Priscilla EDWARDS

(b. 15 March 1903 , Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA d. 19 July 1999 , Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA )

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Priscilla EDWARDS was born 15 March 1903 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA

Priscilla EDWARDS was the child of George Washington EDWARDS and Anna Amelia CROUSS and the grandchild of: (paternal) George Washington EDWARDS and Ida MILLS (maternal) Johann Georg "George John" KRAUSCH "CROUSS" and Amalie Christiane "Augusta" VOGEL

Spouse(s)/Partner(s) and Child(ren):

Priscilla married Burdette Mase FITCH abt. 1936 . Burdette Mase FITCH was born 12 February 1896 in Delphos, Ottawa, Kansas, USA. Burdette Mase died 6 November 1977 in San Francisco, California, USA. Burdette Mase was the child of Albert E FITCH and Jennie E MASE.

Priscilla married (2) William Waldo DOBYNS CHASE abt. 1955 . William Waldo DOBYNS CHASE was born 8 February 1899 in Manhattan, New York, USA (New York City) (New Amsterdam) (Washington Heights). William Waldo died 10 November 1975 in Florida, USA. William Waldo was the child of Robert Arthur Richard DOBYNS and Grace Elizabeth CHASE.

Priscilla EDWARDS died 19 July 1999 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA.
Details of the family tree of Priscilla appear below.

Everyday Chronicles: Life of the Average American Woman in the Mid-1900s

Are you related to Priscilla EDWARDS? If so, Forever Cousins: Eight Generations of the Theinert Family is a family history book about YOUR family!

What was our family talking about in 1900? Probably this! Find out why.
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Family and Children of Priscilla EDWARDS

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Priscilla EDWARDS married

Burdette Mase FITCH-- Date: abt. 1936 Place:

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Burdette Mase FITCH was the child of Albert E FITCH and Jennie E MASE

PITTSFIELD WOMAN TO WED AT MANILA

Engagement of Miss Priscilla Edwards, Concert and Radio Singer, Announced - Travels in Orient

"Mr and Mrs George Washington Edwards of Pittsfield announce the engagement of their daughter, Priscilla, to Capt Burdett M. Fitch, United States army, son of Mr and Mrs A. E. Fitch of Kansas City, formerly of Warrneton, Va. The wedding will take place the the 21st in the chapel at Fort Stotsenburg, Manilla, Philippine Islands, where Capt Fitch is stationed."

"Miss Edwards left late in September for a trip around the world, stopping at Banff and Lake Louise before sailing from Vancouver on the liner Empress of Japan. Stopping at Honolulu, the liner proceeded to Yokohama, where Miss Edwards with friends left the ship to make an extensive tour of Japan, visiting all its principal centers. Arriving at Peiping, she traveled by plane over the Ming tombs and the great wall at China. At Nanking, Miss Walker was the guest of her cousins Dr and Mrs William Roberts."

"Miss Walker was educated at Miss Hall's school at Pittsfield and the Capeu school at Northampton where her voice culture began under the direction of Miss Mary Williams of Smith college. Miss Edwards continued her musical education at the Institute of Musical Arts, New York city. After three years' study there, she became a pupil of Royal Dadman of Springfield."

"For some time, Miss Edwards was soprano in the quartet at the Longmeadow Congregational church under the direction of Mrs Dorothy Birchard Mulroney. Following travel and concert work in the West, Miss Edwards returned to study with Lambert Murphy. Concert and radio work followed with two seasons at Miami, Fla."

"Capt Fitch is a graduate of a southern college. He served in the World War and is now a captain of the field artillery at Fort Stotsenburg where he is a member of the post's polo team."

"Following their wedding, Capt Fitch and his bride will sail to Bali for a trip and will make their home at Fort Stotsenburg."

"Miss Edwards is a niece of Mrs Leroy P Fletcher of Spruceland avenue, this city, where she has frequently visited."

