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The Edgerton Database |
Oliver Edgerton, son of Hezekiah and Freelove (Miner) Edgerton.
Abigail Palmer, daughter of John and Abigail (Boynton) Palmer.
Oliver Edgerton was born in Norwich, Connecticut on September 22, 1750, the second son of Hezekiah and Freelove (Miner) Edgerton. He was baptized at the Bozrah Congregational Church (where his parents had been married) on March 17th of the following year (ChR 3:29). In 1776, Oliver inherited lands in Tolland, Connecticut from the estate of his father, Hezekiah. One tract of land, described as that “bought of Jacob Eatton late of said Tolland”, was to be divided with his elder brother, Daniel, who had previously settled in Tolland. According to Hezekiah’s will (dated September 8, 1774), Oliver also inherited an additional one hundred fourteen acres in Tolland and a share in the residual estate. Oliver settled in Tolland about this time (c. 1780), as did most of his immediate family, including his mother, Freelove, and sister, Phebe. Land records indicate that Oliver probably resided for a time in the town of Coventry – also in Tolland County, Connecticut. Oliver’s wife was Abigail Palmer, who was born in Coventry, Connecticut on July 22, 1755, the daughter of John and Abigail (Boynton) Palmer. No record has been found of the marriage of Oliver and Abigail, but it is certain that they were married by February 25, 1779, on which date they jointly conveyed land in Coventry to Abigail’s step-father, James Chamberlain (Coventry Deeds 6:409). [Abigail’s father had died when she was still an infant, and her mother was remarried on January 27, 1757 to James Chamberlain, of Mansfield, Connecticut (Coventry VRp 133).] The deed of sale, witnessed by Samuel Cobb and Moses Cobb, was recorded at Coventry on June 7, 1779, and read in part: “Know all men by these presents that we Oliver Edgerton & Abigail Edgerton …of Tolland in sd County of Hartford & state of Connecticut in New England for & in consideration of twenty eight Pounds lawfull money paid to our full satisfaction by our Father in Law James Chamberlain of Tolland aforesaid…do by these presents Bargain Sell Give Grant & Confirm unto the sd James Chamberlain his Heirs & assigns for ever one fifth part of one certain piece or parcel of Land Lying & being in sd Township of Coventry in Windham County & Coloney aforesd which fell to said Abigail by the Last Will & Testament of her Father John Palmer Late of sd Coventry Deceased…” Very little is known about the family of Oliver and Abigail (Palmer) Edgerton. No entries are found in the vital or church records in Norwich, Coventry or Tolland. Census records indicate that Oliver and Abigail had three children – two sons and one daughter – although there is currently no evidence of their identities. Mrs. Abigail (Palmer) Edgerton died on October 24, 1786, aged 31 years. She was buried at the King Street Cemetery in Enfield, Connecticut, where her gravestone was incribed with the following epitaph: In Memory of Mrs Abigail wife of Mr Oliver Edgerton of Tolland Who died Oct. 24 1786 in the 31 Year of her age Depart my friends, dry up your tears, I must lie here till Christ appears The household of Oliver Edgerton was enumerated in the 1790 Census of Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut, as follows: 1 male “of 16 years and upwards” (Oliver); 2 males “under 16 years of age” (sons ?); and, 1 female (daughter ?) Sometime prior to 1805, Oliver Edgerton removed
from Connecticut to Sussex County, New Jersey, where he died shortly
thereafter. No record has been found
of Oliver’s death, but it is certain that he was deceased by October 11,
1805, when an inventory of his
estate was admitted into Sussex County Probate. Oliver’s surname was mis-spelled in the record as “Edggiton”
and “Edgiton”, however the contents of the inventory make it certain that the
deceased was indeed Oliver Edgerton, son of Hezekiah Edgerton, formerly of
Tolland, Connecticut. In particular,
the inventory contained a number of notes which “appear to have been given in
Connecticut”, three of which were signed by “Abel Edgerton” (ie. Oliver’s
cousin), “Amos Avery Jun” (Oliver’s brother-in-law), and “Jno Palmer”
(brother of Oliver’s late wife, Abigail).
The complete inventory of Oliver’s estate, totalling $107.68, was
filed with the Sussex County Book of Inventories, Liber A, Folio #195.6. |