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Capt. Hezekiah Edgerton, son of Hezekiah and Anne (Abell) Edgerton.

Bethiah Peck, daughter of Jonathan and Bethiah (Bingham) Peck.

Children:

1. Anne, b. January 28, 1764; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
2. Joseph, b. September 5, 1765; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
3. Freelove, b. February 8, 1767; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
4. Hezekiah, b. May 25, 1769; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
5. Azel, b. December 10, 1770; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
6. Bethiah, b. August 24, 1772; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
7. Temperance, b. May 15, 1774; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
8. Sybil, b. October 27, 1777; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
9. Lucy, b. July 8, 1779; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
10. Sybil, b. February 25, 1781; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
11. Levi, b. September 21, 1784; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
12. Lucretia, b. October 16, 1786; Franklin, New London Co., CT.
13. Joseph, b. August 25, 1788; Franklin, New London Co., CT.

Hezekiah Edgerton II was born in Norwich, Connecticut on April 13, 1743, the son of Hezekiah and Anne (Abell) Edgerton.  He was baptized on April 17, 1743 at the Franklin Congregational Church.  Hezekiah’s mother died when he was still an infant, and Hezekiah was raised by his father’s second wife, Freelove.  It is interesting to note that Hezekiah named his two eldest daughters Anne and Freelove, after his mother and step-mother.

Hezekiah Edgerton was married in Norwich, on November 16, 1763, to Bethiah Peck, daughter of Capt. Jonathan and Bethiah (Bingham) Peck of Norwich.  Bethiah was born in Norwich on March 6, 1744/5.  Her younger sister, Eunice, was later married to Hezekiah’s first cousin, Elisha Edgerton II. 

Hezekiah and Bethiah resided first in the western district of Norwich, which later became the township of Franklin in 1786.  They had a large family of thirteen children – five sons and eight daughters.  The first eleven children were recorded at Norwich (VRp I:409-10 & 514) and the final two at Franklin (VR 1:4).

Hezekiah and Bethiah joined with the Franklin Congregational Church in 1782.  Hezekiah was admitted to the Church in March of that year (ChR 1:34); and Bethiah was admitted to the Church “by letter” on January 5, 1783. (ChR 1:34)  The youngest three children – Levi, Lucretia and Joseph – were each baptized at the Franklin Church.  A later entry in the Church records states that “Capt. Hezekiah and Bethiah Edgerton” were readmitted to communion on December 15, 1795 (ChR 1:135-40).

Hezekiah, like his father, was a Captain in the American Revolution.  He served first as a Lieutenant in Capt. Lathrop’s Company of Major Backus’ Light Horse Regiment which marched from Norwich on September 24, 1776.  The company was discharged on November 1, 1776 by the following general order of Gen. Washington:

“A relief having come for his Light Horse under Major Backus, that corps is now dismissed, with the General’s hearty thanks for their faithful services, and the cheerfulness and alacrity they have shown upon all occasions.”

Hezekiah was discharged from the company the following day.  He later served as Captain of the Second Light Horse Regiment from Norwich.  He was recorded as a Captain of Connecticut troops in the DAR Patriot Index (along with his father, Hezekiah Sr.).

The household of Hezekiah Edgerton was recorded in the 1790 Federal Census of New London County, Connecticut, with the following enumeration:

2 males “of 16 and upward”  (Hezekiah and son Azel);

2 males “under 16 years”  (sons Levi and Joseph (2^nd)); and,

6 females  (wife Bethiah, and daughters Bethiah, Temperance, Lucy, Sybil (2^nd) and Lucretia)

Hezekiah’s eldest son, “Hezekiah Edgerton Jr.”, was listed seperately as a head of household, residing adjacent to or nearby his father.  The eldest two daughters had already married by this time –  Anne to William Ellis in 1782, and Freelove to Thomas Marshall in 1787.

By the time of the 1800 Federal Census, Hezekiah along with his sons Hezekiah Jr. and Azel, had moved their families to Coventry, in Tolland County, Connecticut.  The household of Hezekiah Edgerton was recorded there in 1800 Federal Census, with the following enumeration:

1 male “over 45 years of age”  (Hezekiah);

2 males “of 10 and under 16”  (sons Levi and Joseph);

1 females “over 45 years of age”  (wife Bethiah);

1 female “of 16 and under 26”  (daughter Sybil); and,

1 female “of 10 and under 16”  (daughter Lucretia).

Hezekiah and his sons settled in the southern district of Coventry (also called the South Society), and were affiliated with the First Congregational Church of Coventry there.  About the same time, Hezekiah’s first cousin, Elisha Edgerton II, also settled in Coventry with a large family and resided in the northern district.

The household of Hezekiah Edgerton was recorded in the 1810 Federal Census of Coventry, Tolland County, Connecticut (pg. 306), with the following enumeration:

1 male “over 45 years of age”  (Hezekiah);

2 males “of 16 and under 26”  (sons Joseph and ?);

1 female “over 45 years of age”  (wife Bethiah); and,

1 female “of 10 and under 16”  (?).

In most of the Coventry records, Hezekiah was referred to as “Hezekiah Edgerton Sr.”, he being the first of that name to reside in Coventry.  Likewise, his son was called “Hezekiah, Jr.”, and grandson “Hezekiah, 3rd”, respectively.  This differs from their actual distinction as Hezekiah Edgerton II, III, and IV, thus creating some confusion when comparing records from the different towns and churches.

Capt. Hezekiah Edgerton died in Coventry, Connecticut on June 4, 1816.  His death was recorded at the First Church of Coventry on that date as:  “Capt. Hezekiah Edgerton, 73 years”   He was buried at the Nathan Hale Cemetery, where his headstone was inscribed:  “Hezekiah Edgerton, died June 4, 1816, aged 73 years”.  An obituary notice for “Capt. Hezekiah Edgerton, aged 73” was printed in the Windham Herald on June 6, 1816.

Hezekiah Edgerton did not leave a will.  Jubal Case, John Kingsbury and Asahel Allen were appointed to administer the estate, and they duly submitted two returns to the Probate Court (District of Hebron).  The first, dated April 11, 1817, set out to Mrs. Bethiah Edgerton “her dower or thirds in all the real and personal estate of Hezekiah Edgerton late of Coventry deceased”; and the second, dated April 19, 1817, distributed the remaining estate among the surviving children, all excepting eldest son, Hezekiah, who presumably had already received lands of his father.  All seven of Hezekiah’s surviving daughters were married at this time and are referred to in the distribution by their married names, that is: Frelove Marshal, Bethiah Metcalf, Anna Ellis, Lucy Lothrop, Sybil Fitch, Temperance Williams and Lucretia Brewster.  A transcript of the two probate returns is attached.

Mrs. Bethiah (Peck) Edgerton died in Coventry on July 24, 1825.  Her death was recorded at the First Church of Coventry as follows:  “1825, July 24...Betsey, widow of Hezekiah Edgerton, 80 years”   Bethiah was buried beside her husband in Nathan Hale Cemetery, where her tombstone reads:  “Bethiah, wife of Hezekiah Edgerton, died July 24, 1825, aged 80 years”