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James Edgerton, son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Hyde) Edgerton.

Catherine Hinman, daughter of Noble and Catherine (Green) Hinman.

Children:

1. James, b. June 13, 1789; New London, New London Co., CT.
2. Albert Hyde, b. February 9, 1791; New London, New London Co., CT.
3. Urban, b. October 8, 1793; New London, New London Co., CT.
4. Elisha Hinman, b. March 1796; New London, New London Co., CT.
5. Cortlandt, b. March 16, 1798; New London, New London Co., CT.
6. Mortimer, b. 1799; New London, New London Co., CT.
7. Catherine Elizabeth, b. January 25, 1803; New London, New London Co., CT.
8. Ellen, b. November 21, 1804; New London, New London Co., CT.
9. Caroline Matilda, b. September 18, 1808; New London, New London Co., CT.
10. Mortimer, b. August 16, 1811; New London, New London Co., CT.

James Edgerton was born at Norwich, Connecticut on November 24, 1761, the eldest child and only son of Joshua and Elizabeth (Hyde) Edgerton.  He was probably named after his mother’s grandfather, James Huntington.

James was raised in Franklin (then Norwich), Connecticut.  His father, Joshua, died when James was fifteen years old.  Shortly afterwards, James enlisted as a private in the Revolutionary War.  He served in the Connecticut continental line and also in Privateer service.  James Edgerton is listed as a Private in the DAR Patriot Index (Part I, pg. 928).  Extensive details regarding James’ Revolutionary service are found in his pension application (# S18391).

Following the War, James settled in New London, Connecticut, where he was married on May 9, 1788 to Catherine Hinman, daughter of Noble and Catherine (Green) Hinman of New London.  Catherine was born in New London on December 12, 1768.  James and Catherine had ten children – seven sons and three daughters.  Two of their sons, Elisha Hinman and Mortimer (1st) died in infancy.

James and Catherine Edgerton were members of the First Congregational Church of New London, where their marriage had been performed. (ChR 2:155).  Five of their sons – James, Albert, Urban, Cortlandt and Mortimer (1st) – were baptized together at the First Church on February 28, 1802.  Mortimer apparently died the same day, “aged 2 years”, as indicated by the inscription on his gravestone at Cedar Grove Cemetery (New London).  The two elder daughters – Catherine Elizabeth and Ellen – were baptized at the First Church on September 2, 1805.  There is no record of baptism for either of the two youngest children.

The household of James Edgerton was recorded in the 1790 Federal Census of New London County, Connecticut (pg. 168), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 16 years and upward”  (James);

1 male “under 16 years of age”  (son James Jr.); and,

2 females  (wife Catherine and ?).

The second female listed here was most likely James’ widowed mother, Elizabeth (Hyde) Edgerton, or an unmarried sister. 

The household of James Edgerton was enumerated in the 1800 Federal Census of New London, New London County, Connecticut (pg. 467), as follows:

1 male “of 26 and under 45”  (James);

1 male “of 16 and under 26”  (?);

2 males “of 10 and under 16”  (son James and ?);

3 males “under 10 years of age”  (sons Albert, Urban and Cortland);

2 females “of 16 and under 26”  (? – probably an error, should be wife Catherine, aged 32);

1 female “of 10 and under 16”  (?).

James was listed again as a head of household in the 1810 Federal Census of New London, New London County, Connecticut (pg. 11).  At that time, his household was enumerated as follows:

1 male “of 45 years and upwards”  (James);

2 males “of 10 and under 16”  (sons Urban and Cortland);

1 female “of 26 and under 45”  (wife Catherine);

1 female “of 16 and under 26”  (?);

1 female “of 10 and under 16”  (?); and,

3 females “under 10 years of age”  (daughters Catherine, Ellen and Caroline)

The household of James Edgerton was recorded in the 1820 Federal Census of New London, New London County, Connecticut (pg. 779), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 45 years and upwards”  (James);

1 male “of 10 and under 16”  (?);

1 male “under 10 years of age”  (son Mortimer 2nd);

1 female “of 45 years and upwards”  (wife Catherine);

2 females “of 26 and under 45”  (?)

