The Legacy of Richard Edwards: The First Son of King Henry VIII

Supportive Sources Richard Edwards first son of King Henry VIII

The Edwards Legacy – David Dean Edwards (1992)

Family history compilation presenting Agnes Blewitt as a mistress of Henry VIII and Richard as their son. States that Henry VIII provided funds for Richard’s education and allowed the Tudor rose on the family arms.

Medium: Printed family history book (privately published; found in some genealogical libraries).

Geni.com – Rev. Richard Edwardes profile

Lists Henry VIII as father and Agnes Blewitt as mother. Repeats claims of Crown-provided Oxford education and Tudor rose usage.

Geni profile link

OurFamtree.org – William Edwards / Richard Edwardes entries

Fully adopts the Henry VIII paternity narrative, citing The Edwards Legacy and other genealogical compilations.

OurFamtree link

Wikitree.com – Richard (Edwards) Edwardes Sr.

Genealogical profile openly discusses and leans toward the family legend being true, referencing coats of arms and royal favor.

Wikitree profile link

FamilyTrees.Genopro.com – Edwards-Blewett lineage

Presents the paternity claim as fact in the family tree, with narrative notes about royal grants and education funding.

Genopro family tree link

Edwards Family History Website (excerpt):

“The story goes that King Henry VIII allowed Agnes Blewitt to put the Tudor Rose onto the Edwards Coat of Arms after she gave birth to their son Richard. Even though King Henry didn’t recognize Richard publicly, he allowed her the courtesy of this honor... Agnes and William Edwards lived adjacent to the King's Hunting lodge in Somerset, England until the king gave them land and a castle which they named Edwards Hall... Richard was never officially accepted as an heir... but he was afforded many favorable opportunities as a young man by the king, including a post at Christ Church College in Oxford.”

The Edwardes Legacy (1992):

“King Henry VIII is said to have had an affair with Agnes Blewitt, with whom he fathered an illegitimate son named Richard Edwards. Richard was afforded opportunities usually given to royal illegitimate children, such as attending Oxford. He later joined the inner circle of the royal family.”

The Edwardes Legacy (2000) and summarizes:

“Some ‘whispered rumors’ are often repeated about an affair of King Henry VIII with Agnes Beaupine Blewitt...
On page 49, he states: ‘There are many circumstances in Richard’s life and the events thereafter that suggest while Richard Edwardes was reared by the Edwardes family, that he was the natural son of Henry VIII. There is no other explanation for the close involvement with the House of Tudor.’”

Richard (Edwards) Edwardes Sr.:

“Richard is the son that cannot be positively linked to William because records suggest that he was born from another man, King Henry VIII.”

Geni.com Profile Notes:

A commentary excerpted reads:

“There are also suggestions that Richard Edwards was Henry's son. The evidence rests on him receiving an Oxford education that his family could not have afforded.”

The Edwardes Legacy (David D. Edwards, 1992)

“AMERICA may turn into a modern-day treasure island for more than 5,000 descendants of a 17th century Welsh pirate…
The Edwardes Legacy by David D. Edwards…”
OCC Genealogical Society

(from a 2021 revision quoting the 1992 book) “Author David Dean Edwards, in his 1992 book, ‘The Edwardes Legacy,’ corroborates the story that Richard was afforded many favorable opportunities as a young man, including a post at Christ Church College in Oxford. The Edwards family was poor, and, yet, young Richard’s schooling, of the best kind, was paid for by Henry.”

Henry VIII & Agnes Blewitt

“A book on the subject was written in 1992 by David Dean Edwards called 'Edward's Legacy' … Richard Edwards was educated at Oxford, receiving both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree… The Queen was impressed with the piece, and intended to bestow a gift on Edwards, but he died soon after the performance.”

TudorHistory.org Q&A (as preserved in a blog)

“Yes, Henry VIII did have another illegitimate son named Richard Edwardes. His mother was Henry VIII's mistress was Agnes Blewitt. Although Henry VIII never acknowledged Richard because he was illegitimate, Agnes specifically claimed that he was the father.”

Update these website: Geni, WikiTree, Find A Grave, Oxford University Rolls Education records, tudorhistory.org

Research: He was granted a coat of arms with the Tudor Rose by royal decree

Churches involved with Richard Edwards Richard Edwardes (1525–1566) was a composer and playwright

Reverend Richard Edwardes: A Family Legend

• Family lore suggests that Agnes Blewett, mistress of Henry VIII, bore him a son, Richard Edwardes. While not officially recognized, legend claims she was allowed to display the Tudor Rose on her coat of arms as a token of royal favor.
  Summary of the legend: https://edwardsfamilyhistory.yourwebsitespace.com/stories