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William Stewart Edgerton, son of Ebenezer S. and Agnes (Martin) Edgerton.

Elizabeth Smith

Children:

1. Henry Augustus, b. February 13, 1841; West Troy, Albany Co., NY.
2. Albert Stewart, b. October 4, 1842; West Troy, Albany Co., NY.
3. Alice G., b. June 4, 1844; West Troy, Albany Co., NY.
4. Isabella, b. June 4, 1844; West Troy, Albany Co., NY.
5. William Edward, b. September 20, 1846; West Troy, Albany Co., NY.
6. Helen Erwin, b. August 31, 1849; Minden, Montgomery Co., NY.
7. Henrietta H., b. August 31, 1849; Minden, Montgomery Co., NY.
8. Ida F., b. November 1851; Bridgeport, Fairfield Co., CT.
9. James M., b. November 1856; Meriden, New Haven Co., CT.

William Stewart Edgerton was born at Albany, New York in October (or possibly November) of 1821, the son of Ebenezer S. and Agnes (Martin) Edgerton.  The exact date of his birth is not known, and later census and death records (see below) are in disagreement, varying anywhere from 1819 to 1822.  According to the 1840 Federal Census, he was aged 15 – 20 in that year, hence born circa 1820 – 1825.  The 1855 New York State Census states that he was born in Albany County, New York circa 1819 (ie. aged 36).  In the 1860 and 1870 Federal Censuses, his age was listed as 40 and 48, respectively.  And finally, his death record at Darien, Connecticut (VR 5:526), lists an age at death of 73 years and 9 months, indicating a birth in October (or possibly November) of 1821.  This latter date is included here, since it appears to agree with the most of the aforementioned records (ie the 1840 and 1870 Censuses).

William Edgerton was listed as a head of household in the 1840 Federal Census of West Troy (Ward 4), Albany County, New York (pg. 7).  According to the census enumeration, William was aged 15 – 20, and had a wife, aged 20 – 30.  William’s father, “Eben. Edgerton”, was also listed as a head of household in West Troy (Ward 4) in the 1840 Federal Census.

William’s wife was named Elizabeth (aka. “Betsy”) Smith.  Elizabeth’s parentage and ancestry are currently unknown.  According to census records (see below), she was born in New York State circa 1818 – 1824.  The death record of Elizabeth’s son, Albert S. Edgerton (New London, Connecticut VR 8B:69) reports that she was born in Troy, New York.

William and Elizabeth (Smith) Edgerton had a family of nine children:  Henry Augustus, Albert Stewart, Alice G., Isabella, William Edward (aka. William S. II), Helen Erwin, Henrietta H., Ida F. and James M.  The next-to-youngest son, William, is referred to variously as William Edward Edgerton (his baptismal name), William E. Edgerton, and William S. Edgerton II (as found on most of his military records).  All but the youngest two children were born in New York.  The five elder children were born in West Troy, twin daughters Helen and Henrietta in Minden, Montgomery County, New York, youngest daughter Ida in Bridgeport, Connecticut and the youngest son, James, was born in Meriden, Connecticut.

William and Elizabeth were members of the First Reformed Church of Fort Plains, New York.  Their seven eldest children were baptized at the Church.  The elder five children were baptized together on March 20, 1849; so it is probable that William and Elizabeth had joined with the Church shortly before that time.  The two younger twin girls, Helen and Henrietta, were baptized on January 21, 1850.  William and Elizabeth also had two younger children – a daughter Ida, and a son James M.

The household of William Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Minden, Montgomery County, New York (pg. 224; dwelling #248; family #273; enum. Aug. 28, 1850), as follows:

The family was also recorded in the 1855 New York State census, residing in Herkimer County.  By 1860, William had removed with his family from New York State to Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut.

