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Sheldon Edgerton, son of Jacob and Hannah (Sheldon) Edgerton.

Fanny Griswold, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lay) Griswold.

Children:

1. Harry Adams, b. February 12, 1824; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
2. Charles Meigs, b. October 8, 1825; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
3. David, b. March 22, 1828; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
4. Sarah Sophia, b. July 25, 1831; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
5. Augustus, b. April 17, 1833; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
6. Delia Maria, b. December 17, 1834; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
7. Fanny Jane, b. July 4, 1838; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

Sheldon Edgerton was born at Pawlet, Vermont on July 6, 1798, the son of Jacob Edgerton and his second wife, Hannah Sheldon.  He grew up in Pawlet and succeeded to the family homestead upon his father’s death in 1845.  He made his living as a farmer.

Sheldon Edgerton was married at Pawlet on February 24, 1823 to Fanny Griswold, daughter of the Rev. John and Elizabeth (Lay) Griswold.  Sheldon and Fanny had seven children:  four sons, Harry Adams, Charles Meigs, David and Augustus; and three daughters, Sarah Sophia, Delia Maria and Fanny Jane.  The two eldest sons both died young – Harry at the age of six months and Charles at the age of seventeen.  The eldest five children were recorded together in the vital records of Pawlet (Book I, page 73); the two younger daughters were not recorded.

Sheldon Edgerton was quite active in town politics and served as selectman for the town of Pawlet in 1848 and 1849.  He was also Representative to the State Assembly for four years, 1846-1849.  Together with his brother, Jacob Edgerton, Jr. (along with Jonathan Randall, John Clark, John Barden, and William Wallace), he founded the Flower Brook Manufacturing Company, which was incorporated in November 1836.  The five-story factory, located in the village, was engaged in the manufacture of cotton and wool.  The company was only moderately successful and closed after about eight years.

The household of Sheldon Edgerton was recorded in the 1830 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 83), with the following enumeration:

1 male “of 30 and under 40”  (Sheldon);

1 male “of 5 and under 10”  (son Harry);

2 males “under 5 years of age”  (sons Charles and David);

1 female “of 30 and under 40”  (wife Fanny); and,

1 female “of 10 and under 15”  (?).

The household of Sheldon Edgerton was recorded in the 1840 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 111), with the following enumeration:

1 male “40 and under 50”  (Sheldon);

2 males “10 and under 15”  (sons Charles and David);

1 male “5 and under 10”  (son Augustus);

1 female “40 and under 50”  (wife Fanny);

2 female “5 and under 10”  (daughters Sarah and Delia); and,

1 female “under 5 years”  (daughter Fanny).

The household of Sheldon Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 292; dwelling #2012; family #2214; enum. Oct. 30, 1850), as follows:

The previous household enumerated on the census roll was that of Sheldon’s father-in-law, John Griswold.

The household of Sheldon Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Pawlet, Rutland County, Vermont (pg. 215-216; dwelling #1545; family #1512; enum. August 10, 1860), as follows:

Circa 1867, Sheldon sold the homestead in Pawlet and removed west along with his son, Augustus, to Whiteside County, Illinois.  He lived initially in the city of Sterling, later removing – circa 1877 – to Coloma Township where his son Augustus was residing with his family.

The household of Sheldon Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Sterling City, Whiteside County, Illinois (dwelling #203; family #214; enum. July 29, 1870), as follows:

Mrs. Fanny (Griswold) Edgerton died on February 23, 1877, presumably at Sterling, Illinois.  Following his wife’s death, Sheldon moved to Coloma Township to live with his daughter Sarah and her husband, Grove Wright.  He was residing in their household at the time of his death two years later.

Sheldon Edgerton died at Coloma Township, Illinois on September 19, 1879.  His death was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census Mortality Schedule of “Persons who Died during the Year ending May 31, 1880” in Coloma, Whiteside County, Illinois (pg. 1, #11) as follows:

Sheldon and Fanny Edgerton were buried adjacent to each other at Riverside Cemetery in Sterling, Illinois.  Their youngest daughter, Fanny Jane, was also buried with them at Riverside Cemetery.  The gravestones their bear the following inscriptions:

The five younger children of Sheldon and Fanny (Griswold) Edgerton survived to adulthood.  David moved west to Idaho; he reportedly died December 26, 1890.  Sarah Sophia was married to Grove Wright and lived in Sterling, Illinois.  Augustus was married to Della Louisa Reed of Pawlet; they removed farther west to Dubuque, Iowa and from there to Red Bluff, Tehama County, California where Augustus died February 10, 1911.  Delia Maria was married to Levi P. Johnson and later removed to Stockton, California where she died January 17, 1904.  The youngest daughter, Fanny Jane, died unmarried at the age of 34.

Original Source Documents:

Marriage record – Sheldon Edgerton & Fanny Griswold; Records of the Congregational Church in Pawlet; Vol. I.

1830 Federal Census – household of Sheldon Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

1840 Federal Census – household of Sheldon Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

1850 Federal Census – household of Sheldon Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

1860 Federal Census – household of Sheldon Edgerton; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT

1870 Federal Census – household of Sheldon Edgerton; Sterling City, Whiteside Co., IL.

1880 Federal Census Mortality Schedule – Sheldon Edgerton; Coloma, Whiteside Co., IL; pg. 1, #11.

Gravestone photo – Sheldon Edgerton; Riverside Cemetery; Sterling, Whiteside Co., IL.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Fanny (Griswold) Edgerton; Riverside Cemetery; Sterling, Whiteside Co., IL.