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The Edgerton Database |
Benjamin Storrs Edgerton, son of Asa and Eunice (Storrs) Edgerton.
Milly Hendee, daughter of Joshua and Lydia (Woodward) Hendee.
Children:
Benjamin Storrs Edgerton was born at Norwich, Connecticut on March 12, 1777, the son of Asa Edgerton and his second wife, Eunice Storrs. Within a month or two following his birth, the family removed from Norwich. They resided briefly in Mansfield, Connecticut, his mother’s hometown. Benjamin was baptized at the First Church of Mansfield on July 6, 1777, as “Benjamin Storrs, son of Asa Edgerton”. A younger brother, Asa Jr., was baptized at the Mansfield Church in 1780. In 1781, the family settled permanently in Randolph, Orange County, Vermont, where Benjamin’s father, Asa, was one of the earliest settlers and grantee of the charter. Benjamin was raised in Randolph, and spent the remainder of his life there. Upon the death of his father in 1798, Benjamin apparently took over the family homestead in East Randolph (Randolph Center). The household of “Benj. Edgerton” was recorded in the 1800 Federal Census of Randolph, Orange County, Vermont (pg. ), with the following enumeration: 3 males “of 16 and under 26” (Benjamin, and brothers Asa and Ariel); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (brother John); and, 1 female “of 26 and under 45” (widowed mother, Eunice, actually aged 57). Benjamin was married in Randolph, Vermont on February 15, 1802 to Milly Hendee, the daughter of Joshua and Lydia (Woodward) Hendee. Milly was born at Hanover, New Hampshire on June 14, 1782. The family of Benjamin and Milly Edgerton was recorded in the Old Vital Records of Randolph (Book A, page 104), listing their marriage and the births of five children – Maria, Ariel, Amanda, John and Benjamine S. It is now known that the youngest child, daughter Benjamine Storrs, was accompanied by a twin brother, Benjamin Storrs, who was omitted (probably by mistake) from the record. The household of “Benjn S. Edgerton” was recorded in the 1810 Federal Census of Randolph, Orange County, Vermont (pg. 391), with the following enumeration: 2 males “of 26 and under 45” (Benjamin and ?); 2 males “of 16 and under 26” (?); 2 males “of 10 and under 16” (?); 2 males “under 10 years of age” (sons Ariel and John); 1 females “of 26 and under 45” (wife Milly); 2 females “of 16 and under 26” (?); and, 2 females “under 10 years of age” (daughters Maria and Amanda). Benjamin Storrs Edgerton
served in the War of 1812. He enlisted
on April 4, 1832 and served as Captain in the 11th U. S. Infantry Regiment
under Col. Isaac Clark. According to
his enlistment
record (U. S. Army Register of Enlistments 1798-1814; pg. 49, no. 75),
Benjamin was stationed in northwestern New York – at Sackett’s Harbor
and Malone. He resigned from service
on December 7, 1813. Benjamin’s widow,
“Millie Egerton” later applied for a military pension (see Index to War of
1812 Pension Files; Virgil D. White (comp.), 1989; Vol. I, p. 659). The following description of Benjamin’s
military service is given in Roster of Soldiers in the War of 1812 – State
of Vermont (Herbert T. Johnson, Adjutant General (comp.); 1933, pg. 148): “EGERTON, BENJAMIN S., Captain. Appointed Captain 11 Inf. March 12, 1812; resigned Dec. 12, 1813. Commanded company in 11th Regt.; on Pay Roll for September and October, 1812 and January and February 1813.” Benjamin Storrs Edgerton died at Randolph, Vermont on October 12, 1816, seven months prior to the births of his youngest two children. He was buried at the Randolph Center Cemetery, where his parents and numerous other close relatives are also interred. His gravestone was inscribed with the following epitaph:
The following obituary notice for Benjamin S. Edgerton was published in the Vermont Republican (Windsor, Vermont) on Monday, October 28, 1816: “In Randolph, on the 14th inst., Capt. Benj. S. Edgerton, an officer in the late war. His death was occasioned by the fall of a tree.” The household of “Milly Edgerton” was recorded in the 1820 Federal Census of Randolph, Orange County, Vermont (pg. 221), with the following enumeration: 1 male “of 26 and under 45” (?); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (son Ariel); 1 female “of 26 and under 45” (Milly); 1 female “of 16 and under 26” (daughter Maria); 1 female “of 10 and under 16” (daughter Amanda); and, 1 female “under 10 years of age” (daughter Benjamine). For some reason, the two younger sons John and Benjamin (aged 10 and 3, respectively) were not included with the family in this census enumeration. They were probably residing elsewhere in Randolph – possibly with an uncle or other relative. Mrs. Milly (Hendee) Edgerton survived her husband many years. She was listed in the 1850 Federal Census of Randolph, residing in the household of her son, John “Egerton”. She was enumerated then as: “Millee Egerton, aged 67 years, born in Vermont”. She died on August 18, 1854, presumably at Randolph, Vermont. Her burial site has not been located. Original Source Documents: Enlistment
Record – Benjamin Storrs Edgerton; U. S. Army Register of Enlistments
1798-1814; pg. 49, no. 75. 1810
Federal Census – household of Benjamin Storrs Edgerton; Randolph, Orange
Co., VT. 1820
Federal Census – household of Mrs. Milly (Hendee) Edgerton; Randolph,
Orange Co., VT. Gravestone
photo – Benjamin Storrs Edgerton; Randolph Center Cemetery; Randolph,
Orange Co., VT. Obituary
notice – Benjamin Storrs Edgerton;
Vermont Republican (Windsor, Vermont) – Monday, October 28, 1816. |
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