The

Edgerton

Database

Home

Index

Sources

Search

Researchers

Notes...

Contact info

Photos

Links

Credits…

Marson Edgerton, son of Reed and Betsey (Lyon) Edgerton.

Betsey Melissa Brown, daughter of Milton and Eunice (Guild) Brown.

Children:

1. Rollin Augustus, b. October 27, 1840; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

Lucy Gregory, daughter of Silas and Lydia (Carver) Gregory.

Children:

2. Edward, b. November 13, 1850; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
3. Charles Marson, b. March 5, 1853, Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

Marson Edgerton was born May 18, 1816 (presumably at Pawlet, Vermont), the eldest surviving son of Reed Edgerton and his first wife, Betsey Lyon.  He grew up in Pawlet.  His mother died when Marson was five years old and his father when he was thirteen.

Marson Edgerton was married twice.  He married first, on October 24, 1839 at Pawlet, Betsey Melissa Brown, daughter of Capt. Milton and Eunice (Guild) Brown.  Betsey was born in Pawlet on February 28, 1819 and died there on July 8, 1847, leaving one son, Rollin Augustus. 

Marson was remarried on August 7, 1849 to Lucy Gregory, daughter of Silas and Lydia (Carver) Gregory, his second cousin.  Lucy was born in Pawlet on April 2, 1829 and was a great-granddaughter of Simeon and Abiah (Hough) Edgerton through their eldest daughter, Lydia (Edgerton) Carver.  Marson and Lucy (Gregory) Edgerton had two children:  Edward, born November 13, 1850; and Charles Marson, born March 5, 1853.

Marson Edgerton was a merchant by trade and was a partner in the Pawlet Manufacturing Company for many years, along with his father-in-law, Milton Brown.  From the fall of 1849 through April 9, 1852, he was also in partnership with Grove M. Harwood at Pawlet in the business of lumbering.  Marson and Grove were mentioned in relation to a suit heard by the Supreme Court of Vermont in the February Term of 1853 – “Solomon Reed vs. James Rice” (see Deane, John F.; Reports of Cases Argued and Determined by the Supreme Court of the State of Vermont; Brattleboro, Vermont: O. H. Platt, publisher; 1854; Vol. XXV, pp. 171-178).

The household of Marson Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 287; dwelling #1957; family #2132; enum. Octobert 28, 1850), as follows:

Marson’s son, Rollin Augustus, was not listed with the household in this census.  He was living at this time with his grandfather, Milton Brown (father of Marson’s first wife, Betsey), where he was enumerated as “Rollin Edgerton, aged 9, born in Vermont”.

Sometime during the following decade, Marson Edgerton removed from his hometown and settled in New York City, where he operated a tea business in lower Manhattan.  His address was listed in the 1869 Directory of New York City as:  “Marson Edgerton, teas, 155 Maiden la.”.

The household of Marson Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of New York City (Ward 19), New York County, New York (pg. 805; dwelling #1526; family #2995; enum. July 12, 1860), as follows:

Mrs. Lucy (Gregory) Edgerton died in New York City on Saturday, September 28, 1861, aged 32.  Her body was returned home to Pawlet and buried in the family plot at the Old Pawlet Cemetery.  Lucy’s death was listed in the New York City Death Rolls, and also in the New York Evening Post (see New York Evening Post, New York City, Deaths, Vol. 38 - February 22, 1860 - June 30, 1863,  pg. 26).  According to the death record, she had died of a heart condition.  The following obituary was published in The New York Times on Monday, September 30, 1861:

“EDGERTON. – In this City, on Saturday evening, Sept. 28, LUCY GREGORY, wife of Marson Edgerton, aged 32 years.”

Marson Edgerton died in New York City on March 8, 1876, aged 59, and was buried two days later at the Old Pawlet Cemetery in his hometown, beside his two wives.  The following obituary was published in The New York Times on Friday, March 10, 1876:

“EDGERTON. – At the Sturtevant House, on Wednesday evening, March 8, 1876, after a short illness, MARSON EDGERTON, of this City, aged 59 years.  His remains will be taken to Pawlet, Vt., for interment.”

On April 3, 1876, Edward Edgerton, petitioned the New York County Surrogate Court for Letters of Administration on the estate of his father, “Marson Edgerton, deceased.”  According to the petition, Marson had been a resident of New York City at the time of his death, and was survived by three sons – Edward Edgerton (“your petitioner”), Rollin A. Edgerton, “residing at Little Rock, Arkansas”, and Charles M. Edgerton, “residing at New York”.  The latter signed a letter consenting to the petition on April 4, 1876.  At the time of the petition, Edward was residing at “No. 9 St. Mark’s Place in the City of New York”.

None of Marson’s sons remained in Pawlet.  Rollin Augustus enlisted in the Union Army from Ohio and advanced to the rank of Lieutenant.  He removed to Fremont, Ohio, where he married Emma Amelia Downes on January 1, 1866 and later settled in Little Rock, Arkansas.  Edward died unmarried in Albany, New York on October 4, 1888 and was buried at the Old Pawlet Cemetery beside his parents.  The youngest son, Charles Marson, was married to Harriet Louise Hoffman of Philadelphia and lived in New York City, Brooklyn and Queens.  Robert C. Wolfert of Ronkonkoma, New York is a great-grandson of Charles M. Edgerton and has conducted a great deal of research on this branch of the Edgerton family.  We are very grateful to Mr. Wolfert for sharing his extensive research.

Original Source Documents:

1850 Federal Census – household of Marson Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

1860 Federal Census – household of Marson Edgerton; New York City (Ward 19), New York Co., NY.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Betsey Melissa (Brown) Edgerton; Old Pawlet Cemetery; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

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

Obituary – Mrs. Lucy (Gregory) Edgerton; The New York Times – Monday, September 30, 1861.

Death Certificate – Marson Edgerton; New York City Death Certificates, #234589.

Obituary – Marson Edgerton; The New York Times – Friday, March 10, 1876.

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