The

Edgerton

Database

Index

Sources

Richard Edgerton, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Scudder) Edgerton.

born:	February 17, 1700/1; Norwich, New London Co., CT. (VRp I:46 – sic “1702/3”)
bapt:	December 22, 1701; First Cong. Church; Norwich, New London Co., CT. (ChR 1:2)
died:	April 24, 1779; West Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT. (CemR #87)
buried:	North Canton Cemetery; Canton, Hartford Co., CT. (CemR #87)

married:

1: February 9, 1724/5; Norwich, New London Co., CT. (VRp I:5) (Franklin Cong. ChR 1:381)

Hannah Calkins, daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Turner) Calkins.

born:

July 20, 1705; New London, New London Co., CT. (VR I:61)

Children:

Jonathan, b. August 24, 1726; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
Zerviah, b. April 22, 1729; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
Ebenezer, b. January 5, 1732/3; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
Sarah, b. October 16, 1736; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
Susannah, b. August 16, 1739; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
Hannah, b. -?-, 18, 1743/4; Lebanon, New London Co., CT.

married:

2: ~1750; Lebanon, New London Co., CT.

Rebecca Wells, daughter of Ephraim and Abigail (Allis) Wells.

born:	September 1, 1715; Colchester, New London Co., CT. (VR L3:195)
died:	June 12, 1778; West Simsbury, Hartford Co., CT. (CemR #85)
buried:	North Canton Cemetery; North Canton, Hartford Co., CT. (CemR #85)

Children:

Rebecca, b. August 10, 1751; Lebanon, New London Co., CT.
Joshua, b. ~1754; Lebanon, New London Co., CT.

Richard Edgerton III was born at Norwich, Connecticut on February 17, 1700/1. He was the second son and fourth child of Richard and Elizabeth (Scudder) Edgerton. The Vital Records of Norwich list a birthdate of February 17, 1702/3, but this is believed to be an error. The records of the First Congregational Church of Norwich show that “Richard, son of Richard Edgerton” was baptized on December 22, 1701; and furthermore, Richard’s burial record in North Canton (see below) states that he died on April 24, 1779, aged 78 years. These together would seem to indicate that the correct birthyear should be 1700/1.

Richard Edgerton was married twice. He married first, on February 9, 1724/5 at Norwich, Hannah Calkins (aka “Caulkins”), daughter of Jonathan and Sarah (Turner) Calkins of New London, Connecticut. Hannah was born at New London on July 20, 1705. Through her mother, she was a third great-granddaughter of Elder William Brewster of the Mayflower via the ancestral line: Hannah (Calkins) Edgerton → Sarah (Turner) Calkins → Ezekiel Turner → Mary (Brewster) Turner → Jonathan Brewster → Elder William Brewster.

Richard and Hannah resided in Norwich until about 1740, and the births of their first five children were recorded in the vital records there (VRp I:5). They were members of the First Congregational Church of Norwich and owned the covenant of the Church on February 19, 1726/7 (ChR 2:246). Richard and Hannah’s eldest son, Jonathan, was baptized at the Church on the same date. The next four children, Zerviah, Ebenezer, Sarah and Susannah were also baptized at the First Church – each shortly after their respective births.

By the year 1744, Richard and Hannah had removed to Lebanon, Connecticut, where a daughter, Hannah, was recorded to them in that year. There is no record found of the death Mrs. Hannah (Calkins) Edgerton, but by 1751, Richard had married a second time. The marriage of Richard Edgerton and Rebecca Wells was recorded in Lebanon (VR I:82) but failes to list the date of marriage. Most likely the marriage took place in 1749 or early 1750, as their first child, Rebecca, was born in Lebanon on August 10, 1751. Richard and Rebecca also had a son, Joshua, who was baptized at the Goshen Church in Lebanon on January 20, 1754.

In 1759, Richard sold his property in Lebanon and bought land in West Simsbury, Hartford County, Connecticut, where he subsequently settled along with his eldest son, Jonathan. He resided in West Simsbury for the remainder of his life.

Mrs. Rebecca (Wells) Edgerton died on June 12, 1778 – presumably at West Simsbury, Connecticut. She was buried at the North Canton Cemetery, her death being entered in the burial records there as: “The 85th was Mrs Rebeckah the wife of Mr Richard Edgeton [sic] who Died June 12th 1778 aged 63 years” (see “North Canton Cemetery Inscriptions, 1754 – 1855”; The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin; Vol. 29, No. 2; April 1964; p. 62).

Richard Edgerton died not long after his wife – on April 24, 1779, presumably at West Simsbury. Although there is no extant gravestone, Richard’s name is found in the burial records of the North Canton Cemetery, the entry reading: “The 87th Mr Richard Edgeton [sic] who died Aprill the 24: 1779 aged 78 years” (see “North Canton Cemetery Inscriptions, 1754 – 1855”; The Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin; Vol. 29, No. 2; April 1964; p. 62). There is no probate found for Richard’s estate. He had previously sold his land in West Simsbury “on the west side of the river” to his son, Jonathan, and grandson, Jedidiah, on March 6, 1778 for a sum of 500 pounds (Simsbury LR 12:253).