The

Edgerton

Database

Home

Index

Sources

Search

Researchers

Notes...

Contact info

Photos

Links

Credits…

Albert Edgerton, son of Roger and Betsey (Cole) Edgerton.                                                                                                                          PHOTO

Rebecca Davis Clark, daughter of William Clark.

Children:

1. Frank, b. April 28, 1845; Delhi, Delaware Co., NY.
2. Albert, b. ~1848; Delhi, Delaware Co., NY.
3. Augusta, b. March 1850; Delhi, Delaware Co., NY.
4. Mark, b. March 23, 1854; New York City, New York Co., NY.
5. Erastus, b. June 6, 1856; New York City, New York Co., NY.

Albert Edgerton was born at Coventry, New York on April 20, 1815, the youngest of ten children born to Roger and Betsey (Cole) Edgerton.

Albert was raised in Coventry.  Upon his maturity, he attended the Oxford Academy, where he was educated as a lawyer and attorney.  He served as clerk for the New York State House of Representatives from 1842 to 1844, and was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1844.  In the same year, he settled in the village of Delhi, Delaware County, New York, where he was a member of the law firm of Gordon and Edgerton.

Albert Edgerton was married at Delhi, New York on September 17, 1844 to Miss Rebecca Davis Clark, daughter of William Clark of Hudson, New York.  Rebecca was born in Hudson on April 12, 1817.  A notice of Albert and Rebecca’s marriage was printed in the Delaware County Gazette on September 18, 1844.  Albert and Rebecca had a family of five children – Frank, Albert, Augusta, Mark and Erastus.  The eldest son, Frank, died at the age of three years, and the next-eldest son, Albert Jr., was killed in a tragic rail accident when he was aged twenty-nine.  The three younger children each married and had families.

The household of Albert Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Delhi, Delaware County, New York (pg. 247; dwelling #1279; family #1314; enum. September 13, 1850), as follows:

In 1854, Albert removed to New York City, where he served as weigher of customs from 1854 to 1857.  He then removed to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he resided for the remainder of his lifetime.  Albert Edgerton purchased 160 acres of public land in Minnesota on November 10, 1855, for which he was granted a government patent on the same date (registered at the Stillwater Land Office).  The property was located in the “Fourth Principal Meridian, Township 34 North, Range 19 West, Section 15” (United States Bureau of Land Management; Stillwater Land Office; Volume 2120; page 375).

Albert Edgerton was a highly prominent and successful member of the St. Paul community.  He was appointed Registrar of Bankrupty for the Second Congressional District of Minnesota in 1867, and also served as judge of the bankruptcy court for many years.  He was a founder and the first president of the Minnesota Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The household of “A Edgerton” was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Saint Paul (Ward 4), Ramsey County, Minnesota (dwelling #2399; family #2164; enum. July 14, 1860), as follows:

The household of “Albert Egerton” was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Saint Paul (Ward 3), Ramsey County, Minnesota (pp. 1140-1141; dwelling #360; family #414; enum. July 8, 1870), as follows:

The household of Albert Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota (pg. 178; dwelling #60; family #70; enum. June 3, 1880), as follows:

The Albert Edgerton home in St. Paul was located at 240 West 7th Street.  Albert resided there from 1872 until his death in 1896.  In the 1900 Federal Census, two of Albert’s children – Erastus and Augusta – were recorded living at the family home.  The house was kept in the family until the year 1909.  The dwelling has since been moved and is now located at 311 Walnut Street – “near Alexander Ramsey’s house”.  (This information from A Brief History of the Irvine Park District, published by the Committee of the Irvine Park Association.)

Albert Edgerton died at St. Paul, Minnesota on November 2, 1896, at the age of eighty-one years.  His wife, Rebecca, had died a year-and-a-half earlier on March 24, 1895.  Albert and Rebecca were buried at the Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The following obituary for Judge Albert Edgerton was published in The Saint Paul Globe on Tuesday, November 3, 1896 (pg. 8):

“PATRIOTS’ SON DEAD

JUDGE ALBERT EDGERTON PASSES

AWAY AT HIS SEVENTH

STREET HOME.

HE HAD PASSED FOUR SCORE

AND HAD LONG BEEN PROMINENT

IN THE HISTORY OF HIS

STATE.

