Ebenezer S. Edgerton was born at Granby, Connecticut in the year 1788, the eldest son of Ebenezer Edgerton Jr. and Almira Stratton. He was raised in Granby and upon his maturity removed to Albany, New York.

Ebenezer S. Edgerton was a private in the War of 1812. He served in the Fifth Artillery and Infantry Regiment of the New York Militia, under Capt. Colden; and also under Capt. Daniel Morrell. (see War of 1812 Muster Rolls, box 64, extract #602). Ebenezer later applied for a military pension (file #SC-1822), as a resident of Herkimer County, New York.

Ebenezer Edgerton settled in Albany, Albany County, New York. He was married there on August 26, 1811 to Agnes Martin and census records show that Ebenezer and Agnes had a large family. The following are the known children of this couple:

Mary Ann Edgerton, born June 5, 1812 at Albany, New York. She was married to Giles Spencer Annable and resided at Little Falls, New York. Giles and Mary Ann had a family of ten children. Following the death of her husband, Mary Ann went to live with her daughter, Harriet Requa, in Brooklyn, New York. She died there on May 25, 1861.

Alice Amelia Edgerton, born February 1814 at Albany, New York. Alice was married to Henry W. Fox and resided at Little Falls, New York and later, Somerville, New Jersey. They had two children: Mary A. and Benjamin. Alice died November 10, 1870 at Somerville, New Jersey. She was buried at Church Street Cemetery in Little Falls.

James Martin Edgerton, born 1817 at Albany, New York. He was married at Albany on January 7, 1840 to Mary Martin and had four children: James Martin (died young), Silas Wright (married Adelaide Boynton Higby), Hannah Mary (married Julius Cyrus Tracy), and Charles Sherman (married Anna Louise Jenkins). James’ household was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of West Troy, Albany County, New York (pg. 167). James was a painter and later a minister at Sandy Hook, Washington County, New York. James also resided for a time in Shelburne, Chittenden County, Vermont.

Robert Edgerton, born ~1818 in New York State. Robert was listed as a head of household in the 1850 Federal Census of West Troy, Albany County, New York (pg. 128). His family at that time consisted of his wife, Mary A. and a son, John D. The family was subsequently recorded in the 1860 and 1870 Federal Censuses and in the 1865 New York State Census (all in West Troy, Albany County, New York). Robert was a painter by trade. He enlisted at West Troy, New York on September 10, 1862, “aged 43”, and served as a private in the 43rd New York Infantry Regiment, Company K. He was later promoted to full corporal and transferred to the navy. He was honorably discharged on May 19, 1864. Robert and his wife, Mary were recorded together in the 1870 Federal Census of West Troy, Albany County, New York. This is currently the last known record of the couple; they may have been the Robert and Mary Edgerton who are buried together at Woodland Cemetery in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa.

William Stewart Edgerton, born October 1831 at Albany, New York. William was married to Elizabeth (“Betsy”) Smith of Troy, New York and had a large family of nine children. He resided successively in West Troy (Albany Co.), New York, Minden (Montgomery Co.), New York, Meriden (New Haven Co.), Connecticut, Adams (Berkshire Co.), Massachusetts and Darien (Fairfield Co.), Connecticut. William S. Edgerton served as a musician in the Civil War. He died at Fitch’s Home in Darien, Connecticut on August 3, 1895.

Eliza A. Edgerton, born November 1824 at Albany, New York. Eliza married Moses Danby, an immigrant from England and resided at Albany, New York and later New York City. She had two daughters: Emma (married P. H. Ewing) and Fannie J. Following the death of her husband in 1895, Eliza went to live with her daughter, Mrs. Emma (Danby) Ewing. Eliza was recorded there in the 1900 and 1910 Federal Censuses of Brooklyn and Queens, respectively.

Ebenezer Sherman Edgerton, born December 18, 1826 (possibly 1828) at Albany, New York. Ebenezer was first recorded as a head of household in the 1850 Federal Census of Little Falls, Herkimer County, New York. He was married first to Mary Jane Green, by whom he had at least five children, Edward B., Mary Helen, Alanson, Ralph and George Washington. Ebenezer enlisted for service at White Creek, New York on August 6, 1862 and fought in the New York Infantry. He later re-enlisted and served as a Lieutenant in the United States Colored Troops. Following the War, Ebenezer resided for a short time in Petersburg, Rensselaer County, New York, but soon after removed west to St. Joseph, Missouri, where his wife, Mary, and son, Ralph, died in October of 1866. He was remarried under the name “Edward S. Edgerton” to Philena Jenne at Warren County, Illinois, with whom he had two children, Frederick Edward and Nellie Elizabeth. Ebenezer divorced his second wife and abandoned his family when the two children were very young. He eventually went south to Kentucky. He was remarried there in 1878 to Mrs. Mary Elizabeth (Wells) Smith, and they later removed to Saline, Howard County, Arkansas, where he died in the year 1909.

Christopher H. Edgerton, born ~1828 in New York State. Christopher was a painter and later a methodist minister. He was first recorded as a head of household in the 1850 Federal Census of Little Falls, Herkimer County, New York (pg. 224). At that time, his family consisted of himself and his wife, Lucy Ann (Chase) Edgerton. By the time of the 1860 Federal Census, Christopher had settled in Hebron, Washington County, New York. His family consisted of himself, wife Lucy, and three children – Agnes May, Harriet Julie and Henry Fox (aka. “Harry”). Christopher enlisted at Hartford, New York on January 23, 1861 and served as a chaplain in the 13th Regiment of the New York Infantry. Christopher died prior to June 1870. His widow, Lucy, was remarried on September 25, 1877 at Hartford, New York to Albert E. Knapp.

