Edward (nmn) BAWDEN was born to Stephen (nmn) and Elizabeth GILBERT/JELBERT in Redruth, Cornwall, UK on 30 Mar 1817. He was trained as a blacksmith continuing the family trade for at least 2 generations. He was also a miner for tin, gold, or wherever there was work to be had. He was also a supervisor for brother Stephen's SAWANEE MINING CO. in Redruth. Stephen manufactured mining equipment and sold it as an agent in Cuba, Pennsylvania, and Iowa.

He left Cornwall for Alaska as a gold miner and mined the nugget he used for his wife Elizabeth Jane KITTO in Redruth when they wed 22 Nov 1840 probably in the Church of England - St. Euny's. (KITTO genesis posted in another blog). Elizabeth Jane was the dtr of John and Elizabeth TEAGUE KITTO born 14 Oct 1816. Family history says John disowned Elizabeth for marrying Edward, and that John was titled - probably Mine Supervisor - and that John dressed better than other employees and had a personality to match.

Elizabeth KITTO BAWDEN worked as a 'special' seamstress - this meant she was very skilled at sewing formal clothing and uniforms because she could work with gold thread. There was a pot of molten gold and the seamstress would dip her needle into the liquid and pull out 'threads' like hot cheese and stitch with it before it became brittle.

The couple came to the US, (2 children were stillborn on the boat), and settled in Mineral Point, Iowa County, Wisconsin. They built a house in neighboring Linden and had 5 children. Edwin started a blacksmith business.
Mineral Point is sistered with Redruth, Cornwall, because it had the largest concentration of Redruthians already busy with limestone and tin mining. A mining village, Pendarvis, is in Mineral Point, available for tours and bi-annual Cornish Festivals.

Edwin and Elizabeth had 5 children born in Linden. (A list is in a seperate blog)

Edwin died from a horse kick in the head when he was about 42 yo in 1859. I have seen references that say Elizabeth is buried in the Methodist church yard in Mineral Point with a child, and I have seen a reference that says Edward is buried in Linden and Mineral Point Cemetery. Locations for either have not been ascertained. Elizabeth died (no date) 1896 in Linden.

A grand-nephew, Harry ELDRIDGE BAWDEN, says in his personal history of the BAWDEN family:
Edward BAWDEN joined the gold rush to Alaska. He gave me many Mexican stamps which I will give to my grandchildren.