Looking for Edwards in St. John's, Antigua...perhaps originally from Britain

[Soozeq]

I am trying to find my great great grandfather's (Benjamin Edwards) information.  All I have is that his wife's headstone is in St. John's, Antigua in the cemetery of the Moravian church.  Her name is Sophia Knapp, they had 2 daughters together, Wilhelmina and Matilda.  We think Sophia came into the marriage with 2 children already.
Matilda is my great grandmother *she married Alfred Tucker) and we have info on her down to me, they emigrated to Canada in the early 1900's.  Does anyone know of any contacts in Antigua that would be able to obtain records for me....paid of course.

[CaroleW]

Hi and Welcome to Rootschat

Could you give some info re: birthyears for the people named in your post

[Soozeq]

Hi Carole
Matilda Edwards B: July 27, 1860 in St. John's, Antigua
D: Feb 9,1959 Toronto, Canada

Matilda married Herbert Alfred Tucker B: Sept 21, 1863, London, Middlesex, UK.
D: April 19, 1952 Toronto, Canada

Benjamin W. Edwards is Matilda's father and the big mystery in our research.  He fell off the edge of the earth somewhere after Maltilda and her sister Wihelmina (1862 Antigua - 1955 Toronto) were born.  He is not listed on their marriage certificates or anywhere else that we can find.  We think he was born in 1830. His wife Sophia Knapp is buried in the cemetery of the Moravian Church in St. John's.  Benjamin may be buried there too, we don't know.

[avm228]

Welcome from me too.

So that we have all known details - an online tree has his full name as Benjamin William Edwards - is that documented?  Do we know what he was doing by way of occupation in Antigua? What is the source of 1830 for his birthdate?

Also, is it known where and when he met and married Sophia?  The same online tree names her previous children as Vincent Lionel Knapp b 1850 Belgium and Louisa Knapp b Belgium (no sources cited).

[Soozeq]

Perhaps you're looking at my tree!  Yes Benjamin William Edwards, the only "proof" of his existence that we have seen is his name on Sophia Knapp's headstone (listed as Sophia's husband), and an old notebook that my great Aunt Iris (Matilda's daughter) had listing her grandparents as Sophia Knapp and Benjamin W Edwards of St. John's, Antigua.  Iris and all her siblings were born on different islands (Nevis, Montserrat, St. Kitts).  We have a photo of Sophia's headstone but nothing on Benjamin.  No idea when he died.  He was not listed on Matilda's marriage certificate so we don't know if he had died by that time or was just not listed for whatever reason.  He may have had a print shop or lumber business, but that is just heresay from Aunt Iris (she died 1993). 
Family lore indicates his business was on the property of what is now Barclays Bank.  We think Sophia and Ben met and married in the late 1850's, we have found her name on a ship's log from Belgium, we assume it is the same Sophia. We don't know why she came to Antigua from Belgium or what her back history is.  My father has a very vague recollection of hearing Vincent Lionel Knapp's name when my dad was a young lad.  We can't find Vincent either, we thought he had come to Canada but can't find him.

[DeeDee4799]

Update pertaining to Benjamin Edwards from Antigua circa 1820-1880

The family knows a bit more about Benjamin Edwards and his family now.

Family members have DNA results.  Many, many DNA matches have antecedents from Barbados, linking to many of the most common surnames of the period (For ex.  Sealy, Corbin, Edwards, etc.)

One close DNA match does have grandparents from St. John's, Antigua (as opposed to Barbados)  with surname Edwards.  No idea how our Benjamin Edwards came to Antigua with so much family from Barbados. 

At least one child or step-child moved to the U.S. (New York, initially), and married.  Surnames Knapp, Hawes and Adams occur in his descendants. 

Pretty sure at least one set of ggg?grandparents are John Abel Richard Edwards and Caroline Archer born circa 1819.  (Second wife of John Abel Richard Edwards is Emma Hazard). 

We do have Benjamin's will, probate dated 1883 from Antigua.

Thanks in advance for anyone who can shed light.