Sarah Edgerton, born ~1834 in New York State. Sarah was married circa 1858 to Abraham Ellison Jackson (b. March 20, 1821) of New Scotland, Albany Co., New York. Abraham and Sarah Jackson had at least two children, both born in New Scotland, New York: William J. Jackson, b. June 19, 1859 and Agnes E. Jackson, b. January 1861, who married George Johnston. When the 1870 Federal Census was taken (see below), Sarah’s household included her father, Ebenezer Edgerton, as well as the family of her elder sister, Eliza (Edgerton) Danby. Sarah was remarried circa 1870 – 1880 to a Mr. McBride. At the time of the 1880 Census, she reported her father’s birthplace as Connecticut and mother’s birthplace as Ireland.

The household of Ebenezer S. Edgerton was recorded in the 1830 Federal Census of Albany (Ward 2), Albany County, New York (pg. 263), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 40 and under 50” (Ebenezer);

1 male “of 20 and under 30” (?);

2 males “of 10 and under 15” (sons James and Robert);

1 male “of 5 and under 10” (son William);

3 males “under 5 years of age” (sons Ebenezer, Christopher and ?);

1 female “of 30 and under 40” (wife Agnes);

2 females “of 15 and under 20” (daughters Mary Ann and Alice);

1 female “of 10 and under 15” (daughter ?); and,

1 female “of 5 and under 10” (daughter Eliza).

By 1832, Ebenezer had removed to Little Falls, Herkimer County, New York, where he was active in the formation of the Methodist Church (organized November 19, 1832). At the first meeting of the church, Ebenezer was chosen one of the trustees and also acted as church secretary (see Hardin, George A.; The History of Herkimer County; Little Falls, New York, 1893; pp. 276-7).

Not long afterwards, Ebenezer S. Edgerton apparently returned to Albany County, New York where he was listed as a head of household in the 1840 Federal Census of West Troy (Ward 4, aka “Watervliet”, pg. 4). His name was written in this census as “Eben. Edgerton”, and his household consisted of:

1 male “of 50 and under 60” (Ebenezer);

2 males “of 20 and under 30” (sons James and Robert);

2 males “of 10 and under 15” (sons Ebenezer and Christopher);

1 female “of 70 and under 80” (?);

1 female “of 40 and under 50” (wife Agnes);

1 female “of 20 and under 30” (daughter ?);

1 female “of 10 and under 15” (daughter Eliza); and,

1 female “of 5 and under 10” (daughter Sarah).

According to the Revolutionary War Pension file of Ebenezer’s father, “Ebenezer Edgerton Junr.”, Ebenezer S. was still living as of 1853 and was aged sixty-five at that time. There is no record of Ebenezer or his wife, Agnes, in the 1850 Federal Census of Herkimer County or Albany County. Ebenezer may have been the “Ebenezer Agerton, painter, aged 60, b. in Connecticut”, who was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Osgewatchie, St. Lawrence County, New York, residing in the hotel of Isaac Bartholomew (pg. 79, dwelling #1; family #1; enum. July 9, 1850).

Ebenezer Edgerton and his wife “Nancy” were recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Little Falls, Herkimer County, New York (pg. 538; dwelling #1071; family #1052; enum. July 11, 1860). They were residing in the household of their grandson-in-law, John Fraleigh, adjecent to their daughter and son-in-law, Mary Ann and Giles S. Annable. The enumeration was as follows:

John Fraliah	26	b. NY	clerk $500 real estate / $500 personal estate
Lucy	21	b. NY
Ebben Egerton	70	b. NY	painter
Nancy	66	b. NY
May Cauly	20	b. NY	domestic

When the 1870 Federal Census was taken, Ebenezer S. Edgerton was recorded in the household of his youngest daughter, Sarah (Edgerton) Jackson. The household was recorded in Albany (Ward 10), Albany County, New York (pg. 21; dwelling #265; family #278; enum. June 27, 1870) and also included the family of Ebenezer’s daughter, Eliza (Edgerton) Danby as well as various other individuals. Ebenezer was enumerated as “Ebenezer Edgerton, aged 81, born in Connecticut”.

Ebenezer S. Edgerton died at Albany, New York on February 22, 1875. The following obituary was published in the Albany Evening Journal on Tuesday, February 23, 1875:

“Death of a Veteran of 1812.

Ebenezer S. Edgerton, an old and well known resident of Albany and a veteran of the war of 1812, died last evening at the residence of his son-in-law, Moses Danby, in Madison avenue. Mr. Edgerton had reached the age of 87, and though he has for some time past been quite feeble, he was, during the greater portion of his life, a man of unusualy vigorous organization. He was also a man of great probity of character, and was the father of Rev. J. M. Edgerton, a Methodist clergyman of considerble prominence in the Troy Conference.”

A brief death notice was also published in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle on Saturday, February 27, 1875:

“Edward [sic] S. Edgerton, a veteran of the war of 1812, died in Albany Monday, aged 87”

Original Source Documents:

1830 Federal Census – household of Ebenezer S. Edgerton; Albany (Ward 2), Albany Co., NY.

1840 Federal Census – household of Ebenezer S. Edgerton; West Troy, Albany Co., NY.

1860 Federal Census – household of John H. Fraleigh; Little Falls, Herkimer Co., NY.

1870 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Sarah (Edgerton) Jackson; Albany (Ward 10), Albany Co., NY.

Obituary – Ebenezer S. Edgerton; Albany Evening Journal – Tuesday, February 23, 1875.

Death notice – Ebenezer S. Edgerton; Brooklyn Daily Eagle – Saturday, February 27, 1875.