Date: February 02, 1936
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Republican

Children of Burdette Mase FITCH and Priscilla EDWARDS:

Priscilla EDWARDS married

William Waldo DOBYNS CHASE-- Date: abt. 1955 Place:
William Waldo DOBYNS CHASE was the child of Robert Arthur Richard DOBYNS and Grace Elizabeth CHASE

Children of William Waldo DOBYNS CHASE and Priscilla EDWARDS:

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Discovering the Ancestry of Priscilla EDWARDS: Events, Photos & Historical Records

Postcards and Memories of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, USA (Coltsville)

1903 Birth
Birth Source: Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1910 Vol: 532 Page: 113
Massachusetts Vital Records, 1841–1925
Researching Your Colonial New England Ancestors

1904 - June 28 - U.S. begins construction of Panama Canal.

1906 - August 22 – The first Victor Victrola, a phonographic record player, was manufactured, revolutionizing the way people listened to music at home.

In 1906, Reginald Fessenden made the first AM radio broadcast on December 24th. This event marked a significant advancement in radio technology, paving the way for the modern broadcasting industry.

1907-1908 - The electric washing machine is invented (Alva J. Fisher, United States)

1908 - First Model-T car is produced by Henry Ford (United States)

1909 - William Howard Taft becomes President of the United States

1910 Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
name: Priscilla Edwards
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Daughter
residence: Pittsfield Ward 4, Berkshire, Massachusetts
marital status: Single
race : White
gender: Female
immigration year:
father's birthplace: Massachusetts
mother's birthplace: Massachusetts
family number: 315
page number: 16
Household Gender Age
parent George W Edwards M 34y
parent Anna C Edwards F 34y
Priscilla Edwards F 7y

1910 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1912 - April 15 - Titanic sinks in the North Atlantic

1913 - The assembly line is invented (Henry Ford, United States)

The bra is invented (Mary Phelps Jacob, United States)

1913 - Woodrow Wilson becomes President of the United States

1913 - October 31 – The Lincoln Highway, the first automobile road across the United States, is dedicated

1915 - January 25 - First United States coast-to-coast long-distance telephone call

1917 - March 2 – The enactment of the Jones Act grants Puerto Ricans United States citizenship.

1917 - April 6 – WWI: The United States declares war on Germany

1918 - March 19 – The United States Congress establishes time zones and approves daylight saving time

1919 - June 4 – Women's rights: The United States Congress approves the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which would guarantee suffrage to women, and sends it to the U.S. states for ratification

1920 Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
name: Pricilla Edwards
residence: Precinct B Pittsfield City 4, Berkshire, Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1904
age: 16
birthplace: Massachusetts
relationship to head of household: Daughter
gender: Female
race: W
marital status: Single
father's birthplace:
mother's birthplace:
film number: 1820680
digital folder number: 4301046
image number: 00829
sheet number: 13
Household Gender Age
parent George W Edwards M 44y
parent Anna C Edwards F 43y
Pricilla Edwards F 16y

1920 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1920 - January 17 - Prohibition goes into effect on January 17, 1920, under the provisions of the 18th Amendment to the United States Constitution

1921 - Warren G. Harding becomes President of the United States

1921 - Charles Strite of Minnesota patents the pop-up toaster.

1923 to 1927 - Television is invented (Vladimir Kosma Zworykin (Russia), Philo Taylor Farnsworth (United States))

1923 - Calvin Coolidge becomes President of the United States

1927 - The aerosol can is invented (Erik Rotheim, Norway)

1927 - April 7 – Bell Telephone Co. transmits an image of Herbert Hoover (then the Secretary of Commerce), which becomes the first successful long distance demonstration of television

1928 - Sliced bread (bread slicing machine) is invented by Otto Frederick Rohwedder (United States)

1929 - Herbert Hoover becomes President of the United States

1929 - October 29 - Black Tuesday - Stock market crash - The Great Depression Begins - It lasted until 1941 (WW2)

1930 - Scotch tape is invented (Richard Drew (3M), United States)

1930 Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
name: Priscilla Edwards
event: Census
event date: 1930
event place: Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
gender: Female
age: 27
marital status: Single
race: White
birthplace: Massachusetts
estimated birth year: 1903
immigration year:
relationship to head of household: Daughter
father's birthplace: Massachusetts
mother's birthplace: Massachusetts
enumeration district number: 60
family number: 85
sheet number and letter: 5A
line number: 21
nara publication: T626, roll 885
film number: 2340620
digital folder number: 4606982
image number: 00785
Household Gender Age
parent George W Edwards M 54
parent Anna C Edwards F 54
Priscilla Edwards F 27

1930 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

In 1930, on February 18, Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, marking a significant milestone in the study of our solar system.

