William Hedges
1742 - 1777 (35 years)
Generation: 1
Generation: 3
Generation: 4
1. William Hedges was born in 1742 in Frederick County, Maryland (son of William Hedges and Ann Price); died in 1777 in Frederick County, Maryland. Notes:
MHR note: William Hedges was 1st Lieut., 4th Co., 33rd battalion, Maryland Militia. Captain Christopher Stull under the command of Col. Charles Beatty. Maryland Historical Magazine, v.4, p379-380.
Will, 19 April 1777. Pro. 6 May 1777.
Frederick County, Maryland, Wills, Box 9, Folder 8 - Will of William Hedges. Written 19 Apr 1777. Probated 6 May 1777. To wife Elizabeth, the plantation whereon I now live, being one moiety or half part of a tract of land called Hedge Hog containing 129 acres. Sons Andrews, John, William & Levi.
http://mosesrawlings.freeservers.com/hedges.html
Will of William Hedges
made 19 April 1777, probated 6 May 1777.
Frederick County, Maryland
Hall of Records, Annapolis, Maryland. Box 9, Folder 8.
In the name of God amen. I William Hedges of Frederick Co., and Province of Maryland being weak of Body but of perfect Mind and memory thanks be given therefore calling to mind the uncertainty of this Life, and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz:
I give and recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God that gave it and my Body to the Earth to be buried in Christian Like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named.
Imprimis I give and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth the plantation whereon I now live, being one Moiety or half part of a Tract of Land called Hedge Hog containing one hundred and twenty nine acres, and also my moveable Estate of what Nature or kind soever, during the term or terms she remains my Widow, but in case she should marry before my son Andrew should arrive to the age of twenty-one years, it is my Will and I do order that the said Plantation or half part of the Tract aforesaid be rented out for the highest price that can be got for the same, and the money be paid to my sons Andrew, John, William and Levi equally divided share and share alike, as they respectively arrive to the age of twenty one years my wife Elizabeth her thirds excepted both in Real and personal Estate notwithstanding.
Item. It is my Will and I do order that my Children, namely Andrew, John, William and Levi be bound by my Executors, unto such Trades as they shall choose, when they respectively arrive to age of fifteen years with a provise in each of their indentures for the Person to whom they are bound to learn them to read write and case accompts to said Trade and also to find them sufficient meat, drink, wasting apparel, Lodging and physic.
Item it is my Will and I do order that my Wife Elizabeth during she remained my Widow, keep my children namely Andrew, John, William and Levi upon my said Plantation, and maintain them, without deducting any share or part of my said Estate bequeathed them for clothing and maintaining them.
Item It is my will and I do order that after the death of my wife Elizabeth or after her marriage and my Son Andrew arriving to the age of twenty one years that he keep the Plantation whereon I now live and before as before mentioned in this my Will the said Plantation or parcel of Land first to be valued be two indifferent Persons, and the valuation of said Land to be divided into four equal parts, each of my said Sons hereinbefore named to have an equal share of the same excepting Son Andrew who is to keep said Land if he chooses, to have the sum of fifty Pounds current Money in my moveable Estate but in Case that my moveable Estate should not be sufficient for to raise that Sum it is my Will and I do order that the said sum of fifty pounds be allowed and taken out of the said Plantation or parcel of Land without deducting any more of his part than the rest of my Children namely John, William and Levi, but in case by said Son Andrew should not choose or be unable to pay the residue of my Sons before named their proportionable part of the valuation of the Land aforesaid, it is my Will and I do order that my said Plantation or parcel of Land be exposed to public sale by way of Vendue to the highest Bidder and the money arising by such sale to be equally divided between my Sons Andrew, John, William and Levi, my Wife Elizabeth her Thirds expected.
And I hereby nominate and appoint my said Wife Elizabeth Hedges and William Dern Executors of this my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all other Wills heretofore by me in any ways made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and testament. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Affixed my Seal this nineteenth day of April in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred seventy seven.
William Hedges (seal)
Signed sealed published pronounced and declared by the said William Hedges as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us.
