The

Edgerton

Database

Index

Sources

Samuel Fields Edgerton, son of Everett Wheeler and Jane (Fields) Edgerton.

born:	July 20 1828; New Haven, New Haven Co., CT. (OB The Charleston Mercury 6/19/1862) (GI)
died:	June 16, 1862; Charleston, Charleston Co., SC. (OB The Charleston Mercury 6/19/1862) (GI)
buried:	Magnolia Cemetery; Charleston, Charleston Co., SC. (GI)

married:

Mary Cross Gayer, daughter of William J. and Mary Cross (Bythewood) Gayer.

born:	August 1835; Charleston, Charleston Co., SC.
died:	July 30, 1910; Berwyn, Prince George Co., MD. (SC State BP)
buried:	Magnolia Cemetery; Charleston, Charleston Co., SC.

Children:

Edward Samuel, b. February 22, 1861; Charleston, Charleston Co., SC.

Samuel Fields Edgerton was born July 20, 1828 in New Haven, Connecticut, the eldest son of Everett W. Edgerton and his first wife, Jane Fields. He was no doubt named after his paternal grandfather, Samuel Fields.

Samuel was raised in Charleston, South Carolina, where his parents settled when Samuel was three years old. With the exception of few years in San Francisco, California, Samuel resided in Charleston for the majority of his lifetime. He made his living as a bookkeeper and businessman. Further biographical details can be found in his obituary notice printed below.

The household of “Saml Edgerton” was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Charleston (Ward 2), Charleston County, South Carolina (pg. 231; dwelling #252; family #252; enum. June 19, 1860), as follows:

Saml Edgerton	30	b. CT	Book Keeper
Mrs. M. C.	24	b. CT
E. P. Gayer	23	b. SC
Miss S. E.	15	b. SC

Samuel Fields Edgerton died in the Confederate Army during the Civil War (see Broken Fortunes: South Carolina Soldiers, Sailors and Citizens Who Died in the Service of Their Country and State in the War for Southern Independence; Randolph W. Kirkland Jr.). The following obituary was published in The Charleston Mercury on June 19, 1862:

“SAMUEL FIELDS EDGERTON, private in the Sumter Guard, was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on the 20th of July, 1828. He came to Charleston with his parents in 1831, and was educated in this city. Having a desire for mercantile life, he withdrew from the Charleston College before completing the course, and entered a mercantile house, where he remained for some years. In 1849 he started for California, and after a sojourn in San Francisco of three years returned to Charleston, and had been engaged here in active business since that time, being a principal in the house of EDGERTON, RICHARDS & CO., since 1856. Mr. EDGERTON was endowed with excellent business talents and conversational ability, and was blessed with a happy genial disposition, which drew around him a most extensive acquaintance of social companions. He joined the Sumter Guard at its formation, and has been steadily on active service since. He was shot with a Minie ball in the left hip, and after lingering in pain some twenty hours, died Tuesday morning, at a quarter to two o’clock. Mr. EDGERTON leaves a wife and one child. As a son, he was dutiful; as a man, he was generous; as a husband, he was loving; as a soldier, he was brave. Peace to his ashes.”

Mrs. Mary (Gayer) Edgerton and her son, Edward, were recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Charleston (Ward 3), Charleston County, South Carolina, residing in the household of her brother, William J. Gayer (dwelling #79; family #190; enum. July 9, 1870). They were enumerated as followed

M. E. Edgerton	35	b. SC	No Occup.
E. S.	9	b. SC

The household of Mrs. Mary (Gayer) Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Charleston City, Charleston County, South Carolina (dwelling #6; family #14; enum. June 1, 1880).

Name	Rel.	Age	Bp	F Bp	M Bp	Occ
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mary Edgerton		40	Charleston	Charleston	Charleston	keeping house
Edward	son	18	Charleston	Charleston	Charleston	clerk in cotton press

At the time of the 1900 Federal Census, Mrs. Mary (Gayer) Edgerton was listed under her maiden name. She was recorded as a head of household in Charleston (Ward 6, Precinct 2), Charleston County, South Carolina (pg. 238; dwelling #70; family #115; enum. June 6-7, 1900), with the following enumeration:

Name	Rel.	Birthdate & place		Age	Marital	Parents’ birthplace
					Status	Father	Mother
----------------------------	--------	------------------------		--------	-----------	----------	----------
Mary C. Gayer	head	Aug. 1837	SC	62	Wd.	SC	SC
Edward S.	son	Feb. 1865	SC	35	S	SC	SC

According to the above census record, Mary was the mother of four children, one of whom was still living. Edward’s occupation was listed as “S. S. Book Keeper”. The family was residing at 106 Ruttage Avenue.

Original Source Documents:

1860 Federal Census – household of Samuel Fields Edgerton; Charleston (Ward 2), Charleston Co., SC.

1870 Federal Census – household of William I. Gayer; Charleston (Ward 3), Charleston Co., SC.

1880 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Mary Cross (Gayer) Edgerton; Charleston City, Charleston Co., SC

1900 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Mary Cross (Gayer) Edgerton; Charleston (Ward 6, Pct. 2), Charleston Co., SC.

Gravestone photo – Samuel Fields Edgerton; Magnolia Cemetery; Charleston, Charleston Co., SC.

Burial Transmit Permit – Mrs. Mary Cross (Gayer) Edgerton; South Carolina State Death Certificates.