William and Eleanor married at Speldhurst Kent in February 1817. William was a Rifleman in the 95th Regiment of the British Army. William and Eleanor with their four children arrived on the ship 'Rockingham'. This ship was buffeted by a storm and swept to Cockburn Sound where it ran aground at Mangles Bay. Passengers salvaged some luggage but were forced to live on the beach as the project organised by Thomas Peel failed. William joined John Garrett Bussell from Blackwood River to Vasse. The Edwards family then lived at Guildford between 1832 and 1841. William became a tenant farmer on land owned by Governor Stirling and Eleanor began a shop. She is remembered for the straw hats she wove from reeds. They then moved to Helena River where they owned land and then to 'Sandgate' at Beverley. They owned 'Speldhurst' and 'Seaton Ross' properties. Eleanor opened a shop near a church which was built in their honour at 'Edwards Crossing' on the old Beverley Road. Descendants of their family still own and farm the original properties. William died 28 October 1865 at Beverley and Eleanor died 24 December 1871 at Beverley.