Joseph Hedges Tobias Butler John Julian
Birth:
MHR note: August or September 1742
Died:
MHR note: April or May 1777William married Elizabeth Dern about 1763. Elizabeth was born about 1745. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
Children:- Andrew Hedges was born on 30 Mar 1768 in Frederick County, Maryland; died in 1812 in Frederick County, Maryland.
- John Hedges was born about 1770; died in AS CHILD.
- William Hedges was born on 12 Aug 1773.
- Levi Hedges was born on 24 Nov 1775 in Frederick County, Maryland; died on 1 Apr 1847 in Fleming County, Kentucky; was buried in Old Crain Cemetery, Fleming County, Kentucky.
2. William Hedges was born about 1705 (son of Charles Hedges and Elizabeth Stille); died in 1742 in Prince George [Frederick] County, Maryland. Notes:
William Hedges (b. 1705 New Castle County, Del. - predeceased his father (29 Jan 1742) m. Ann and his will is found in Maryland Calendar of Wills, page 191: - Hedges, William, Prince George County, Maryland. Written 11 Aug 1742. Probated 29 Jan 1743 - to wife Ann (m. c. 1735), life int. in real estate and 1/3 personal estate. To son Joseph [b.c. 1737, d (6 May 1777), residue of estate. To 2 daughters (not named) £15. The chart I consulted lists a William Hedges (b. 1742, d. 1777) among his children, in addition to the three named in will.
http://mosesrawlings.freeservers.com/hedges.html
Died:
MHR note: January ?William married Ann Price. Ann died about 1772. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
3. Ann Price died about 1772. Children:
- Joseph Hedges was born about 1730; died on 30 Apr 1777 in Frederick County, Maryland.
- Catherine Hedges was born about 1740.
- 1. William Hedges was born in 1742 in Frederick County, Maryland; died in 1777 in Frederick County, Maryland.
Generation: 3
4. 
Charles Hedges was born on 6 Aug 1673 in New Castle County, Delaware (son of William Hedges and Mary Caldwell); died in 1743 in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Notes:
Charles Hedges, age 5, was apprenticed as a wheelright for a period of 12 years.
The New Castle Court sat monthly, its December session being held on Tuesday, 3 December 1678. (NCR, 1:251). At the end of the January sitting (8-9 January 1678/9), the court records show
"Mary the Late Widdow of William Hodges deceased this day apeared in Court whoe declared to have putt out hur son Charles hodges of about 5 Jeares of adge, unto Thomas Jacobs of Bread & Cheese Ysland for the full space and terme of Twelve Jears now next Ensuing, Thomas Jacobs Lykewyse apearing in Court did aknowledge to have taken the said Chyld for the abovesaid terme of 12 years; during which tyme hee doth promisse & Ingage to find the said boy with sufficient meat drink apparill washing and Lodgeing, and att the end of the 12 Jears to give to the boy a Cowe and Calfe, and doth further promis to Instruct him (if hee the said Jacobs Lives and that the boy is Capable of itt) in the trade of a wheele Right, and that his son Oele Tomas shall Larne the said boy to Reed as much as hee can teach him." (NCR, 1:285-86)
Thomas Jacobsson, who accepted responsibility for Charles Hedges, was a Finnish Swede who had arrived in former new Sweden … in 1656 with his wife [and] three children…. Thomas Jacobsson's name last appeared in New Castle County court records in the above-quoted excerpt. He presumably died shortly thereafter. He was no longer living in February 1682/3 when his son, Olle Thomasson [but not Thomas Jacobsson], pledged allegiance to the new government of William Penn. (NCR, 2:37)
The Joseph Project
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hedges/joseph/life.htm
[Repeated here is a series of excerpts from "The Colonial Descendants of William and Mary Hedges" by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig, Washington D.C. , November 1988, quoted and posted on the HEDGES Biographies/Vital Statistics GenConnect board in 1999 by permission of the author]
"Olle Thomasson (Bread and Cheese Island, Christiana hundred, 120). Olle Thomasson inherited his father's land and divided the same with the other current owners, Abraham Man and Arent Johnson, on 11 Jan, 1682/3. After the division, he was taxed on 200 acres. To this he added 200 acres more on 15 Jun 1689, purchased from John Cann, of which 100 acres were sold to Bengt Palsson in 1697. On 24 Jun 1699, he and his wife were assigned pews in the new Holy Trinity Church, but he died shorty thereafter. In 1701, his widow Eleanor Thomison was listed as owner of his property. The 1693 census show nine person in their household. Probably included in this number were Charles Hedges and his younger brother Joseph Hedges, as well as Olle's own children, of whom only Olle and Paul Thomasson and a daughter Margaret have been identified."
pages 103-104.
