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The Edgerton Database |
Col. Elisha Edgerton, son of Elisha and Zerviah (Abell) Edgerton.
Eunice Peck, daughter of Jonathan and Bethiah (Bingham) Peck.
Children:
Elisha Edgerton II was born in Norwich (Franklin), Connecticut on November 20, 1753, the eldest son of Elisha and Zerviah (Abell) Edgerton. He was married in Norwich on March 23, 1775 to Eunice Peck, the daughter of Jonathan and Bethiah (Bingham) Peck. Eunice was born in Norwich on October 14, 1754, and was also descended from many of the Norwich founders. Eunice’s elder sister, Bethiah, had previously married Elisha’s first cousin, Hezekiah Edgerton II. Elisha and Eunice resided for many years in Franklin, Connecticut, where the births of all but the youngest two children were recorded. The birth of the eldest son, Elisha, was recorded in Norwich as well. Three of Elisha’s sons – Elisha (1st), Bela (1st) and David – died in infancy. The other seven children each survived to adulthood, were married and raised families. Elisha Edgerton was generally referred to in the Norwich and Franklin records (town and church) as Elisha the “3rd”. His father was Elisha the “1st” and an elder cousin who also lived in Norwich was Elisha the “2nd.” Elisha Edgerton “3rd” was admitted to the Franklin Congregational Church in March of 1782 (ChR 1:34), at the same time that his parents, Elisha Sr. and Zerviah, also joined with the Church. “Capt. Elisha Edgerton” was later readmitted to communion at the Church on December 15, 1795. (ChR 1:135-140). Elisha and Eunice’s five youngest children – Bela (2nd), Mildred, Asher, David and Gurdon – were each baptized at the Franklin Church. Elisha Edgerton II was a Captain of Connecticut Troops in the American Revolution. According to Edgerton Tales and Details, 1836 – 1986 (Jessie Edgerton Garner; Hanover, Illinois, 1986; pg. 23), Elisha “was a Corporal in the Revolutionary State Militia and later he became Captain and then a Colonel of a Regiment of Cavalry. He was also on a committee for raising a quota of Continental soldiers.” Elisha Edgerton was later promoted to Colonel, and is listed as such in the DAR Patriot Index. Following the War, Elisha was Colonel of the Militia at Coventry. The household of Elisha Edgerton was recorded in the 1790 Federal Census of New London County, Connecticut, with the following enumeration: 2 males “of 16 years and upward” (Elisha and ?); 2 males “under 16 years of age” (sons Elisha Jr. and Bela); and, 5 females (wife Eunice, daughters Eunice, Phebe and Mildred, and ?). Elisha Edgerton was listed again as a head of household in the 1800 Federal Census of Franklin, New London County, Connecticut (pg. 741). The family consisted of: 1 male “of 45 years and upwards” (Elisha); 1 male “of 16 and under 26” (son Elisha Jr.); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (son Bela); 2 males “under 10 years of age” (sons Asher and Gurdon); 1 female “of 45 years and upwards” (wife Eunice); 3 females “of 26 and under 45” (?); 1 female “of 16 and under 26” (daughter Phebe) 1 female “of 10 and under 16” (daughter Mildred); and, 1 female “under 10 years of age” (?). Circa 1800 – 1810, Elisha removed from Franklin, along with his elder son, Elisha Jr., and settled in the town of Coventry, in Tolland County, Connecticut (just to the north of New London County). Elisha purchased land in the northern district of Coventry and resided there for the remainder of his lifetime. He was listed as a head of household in the 1810 and 1820 Federal Censuses of Coventry. Elisha’s cousin, Hezekiah Edgerton II, had settled in Coventry about a decade earlier and resided with his large family in the southern section (aka. South Society) of town. The household of Elisha Edgerton was recorded in the 1810 Federal Census of Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut (pg. 312), with the following enumeration: 1 male “of 45 years and upwards” (Elisha); 1 male “of 16 and under 26” (son