1931 - The paper towel is invented (Arthur Scott, United States)

1931 - March 3 – The Star-Spangled Banner is adopted as the United States National anthem.

1933 - Franklin D. Roosevelt becomes President of the United States

1933 - December 5 – The 21st Amendment to the United States Constitution is passed, repealing Prohibition

1934 - The metal beverage can is invented (American Can Co., United States)

1935 - The snowmobile was invented by Joseph Bombardier (Quebec, Canada)

1935 - August 14 – United States President Franklin Roosevelt signs the Social Security Act into law

Date: February 02, 1936
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Republican

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

1937
Mr and Mrs Leroy P. Fletcher of Spruceland avenue are spending the weekend at Pittsfield with Mrs George W Edwards of Paisley terrace. Mrs Edwards is entertaining her daughter, Mrs Burdette M. Fitch of Fort Stotsenburg, Phillippine islands until October 1. Mrs Fitch has many friends in this city.

Date: August 22, 1937
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Republican

The Springfield Sunday Union and Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
February 2, 1936

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

1938 - The ballpoint pen is invented (Lazlo Biro, Hungary)

1938-1944 - Sunscreen is invented (Franz Greiter, Switzerland and Benjamin Green, United States)

Border Crossings From Canada to United States, 1895-1956
name: Priscilla Edwards Fitch
arrival date: 08 Sep 1938
arrival port: Quebec, England
age: 35 years 3 months
estimated birth year: 1903
birth date: 15 Mar 1903
birthplace: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
birth country: USA
gender: Female
race:
last residence:
accompanied by:
departure date:
departure port: Southampton, England
departure contact:
arrival contact:
ship name: Duchess of Richmond
airline:
record has photo?:
nara publication title: Manifests of Passengers Arriving in the St. Albans, VT, District through Canadian Pacific and Atlantic Ports, 1895-1954
nara publication number: M1464
nara roll number: 603

familysearch.org (Mormon Genealogy Records)
Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find Your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website

1938 - October 27 - Du Pont announces a name for its new synthetic yarn: nylon.

1939 Article
'Mrs Burdette Mase Fitch of Washington, wife of Maj Fitch is visiting her mother, Mrs. George W. Edwards, 26 Paisley terrace Pittsfield, formerly of Springfield. Mrs Fitch is the former Miss Priscilla Edward. Maj Fitch recently was transferred to the adjutant-general's office at Washington from Manila.'

Date: September 05, 1939
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Republican

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

1940 Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Name: Pricella Fitch
Age: 35
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1905
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Widowed
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1940: Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
Street: Helmes Rd
House Number: 26
Farm: No
Inferred Residence in 1935: Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts
Residence in 1935: Same Place
Sheet Number: 62B
Household Members:
Name Age
Pricella Fitch 35

1940 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1940 - April - 1st electron microscope demonstrated (RCA), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

1941 - December 8 - (the day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor) United States declares war on Japan (WW2)

Pittsfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1943
Name: Mrs Priscilla E Fitch
Gender: F (Female)
Residence Year: 1943
Street Address: 26 Paisley ter
Residence Place: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Occupation: Emp
Publication Title: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1943
ancestry.com

The Springfield Daily Republican
Springfield, Massachusetts
September 28, 1943

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

1944 - D-Day, which occurred on June 6, 1944, was a pivotal World War II operation where Allied forces launched a massive invasion on the beaches of Normandy, France. Known as Operation Overlord, it involved over 156,000 troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other Allied nations. The operation aimed to liberate Western Europe from Nazi German control. The landings marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany, leading to the eventual Allied victory in Europe.