The 1693 census of the Swedes on the Delaware.
Peter Stebbins Craig.
Studies in Swedish American Geneaology 3.
SAG Publications, Winter Park, Florida, 1993.
"Bread and Cheese Island. This island, located at the junction of Christiana River with White Clay Creek, was the farthest settlement from the Delaware. Hwre patents had been granted to Thomas Jacobsson, Olof Palsson and Thomas Snelling, 3 August 1668 and 1 October 1669."
page 42.
1671 Census of the Delaware
Peter Stebbins Craig
Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1999.
Monograph Series No.4.
The Joseph Project
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hedges/joseph/life.htm
[Repeated here is a series of excerpts from "The Colonial Descendants of William and Mary Hedges" by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig, Washington D.C. , November 1988, quoted and posted on the HEDGES Biographies/Vital Statistics GenConnect board in 1999 by permission of the author]
Charles Hedges (1673-1743). When indentured for 12 years to Thomas Jacobsson … in 1679, he was only five years old. It is likely that relatively soon thereafter, with the death of Thomas Jacobsson, he moved to another Swedish home in the western part of Christiana Hundred along the east side of Red Clay Creek. It was here that he and his brother Joseph Hedges established long-standing relationships with several inter-related Swedish families and it was probably here that they both found Swedish wives soon after 1700.
The families were those of John Hedrickson, Charles Springer, John Anderson Cock (brother of Justus Anderson of New Castle) and Stephen Corneliusson. [Some of these and other names the author now introduces have appeared in various theories about who it was that Joseph of Monocacy married; but the author uses the information to show how those theories do not stand up to the facts.]
On Midsummer's Day 1699, Charles Hedge was assigned a pew in the new Holy Trinity Church at Christina [Wilmington]. (Horace Burr, Records of Holy Trinity (old Swedes) Church, 63) He had volunteered 15-1/2 days of work on the church and, in addition, had been paid £1.15.0 for cutting stone for one month during its construction. (ID, 47, 48)
On 17 August 1704, Charles Hedges purchased 96 acres of land in Mill Creek Hundred (on the west side of Red Clay Creek) from William Guest. (New Castle Deeds, L-4:341). He probably married soon thereafter. On 10 May 1711, there was surveyed for him another 170 acres above his land in William Penn's Manor on branches of the Elk River.
The surviving baptism records of Holy Trinity Church start in 1713. They show that Charles Hedges or his wife twice journeyed to Christina (present Wilmington) to be a baptismal sponsor.
On August 1723, Charles Hedges of Mill Creek Hundred, yeoman, acquired [17 more acres nearby]. Soon, however, his thoughts turned to moving further inland.
On 25 November 1724, the Pennsylvania Board of Property included the following entry in its minutes (Pa.Arch.2d Ser, 19:724): "Edward Robertson [Robinson] requests the grant of 500 acres of Land on the Head of the further Branch of Elk River. Charles hedge desires about the like Quantity about a mile to the Northward of the Indian Town, between the Head of Elk river and Octoraro."
A year later, on 29 October 1725, this plea was repeated (Id., 19:733): "Edward Robinson and Charles Hedge request the Grant of two parcells of Land on the Head of Elk River for 2 settlements for their sons." The move apparently took place, as is shown by [a] quotation dated 26 Jan. 1730/31 supplied by John Dern (source not identified).
On 17 February 1730/31, Charles Hedges and his wife Elizabeth of Notingham township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, for £70 and one peppercorn if demanded, sold their three tracts in Mill Creek Hundred, New Castle county, to Thomas Gray of Mill Creek Hundred. (New Castle Deeds, L-4,341) Simon Hadley and Charles Sprnger delivered the deed to Gray.
