The Royse (Royce) family has been a recent topic on the Family Stories Blog. My 5xgreat-grandfather, Frederick Royse, established the town of Fredericksburg Indiana in 1815. This post introduces his youngest daughter, Elizabeth Royse, and corrects some misinformation related to her father, husband, and children. Elizabeth Royse is my 4xgreat-grandmother. She was born in 1799, and moved with her family from Bardstown Kentucky to Washington county Indiana when she was still a girl. An Edmonston family record indicates that Elizabeth Royce (Royse) married William Edmonston, 22 Feb 1816 or 1817. No location is given, but at that time, William Edmonston was living in Jasper, Dubois county Indiana, about fifty miles west of the Royse home in Fredericksburg. If these dates are correct, Elizabeth would have been about age sixteen or seventeen at the time of her marriage.
In the 1820 Census of Dubois county Indiana, it is of interest to note a Joseph Royse and a John Royse living within close proximity to William Edmonston. I have not been successful in identifying Joseph and John Royse, but it seems possible that they are uncles or cousins to Elizabeth Royse Edmonston – perhaps through her father’s brother, John Royse. Did these family connections bring about a meeting of William Edmonston and Elizabeth Royse?
About 1829, William Edmonston and his wife Elizabeth moved near Macomb Illinois where he served in as a representative for McDonough county in the Illinois State Legislature from 1832-1844. Before 1850 they moved to Missouri where they lived in the counties of Reynolds, Bates, and finally Cooper county Missouri.
William Edmonston and Elizabeth Royse were the parents of eight identified children: John Royse Edmonston, Argyle Edmonston, Benjamin Franklin Edmonston, Sarah Nugent Edmonston, Elizabeth Edmonton, William Clay Edmonston, Thomas Benton Edmonston, and Bazil Edmonston.
For a time there was a theory passed around that Elizabeth Royse was the daughter of a John Royse and Sarah Nugent. I have never found evidence of this. The 1826 Will of Frederick Royse in Washington county Indiana, names his daughter Betsy (Royse) Edmonson. Betsy’s sister, Sarah (Royse) Nugent is also named. Sarah is probably the aunt for whom Sarah Nugent Edmonston is named.
Recently I have come across several family history databases on the web that suggest Elizabeth Royse, daughter of Frederick Royse, married a William Edmonson and was the mother of John, Martin, James, Lucy and Susan Edmonson. On inspection I find this suggested family in 1850 and 1860 Harrison county Indiana. But, the mother’s name is Susannah and a family record names her as Susannah Durr. This is not the family of our Elizabeth Royse Edmonston.
Recently I came across this wonderful photograph of Elizabeth Royse Edmonston at her Find A Grave memorial. What a treat! Cousin Ernest Edmonston has contributed some wonderful biographies, photos and documents there. Family historians won't want to miss these! - Elizabeth Royse at Find A Grave.
For more details on Elizabeth Royse and her husband William Edmonston, visit their pages at Family Stories, pamgarrett.com.
Moving back in time: Albert Luther Clarkson 1901 > Samuel Edwin Clarkson 1875 > Elizabeth Jane Robinson 1848 > Sarah Nugent Edmonston 1821 > Elizabeth Royse 1799.
