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Urban Edgerton, son of James and Catherine (Hinman) Edgerton.

Elizabeth Boots

Children:

1. Elizabeth Catherine, b. September 27, 1827; Laurel Twp., Franklin Co., IN.
2. Matilda, b. August 1829; Laurel Twp., Franklin Co., IN.
3. Rebecca Ann, b. ~1832; Laurel Twp., Franklin Co., IN.
4. Martha, b. January 1836; Laurel Twp., Franklin Co., IN.

Urban Edgerton was born October 8, 1793 at New London, Connecticut, the third son of James and Catherine (Hinman) Edgerton.  He was baptized on February 28, 1802 at the First Congregational Church of New London.

Urban Edgerton fought in the War of 1812 at New London, Connecticut.  He served first as a corporal under Henry Smith from June 1, 1813 to June 15, 1813, and later as a sergeant under Wyllys Hall from August 9, 1814 to August 26, 1814 (see Record of Service of Connecticut Men, Part II, War of 1812, pg. 48).  For his service, Urban was granted a federal patent for a tract of land in the Kansas Territory, which his widow later transferred to Ulysees V. Kyzer in 1866 (see below).

According to Edgerton Family Genealogy (Ida Ferry Welch, et. al., 1964), Urban Edgerton removed to Indiana, where he died in the year 1847 leaving a family.  This information is corroborated by the New London probate record of Urban’s father, James (dated September 31, 1843), which refers to “Urban Edgerton of Indiana”.  Census records (see below) also confirm that Urban Edgerton was married and that he had a family of about five children (one son and four daughters).

According to a biography of Urban’s son-in-law, Alfred Blacklidge, found in Biographical History of Wayne, Fayette, Union and Franklin Counties, Indiana (Lewis Publishing Company; 1899), Urban Edgerton “with his wife came to this state from Penn Yan, New York, being numbered among the pioneers of Laurel Township, Franklin County”.

Urban Edgerton had settled in Franklin County, Indiana as early as December of 1823.  He was mentioned on several occasions in the early court records of Franklin County.  The following excerpts are extracted from Court Records of Franklin County, Indiana (Maurice Holmes, January 1987):

pg. 45 – “WILL AND PROBATE RECORDS, Franklin Co., Ind. Bk. A. … Page 103.  The will of Gabriel Collier deceased is brought in court Dec. 17, 1823 and proved by Urban Edgerton and James Webster two of the subscribing witnesses to the will.”

pg. 308 – “CIVIL ORDER BOOK #3, Franklin Co., Indiana … Page 377.  Urban Edgerton is appointed the adminstrator of the estate of Joseph Woodward deceased and posted a bond for $500.  Robert Hanna and John Maple are his securities.  Sept. 1824.”

pg..319 – “CIVIL ORDER BOOK #4, Franklin Co., Indiana … Page 149.  Andrew S. Babbitt administrator of the estate of Edward Brush deceased comes in court and files an inventory of Edward’s real estate.  The court appoints Erban Edgerton the guardian of Elmy, Joseph, Shadrack, Rebecca Ann, Mary Jane and Samantha Brush minor heirs of Edward.  March 1827.”

pg. 344 – “CIVIL ORDER BOOK #5, Franklin Co., Indiana … Page 598.  May 1839 Petit jurors – first week of Feb. 1840:  … Urban Edgerton”

On December 10, 1830, Urban Edgerton was witness to a sale of land in Brookville District (Rush County) from “James Halsey and wife Elizabeth of Franklin Co. Indiana” to “Martin Duncan of Decatur Co. Indiana” (see Rush County Deeds; FHL film 1,617,342).

Urban Edgerton was married at Franklin County, Indiana on March 31, 1825 to Elizabeth Boots (see Marriage Records for Franklin County, Indiana 1811 to 1852, copied by Mrs. Roscoe C. O’Byrne, Brookville, Indiana, 1944; Kokomo Indiana: Selby Publishing; reprinted 1985; pg. 42).  Elizabeth’s parentage has not been determined.; according to the 1850 Federal Census (see below), she was born circa 1800.  Unfortunately, this enumeration omits the births locations for the family.  Later census enumerations of Elizabeth’s children report variously that she was born in Connecticut, Delaware or New York – Connecticut being the most predominant.  Elizabeth may have been related to Samuel Boots who was married at Franklin County, Indiana on June 1, 1819 to Ruth Lutes, and who was subsequently listed as a head of household in the 1820 Federal Census of Brookville, Franklin County, Indiana (pg. 180).

