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The Edgerton Database |
Ransom G. Edgerton, son of Charles and Elizabeth (Shaw) Edgerton.
Cynthia Gladding
Ransom G. Edgerton was born in Potsdam, New York circa
1825, the son of Charles and Elizabeth (Shaw) Edgerton. He was raised in Potsdam and appears to
have resided their his entire life.
He made his living as a farmer. Ransom’s father died in 1849, and at the time of the
1850 Federal Census, Ransom was recorded residing (along with his mother) in
the household of his brother-in-law, Joseph L. Morgan, in Potsdam, St.
Lawrence County, New York (pg. 54; dwelling #782; family #828; enum. August
20, 1850). He was enumerated as,
“Ransom G. Edgerton, aged 25, born in New York, farmer, $1880 real estate”. Ransom Edgerton was married to Cynthia
Gladding. Cynthia’s parentage has not
yet been investigated. She was
probably related to Jerry Gladding, in whose household she was enumerated in
the 1860 Federal Census (see below).
Ransom and Cynthia apparently did not have any children. Ransom G. Edgerton died at the home of his
father-in-law in Potsdam, New York in mid-November of 1855. The cause of death was consumption. He was buried in the family plot at Union
Cemetery in Potsdam. The exact date
of Ransom’s death is not known; however, according to the testimony taken
during the probate of his will, it is known that he “lived a little over a
week after the will was made – 8 or 9 days…” Ransom G. Edgerton’s Last Will and Testament was dated at Potsdam, New York on
November 6, 1855, and was proved at Potsdam on December 13 of the same year,
before Benjamin G. Baldwin, Surrogate.
According to the terms of the will, Ransom left his entire estate to
his “beloved wife Cynthia”, subject to a life lease to his mother,
Elizabeth. Cynthia was named as
executrix and the will was witnessed by Samuel B. Gordon Esq. (who had drawn
the will) and Luther C. Myers. There
was apparently some dispute over the will, since Ransom’s sister, Louisa
Morgan, and his mother, Elizabeth Edgerton, opposed its probate. For this reason the testimony taken at the
Surrogate Court were more detailed than usual, describing the events
surrounding the writing and attesting of the will. Nevertheless, the will was admitted to probate. It is not known if Ransom’s widow, Cynthia
(Gladding) Edgerton, was ever remarried.
At the time of the 1860 Federal Census, she was residing in the
household of Jerry Gladding in Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York (pg.
786; dwelling #234; family #247; enum. June 22, 1860), where she was
enumerated as “Cynthia Edgerton, aged 28, born in New York, $3200 real
estate”. |