Elisha Wilkinson
Resident of Capt. Newell's District.

Entered Militia in Virginia at Sussex C.H. under command of Capt. Green Hill, Lt. John Foreman, Ensign John Tyas, Maj. Jarrold, Col. Joseph Jones and Gen. Lawson in November 1780. Marched to Cabbin Point, drew arms and was marched to Babbs Old Field, 7 miles from Hampton Road. From there to Petersburg where was discharged after 6 weeks and 3 days service - was made Corporal after 3 days service. Re-entered service January 4, 1881, as substitute for Simon Shell of Brunswick County, Va., and marched to Petersburg and to Coffins Point to Babbs Old Field under command of Col. Meriwether,Maj. Nathaniel Lucas, Capt. Edmun Wilkins, Lt. Joel Wilkinson, Ensign Thomas Cook, and served until April 15, 1781, as 2nd Sergeant and was discharged after service of 3 months and 11 days. Entered army again July 14, 1781 at Sussex C.H. under command of Col. Boyd Blount, Maj. William Boggs, Capt. Sterling Howell, Lt. Gardner Howell, Ensign William Mogit. Marched to Baker's Old Field and put in Light Horse Co., under Capt. James Vaughan. Marched to Hall's Mills thence to Portsmouth where remained until August 28, 1781, when was sent to Sussex by Col. Benj. Blount with an express to Col. David Mason. Rejoined army at Jamestown and was here discharged. All service being about 6 months and 14 days.

Born in Sussex County, Virginia in 1763 and lived there until 1789, when removed to Dinwiddie and lived there 5 years and removed to Mecklinburg County, Va., where remained until 1807, when came to Franklin County, Ga., present residence.

Source: Historical Collections Georgia Chapters DAR Vol.1 Franklin County, GA

Senator John Edwards
Great Great Great Great Grandson of Elisha Wilkinson & Lucy Abernathy.

Elisha Wilkinson (1762-1833) was the great great great great grandfather of former Senator John Edwards (Democrat representing North Carolina, January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2005. And Democratic Party nominee for Vice President in 2004). Elisha's wife, Lucy Abernathy (1773-1837) was the great great great great grandmother of former senator John Edwards. One of their daughters, Sophia Wilkinson (1805-1883) married Thomas Gilbert Edwards (1796-1848). One of their sons, Joseph H. Edwards (1832-1887) married Elizabeth J. Whitworth (1833-1915).

Source: Information from “The Ancestors of Sen John Edwards (b. 1953) by William Addams Reitwiesner. Much of the material of former senator Edwards ancestry was contributed by Robert Battle. Others include Julie Helen Otto, of the New England Historic-Genealogical Society, Melvyn Douglass, A. Deason Smith, Michael Allison, Nancy Hinkle Flesch, Charlene Reeds Ebeling, Ann C Holloman, Lois Branch, and Gary Boyd Roberts.⁸⁾