The

Edgerton

Database

Home

Index

Sources

Search

Researchers

Notes...

Contact info

Photos

Links

Credits…

John Edgerton, son of Ezekiel and Lucy (Fales) Edgerton.

Mary B. Hunt, daughter of Elihu and Rebecca (Richardson) Hunt.

Philena Rhoda Perry, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Carpenter) Perry.

Children:

1. Mary, b. August 19, 1840; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
2. George Bert, b. May 30, 1842; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
3. John Wayland, b. May 19, 1845; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
4. Lucy Philena, b. August 3, 1847; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
5. Almon I., b. June 6, 1849; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.
6. Caroline Almira, b. April 25, 1851; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.

John Edgerton was born at Hawley, Massachusetts on August 11, 1804, the second son and third child of Ezekiel and Lucy (Fales) Edgerton.  He was raised in Hawley and made his living as a farmer.

John Edgerton was married twice.  His first wife was Mary B. Hunt, daughter of Elihu and Rebecca (Richardson) Hunt of Florida, Massachusetts.  Mary was born at Florida on December 21, 1810 and died at Hawley on December 5, 1835.  For reference on the maternal ancestry of Mary B. (Hunt) Edgerton, please see John Adams Vinton’s The Richardson Memorial (Thurston & Co., Maine, 1876; pg. 275).

“Mrs. Mary B., wife of John Edgerton” was buried at the Bozrah Cemetery, adjacent to the plot of John’s parents, Ezekiel and Lucy.  The death of “Mrs. Edgerton” in December 1835 was also recorded in the diary of Mrs. Jerusha King (see David W. Dumas, Joseph Edgerton of Norwich, Connecticut and his Descendants; East Greenwich, Rhode Island: privately published: 1982; which in turn cites Louise Hale Johnson’s History of the town of Hawley; 1953 edition, p. 372).

John Edgerton was remarried on December 6, 1838 to Philena Rhoda Perry, daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Carpenter) Perry of Savoy, Massachusetts.  From later burial and census records, it is known that Philena was born at Savoy, Massachusetts on July 22, 1814.  She may have been related to Wealthy Maria Perry (daughter of Caleb and Wealthy (Macomber) Perry of Attleboro, Massachusetts), who was later married to John Edgerton’s younger brother, Hiram Bingham Edgerton.

Shortly after his second marriage, John Edgerton removed along with many of his brothers to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, settling in the town of North Royalton (now a southern suburb of Cleveland).  At about the same time, several of John’s cousins settled nearby in the town of Brecksville (just to the east of Royalton).

John and Philena (Perry) Edgerton raised a family of six children:  three sons, George Bert, John Wayland and Almon I.; and three daughters, Mary, Lucy Philena and Caroline Amelia.  In addition to these, they also had a son, Clarence, who died in infancy.  John and Philena resided in North Royalton the remainder of their lifetimes; and many of their descendants reside in the near vicinity to this day.

The Memorial Record of the County of Cuyahoga and City of Cleveland Ohio (Chicago, Ill.: The Lewis Publishing Co.; 1894; pg 402) provides the following biographical excerpt for John Edgerton:

“John Edgerton…was born in Massachusetts in 1804, but in 1838 came to Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in company with several brothers.  John Edgerton was married in Massachusetts to Philena Perry, a native of the town of Savoy, that State, and they had the following children:  Mary, George, J. Wayland, Lucy, Almon, Carrie and Clarence.  The latter died in infancy.  Mr. Edgerton was a successful farmer, and a well-known and respected citizen.  In political matters, he was a stanch Republican.  His death occurred November 11, 1883 [sic], and his widow resided in Royalton township until her death, which occurred February 21 [sic], 1894.”

The household of “John Edyestant” was recorded in the 1840 Federal Census of Royalton, Cuyahoga County, Ohio (pg. 147), with the following enumeration:

2 males “30 and under 40”  (John and ?);

1 male “20 and under 30”  (?);

1 female “30 and under 40”  (wife Philena); and,

1 female “20 and under 30”  (?).

The household of John Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Royalton (District 3), Cuyahoga County, Ohio (pg. 155; dwelling #2831; family #3000; enum. September 10, 1850), as follows:

The household of John Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Royalton, Cuyahoga County, Ohio (dwelling #714; family #690; enum. July 4, 1860), as follows:

The household of John Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of North Royalton, Cuyahoga County, Ohio (pg. 592; dwelling #56; family #56; enum. June 15, 1870), as follows:

John Edgerton died at North Royalton, Ohio on November 11, 1882, aged 78 years.   His wife, Philena, survived him just over ten years, dying at North Royalton on February 20, 1894.  John, Philena and many of their descendants were buried at the North Royalton Cemetery on Royalton Road (Rte. 82) in North Royalton, Ohio.  The John Edgerton plot is marked with a large monument bearing the following inscriptions on three of its sides:

Original Source Documents:

1840 Federal Census – household of John Edgerton; Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.

1850 Federal Census – household of John Edgerton; Royalton (District 3), Cuyahoga Co., OH.

1860 Federal Census – household of John Edgerton; Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.

1870 Federal Census – household of John Edgerton; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.

Gravestone photo – John Edgerton & Mrs. Philena Rhoda (Perry) Edgerton; North Royalton Cemetery; North Royalton, Cuyahoga Co., OH.