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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Reverand Richard Edwards & Helene Griffith

29888. Reverand Richard Edwards & 29889. Helene Griffith   

3/1525, Richard born in Parish of North Petherton, Somerset, England, s/o 59776. William Edwardes & 59777. Agnes Bluet.

~1540, Helen born in Somerset, England, d/o §§Thomas Griffith.

5/11/1540, “Richard Edwardes” entered Oxford at the age of 15 years and 2 months.

11/1/1544, Richard received his BA degree.

2/3/1546, Richard received his MA degree and was ordained an Anglican priest.

4/11/1550, Richard was elected Theologian at Christ Church College, a Music Master. [He studied music with George Etheridge, Composer, Choir-Master of the Court of England, Playwright and Poet.]

9/17/1553, Richard became a member of the Chapel Royal for the coronation of Queen Mary.

7/12/1555, Richard Edwards resigned as Rector of St. Helen’s, Worchester.

1558, Richard was allotted 7 yards of black cloth as a gentleman of the Chapel Royal for the funeral of Queen Mary.

11/17/1558, Richard attended the coronation of Queen Elizabeth I.

1559, Richard is on the list of the Queen's Chamber.

4/22/1560, Richard 1st married Margaret Babb. [His wives were permitted under the permission of Elizabeth I. Margaret apparently died in her first childbirth. William would likely be her son.]

5/27/1560, Richard received a patent as Gentleman of the Chapel Royal, and appointed Deputy Master of the children.

7/26/1561, Richard appointed Master of the children. “This position was one of considerable responsibility and prestige, the incumbent being one of the upper court circle, which accompanied the sovereign on progresses as well as in London.”

[––Richard & Helen––]

Bef. 1562, Richard married Helene. [Which brought him considerable wealth.]

1564, Richard was admitted as a member of Lincoln’s Inn. This was an organization of prominent London lawyers and Richard was an honorary member.

12/25/1564, Richard produced a play with his own music entitled “Damon and Pythias.”

2/2/1565, at Candlemas, Richard produced a play entitled “Misogomus.” 

9/2/1566, Richard produced a play for his Queen entitled “Palamon and Arcite.” [At the close of his play she made an informal and gracious speech of thanks to him, and on the next day we hear of his standing beside her on the steps of St. Mary’s Church and exchanging witicisms.]

10/31/1566, Richard died, Helen’s brother Thomas executor of his will.

(S) “Edwardes Legacy”, by David D Edwards, England. (S) The Journal of Germanic Philology, Vol. 4, No. 3 (1902). (S) Richard Edwards, The Literary Encyclopedia, King, 2002.

Family notes:

·         Richard was considered to have been the “Shakespeare of His Time”. William Shakespeare did use one of Richard’s poems in a play.

Children of Richard and Margaret:

i. William Edwardes, born 11/9/1561 in the parish of North Petherton, Somerset.

Children of Richard and Helene:

v. John Edwardes, born 3/15/1565 in North Petherton, Somerset.

vi. Richard Edwards Jr (14944), born 11/22/1566 in North Petherton, Somerset.


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