Asher); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (son Gurdon); 1 female “over 45 years of age” (wife Eunice); 1 female “of 16 and under 26” (?); and, 1 female “of 10 and under 16” (?). The household of Elisha Edgerton was recorded in the 1820 Federal Census of Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut (pg. 942), with the following enumeration: 1 male “of 45 years and upwards” (Elisha); 1 male “of 16 and under 26” (son Gurdon); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (?); 1 female “of 45 years and upwards” (wife Eunice); and, 3 females “of 16 and under 26” (daughter-in-law Cynthia and ?). Two of Elisha’s sons – Elisha and Asher – were also listed as heads of households in the 1820 Federal Census of Coventry. The former was recorded as “Elisha Edgerton Jur.”, in order to distinguish him from his father. The household of Elisha Edgerton was recorded in the 1830 Federal Census of Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut (pg. 268). At that time, his household consisted of only himself and his wife, Eunice – both aged 70 – 80. Elisha was residing adjacent to his youngest son, Gurdon Edgerton, whose household was enumerated directly afterwards on the Coventry Census Roll. Elisha Edgerton kept a journal in which he recorded various family events. The following transcript of the journal entires (said to be in Elisha’s own handwriting) was reprinted in Jessie Edgerton Garner’s Edgerton Tales and Details… (Hanover, Illinois, 1986; pg. 25): May 18, 1775 moved to Father’s to live. Feb ye 29, 1776 of a Thursday Elisha Edgerton ye 4th was born. July 19, 1778 of a Sabbath Day Eunice Edgerton Jr. was born. Aug 31, 1778 Elisha Edgerton 4th died being 2 yrs 5 months and 2 days. June 22, 1779 Capt. Jonathan died. April 24, 1781 Phebe Edgerton was born. May 10, 1783 I moved to west room to live. June 22, 1783 Captain Elisha Edgerton died of a Sabbath Day. Oct 19, 1783 Elisha Edgerton 4th was born of a Sabbath Day. January 2nd, 1786 Bela Edgerton was born. August 5th, 1789 Mildred Edgerton was born. June 8 Asher Edgerton was born 1791, Wednesday. Sept 11, 1793 David Edgerton was born. Jan 13, 1796 Gurdon Edgerton was born. Feb 22, 1798 David Edgerton died this day about 3 o’clock after noon being choked by a cernol of corn entering the airpipe. Following their removal from Franklin, Elisha and Eunice joined with the Second Congregational Church of Coventry (North Parish). Elisha was admitted to the Church “by letter” in 1809 (ChR 6:11), and was also listed as a member of the Church on March 10, 1819. (ChR 5:19) Elisha was a prominent citizen and active in civic affairs, both in Franklin and Coventry. He was a member of the legislature from Franklin in 1803, and was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1818. Elisha Edgerton II died in North Coventry on June 9, 1832. His death was recorded at the Second Congregational Church as: “Col. Elisha Edgerton, died June 9, 1832, aged 78 years”. (ChR 6:193) He was buried in the Strong Cemetery in Coventry. Mrs. Eunice (Peck) Edgerton survived her husband, and died in North Coventry on November 19, 1835. Her death was also recorded at the Second Church of Coventry, as: “Eunice Edgerton, widow, died November 19, 1835, aged 81 years”. No gravestone has been located for Mrs. Eunice Edgerton. Only one of Elisha and Eunice Edgerton’s children (youngest son Gurdon) remained in Connecticut. Daughters Eunice and Phebe each married and settled with their husbands in Clinton County, New York (far north in that state, not far from the Canadian border). Son Bela also resided for many years in Clinton County (Plattsburgh) and later removed to Hicksville, Ohio and thence to Fort Wayne, Indiana. Elisha III lived for a number of years in Coventry and then removed to Oneida County, New York. Asher resided first in Coventry and then moved his family to Jo Daviess County, Illinois in 1831. The youngest son, Gurdon, was twice married and resided in Coventry and later Rockville, Connecticut. |