1945 - The atomic bomb is invented (J. Robert Oppenheimer, et al., United States)

The microwave oven was invented accidentally in 1945 by Percy Spencer, a Raytheon engineer. While testing a magnetron, he noticed microwaves melted a candy bar in his pocket. Experimenting further, he discovered microwaves could cook food quickly. Raytheon patented the process, and by 1947, they built the first commercial microwave oven, called the 'Radarange.' Initially used in commercial settings, microwaves becomes affordable for home use by the 1960s and 1970s, revolutionizing cooking.

July 16, 1945
Week-end guests of Mrs. Priscilla Edwards Fitch, 26 Paisley Terrace, were Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Bachulus of Springfield. Mrs. Bachulus is the former Ernestine Humphrey of Pittsfield.

The Berkshire Eagle
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
July 16, 1945

1945 - Harry S. Truman becomes President of the United States

1945 - On September 2, 1945, World War II officially ended with the formal surrender of Japan. The surrender ceremony took place aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, where Japanese officials signed the Instrument of Surrender in the presence of Allied representatives, including General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz.

1948 - Velcro is invented (George de Mestral, Switzerland)

1950 - Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Name: Priscilla E Fitch
Age: 45
Birth Date: abt 1905
Gender: Female
Birth Place: Massachusetts
Marital Status: Divorced
Relation to Head of House: Head
Residence Date: 1950
Home in 1950: Pittsfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, USA
Dwelling Number: 81
Household Members Age Relationship
Priscilla E Fitch 45 Head
1950 Census Ancestry (U.S.)
Exploring the U.S. Census: Your Guide to America’s Data

1950 - June 25 - Korean War begins when North Korean forces invade South Korea.

1952 Article
'Mrs. Priscilla Edwards Fitch of 26 Paisley Ter., Pittsfield is on vacation from the Local Draft Board 44 and Mrs. Sabina Derengowski is in charge of the office.'

Date: July 30, 1952
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Union

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

Pittsfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1953
Name: Mrs Priscilla E Fitch
Gender: F (Female)
Residence Year: 1953
Street Address: 26 Paisley ter
Residence Place: Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Occupation: Clerk
Publication Title: Pittsfield, Massachusetts, City Directory, 1953
ancestry.com

1953 - Dwight D. Eisenhower becomes President of the United States

1953 - On July 27, 1953, the Korean War ended with the signing of an armistice agreement at Panmunjom. This ceasefire halted the conflict between North Korea, supported by China and the Soviet Union, and South Korea, backed by United Nations forces primarily from the United States. The agreement established the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) near the 38th parallel, effectively maintaining the pre-war boundary and creating a buffer zone between the two Koreas.

1955 Auction
'AUCTION

Advance Notice

Wed. and Thurs. Oct. 12 and 13
For Priscilla Edwards Chase
26 Paisley Ter., off Dawes Ave.
Pittsfield, Mass.

A fine collection of modern, antique and oriental home furnishings. This is a sale you will not care to miss.

Inspection Hours: 2 to 4 P.M. on Sunday, Oct. 9.
Watch for a more detailed listing in next Sunday's Republican.

George H. Bean
'Yankee Auctioneer''

Date: October 02, 1955
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Union

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

Auction
Date: October 09, 1955
Location: Massachusetts
Paper: Springfield Union

Searching For Your Ancestors in Historic Newspapers

1961 - John F. Kennedy becomes President of the United States

1961 - Vietnam War officially begins with 900 military advisors landing in Saigon.

1962 - The Cuban Missile Crisis was a tense 13-day standoff in October 1962 between the United States and the Soviet Union over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba, just 90 miles from the U.S. coast. The crisis is considered the closest the Cold War came to escalating into a full-scale nuclear war. It began when American spy planes discovered the missiles, leading to a U.S. naval blockade of Cuba and intense negotiations. The crisis ended when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to remove the missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Turkey.

