Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Edward Lloyd VII (1825-1907)
MSA SC 3520-1604

Biography:

Born in 1825.1  Resided in Wye House, Talbot County.  Children included Edward Lloyd VIII.  Tenth Lloyd of Wye, ninth Lloyd of Wye House.  Died October 22, 1907 at his home.

House of Delegates, Talbot County, 1847-49.  Senate, Talbot County, 1874-78.  Senate president, 1878, 1892.  President, Board of Agriculture on the Eastern Shore.

    Edward Lloyd VII, the eldest son of Col. Edward Lloyd VI and Alicia McBlair, was born in 1825 with high expectations to successfully continue the family name.2  Edward VII was known as the "Master of Wye House."3 His early education was primarily from tutors, but when he reached the proper age he went on to learn from Rev. Dr. Muhlenburg at College Point in New York.4 This experience was to prepare him for college, before he was admitted to Princeton.5 However, Edward wanted a life of activity in the agriculture business.  He eventually took control of several of his father's farms in Talbot County, Maryland.6 Edward VII resided at the plantation called "Presq'ile," the former residence of Murray Lloyd, his uncle.7

    In 1846, the Mexican war broke out and Edward wanted to be involved in the military.8 He formed a company in his own neighborhood of which he was captain.9 He was soon placed upon the staff of Brigadier-General Tench Tilghman.10 Under the command of Tilghman, he became a major and served as aide to Major-General Handy.11 Then, he was commissioned Colonel by Governor Thomas.12 Despite his service time, he was not called into active duty in Mexico.   

    In 1847, he began a political career, much like his previous family members.  He was elected for a seat in the lower house of the General Assembly by the democrats of Talbot before he reached a lawful age.13 In 1849, he was re-elected and was also made chairman of the committee on finance.14 The accomplishments for Edward VII did not stop there.  In 1877, he was again nominated for the State Senate and was chosen to be president of the Senate with the full vote of his party and having no opposition.15 Once he completed his term in the House of Delegates, he held no other political positions, but was still widely regarded as a leader in Talbot County and Maryland. He would also go on to become the largest farmer in Talbot County, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather.16

    Edward Lloyd VII, however, faced a problem that did not affect his predecessors - his slaves were emancipated.  Many of his former slaves, mainly those that were in the immediate household area, would remain as employees.17 Instead of sulking over his misfortunes, he knew it was his responsibility to rebuild the family fortune and to maintain the "ancient dignity of the family."18 According to the 1870 federal census, Edward Lloyd VII was approximately 44 years old with a real estate value of $283,000 and a personal estate value of $25,444.19 The Lloyd family had made their fortune through the ownership of a substantial amount of land and slaves, and their successful cultivation of said land using the labor of the slaves.

    In 1851, Edward Lloyd VII married Miss Mary Key, the daughter of Charles Howard, Esq., of Baltimore.20 She was from a family that was well-respected. The couple had nine children, six boys and three daughters, with one not surviving.21 The 1900 United States Federal Census shows that she had nine children and eight of them had survived.22

    The eldest son, Edward Lloyd VIII was born July 20, 1857 to continue a long generational line of Edward Lloyds.23 He would go on to become successful as well.  He was educated in Annapolis and became a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy by 1885.24 According to the 1880 Federal Census, Edward was 22 years old and was in the United States Navy.25 Edward VIII was known as "the Admiral."26    

    His father, Edward VII, passed away on October 22, 1907 after suffering from a "dilated right side of Heart," which coincidentally was his 82nd birthday.27  At the time of his death, Edward VII was residing at "Wye House."28  His obituary began with the headline "A Foremost Figure in Maryland Public Affairs - Head of an Ancient Family."29 From the headline, Edward Lloyd VII was viewed as a significant figure not only in Talbot County, but also in Maryland. According to the obituary, his great grandfather was the Edward Lloyd "whose figure appears in the painting of Washington surrendering his commission in the State House."30 The Lloyd family was involved heavily in Maryland, and Edward Lloyd VII was no different.

Endnotes:

1. Oswald Tilghman, "History of Talbot County, Maryland: 1661-1861, Vol. 1," Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins Company, 1915, 221.

2. BOARD OF HEALTH (Death Record, Counties) 10/1907. TA (Talbot County). Edward Lloyd. Legacy Accession Number: S1178. MSA SE42-2603.

3. Tilghman, "History of Talbot County, Maryland 221.

4. Ibid., 222.

5. Ibid.

6. Ibid.

7. Ibid.

8. Ibid.

9. Ibid., 223.

10. Ibid.

11. Ibid.

12. Ibid.

13. Ibid.

14. Ibid., 223-224.

15. Ibid.

16. Ibid., 225.

17. Ibid., 227.

18. Ibid.

19. Ancestry.com. 1870, United States Federal Census, Talbot County, Maryland, District 1, Pages 53-54.

20. Tilghman, 227.

21. Ibid.

22. Ancestry.com. 1900, United States Federal Census, Talbot County, Maryland, Easton District, Page 25.

23. Tilghman, 227.

24. Ibid.

25. Ancestry.com. 1880, United States Federal Census, Talbot County, Maryland, 1st Election District, Pages 12-13.

26. Tilghman, 228.

27. BOARD OF HEALTH (Death Record, Counties) 10/1907. TA (Talbot County). Edward Lloyd.

28.  Ibid.

29. "Colonel Edward Lloyd Dead."  The Evening Capital, 22 October 1907.

30. Ibid.

Case Study Written and Researched by Tanner Sparks, 2012.

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