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Edgerton

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James W. Edgerton, son of John Giles and Dorcas A. (Ross) Edgerton.

Hannah Mariah Phillips, daughter of John and Mariah Phillips.

Children:

1. William Jesse, b. June 30, 1857; Nelson Co., KY.

Martha E. Lee, daughter of Martin and Fanny Lee.

Children:

2. John, b. ~1865; Raywick Pct., Marion Co., KY.
3. Robert Lee, b. October 1866; Raywick Pct., Marion Co., KY.
4. Lizzie Susan, b. February 1868; Raywick Pct., Marion Co., KY.
5. James, b. ~1869; Raywick Pct., Marion Co., KY.
6. Mary Elizabeth, b. February 17, 1871; Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.
7. Lark J., b. ~1874; Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.
8. William Britton, b. June 5, 1880; Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.
9. Enoch C., b. July 1882; Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.
10. Martin Cleveland, b. November 9, 1884; Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.
11. Jesse Lee, b. February 12, 1886; Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.
12. Philip Luther, b. January 1888, Whitesburg, Letcher Co., KY.

James W. Edgerton was born April 5, 1833 in Wood County, West Virginia (then part of the state of Virginia), the son of John Giles and Dorcas (Ross) Edgerton.  In his childhood, James’ parents removed to the state of Kentucky, eventually settling in Washington County, in the central portion of the state.

James W. Edgerton was married at Nelson County, Kentucky (directly to the north of Washington County) on January 23, 1856 to Hannah Mariah Phillips, daughter of John and Mariah Phillips of Nelson County.  The following abstract of the marriage bond is found in Nelson County Kentucky Marriages – Bonds, Consents and Ministers’ Returns, 1849-1864 (Lillian Ockerman, comp.; Nelson County Genealogical Society; Bardstown, KY; pg. 55):

EDGERTON, James W. & PHILLIPS, Hannah M., Bond 22 Jan. 1856

Married:  23 Jan. 1856

Signed bond:  J. M. Wood

Consent in writing:  John Phillips, father of Hannah

Groom - res. Nelson Co., 22 years; b. Wood Co., Va; 1st mar.

Bride - res. Nelson Co., 13 years, b. Nelson Co., 1st mar.

Married by Colmore Lovelace, from Minister Return

Mg. at John Phillips’

Witness:  Nathaniel Wood; Robert Wortham

James and Hannah (Phillips) Edgerton had only one known child – a son, William Jesse, born at Nelson County on June 30, 1857.  The outcome of James’ first marriage is not known, but by the year 1865, he had taken a second wife, Martha E. Lee, daughter of Martin and Fanny Lee of Russell County, Virginia.  James and Martha (Lee) Edgerton had eleven children together:  John, b. circa 1865; Robert Lee, b. October 1866; Lizzie Susan, b. February 1868; James, b. circa 1869; Mary Elizabeth, b. February 17, 1871; Lark J., b. circa 1874; William Britton, b. June 5, 1880; Enoch C., b. July 1882; Martin Cleveland, b. November 9, 1884; Jesse Lee, b. February 12, 1886; and Philip Luther, b. January 1888.

James W. Edgerton served in the the Confederate Army during the Civil War.  He enlisted as a corporal in the 1st Kentucky Infantry (Co. G) on June 1, 1861.  He reenlisted in the same company on April 30, 1862 and was mustered out on May 14, 1862 at Richmond, Virginia.

At the time of the 1870 Federal Census, James W. Edgerton was residing in Raywick Precinct, Marion County, Kentucky, which lay directly to the south of Washington County.  James’ father, John G. Edgerton was also listed in the census as a head of household in Raywick Precinct.  The enumeration of James’ household (dwelling #93; family #93; enum. August 19, 1870) was as follows:

The household of James “Edgison” was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Precinct #1, Letcher County, Kentucky (dwelling #334; family #338; enum. June 16, 1880), as follows:

The household of Mrs Martha Edgerton was recorded in the 1900 Federal Census of Silver Creek Township, Clark County, Indiana (dwelling #281; family #294; enum. June 16, 1900), as follows:

According to the above census record, Martha was the mother of eleven children, seven of whom were still living.  The occupation of each of the four elder sons was listed as “laborer – cement work”; the youngest son (Luther) was noted as “at school”.

When the 1910 Federal Census was taken, Mrs. Martha (Lee) Edgerton, was residing with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Robert Sperzel, in New Albany City, Floyd County, Indiana (pg. 105; dwelling #196; family #213; enum. April 21, 1910).  She was enumerated as:  “Martha E. Edgerton, mother-in-law, aged 62, widow, b. in Virginia, both parents b. in Virginia”.