To date, four children of Urban and Elizabeth (Boots) Edgerton have been identified – all daughters:

Elizabeth Catherine, born September 27, 1827.  Elizabeth was enumerated twice in the 1850 Federal Census of Franklin County, Indiana.  In addition to her enumeration in the household of her mother (see below) in Laurel Township, Elizabeth was also recorded in the household of her future father-in-law, Harvey Blacklidge (pg. 270; dwelling #82; family #82; enum. October 19, 1820).  She was enumerated there as “Catherine Edgerton, aged 22, born in Indiana”.  Elizabeth was married on January 4, 1855 at Franklin County, Indiana to Alfred Blacklidge (1827 – 1915).  Alfred and Elizabeth (Edgerton) Blacklidge had four daughters – Ellen Luella, Kate, Mary and Grace.  Mrs. Elizabeth (Edgerton) Blacklidge died September 22, 1909 at Metamora, Franklin County, Indiana.  Her death certificate gives her name as “Catherine Blacklidge”.

Matilda, born August 1829.  Matilda was married October 30, 1849 at Franklin County, Indiana to Thomas W. Snyder (~1817 – 1881), a native of Maryland.  Matilda was Thomas’ second wife; she had two daughters:  Margaret Elizabeth, born July 1850, who married Daniel G. Blauser; and Minnie L., born October 1861, who married Harry S. Thompson.  Matilda and Thomas resided first in Laurel Township, later removing to Kokomo (Howard County), where Thomas died November 21, 1881, aged 64 years.  Matilda survived Thomas twenty-three years.  She was enumerated as a head of household in the 1900 Federal Census residing in Center Township, Howard County, Indiana.  Matilda died at Center Township on October 21, 1904, aged 75 years.  Matilda and Thomas were buried at Crown Point Cemetery in Center Township, Indiana.

Rebecca Ann, born circa 1832.  Rebecca was married at Franklin County, Indiana on November 12, 1852 to David Hazzard, a native of Delaware.  Rebecca Ann was David’s second wife and bore him three children:  Katie E, Mary and Frank E.  The family resided first in Richland Township (Rush Co.), removing in October of 1874 to Indianapolis.  David Hazzard died at Indianapolis on October 28, 1896 and his widow shortly thereafter on November 17, 1896, also at Indianapolis.

Martha, born January 1836.  Martha was presumably the “Marthy Edgerton, aged 23, domestic, born in Indiana”, who was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Metamora, Franklin County, Indiana, residing in the household of her brother-in-law, Alfred Blacklidge.  Martha was married on February 27, 1867 at Franklin County, Indiana to Christopher C. Sollenberger (~1823 – 1899), a native of Pennsylvania.  Martha and Christopher settled in Howard County, Indiana, where they had one son, William E. Sollenberger (1871 – 1925).  According to the 1880 Federal Census, Martha’s parents were born in Connecticut.  Mrs. Martha E. Sollenberger died at Kokomo, Indiana on August 13, 1908, aged 72 years, her husband having predeceased her on August 9, 1899.  The family is buried at Crown Point Cemetery in Center Township, Indiana.

Urban Edgerton was listed as a head of household in the 1830 Federal Census of Franklin County, Indiana (pg. 280).  His household was enumerated with the following individuals:

1 male “of 30 and under 40”  (Urban);

1 male “under 5 years of age”  (son ?);

1 female “of 60 and under 70”  (?);

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

2 females “under 5 years of age”  (daughters Elizabeth and Matilda).

The household of Urban Edgerton was recorded in the 1840 Federal Census of Franklin County, Indiana (pg. 318), with the following enumeration:

1 male “40 and under 50”  (Urban);

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

2 females “5 and under 10”  (daughters Elizabeth and Matilda); and

2 females “under 5”  (daughters Rebecca and Martha).

Urban Edgerton died at Franklin County, Indiana on January 29, 1847.  His death was noted in the private diary of Jerome Willey (1822 – 1894) of Franklin County, Indiana.  A notice of the death of “Urban Edgerton, aged 53” was also published in the People’s Advocate (New London, Connecticut) on February 24, 1847.  Urban’s body was evidently returned to Connecticut and buried in the family plot at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London.  According to his gravestone there, Urban died in “1847, aged 54 years”.

The household of Mrs. Elizabeth “Edrington” was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Laurel Township, Franklin County, Indian (pg. 224; dwelling #156; family #156; enum. November 6, 1850), as follows:

Mrs. Elizabeth Edgerton has not been located in the 1860 Federal Census, although it seems certain that she was still living at this time, since on February 1, 1866, “Elizabeth Edgerton, Widow of Urban Edgerton, Corporal, Captain Smith’s Company, Connecticut Militia, War of 1812” assigned to Ulysees V. Kyzer the 110 acres of land near Junction City, Kansas, which had been deeded to Urban Edgerton for his military service.  The original of this land patent is held at the United States Bureau of Land Management – Warrant #22906.

Original Source Documents:

1830 Federal Census – household of Urban Edgerton; Franklin Co., IN.

1840 Federal Census – household of Urban Edgerton; Franklin Co., IN.

1850 Federal Census – household of Mrs. Elizabeth (Boots) Edgerton; Laurel Twp., Franklin Co., IN.

Land Patent – Mrs. Elizabeth (Boots) Edgerton to Ulysees V. Kyzer; February 1, 1866; Bureau of Land Management, Warrant #22906.