1 female “of 16 and under 26”  (?);

3 females “of 10 and under 16”  (daughters Catherine, Ellen and Caroline); and,

1 female “under 10 years of age”  (?).

The household of James Edgerton was recorded in the 1830 Federal Census of New London, New London County, Connecticut (pg. 16), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 60 and under 70”  (James);

2 males “of 20 and under 30”  (son Mortimer and ?);

1 female “of 60 and under 70”  (wife Catherine);

3 females “of 20 and under 30”  (daughters Catherine, Ellen and Caroline); and,

3 females “of 10 and under 15”  (granddaughters Sarah, Louisa and Elizabeth).

On August 6, 1832, James Edgerton applied to the New London County Court for a Revolutionary War Pension.  According to his pension file (# S18391) he was then aged 72 and residing in New London, Connecticut.  James was issued a Pension Certificate on February 27, 1855 and subsequently placed on the pension roll with a semi-annual allowance of $15.00.  James’ youngest son, Mortimer, applied to the Court on June 30, 1851 as surviving son.  The latter petition states that James had died in New London on November 27, 1842.

Mrs. Catherine (Hinman) Edgerton died  at New London, Connecticut on September 17, 1837, “aged 69”.  She was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, in the family plot where four of her sons (James Jr., Albert, Elisha, and Mortimer) were previously interred.

James Edgerton Sr. died at New London, Connecticut on November 27, 1842.  He was buried in the family plot at Cedar Grove Cemetery.  His gravestone bears the inscription, “James Edgerton, died Nov. 27, 1842, aged 82 years”.

James had written his Last Will and Testament on October 21, 1842, in which he mentions his five surviving children – Ellen, Caroline M., Urban, Catherine and Mortimer, as well as the three daughters of his deceased eldest son, James Jr.  The will was proved in New London on December 2, 1842 before John C. Mather, Justice of the Peace.  A subsequent division of the estate according to the terms of the will was filed with the New London Probate Court on September 31, 1843.  The latter return appraised the value of James’ estate (after settling all debts and funeral expenses) at $4,297.01.

Eight of James and Catherine’s children survived to adulthood, although only three were married and had families.  All but two of the children – Catherine Elizabeth and Mortimer (2nd) – were buried in the family plot at Cedar Grove Cemetery.  The eldest son, James, was married to Charlotte Wilson, and had three daughters before his early death in 1821.  Sons Albert Hyde and Urban died in New Orleans, Louisiana and Indiana, respectively (see Edgerton Family Genealogy, Ida Ferry Welch, et.al., 1964).  The latter left a widow and four daughters, each of whom were married and resided in central Indiana.  Only one of James’ daughters was married – Catherine Elizabeth, who married first Joseph Noyes, and second Jaerus Dickerman.

James’ three youngest children, Ellen, Caroline and Mortimer, were never married.  They lived together in New London and were recorded there as a household in the 1850 Federal Census (dwelling #1002; family #1491; enum. September 10, 1850).  At the time, they were residing in the same dwelling as Ansel Mumford.  The family was enumerated as follows:

Ellen and Caroline died at New London, Connecticut in 1857 and 1864 respectively.  Mortimer later removed to Watervliet, Albany County, New York where he died on December 21, 1887, “aged 77 years” (VR 5B:172).

Original Source Documents:

1790 Federal Census – household of James Edgerton; New London Co., CT.

1800 Federal Census – household of James Edgerton; New London, New London Co., CT.

1810 Federal Census – household of James Edgerton; New London, New London Co., CT.

1820 Federal Census – household of James Edgerton; New London, New London Co., CT.

1830 Federal Census – household of James Edgerton; New London, New London Co., CT.

Pension Certificate – James Edgerton; February 27, 1833, New London Co., CT; Revolutionary War Pension File # S18391.

Pension Roll – James Edgerton; Connecticut State Pension Roll; U.S. Pensioners 1831 – 1848, pg. 93; National Archives and Records Administration.

Pension application – Mortimer Edgerton; June 30, 1851; Bozrah, New London Co., CT; Revolutionary War Pension File # S18391.

1850 Federal Census – household of Ellen Edgerton; New London, New London Co., CT.