The household of William S. Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut (pg. 1091; dwelling #110; family #126; enum. June 6, 1860), as follows:

In the summer of 1861, William and two of his sons, Henry and William, were among the company of Meriden men who enlisted for service with the 7th Connecticut Infantry Regiment (Company C).  The two Williams served as musicians and Henry served as a private.  Henry was killed in battle at Raleigh, North Carolina on July 3, 1865.  William Sr. and Jr. both returned home.  William S. Edgerton I was listed as a “Fifer major” in the 7th Connecticut Infantry Regiment, Company C.  He enlisted on August 26, 1861 (the same day as his two sons).  He was promoted to Full Principal Musician on September 17, 1861 and transferred from Company C to Company S on the same date.  William was discharged on October 29, 1862.  Historic Record of the Town of Meriden, Connecticut, 1906, Vol. 1, pp. 6-7 gives the following account of the Meriden Company (Co. C), known as the “Three Years Men”:

“THE THREE YEARS MEN.  COMPANY C, 7TH REGIMENT.  In the summer of 1861 a company was raised which was assigned to the 7th Regiment as Co. C. This regiment left the state for Washington September 18th, was in the expedition to Port Royal and was the first to land, and their flags were the first on the soil of South Carolina. These Meriden men with their regiment have a brilliant record and well entitled to their reputation as a fighting regiment. They saw service in Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and were at the taking of Fort Fisher, North Carolina.”

The Meriden roster for Company C includes the following:

“MUSICIANS – Wm. S. Edgerton, 1st, Wm. S. Edgerton, 2nd...

…JOINED AS RECRUITS – ... Henry A. Edgerton, accidentally killed...”

The household of “Wm. S.” Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut (pg. 390; dwelling #1021; families #1367-1370; enum. July 1870), as follows:

Curiously, the family of William’s son William E. Edgerton was also recorded elsewhere in the 1870 Meriden Census. (pg. 346)  He was listed as “Wm. S. Edgerton”, and his household consisted of wife, Laura F, daughter Gertrude, brother-in-law, John Gelbart, and sister Ida.

The household of “Wm. S.” Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Meriden, New Haven County, Connecticut (pg. 520; dwelling #11; family #13; enum. June 1, 1880), as follows:

William S. Edgerton resided for a time in Adams, Berkshire County, Massachusetts where he operated a painting business with his youngest son, James M., under the name of “W. S. Edgerton and Son”.  The business was listed in James T. Larkin’s 1889/1890 Directory of Adams, Massachusetts as “W. S. Edgerton and Son, painters and paper hangers, 5 Dean, Adams, Mass.”  William and James were also each listed individually in this Directory with a residence on “West Mountain Road”.

William S. Edgerton Sr. applied for a Civil War Invalid Pension on August 22, 1890.  On the application, “J. Somers” was listed as the representing attorney.  William’s wife, Elizabeth, probably predeceased him as she never applied for a widow’s pension.  Elizabeth had applied earlier, on April 12, 1882, for a pension on behalf of her deceased son, Henry (see National Archives Pension Applications; Application #959571, Certificate #739012; and Application #959571, Certificate #739012; and Application #303000).

Circa 1894-95, William S. Edgerton was admitted to “Fitch Connecticut Home for Disabled Volunteers” in Darien, Connecticut.  The following data on his admittance was reported in the annual “Report of the Managers”, covering the fiscal year July 1, 1894 – June 30, 1895:

William Stewart Edgerton died at the Fitch Home on August 3, 1895.  According to the record of his death at Darien (VR 5:536), he was a widower, aged 73 years, 9 months.  His occupation was listed as “musician” and his residence as Plymouth, Connecticut.  The record also states that William was born in Albany, New York, the son of Ebenezer and Martha Edgerton.  The cause of death was listed as “heart disease”, and the attending physician was W. G. Bronson M.D.  William’s middle name was written in the record as “Stead”, probably a phonetic misspelling.

William S. Edgerton was buried at the Fitch Home Cemetery in Darien, Connecticut.  His gravestone was inscribed:  “William S. Edgerton, Principal Musician, 7th Regt. C.V., died August 3, 1895.”

No record has yet been found of the death or burial of William’s wife, Elizabeth.

Original Source Documents:

1840 Federal Census – household of William Stewart Edgerton; West Troy (Ward 4), Albany Co., NY.

1850 Federal Census – household of William Stewart Edgerton; Minden, Montgomery Co., NY.

1860 Federal Census – household of William Stewart Edgerton; Meriden, New Haven Co., CT.

1870 Federal Census – household of William Stewart Edgerton; Meriden, New Haven Co., CT.

1880 Federal Census – household of William Stewart Edgerton; Meriden, New Haven Co., CT.