On 12 October 1743, Charles Hedges of Londonderry township, Chester County, Pa., yeoman, being "very sick and weak", signed his will by his mark, a "C". No wife is named in the will, suggesting that Elizabeth had died. (Chester Co., #865) [Children and grandchildren are named in the will, but none of that detail seems to have an immediate bearing on The Joseph Project.]
In 1699 Charles Hedges helped build Holy Trinity (Old Swedes) Church in Fort Christina [Wilmington], Delaware. Was assigned a pew there.
Will of Charles Hedges
Written 12 October 1743
Probated 8 November 1743
Chester County, Pennsylvania
Estate No.865
In the name of God Amen. I, Charles Hedges of Londonderry Township and County of Chester and Province of Pennsylvania, Yeoman, being sick and weak of body, yet of perfect mind, memory do make this my last Will and Testament. And principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands of Almighty God in hope it may be precious in His sight. And likewise I recommend my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent and Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same by the Almighty Power of God. As for my worldly Substance with which God hath blessed me, I dispose of in manner following. Viz:
I give unto my well beloved son Andrew Hedges the sum of fifty pounds good and current money of Pennsylvania, and that which is in his hands of the Gold shall be part of the fifty pounds received in part of the purchase of my place sold last whereupon my son had lived. Moreover I give and bequeath to my son Andrew Hedges over and above the aforesaid sum of fifty pounds current money aforesaid to receive the same for the first payment due for the place sold by me. And also eight cattle young and old to take back to his new place. And also I leave and bequeath unto my son Andrew Hedges the one half of all my other chattels besides.
Item: I leave and bequeath unto my son John Hedges or his heirs the sum of sixteen pounds current money of Pennsylvania. And also the half of all my chattels.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Hedges the sun of sixteen pounds current money of Pennsylvania.
Item: I give unto my daughter Mary Bishop the sum of sixteen pounds current money as above said.
Item: I give unto my son Peter Hedges the sum of ten pounds current money as above said.
Item: I give and order to be delivered unto my son John Hedges, oldest son (Charles) one young mare a year old last spring.
Item: I give and bequeath unto Ezekial Hedges son to Peter Hedges a mare a year old.
It is to be observed that above name legacies are to be paid in proportion to the receiving of the money due the estate of the abovesaid Charles Hedges by Josh Preston which above payment is well and timely to be made on the fifteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Five and in proportion till the whole legacies be discharged.
I likewise constitute and appoint my son John Hedges and Andrew Hedges my true and Lawful Executors of this my Las Will and Testament and all my ____ ____ My Lands and tenaments, whatsoever, Rectifying and confirming this my Last Will and Testament and no other. In witness thereof I hereby set unto it my hand and seal the Twelfth Day of October in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty Three.
Signed, Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Christopher Springer, William Cleneay & John Gordon
Signed Charles Hedges with his mark (C) and his seal.
The above will was in probate on 8 November 1743 when the above witnesses testified under oath that they were present at the time of making of the will.
Inventory of the goods of Charles Hedges
A white mare and a year old colt 3:10:0
An old bay horse and saddle 3:00:0
One young bay horse at 4:10:0
One old bald horse at 3:00:0
One brown cow with while on her back 2:10:0
One speckled cow at 2:10:0
One pair of handmill stones 0:10:0
A parcel of tools 0:15:0
One anvil and big hammer 0:15:0
Two sets of hough irons 1:00:0
Traces and Hams 0:11:0
Three old wheels 0:03:0
Two old chests 0:07:0
Parcel of wood trenches, peals, heelers
broken pewter and one tanker 0:12:0
Seven harrow teeth 0:01:8
One earthen crock and tub 0:01:0
Three pots one skillet and chair 1:10:0
Wheat in the yaerd 6:00:0
Rye and Barley 1:05:0
One servant boy prized at 10:00:0
This text follows with a sentence which is not readable
Seventh day of November 1743.
transcribed by Dorothy Shoop (1992).
