Samuel Edgerton was born at Norwich, Connecticut on September 4, 1761, the second son and third child of John and Freelove (Armstrong) Edgerton. Samuel was raised in Norwich and probably resided for a time in Mansfield, Tolland County, Connecticut, where most of his family removed shortly after the Revolution.

Samuel Edgerton was married at Washington, Connecticut on January 4, 1786 to Anna Armstrong, daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Hunt) Armstrong, of Washington and formerly of Norwich, Connecticut. Anna was born at Washington in 1762. Samuel and Anna were first cousins – Anna’s father, Thomas, being an elder brother to Samuel’s mother, Freelove Armstrong.

In a Norwich probate deed dated March 29, 1786, Samuel Edgerton and his wife Ann “of Washington, Connecticut”, together with a number of Anna’s siblings, conveyed land in Norwich to Isaac Armstrong (presumably Anna’s brother), which had descended from their grandfather, William Hunt. (see Orlando John Hodge; Hodge Genealogy; Boston, Rockwell and Churchill Press, 1900, pg. 234).

Census records cited below indicate that Samuel and Anna (Armstrong) Edgerton had a family of four children – three daughters and one son. The three daughters have been further identified in later records as: Flora (born circa 1792), Ruth (born circa 1795) and Anna (born circa 1798). The identity of Samuel and Anna’s son, born circa 1804 – 1810, is not known.

We are very grateful to Ms. Tracy Ossmann for the identification of the youngest daughter, Anna. Records uncovered by Ms. Ossmann show that Anna was married at Hubbardton, Rutland County, Vermont on February 16, 1820 to Henry Brown, “of Castleton”, and probably had at least two children with him (H.E. and George L.). Anna presumably died prior to the 1850 Federal Census. Her husband, Henry, had removed to Dunkirk, Dane County, Wisconsin by this time and his household included Anna’s elder sister, Flora Edgerton.

Samuel Edgerton was listed as a head of household in the 1800 Federal Census of Washington, Litchfield County, Connecticut (pg. 213). He was listed as “Saml Edgerton” and his household was enumerated as follows:

1 male “of 26 and under 45” (Samuel);

2 females “of 26 and under 45” (wife Anna and ?); and,

3 females “under 10 years of age” (daughters Flora, Ruth and Anna).

Shortly after the turn of the century, Samuel removed with his family from Connecticut and settled in Vermont. The family resided variously in Benson and Hubbardton – both in northwestern Rutland County. Samuel Edgerton was listed as a head of household in the 1810 Federal Census of Benson, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 228). The enumeration of the family at that time was as follows:

1 male “over 45 years of age” (Samuel);

1 male “under 10 years of age” (son ?);

1 female “over 45 years of age” (wife Anna);

1 female “of 16 and under 26” (daughter Flora); and,

2 females “of 10 and under 16” (daughters Ruth and Anna).

On January 8, 1817, a warning out order was issued in Hubbardton, Vermont to Samuel, Anna, Ruth and Flora Edgerton (Hubbardton Town Records, Book 1, pg. 30; see Vermont Warnings Out, Vol. I; Alden M. Rollins; Picton Press, Camden, Mass., 1995, pg. 76). The two younger children (daughter Anna and the unidentified son) would both have been under eighteen at this time and thus were not mentioned in the record.

Samuel Edgerton probably died before 1820, as his wife, “Anna Edgerton”, was listed as head of household in the 1820 Federal Census of Hubbardton, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 269). The household was enumerated with the following individuals:

1 male “of 10 and under 16 years” (son ?);

1 female “of 45 years and upwards” (Anna);

1 female “of 26 and under 45” (daughter Flora); and,

1 female “of 16 and under 26” (daughter Ruth).

There is currently no further record of Mrs. Anna (Armstrong) Edgerton past this date. Samuel and Anna’s elder daughter, Flora, removed west to Dunkirk, Dane County, Wisconsin with her brother-in-law, Henry Brown. Flora was included in Henry’s household at the time of the 1850 Federal Census, but there is no further record of her beyond this. The second daughter, Ruth, was listed in the 1850 Federal Census of Hubbardton, “a pauper, aged 55, born in Connecticut.” Ruth died in Castleton, Vermont (which borders Hubbardton) on April 28, 1870, aged 75 years (VR 4:78:14).

Original Source Documents:

1800 Federal Census – household of Samuel Edgerton; Washington, Litchfield Co., CT.

1810 Federal Census – household of Samuel Edgerton; Benson, Rutland Co., VT.

1820 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Anna (Armstrong) Edgerton; Hubbardton, Rutland Co., VT.