was Christopher and Matilda Peck. This couple became important in my research as it was their home in 1850 that I found "runaway" son Lewis living per that Census. Both Christopher and Matilda are buried in Union-Lumpkin (both died in 1874) per their FAG Memorials. While this is not a "definitive" factor, it demonstrates that people living in Patch Grove were buried in this cemetery.
5. From aerial photographs I found on the cemetery's Facebook page, numerous sections of the cemetery appear not to have grave markers. Since I could not find burial records for this cemetery online, surveys seem to be the only means by which names of those interred can be identified. Also, if indeed Margaret was a Quaker, she may have not wanted a marker installed at her grave and from research it appears Sanford was unlikely to have had the financial means to purchase a marker.
10 March 2019: Draft
14 March 2019: Additions re Margaret's birth data, possible causes of death, and minor corrections
10 October 2019: Comments at beginning of bio regarding upcoming research in Warren County, Ohio
23 Nov 2019: Based on local Ohio research in Oct 2019 and the naming pattern used by Margaret's bother-in-law, David Edwards, for his children, linked Margaret to Alexander and Eunice Pearson Mills as her parents
Vicki Edwards
3X Great Granddaughter of Margaret Mills Edwards
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