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.
