The

Edgerton

Database

Index

Sources

John Edgerton, son of Simeon and Abiah (Hough) Edgerton.

born:	1776; Hebron, Tolland Co., CT.
died:	February 25, 1827; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT. (VR I:111) (ChR I) (GI)
buried:	Old Pawlet Cemetery; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT. (GI)

married:

April 3, 1800; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT. (VR 1:118)

Mary Averill, daughter of Elisha and Mary Averill.

born:	~1782; New Milford, Litchfield Co., CT. (from age at death, GI – “ae 64y”)
died:	June 21, 1846; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT. (GI)
buried:	Old Pawlet Cemetery; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT. (GI)

Children:

Fanny Hall, b. September 1, 1800; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
Louisa, b. October 8, 1804; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
Charles Fox, b. October 27, 1806; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
Betsey Averill, b. January 13, 1809; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
Mary Sophia, b. May 25, 1811; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
Elisha Averill, b. April 9, 1815; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
Frances, b. December 9, 1820; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

John Edgerton was born at Hebron, Connecticut in 1776, the fourth son of Simeon and Abiah (Hough) Edgerton. In 1781, the family removed to Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont, where John grew up and spent the remainder of his life. John was married, on April 3, 1800 in Pawlet, to Mary (“Polly”) Averill, daughter of Gen. Elisha and Mary Averill. Their marriage was recorded in the Pawlet vital records, as were the births of their seven children.

John Edgerton was active in town politics and served as town clerk from 1815 to 1826. He was also town constable for two years from 1805 to 1806. He held the title of Esquire, but the extent of his education has not been determined. He also operated a whiskey distillery in the center of the village, and a grist mill, which was later run by his son, Charles.

John and Mary Edgerton were members of the First Congregational Church of Pawlet. They probably joined the church shortly before December 10, 1813, as their four eldest children (Fanny, Louisa, Charles Fox, and Betsey Averill) were baptized there on that date. The next two children, Mary Sophia and Elisha Averill, were baptized at the Church on May 15, 1817 (the latter listed as “Moses Averill” in the baptismal record). The youngest daughter, Frances (aka “Fanny”), was baptized at the Church on July 4, 1828, and was listed in the baptismal record as “Fanny, daughter of Widow Mary Edgerton”.

Hiel Hollister’s Pawlet for One Hundred Years (Albany, New York: J. Munsell; 1867; pg. 185-186), gives the following account of the children of John and Mary (Averill) Edgerton:

“Charles F., Louisa, Sophia, Betsey and Frances. Louisa m. Robert Wickham, and died in 1867, aged 62. Sophia m. Rev. Nehemiah Nelson, of Granville, N.Y., who died in 18--. Next, she married George White, who is also dead. Frances m. John Woodfin, of Tennessee, who died in 18--. She was teacher of music in Troy Conference Academy several years, and also in Tennessee. After Mr. Woodfin's death, she was matron of Sing Sing Prison, N.Y. Betsey m. Rev. Mr. Sprague, of Schenectady.”

The household of John Edgerton was recorded in the 1820 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 242), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 26 and under 45” (John);

1 male “of 16 and under 26” (?);

1 male “of 10 and under 16” (son Charles);

1 male “under 10 years of age” (son Elisha);

2 females “of 26 and under 45” (wife Mary and ?);

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

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

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

John Edgerton, Esq. died at Pawlet, Vermont in February of 1827. The Pawlet Vital Records (I:111) list a date of February 25, 1827, aged 50. His gravestone inscription at the Old Pawlet Cemetery also lists his age as 50 years, but records a death date of February 26, 1827. To further confuse the matter, the Pawlet Congregational Church records the death of “Mr. John Edgerton, aged 50”, on February 24, 1827.

The household of “Widow P. Edgerton” – that is, Mrs. Polly (Averill) Edgerton – was recorded in the 1830 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 84), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 20 and under 30” (son Charles);

1 female “of 40 and under 50” (Polly);

1 female “of 20 and under 30” (daughter Betsey);

1 female “of 15 and under 20” (daughter Mary); and,

1 female “of 5 and under 10” (daughter Frances).

Mrs. Mary (Averill) Edgerton died at Pawlet, Vermont on June 21, 1846. John and Mary Edgerton are buried adjacent to each other at the Old Pawlet Cemetery in Pawlet Village. Their gravestones bear the following inscriptions:

JOHN EDGERTON

Esquire,

died February 26.

1827.

aged 50 years.

We weep – our tears are wiped away.

We smile – and soon our smiles are fled.

We hope – and earthly hopes decay.

We live – then sleep among the dead.

MARY

wife of

JOHN EDGERTON Esq.

DIED

June 21st. 1816.

aged 64.

Original Source Documents:

Family Baptismal Record – children of John and Mary (Averill) Edgerton; Records of the Congregational Church in Pawlet; Vol. I.

Family Baptismal Record – children of John and Mary (Averill) Edgerton (second entry); Records of the Congregational Church in Pawlet; Vol. I.

1820 Federal Census – household of John Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

1830 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Mary (Averill) Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

Death record – John Edgerton; Records of the Congregational Church in Pawlet; Vol. I.

Gravestone photo – John Edgerton; Old Pawlet Cemetery; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Mary (Averill) Edgerton; Old Pawlet Cemetery; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

For the ancestry of Mary (Averill) Edgerton, consult:

Avery, Clara Arlette; The Averell-Averill-Avery Family: a record of the descendants of William and Abigial Averell of Ipswich, Mass.; Press of Evangelical Publishing House; 1914.