Dr. Enoch Edwards
Encyclopedia
Enoch Edwards was an American physician and a leading Patriot
during the American Revolution
. Born in Lower Dublin Township, Pennsylvania
, Edwards was a member of the Provincial Congress in Carpenters' Hall
on June 18, 1776, which led to the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
. He was also a signatory of the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution
. During the war he served as attending physician for George Washington
, was a close friend of both Benjamin Rush
and Thomas Jefferson
, and kept up correspondence with James Monroe
and John Quincy Adams
.
On October 26, 1779, Edwards married Frances Gordon (half-sister of Henry Benbridge
) at Christ Church, Philadelphia
.
The Edwards family were prominent during the American Revolution.
As a living eyewitness to Jefferson's return to Frankford, Fanny Saltar makes the following entry while writing her memoirs:
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Born in Lower Dublin Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Dublin Township, Pennsylvania
Lower Dublin Township, also known as Dublin Township, is a defunct township that was located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. The township ceased to exist and was incorporated into the City of Philadelphia following the passage of the Act of Consolidation, 1854.-History:Commonly called Lower...
, Edwards was a member of the Provincial Congress in Carpenters' Hall
Carpenters' Hall
Carpenters' Hall is a two-story brick building in the Old City neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that was a key meeting place in the early history of the United States. Completed in 1773 and set back from Chestnut Street, the meeting hall was built for and is still owned by the...
on June 18, 1776, which led to the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776
The Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 was the state's first constitution following the Declaration of Independence, and has been described as the most democratic in America. It was drafted by Robert Whitehill, Timothy Matlack, Dr. Thomas Young, George Bryan, James Cannon, and Benjamin Franklin...
. He was also a signatory of the 1790 Pennsylvania Constitution
Pennsylvania Constitution
The current Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, most recently revised in 1968, forms the law for the United States Commonwealth of Pennsylvania...
. During the war he served as attending physician for George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, was a close friend of both Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Rush was a Founding Father of the United States. Rush lived in the state of Pennsylvania and was a physician, writer, educator, humanitarian and a Christian Universalist, as well as the founder of Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania....
and Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, and kept up correspondence with James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
and John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams
John Quincy Adams was the sixth President of the United States . He served as an American diplomat, Senator, and Congressional representative. He was a member of the Federalist, Democratic-Republican, National Republican, and later Anti-Masonic and Whig parties. Adams was the son of former...
.
On October 26, 1779, Edwards married Frances Gordon (half-sister of Henry Benbridge
Henry Benbridge
]]Henry Benbridge born October 1743 died February 1812), early American portrait painter, was born in Philadelphia, the only child of James and Mary Benbridge. When he was seven years old, his mother, who had been left a widow, was married to Thomas Gordon, a wealthy Scot. The boy's artistic...
) at Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church, Philadelphia
Christ Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
.
The Edwards family were prominent during the American Revolution.
"Dr. Enoch Edwards was associated with James MonroeJames MonroeJames Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
when the latter was minister to France, and was also on the staff of Lord SterlingLord SterlingLord Sterling can refer to:* Jeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of Plaistow, British peer and former chairman of P&O* William Alexander, claimed the title of Earl of Stirling, American Revolutionary War general* Jonathan Agnew, Lord Of Hillsborough...
.
A brother, Major Evan Edwards, was on the staff of General Charles Lee, and was General LeeCharles Lee (general)Charles Lee was a British soldier who later served as a General of the Continental Army during the American War of Independence. Lee served in the British army during the Seven Years War. After the war he sold his commission and served for a time in the Polish army of King Stanislaus II...
's second in his celebrated duel with Laurens, in which Alexander HamiltonAlexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
was the second on the other side.
It is said that Jefferson made his first draft of the Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of independenceA declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
in the summer house located in the garden of Dr. Edwards, in FrankfordFrankford, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaFrankford is a large and important neighborhood in the lower Northeast section of Philadelphia situated about six miles northeast of Center City. Although its borders are vaguely defined, the neighborhood is bounded roughly by the original course of Frankford Creek, now roughly Adams to Aramingo...
.
The mansion on these grounds, which was only recently torn down, was in its day the resort of the most eminent men of the time, including George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
, Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, Monroe, and many others foremost in the history of our country.
Aaron BurrAaron BurrAaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, who was a cousin of Dr. Edwards, and of Dr. Britton's great-grandmother, was also a frequent visitor."
As a living eyewitness to Jefferson's return to Frankford, Fanny Saltar makes the following entry while writing her memoirs:
After my uncle's return, he purchased a place in Frankford
of Mr. Drinker. The house was pleasantly situated at
some distance from the street, but the beauty of the
place consisted in the lovely view presented from the
summer-house, of the pastures, streams, bridges, mills,
the village, numberless roads winding through tall
trees, luxuriant shade, and rising above all other objects,
was seen Christ ChurchChrist Church, PhiladelphiaChrist Church is an Episcopal church located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1695 by members of the Church of England, who built a small wooden church on the site by the next year. When the congregation outgrew this structure some twenty years later, they decided to erect a new...
steeple, five miles distant.
One day when Mr. Jefferson was on a visit to my uncle,
they walked up to this summer-house. He looked round
and said: This is the spot on which the signers of the Declaration of Independence dined the day they signed the Declaration.
External links
- "House and ground where the 1st "4th of July" was celebrated." Enoch Edwards, Womrath property; 4216 Frankford Ave.", ca 1870, P.9062.53b (Brenner) 7⅛ × 9½ in. Notes: Reduced image in HSP: Bd 862 N447, 6th Series with printed label.
