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Edgerton

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George Brigham Edgerton, son of Whiting and Huldah (Benton) Edgerton.                                                                      PHOTO

Nancy Matilda Thomas, daughter of Silas and Harriet (Baldwin) Thomas.                                                                            PHOTO

Children:

1. David, b. February 11, 1854; German, Chenango Co., NY.
2. Sarah Jane, b. February 8, 1857; German, Chenango Co., NY.
3. Clara Matilda, b. May 31, 1859; German, Chenango Co., NY.
4. Will Henry, b. October 10, 1863; German, Chenango Co., NY.
5. Eva Adell, b. July 31, 1866; German, Chenango Co., NY.
6. Lorene C., b. October 19, 1868; German, Chenango Co., NY.
7. Daniel M., b. November 22, 1871; German, Chenango Co., NY.

George Brigham Edgerton was born at Smithville, New York on March 28, 1828.  He was the sixth son and the youngest of twelve children born to Whiting and Huldah (Benton) Edgerton.  George earned his living as a dairy farmer.

George was raised in Smithville, New York.  Upon his maturity, he settled in the adjoining township of German, where he was married on September 3, 1851 to Miss Nancy Thomas, daughter of Silas and Harriet (Baldwin) Thomas.  George’s elder brother, Locy, had previously married Nancy’s elder sister, Emily Thomas.  Nancy was born in German on February 23, 1835.  Family records disagree on her middle name – some list her full name as Nancy Matilda Thomas, while others list only a middle initial of “E”.

The following entries are transcribed from the “Family Record” page of a ledger book/journal kept by Will Henry Edgerton.  The ledger book is currently in the possession of Mrs. Shirley E. Halwig, William’s grand-daughter.

“Family Record     Edgerton – Thomas

Married Sept. 3, 1851

George B. Edgerton – Father – Born Mar. 28 / ‘28

Nancy E. Thomas – Mother – Born Feb. 23 / ‘35

David Edgerton – Child – Born Feb. 11 / ‘54

Sarah J. – Child – Born Feb. 8 / ‘57

Clara M. – Child – Born May 31 / ‘59

Will H. – Child – Born Oct. 10 / ‘63

Eva A. – Child – Born July 31 / ‘66

Lorene C. – Child – Born Oct. 19 / ‘68

Daniel M. – Child – Born Nov. 22 / ‘71”

Mrs. Shirley E. Halwig of Greene, New York, a great-granddaughter of George B. and Nancy (Thomas) Edgerton, provides the following biographical and anecdotal notes regarding her ancestors:

“In 1859, George Edgerton purchased land 24 and one half acres plus from his brother Locey in the south half of Lot 106 in the town of German and in 1871 purchased 50 plus more acres from Locey as well.  (Liber 108, pg. 200 and Liber 139, pg. 457).  In 1911, he sold this property to his son Daniel.  George was a farmer and sold milk to the chesse factory in Smithville Flats after it was built.

Nancy’s name was often on the list of names of those who were assigned to the road crews in the spring as well as husband George.  Each spring the roads, which were only dirt in their day, would be deep in mud and ruts and the area was divided into districts and the families who lived there were responsible for scraping and smoothing the roads in their district.  Nancy would drive a team of horses pulling a scraper.”

The household of George Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of German, Chenango County, New York (pp. 479-480; dwelling #318; family #318; enum. June 28, 1860), as follows:

George B. Edgerton was listed in the 1869-70 German Business Directory as follows:

Edgerton, George B., (German,) lot 106, farmer 57½.

George’s elder brother, “Albert” Edgerton (ie. Elbert Whiting Edgerton), was also listed in this directory at lot 95.

The household of George Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of German, Chenango County, New York (dwelling #135; family #120; enum. August 9, 1870), as follows:

The directory from The History of Chenango and Madison Counties, New York (James H. Smith, 1880) has the following entry for George Brigham Edgerton, on page 1220:

“Edgerton G. B. p o German, farmer, res lot 106, 72 acres, b Smithville, 1828; has been highway commissioner three terms; father, Whiting Edgerton, died 1865; mother, Huldah Benton, died 1852; wife, Nancy E. Thomas; children, 7.”

The household of George B. Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of German, Chenango County, New York (pg. 73; dwelling #54; family #55; enum. June 5, 1880), as follows:

In 1899, an Edgerton Family Reunion was held at the George B. Edgerton homestead in German Hollow, New York.  In attendance were George and Nancy Edgerton, all five of their children who were then living, and a number of grandchildren and in-laws.  A reunion photograph taken at the event has been provided by Mrs. Shirley E. Halwig of Greene, New York.

The household of George B. Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of German Town, Chenango County, New York (pg. 65; dwelling #83; family #83; enum. June 11-12, 1900), as follows:

George B. Edgerton was listed in the 1902 Chenango County, New York Directory, as follows:

“Edgerton, George B., dairy farmer, 70 acres, German Town”

Original Source Documents:

1860 Federal Census – household of George Brigham Edgerton; German, Chenango Co., NY.

1870 Federal Census – household of George Brigham Edgerton; German, Chenango Co., NY.

1880 Federal Census – household of George Brigham Edgerton; Smithville, Chenango Co., NY.

1900 Federal Census – household of George Brigham Edgerton; German Town, Chenango Co., NY.