Son of Richard Edelen (c.1635-1694), gentleman, Deputy Surveyor General of Maryland and Doorkeeper of the Maryland Assembly, who was a younger son of Rev. Philip Edelen (c.1598-1657) and Katherine Offley Brewster. His father married with a license dated on Oct. 29, 1663 in London to Elizabeth Banton who accompanied him to Maryland.

Richard Edelen (c.1671-1760), gentleman, was referred to in multiple documents as a 'carpenter', which term in his day was the equivalent of an architect and contracter. Shortly after obtaining his majority in 1687, he patented a 258-acre tract called 'Friendship' in Charles County, Maryland, and in 1708 he purchased a tract known as 'St George the First' on the west side of Piles Fresh in St Mary's County. By the terms of his father's will he received the tract 'St Christopher', and in 1749 he inherited 400 acres of Egerton's Manor from his brother Thomas Edelen. His many land transactions are too numerous to all be included in this abbreviated account of his life, but mention should be made of his acquisition in 1727 of 'Assington', a residence on the east side of Zachiah Swamp in Newport Hundred, Charles County, which became his dwelling plantation and which at his death in 1760 was divided between his widow Anne during her lifetime and his son Edward Edelen. He died testate with a will dated July 16, 1760.