Charles Hedges (b.c. 1673; d.c. 12 Oct. 1743- Chester Co., Pa) who m. Elizabeth Stille (d. < 12 Oct. 1743 -Chester Co. Pa) daughter of Anders Stille and Annetje Pieters. (Olof Persson Stille and his Family by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig (PeterCraig@ColonialSwedes.org) originally published in Swedish Colonial News, Volume 1, Number 16 (Fall 1997).
http://mosesrawlings.freeservers.com/hedges.htmlCharles married Elizabeth Stille. Elizabeth (daughter of Anders Stille and Annetje Pieters) died on 12 Oct 1743. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
5. Elizabeth Stille (daughter of Anders Stille and Annetje Pieters); died on 12 Oct 1743. Notes:
Charles Hedges (b.c. 1673; d.c. 12 Oct. 1743- Chester Co., Pa) who m. Elizabeth Stille (d. < 12 Oct. 1743 -Chester Co. Pa) daughter of Anders Stille and Annetje Pieters. (Olof Persson Stille and his Family by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig (PeterCraig@ColonialSwedes.org) originally published in Swedish Colonial News, Volume 1, Number 16 (Fall 1997).
http://mosesrawlings.freeservers.com/hedges.html
Children:
- 2. William Hedges was born about 1705; died in 1742 in Prince George [Frederick] County, Maryland.
- John Hedges was born about 1709.
- Andrew Hedges was born about 1711; died in 1747 in Prince George County, Maryland.
- Joseph Hedges was born about 1713.
- Mary Hedges was born about 1715.
- Peter Hedges was born about 1719; died in 1791 in Frederick County, Maryland.
Generation: 4
8. William Hedges was born before 1648; died in 1678 in New Castle County, Delaware. Notes:
From the Joseph Project.
http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~hedges/joseph/life.htm
[Repeated here is a series of excerpts from "The Colonial Descendants of William and Mary Hedges" by Dr. Peter Stebbins Craig, Washington D.C. , November 1988, quoted and posted on the HEDGES Biographies/Vital Statistics GenConnect board in 1999 by permission of the author]:
William and Mary Hedges, presumably English, are first found in New Castle County, Delaware, on 3 January 1677/8 when the New Castle Court granted him a lot in the town:
"Upon the Request of Will: hedges the Court doe grant him Liberty to take upp a Lott within this Towne of New Castle hee building & improoveing the same according to the Governor's orders." (Records of the Court of New Castle [hereafter NCR], 1:173)
On the same day this newcomer also sat on a jury in the New Castle Court in the case of John Moll v. John Roode. (NCR, 1:174)
Before the year was out, however, William Hedges had died, probably during the month of December 1678.
The Colonial Descendants of William and Mary Hedges, Dr Peter Stebbins Craig, 1988 & 1999 (excerpt): “William Hedges first appears in New Castle, Delaware, records on 3 January 1677/78 when he was issued a warrant to take up a lot in the town. (NCR, 1:175) This leaves a two-year window of opportunity for William Hedges to sail to America and find his way to New Castle. There was no Pennsylvania yet. He either had to have sailed for West Jersey or New York first. If to West Jersey, it would have been under Quaker auspices. (A number of Quakers, dissatisfied with Fenwick's colony, moved across the river to New Castle or to what later became Chester County)... William married Mary. Mary was born about 1650.”
http://mosesrawlings.freeservers.com/hedges.html
William married Mary Caldwell. Mary was born about 1650. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
9. Mary Caldwell was born about 1650. Other Events:
- Residence: 1679, New Castle County, Delaware
Notes:
Mary, widow of William Hedges, married second to John Smith of New Castle County, Delaware.
Children:
- Mary Hedges was born about 1669.
- Dorcas Hedges was born about 1671.
- 4. Charles Hedges was born on 6 Aug 1673 in New Castle County, Delaware; died in 1743 in Chester County, Pennsylvania.
- Joseph Hedges was born in 1674; died in 1732 in Maryland.
- Wililam Hedges was born about 1677; died in 1702 in Salem County, New Jersey.
10. Anders Stille Anders married Annetje Pieters. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
11. Annetje Pieters Children:
- 5. Elizabeth Stille died on 12 Oct 1743.