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Robinson H. Edgerton, son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fargo) Edgerton.

Rhoda Clemons

Children:

1. James A., b. ~1830; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
2. Herbert James, b. ~1834; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
3. Daniel, b. March 16, 1836; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
4. Luther, b. ~1837; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
5. Lewis F., b. May 25, 1840; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
6. Francis Irvin, b. January 17, 1845; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
7. George, b. ~1846; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.
8. Samuel Julius, b. ~1848; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.

Robinson H. Edgerton was born in Wallingford, Vermont on October 17, 1809, the youngest son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Fargo) Edgerton.  He was a farmer by profession and resided in Wallingford for the first part of his life, later removing to northern Wisconsin.  Robinson’s middle name is not known; however, a middle initial of “H.” is listed in a number of records and family histories.

There is some confusion regarding the wife of Robinson Edgerton.  The 1850 Census cited below states that her name was Mary; however, family tradition claims that her name was Rhoda Clemons.  All other known records (eg. the marriage record of son Lewis, 1860 and 1870 Federal Census enumerations and her gravestone) are consistent with her first name being Rhoda.  It is probable that the “Mary Edgerton” of the 1850 Census was an error on the part of the census enumerator.  Alternatively, Mary could have been Rhoda’s middle name or possibly a nickname.  The parentage of Mrs. Rhoda (Clemons) Edgerton is not known.  She may have been a daughter of one of the variou Clemons families of nearby Wells, Rutland County, Vermont, who were descendants of Thomas and Mehitable (Colburn) Clemons.  According to the inscription on her gravestone (see below), Rhoda was born on April 2, 1810.

Very little research has been previously conducted regarding the family of Robinson H. Edgerton, apart from the descendants of his son Daniel who are outlined in the Edgerton Family Genealogy (Ida Ferry Welch, et. al., 1964).  Unfortunately, no record of the family was entered in the Vital Records at Wallingford.  Nevertheless, it has been possible to reconstruct much of the family from later census, burial and marriage records.  There is currently documentation of eight children born to Robinson and Rhoda (Clemons) Edgerton:  James A. (~1830 –     ) who was apparently never married; Herbert James (~1834 – 1865) who died in the Civil War; Daniel (1836 – 1894) who removed to New York State and had a large family; Luther (~1837 –     ); Lewis F. (1840 – 1903) who removed to Marathon County, Wisconsin and married Doray Bellin; Francis Irvin (1845 – 1904) who settled in Newport, Kentucky, where he married Jane Louise Walt and had three children; George (~1846 –     ); and Samuel Julius (~1848 –     ).  Four of the sons – Herbert, Daniel, Lewis and Francis – fought in the Union Army during the Civil War.

The household of Robinson Edgerton was recorded in the 1840 Federal Census of Wallingford, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 163), with the following enumeration:

1 male “20 and under 30”  (Robinson);

1 male “5 and under 10”  (should be 2 - sons James and Herbert);

3 males “under 5 years”  (sons Daniel, Luther and Lewis); and,

1 female “30 and under 40”  (wife Rhoda).

The family of Robinson Edgerton was recorded again in the 1850 Federal Census of Wallingford, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 325; dwelling #392; family #402; enum. Aug. 12, 1850), as follows:

In the mid-1850’s, Robinson H. Edgerton removed from Vermont to Lincoln County (then part of Marathon County), Wisconsin.  He settled in the township of Jenny, where he apparently resided for the remainder of his life.

The household of “R. H. Adgerton” was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Jenny Township, Marathon County (now Lincoln County), Wisconsin (pg. 926; dwelling #624; family #18; enum. July 23, 1860), as follows:

Robinson and Rhoda Edgerton were enumerated in the 1870 Federal Census of Jenny Township, Marathon County (now Lincoln County), Wisconsin (pg. 447; dwelling #26; family #26; enum. July 8, 1870), as follows:

Robinson H. Edgerton died on April 11, 1872, presumably at Jenny Township, Wisconsin.  His wife, Rhoda Edgerton, had died the previous year – on May 21, 1871.  Robinson and Rhoda are buried at Merrill Memorial Park in Merill, Lincoln County, Wisconsin.  Their joint gravestone was inscribed as follows:

Only one of Robinson’s children is known to have settled in Wisconsin – son Lewis F., who married Dora L. Bellin and resided in the town of Texas.  Lewis and Dora are also buried at Merrill Memorial Park.

Original Source Documents:

1840 Federal Census – household of Robinson H. Edgerton; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.

1850 Federal Census – household of Robinson H. Edgerton; Wallingford, Rutland Co., VT.

1860 Federal Census – household of Robinson H. Edgerton; Jenny Twp., Marathon Co. (now Lincoln Co.), WI.

1870 Federal Census – household of Robinson H. Edgerton; Jenny Twp., Marathon Co. (now Lincoln Co.), WI.

Gravestone photo – Robinson H. Edgerton & Mrs. Rhoda (Clemons) Edgerton; Merrill Memorial Park; Merrill, Lincoln Co., WI.