1963 - I Have a Dream Speech - Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963.

In 1963, on November 22, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, while riding in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza. The assassination shocked the nation and the world, leading to widespread mourning and a period of intense national introspection. Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson was sworn in as the 36th President of the United States shortly after Kennedy's death. The assassination sparked numerous conspiracy theories and investigations, with the Warren Commission ultimately concluding that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination. Kennedy's death had a profound impact on American politics and society, marking the end of an era often referred to as 'Camelot.'

1968 - The ATM is invented (Don Wetzel, United States)

1969 - Richard M. Nixon becomes President of the United States

1969 - July 20 - Apollo 11 - Man lands on the moon

June 17, 1972 – August 9, 1974 - Watergate Scandal began with the break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., in 1972. Members of President Richard Nixon's administration attempted to cover up their involvement. The scandal led to the discovery of multiple abuses of power by the Nixon administration, the resignation of President Nixon in 1974, and the indictment of several administration officials.

1973 - January 22 - Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 and Doe v. Bolton, 410 U.S. 179: The U.S. Supreme Court declares that the Constitution protects women’s right to terminate an early pregnancy, thus making abortion legal in the U.S.

1973 - March 29 - The last United States soldier leaves Vietnam

The cell phone was invented by Martin Cooper of Motorola. On April 3, 1973, he made the first handheld mobile phone call with the Motorola DynaTAC. This device weighed 2.5 pounds and was 10 inches long, offering 30 minutes of talk time and requiring 10 hours to charge. The first commercial cell phone was released in 1983, revolutionizing communication and leading to the modern smartphones we use today.

1974 - Gerald R. Ford becomes President of the United States after the resignation of Richard Nixon.

1975 Death of Spouse/Partner
William Waldo DOBYNS CHASE died 10 November 1975, , Florida, USA

1977 - Jimmy Carter becomes President of the United States

1977 Death of Spouse/Partner
Burdette Mase FITCH died 6 November 1977, San Francisco, California, USA

The 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State occurred on May 18, triggered by a 5.1 magnitude earthquake. It caused the largest landslide in recorded history, followed by a massive lateral blast. The eruption killed 57 people, destroyed 250 homes, and spread ash across the U.S.

1981 - Ronald Reagan becomes President of the United States

1981 - June 5 - First reported case of AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

1982 - The camcorder is invented (Sony Corp., Japan)

1983 - The laptop computer is invented (Radio Shack Corp., United States)

1986 - January 28 - Space Shuttle Challenger accident - The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when the shuttle broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members.

1989 - The World Wide Web is invented at CERN (Tim Berners-Lee, UK)

1989 - George H. W. Bush becomes President of the United States

1993 - William J. Clinton becomes President of the United States

1999 Death
19 July 1999
Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA

She died at the age of 96.

Obituary
St. Petersburg Times (FL) - July 24, 1999
Deceased Name: CHASE, PRISCILLA EDWARDS
CHASE, PRISCILLA EDWARDS, 90, of St. Petersburg, died Monday (July 19, 1999) at Crystal Oaks of Pinellas, Pinellas Park. She was born in Pittsfield, Mass., where she attended Miss Hall's School and the Chapin School. She studied singing at the Julliard School of Music in New York. After moving to St. Petersburg in the mid-1950s, she and her late husband, William Waldo Chase, managed the Arvilla Motel in Treasure Island for six years. Later they purchased the Sea Chase II, a motor yacht that became their home. She was a past president of the Women's Auxiliary of the Pass-a-Grille Yacht Club, the Women's Chamber of Commerce of the Greater Gulf Beaches and the Boca Ciega Power Squadron. She was a past district president of the Western FloridaPower Squadron. Survivors include several nieces and nephew. Blount, Curry & Roel Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Beach Memorial Chapel, St. Pete Beach.

Priscilla is buried at: According to the funeral home, Priscilla Chase was cremated and the remains were given to a Dorothy Davis to be scattered.

Added: 11/14/2009 9:39:14 AM - Updated: 3/20/2025 11:34:10 AM