Bye for now, Leah Graham E-Mail #4: From: Bruce G Date: Thursday, October 09, 2003 4:15:40 PM To: John E Hoyt Subject: Re: Hoyt-Edwards Family History John, First - type in Errol Estate Country Club in your search engine. It will bring you to the Errol Estate web site - photos, etc. It is an old mansion in Apopka that is now a resort with a 27 hole golf course. It describes it in the history. It was owned by John T. Pirie. My aunt Nancy says it was an incredibly beautiful mansion where some important and exciting gala event was held every weekend. Many servants - each of the servants had their own guest house and the houses were all named. Second - After printing that info, type in Plymouth Historical Trail in your search engine (in Apopka). Look down where it mentions the Errol Estate. It mentions that William Edwards used to run that enormous place with all it's cattle, etc. According to my Aunt Nancy, William Edwards and John T. Pirie (both from Scotland) were best friends and both came down from Illinois. Nancy says he must have acquired the bulk of his wealth in Illinois (where he was married to Isobel, and where his first son James Stewart was born). William Pirie (John T. Pirie's great grandson) lives at the Errol Estate with his wife currently. I emailed him just two days ago to see if he had any information on William Edwards. Interestingly enough - he does

He had to go out of town for two weeks so I'll have to wait to see what he has. But I have a hunch that there are photos of William Edwards hanging in the Errol Estate on it's walls. His words were "when I return I will get to you all that I have ASAP". I'm excited and I will keep you informed. Two things: 1) According to the 1900 US Census - William Edwards immigrated from Scotland in 1886. Isobel in 1892. According to the 1920 US Census - William naturalized in 1890 (doesn't show immigration year). According to the 1930 US Census - William immigrated in 1884, Isobel in 1894. So there is a two-year discrepancy for each. Naturalization records do not go back that far unfortunately. So I am left to search Scottish records. We have their birth places, we can try those places. Or we'll have to search passenger lists. 2) I still need a mailing address for you. Keep working with Ann

I'll keep talking with Nancy. I just wish she had a computer

Catch you soon. Leah Graham ----- Original Message ----- From: John E Hoyt To: BANDLGRAM@msn.com Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 8:21 PM Subject: Re: Hoyt-Edwards Family History Leah, Leah, No, I haven't heard them. Thanks so much for retelling these stories. What is the Errol Estate? I recieved some data from my Aunt Ruth's daughter, ANN about the Gravesites in Apopka, of the Edwards Family stones. I have a twin brother whom lives in Apopka, starting in July of this year, it so happens, and have just asked him to go and photograph the Edwards Headstiones, & area, etc., after Ann e-mails him what cemetery and where the location might be. Looks as if Ann, and a few people on the Edwards side were friends. I'll send you her e-mail of that data, also. right after this is sent. Keep digging..Did William come straight from Scotland? or is there more Edwards here before him in America? John Hoyt -------Original Message------- From: Bruce G Date: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 12:57:17 AM To: John E Hoyt Subject: Re: Hoyt-Edwards Family History Dear John, I just spent a few days with my Uncle David Stewart Edwards. He came to help me with genealogy. All he could add to what you and I have was photographs and a few stories. I will try to send you a few photographs. (Only of David Stewart Edwards - James' Brother) I also don't know anything about James except that he married a woman named Blanche. There were no children from that marriage. Then he married your Aunt Ruth Hoyt next. I am in touch with my Aunt Nancy Jean Edwards-Mabry who currently lives in Lakeland, Florida. She seems to know more than anyone, but it is taking me some time to pull these stories out of her. She grew up in Orlando. They used to hang out at Errol Estate as children, where William Edwards used to run that place. Nancy says William and another fellow had a bank note together. The note came due, and somehow the other fellow couldn't pay so William got stuck with all of it. Apparently that's why they moved to Zellwood. James and David lived there but Nancy was quite sure Margaret Jean had moved away. The new place in Zellwood (still nice) eventually burned down. Do you know about these stories? Nancy eluded to some family dissension. Not sure what that was all about. Scanning what I have - I think it's the same as you. I'm mainly interested in going further than William and Isabelle - on to Scotland research. Thanks to you I have a starting place now. Keep in touch. Let me know if these don't send. Leah Graham (Okay - I just tried and the pictures are too big.) Do you have a PO Box or some sort of mailing address that I can send you some copies of what I have? Write back. I've got younger and older photos of David Stewart Edwards. I believe I have a photo of Isabelle - although I wish someone could verify it is her. I also have photographs of Grace Elizabeth Mitchell-Edwards (David's wife) and their three children when they were small. Let me know. MARRIAGE: Source: Electronic e-mail; From: BANDLGRAM@msn.com Date: Thursday, October 09, 2003 10:47:17 PM To: jeh49341@chartermi.com Subject: James S. Edwards John, I hope you don't mind me popping in every time I get a tid-bit. I am just afraid I'll forget and I know how important it is to share information. On the 1930 US Census, James S. Edwards is listed living with his wife Blanche G. (whom I believe I told you did not have any children) but also on that census is one son William G. who Nancy Mabry tells me has since passed on. On that 1930 Census it listed William as being 6 at last birthday. Blanche was born in Pennsylvania as were both her mother and father who aren't listed. But here's something. It lists James under "occupation" as a "grower" and under "industry" it lists "ferns". One bit of information Nancy told me was that his father William Edwards founded the first citrus growers co-op in Florida. Also known as the "Plymouth Citrus Growers Association". They have a web site as well. The web site talks about ferns. I bet James had something to do with that along with his father. Important: Nancy also mentioned a very large newspaper article in the Apopka Newspaper about William Edwards. I would bet that this would tell where he immigrated from and if he immigrated with his family or not. I wish your brother could help us get our hands on that. Nancy said she had it somewhere, but couldn't find it. Your poor brother - he's going to have a lot of work to do. I hope he's a good sport

Bye for now, Leah Graham

Stewart Hoyt Edwards

Ruth Ann Edwards

Joanne VerBryck

Paul Bertram Kissinger

Notes: