Edward Sanford, Sr.

Edward married first to Elizabeth Spence around 1740. No children are known from that marriage and it appears Elizabeth died before 1746. Edward quickly remarried to Catherine Pope. Catherine was the daughter of Lawrence Pope and Jemima Waddy. Their family owned Pope's Creek and sold land to Colonel John Washington, great-grandfather of George Washington, to build the Wakefield Plantation, birthplace of the first president. Edward and Catherine would go on to have eight children.

In 1751 Edward purchased 75 acres of land in Cople Parish, Westmoreland from Augustine Washington, Jr. and his wife Ann for 30 pounds. Augustine was the half brother of George Washington who refused the wishes in their father's will to give Wakefield to George - so George was given Mount Vernon instead. The land purchased by Edward was described as bordering the property of Thomas Sanford (probably his uncle), and Richard Sanford (either his father or brother).

On February 27th, 1766 The Association of Westmoreland met at Bray's Church in Leedstown and drafted a document that became known as the Leedstown Resolves. The document opposed the Stamp Act of 1765 and openly defied the King of England. The author was Richard Henry Lee who later served in the Continental Congress and helped to write the Declaration of Independence. Among the 115 signers of the Resolves was Edward Sanford.

In 1774 and 1775 Edward served on the Committee of Safety in Westmoreland County. The Committee was the way that local governments in the colony armed their militias away from British eyes.

Edward wrote his will on Christmas Day, 1785. He left his plantation, home and livestock to his wife Catherine during her widowhood. In the will he refers to his sons as using the last name Pope. He gave his lands purchased from Daniel McCarty to their oldest son Patrick. To the heirs of his daughter Jemima Stone he left one shilling. He also left one shilling to the heirs of his daughter Susannah Sutton. Edward, Sr. left Edward, Jr. the plantation where he lived after the death of his wife. If Edward, Jr. did not have a male heir then the land was to go to his brother Robert. Edward gave another parcel of land to his son Richard and to son Robert the proceeds of his last tobacco crop. He gave daughter Elizabeth a slave and furniture. He left another slave to his daughter Catherine. Edward was able to write at least well enough to sign his own will. The will was proven in Westmoreland County Court on July 25th, 1786.