The

Edgerton

Database

Index

Sources

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

born:	February 19, 1807; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT. (VR 1:9)
died:	February 23, 1864; Lima, Rock Co., WI.

married:

January 12, 1843; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.

Rachel Fitch Cobb, daughter of Joshua D. and Nancy (Clark) Cobb.

born:	January 1, 1816; Pawlet, Rutland Co., VT.
died:	March 31, 1890; Whitewater, Walworth Co., WI. (Co. VR 2:85)
buried:	Oak Grove Cemetery; Whitewater, Walworth Co., WI. (Co. VR 2:85)

Abraham Sheldon Edgerton was born at Pawlet, Vermont on February 19, 1807, the son of Jacob Edgerton Sr. and his second wife, Hannah Sheldon. He was raised in Pawlet, Vermont and made his living as a farmer. Abraham’s name is found variously written as “Abram S. Edgerton” in a number of records.

Abraham S. Edgerton was married at Pawlet, Vermont on January 12, 1843 to his cousin, Rachel Fitch Cobb, daughter of Joshua D. and Nancy (Clark) Cobb of Pawlet. Rachel was also a descendant of Simeon and Abiah (Hough) Edgerton – her father, Joshua D. Cobb being the eldest son of Simeon’s daughter, Hannah (Edgerton) Cobb. According to her death record (see below), Rachel was born at Pawlet on January 1, 1816. Abraham and Rachel did not have any children.

In 1847, Abraham Edgerton left his hometown and removed west with his in-laws to southeastern Wisconsin. He resided for a short time in Whitewater (Walworth County), but shortly afterwards settled in the nearby town of Lima (Rock County), where he resided for the remainder of his life.

On June 1, 1848, Abraham and his cousin, Simeon E. Cobb, both “of Walworth County, Wisconsin” were issued a land patent from the Federal Government (certificate #24615) for forty acres in Whitewater County. The property was described as being in the “North East quarter of the South East quarter of Section eleven in Township four North of Range fourteen, East in the District of Lands subject to sale at Milwaukee, Wisconsin”.

The household of Abraham S. Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Lima, Rock County, Wisconsin (pg. 364; dwelling #1043; family #1043; enum. August 20, 1850), as follows:

Abraham S. Edgerton	43	b. VT	farmer $9,000 real estate
Rachel	34	b. VT

The household of “Abm Edgerton” was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Lima, Rock County, Wisconsin (pg. 419; dwelling #67; family #67; enum.June 5, 1860), as follows:

Abm Edgerton	53	b. VT	farmer $6,600 real estate / $1,800 personal estate
Rachael	44	b. VT
Joshua Cobb	68	b. VT
Mary Cobb	24	b. VT
Charles Tracy	21	b. NY

Abraham Sheldon Edgerton left a will which was probated in Rock County, Wisconsin and is now on file at the Rock County Courthouse in Janesville, Wisconsin. The probate record reports that Abraham had died February 23, 1864, aged 57 years. According to the will, Abraham left bequests to his wife, “Rachel Fitch Edgerton”, and his brother, “George H. Edgerton”.

Mrs. Rachel Fitch (Cobb) Edgerton died at Whitewater, Wisconsin on March 31, 1890. Her death record entered in the Walworth County Vital Records (Deaths, Vol. 2, #85) provides the following particulars:

Name:	Rachael Edgerton
Age:	74 years
Father:	Joshua D. Cobb
Mother:	Nancy Clark (Cobb)
Occupation:	Housewife
Place of Birth:	Pawlet, Vermont
Name of Husband:	Abram Edgerton
Date of Birth:	Jan. 1, 1816
Date of Death:	Mch 31, 1890
Cause of Death:	Pneumonia & inflamation of Liver
Place of Death:	Whitewater, Wallw[orth]
Burial Location:	Grove Cem., Whitewater

Original Source Documents:

Land Patent – Abraham Sheldon Edgerton; Walworth Co., WI; Bureau of Land Management; Milwaukee Land Office, certificate #24615.

1850 Federal Census – household of Abraham Sheldon Edgerton; Lima, Rock Co., WI.

1860 Federal Census – household of Abraham Sheldon Edgerton; Lima, Rock Co., WI.

Death record – Mrs. Rachel Fitch (Cobb) Edgerton; Walworth Co., WI Vital Records, Deaths, Vol. 2, #85.