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Zebulon Edgerton, son of Zebulon and Elizabeth (Tracy) Edgerton.

Abigail Palmer

Children:

1. Reuben, b. May 29, 1779; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
2. Levi, b. June 14, 1781; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
3. Lydia, b. July 9, 1783; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
4. Whiting, b. February 28, 1785; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
5. Ruth, b. March 26, 1793; Franklin, New London Co., CT.

Zebulon Edgerton II was born at Franklin (Norwich), Connecticut on March 4, 1754, the eldest son of Zebulon and Elizabeth (Tracy) Edgerton. He was a farmer and soldier.

Zebulon was raised in Franklin, Connecticut (then a part of Norwich).  He was married at Norwich on May 10, 1778 to Abigail Palmer.  The parentage of Mrs. Abigail (Palmer) Edgerton is not known.  According to the age at death reported in a letter by her sister-in-law, Asenath Edgerton, Abigail was born circa 1756 (see FG7).  Previous research had suggested that she may have been the daughter of John and Abigail (Boynton) Palmer of Coventry, Connecticut, but this has now been refuted.  Abigail Palmer, daughter of John Palmer, was married to Oliver Edgerton (1750 – ~1805), son of Hezekiah Edgerton.

Zebulon and Abigail Edgerton had a family of five children.  The births of their four elder children – Reuben, Levi, Lydia and Whiting – were recorded in the Vital Records of Norwich (VRp I:559).  The entire family (including youngest daughter, Ruth) was also recorded in Franklin (VR 1:57), which had become a separate township in 1786.  Zebulon and Abigail also had at least one daughter who died in infancy.  The records at the Franklin Congregational Church list a “daughter of Zebulun Edgerton” who died November 3, 1791, aged 3 weeks (ChR 1:442).

Zebulon Edgerton was listed as a Private in the DAR Patriot Index (part I, pg. 928), which states that he served in the Connecticut line.  The details of Zebulon’s Revolutionary service have not been uncovered.  According to later references (as yet unconfirmed), he served in Capt. Nehemiah Waterman’s Company in 1779.

In the 1790 Federal Census of  New London County, Connecticut (pg. 173), Zebulon was listed as “Zebulon Edgerton Jr.”, so as to distinguish him from his father of the same name.  Zebulon Jr.’s household consisted of the following individuals:

1 male “of 16 years and upward”  (Zebulon);

3 males  “under 16 years of age”  (sons Reuben, Levi and Whiting); and,

2 females  (wife Abigail and daughter Lydia).

The household of Zebulon Edgerton was recorded again in the 1800 Federal Census of Franklin, New London County, Connecticut (pg. 739), with the following enumeration:

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

                2 males “of 16 and under 26”  (sons Reuben and Levi);

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

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

                1 female “under 10 years of age”  (daughter Ruth).

For some reason, the youngest son, Whiting (then aged 14-15) was omitted from this enumeration.

Circa 1802, Zebulon removed from Franklin and settled in Delphi Falls, Onondaga County, New York, in the southeastern district of Pompey Township.  According to Reunion of the Sons and Daughters of the Old Town of Pompey (Pompey, New York: Pompey Re-Union Meeting; 1875):

“Zebulon Edgerton, in 1806, had a good sized clearing one mile south of Delphi.  The same farm is now occupied by Wm. H. Savage.  His son, Mr. Reuben Edgerton, who came with his father, in 1802, is still living (1873) in Delphi, at the age of 92 years.”

Zebulon Edgerton was recorded as a head of household in the 1810 Federal Census of Pompey, Onondaga County, New York (pg. 503).  His household consisted of the following individuals:

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

1 male “of 26 and under 45”  (probably son Levi, unmarried);

1 male “of 16 and under 26” (?)

1 female “over 45 years of age”  (wife Abigail); and,

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

Zebulon was listed as a head of household again in the 1820 Federal Census of Pompey, Onondaga County, New York (pg. 71), along with his two elder sons, Reuben and Levi.  His name was recorded on the census roll as “Zebulon Egerton”, and the enumeration of his household was as follows:

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

1 male “of 16 and under 26” (?);

2 females “over 45 years of age” (wife Elizabeth and ?)

Zebulon died at Delphi Falls, New York on April 25, 1822, according to the DAR Patriot Index (part I, pg. 928).  This date is also corroborated by the inscription on Zebulon’s gravestone (see below), and also by a letter written by Zebulon’s younger sister, Asenath (see FG7), which records that “Brother Zebulon died April 25th 1822, aged 66”.  The same letter reports the death of Mrs. Abigail Edgerton, “his widow” on “August 5th 1826, aged 70”.

Zebulon Edgerton was buried at the Delphi Falls Cemetery in Delphi Falls, New York.  The grave of Zebulon Edgerton is referenced in Abstracts of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots, Vols. II  (Patricia Hatcher Law; Pioneer Heritage Press, Dallas, Texas, 1987), and also in Revolutionary Soldiers of Onondaga County, New York (Rev. W.M. Beauchamp; Onondaga Hist. Assoc.; The McDonald Co., Syracuse, NY, 1913; p. 179).  The inscription on Zebulon’s gravestone reads:

Mr. Zebulun Edgerton

died April 25th

1822.

aged 68 years

Friends & Physicians could not save,

This mortal body from thy grave:

Nor can the grave confine me here

When Christ commands me to appear.

Zebulon Edgerton left a Last Will and Testament, dated at Pompey on December 2, 1819, in which he mentions his wife, Abigail; daughters, Lydia Waterman and Ruth Holmes; sons, Reuben, Levi and Whiting; and one granddaughter, Hulda Alvira Edgerton.  His eldest son, Reuben, was named executor of the will, which was proven in Onondaga County Probate Court on May 28, 1822 (see Onondaga County Wills; Book D, pp. 29 – 33).

Original Source Documents:

1790 Federal Census – household of Zebulon Edgerton; New London Co., CT.

1800 Federal Census – household of Zebulon Edgerton; Franklin, New London Co., CT.

1810 Federal Census – household of Zebulon Edgerton; Pompey, Onondaga Co., NY.

1820 Federal Census – household of Zebulon Edgerton; Pompey, Onondaga Co., NY.