Edward Stuart

Abt 1700 - Abt 1744  (44 years)

• Name	Edward Stuart
  Birth	Abt 1700	Scotland
  Gender	Male
  Death	Abt 1744	Europe
  Person ID	I191555	First tree
  Last Modified	23 Oct 2022

  
  

  Family	Hannah Wilson,   b. 7 Oct 1702, Rehoboth, Bristol, Massachusetts, USA d. Abt 1743, Killingly, Windham, Connecticut, USA (Age 40 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1734
  Family ID	F45626	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	23 Oct 2022

  
  

• Notes

  Edward Stuart first appears in the historical account about 1730, as a Scottish adventurer going by the name of "Girk" who resided in Voluntown, Connecticut. He chanced to meet Mrs. Hannah Spaulding, of nearby Killingly, Connecticut, widow of Jacob Spaulding. He confided to Hannah that his real name was Edward Stuart, and that he was a lineal descendant of the royal line, sharing the banishment of the King. His appearance and manners led credence to his story, and he was vouched for by Rev. Samuel Dorrance and other prominent settlers of Voluntown. After a few years, against the advice of her friends and relatives, Hannah agreed to marry Mr. Stuart. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Dorrance. They had one daughter, who was named in honor of Mary, the ill-fated Queen of Scotland: Mary, born June 29, 1735 Soon after the birth of their daughter, Edward went abroad for a year, during which he was supposed to have taken a part in uprisings in England. Upon his return he persuaded his wife to sell the farm so he could use the proceeds for another overseas venture. This roused much suspicion within the town, leading Edward to steal away in the night. He later wrote his wife that he was about to make one more effort to retrieve his fortunes and whatever he might gain "it would not be too good to share with her." This was the last ever heard of Edward Stuart. The date of his departure corresponds well with the first abortive attempt by King Charles Edward to reclaim his usurped throne. In 1743, a great invasion was prepared from France. Charles Edward was summoned from Rome to command an army of veterans, "having the great Marshal Saxe to lead the troops which were to drive the Elector of Hanover from his usurped throne." The expedition sailed from Dunkirk early in 1744, but a great storm destroyed or scattered the fleet, and wrecked all hope of immediate restoration. If Edward Stuart had planned to aid in this enterprise he doubtless met the fate of his associates