In today's Claire Chats I look at Richard Edwards: who he was and how he has become linked to Henry VIII.
Sources
- “Edwards, Richard (1525–1566),” John R. Elliott, jun. in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, eee online ed., ed. Lawrence Goldman, Oxford: OUP, 2004, http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/8552 (accessed January 19, 2016).
- ed. King, Rosalind (2009) The works of Richard Edwards: Politics, poetry and performance in sixteenth century England, Manchester University Press.
- Cousin, John William, 1849-1910, A short biographical dictionary of English literature, p. 128.
- Hart, Kelly (2009) The Mistresses of Henry VIII, The History Press, p.77-79.
- Jones, Philippa (2009) The Other Tudors, New Holland, p. 300-302.
- "Question from Shannon - Another illegit. son of Henry VIII" on TudorHistory.org and answer from “Halsangels” at http://queryblog.tudorhistory.org/2006/04/question-from-shannon-another-illegit.html
The book on the Edwards family in which the family legend is written of is The Edwardes Legacy by David Dean Edwards, Gateway Press, Baltimore, 1992.
Richard Edwards is my 15th great grandfather and his mother Agnes Blewett is my 16th great grandmother, however, i have no info or clue on the whole thing about henry viii. if i might be related to him in a way? i have no clue whatsoever. Agnes did married a man, named William Edwardes, who actually my real bloodline ( 16th great grandfather).
This might seem complicated at first, i got confused and i really wish i had answer like real ones but i don’t know if there is a way for me get real answers.
I’m also of the blood line of Richard Edwards, from what I know and have studied,we are from the Tutor line, my last name is Edwards and Jonathan Edwards who started the great reformation in the 13 colonies was my fifth great grandfather.
Hello, I’m also related to him he is my 13th great-grandfather.
I’m trying to put it all together, too. What you may already know is that King Henry Vlll had 6 wives and many (other) ladies. One being Agnes Beaupenny Blewitt. William Edwards was good friends with the King and with ABB pregnant, set up an arranged marriage with Willy and Ag. They were given the Edwards Hall in or near Cardiff and the babies were born there. Richard, the first child, is said in secret, to be the Kings’ child but took the Edwards name, among other children that came with the Edwards blood/name, supposedly. They all could’ve been the Kings. Who knows for sure.
This is all very interesting as I’m also Richard’s 15th Great Grandson. I have him down on my Ancestry tree as the father although I do know that William and Agnes became the legal parents of Richard. I hope this legend is true because it would be very cool to know I have a closer descendancy to royalty. I’ve already found a line where I’m of direct descent from Edward I, so having a closer link would be amazing.
Rev Richard is my 12th g grandfather. As my husband has many Kings in his ancestry I am hoping this is my royal connection.
I have the Edwards family crest I have to take another look at it.
I understand that Henry VIII’s paternity of Richard Henry Blewitt ( Richard Blewitt Edwards), is DNA verified. Is this so?
Ancestry has also linked me to Richard Edwardes. I am beginning to think this is a case of shared confirmation bias as more and more Ancestry trees are subtly bent in his direction over time. Apart from the Tudor connection, his grandchildren also seem to have shown up in Jamestown Colony in 1622. I am more certain of my family connection to that part of the Edwards ancestors.
I few caveats….
I’ve read the following,
My understanding, is that Agnes was permitted a Tudor rose on her coat of Arms.
That’s a big deal. Not something usually permitted and very suspect.
Her family was granted land in Scotland, which Henry VIII had connections with.
Tudors were known to put illegitimate sons in church positions, as well as education, and he was given both a prohibitively expensive education and elite position in the church.
If correct,
All of this, especially the rose, is pretty compelling circumstantial evidence.
To put all this to rest, they should strive for DNA studies.
But let’s apply some critical thought, an ld occam’s razor for a moment.
If the rumors were true and not just rumors, then it would lend credibility to the fact that a young man coming from a family with no memes all of a suddennus propped up into massive positions of privilege and has a full tuition ride paid for at the most elite university in England, and gets his bachelor’s and masters degree, completely paid for and then appointed to a top position within the church. All things that would take incredible power and means to do.
Henry was known to support his children.
It would make sense to keep things like this quiet and not publicly disclose it.
Occam’s razor would suggest that the most simple likely answer is, that the rumors are true.
And that explains why this “nobody” with no means all of a sudden is provided for with massive privilege and means for no explicable reason, and it would also explain why the rose emblem on the coat of arms was permitted along with all the other unusual factors surrounding this person, including the fact that he apparently had a good relationship with elizabeth.
I would think there must be some sort of information as to who was paying all these finances to the university and the church, but that could have been done through anonymous means, I suppose, as well…
But then again, that begs a question, why would somebody anonymously providing all this?
It’s real easy for people to wave their arms or be dismissive, or gatekeep.
But we’re talking about four hundred years of fog to work through with little actual verifiable.lninformation to go off of, so you almost have to certainly use the circumstantial evidence to come to logical conclusions such as this.
I mean, we have this kind of stuff that happens today.
The Biden administration wouldn’t even publicly recognize Hunter Biden’s daughter, Navy, for crying out loud and that’s today in modern times.
just think how hard it was to pin some of this down back then!
So I would argue, based on all the information surrounding this person, it seems more likely than not, that yes, he wasn’t fact the illegitimate child of henry.