HE FOUNDED THE LOCAL ORDER

Of Sons of the American Revolution

Being Its First, and Later, Honorary President

Judge Albert Edgerton, who came to St. Paul forty years ago, died last evening at his residence, 240 West Seventh street.  Mr. Edgerton has been confined to his bed for the past month, but he has been failing steadily since last March, and has not been able to go out since that time.  Death was caused by old age, Mr. Edgerton being nearly eighty-two years old.

Albert Edgerton was born in Coventry, Chenango county, N. V., April 12 [sic], 1815. He was clerk of the house of representatives of his native state from 1842 to 1844.  He was admitted to the bar in 1844 and came to St. Paul in 1857.  He engaged in the practice of his profession in this city and for years was prominently identified in legal circles.  He was for several years judge of the bankruptcy court and occupied that position up to the time the court was abolished.  Since that time he has not been actively engaged in business.  He was married at Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y., in 1845, and celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his marriage in March, 1895.  His wife died about a year ago. Mr. Edgerton leaves three children, two sons and a daughter.  One of his sons, Dr. Mark Edgerton, lives at Kansas City, Mo.  His daughter, Mrs. Augustus Emerson, and Erastus Edgerton, the other son, both reside in this city.  Mr. Edgerton was the first president of the Sons of the American Revolution in Minnesota, and after his term of office expired was elected honorary president of the society.  Mr. Edgerton took great interest in the organization of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and it was through his efforts that the society was started. The arrangements for the funeral will not be made until.his son at Kansas City is heard from.”

The following obituary notice for Judge Albert Edgerton was filed with his personal papers at the Minnesota Historical Society:

“At Ripe Old Age

The Death of Judge Albert Edgerton occurred Last Evening

One of Early Settlers

The Judge was Eighty-Two years Old – He located in the City in the Fifties – Was at the head of the Bankruptcy Court up to the Time of its Abolition – Took Deep Interest in Patriotic Orders.

Once again has death invaded the ranks of the old settlers and has called one of the most distinguished and notable of the group, Hon. Albert Edgerton.  He passed away last evening at his home, 240 West Seventh Street.

Judge Edgerton was nearly eighty-two years old, and his decease may be attributed to old age.  He had been failing since last March, and for the past month has been confined to his bed.  Mrs. Edgerton died about a year ago.  A daughter, Mrs. Augusta Emerson, and two sons, Erastus, of this city, and Mr. Mark Edgerton, of Kansas City, survive him.

Judge Edgerton came to St. Paul in 1857, the year which saw the arrival of many of the men who afterwards occupied prominent positions in the business and official world of the city and state.  He earned his title of “judge” when he was appointed to the bankruptcy court, over which he presided until the time it was abolished by law.  He was born in Coventry, Chenango county, N.Y., April 12 [sic], 1815.  He was clerk of the house of representatives of his native state from 1842 to 1844.  He was admitted to the bar in 1844 and came to St. Paul in 1857.  He engaged in the practice of law until he was appointed to the bankruptcy court, and scince that court was abolished he has not been actively engaged in business.  He was married in Delhi, N.Y. in 1845 [sic].

Judge Edgerton was the first president of the Sons of the American Revolution in Minnesota, and on the expiration of his term of office was elected honorary president of the society.  He took an intense interest in the patriotic orders, under the impression that they fostered a love of country, and was active in assisting the ladies to organize the order of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  The Judge’s father was a soldier of the Revolution and from him the judge inherited an intense patriotism.”

Original Source Documents:

1850 Federal Census – household of Albert Edgerton; Delhi, Delaware Co., NY.

1860 Federal Census – household of Albert Edgerton; Saint Paul (Ward 4), Ramsey Co., MN.

1870 Federal Census – household of Albert Edgerton; Saint Paul (Ward 3), Ramsey Co., MN.

1880 Federal Census – household of Albert Edgerton; Saint Paul, Ramsey Co., MN.

Obituary – Mrs. Rebecca Davis (Clark) Edgerton; The Saint Paul Daily Globe – Tuesday, March 26, 1895.

Obituary – Albert Edgerton; The Saint Paul Globe – Tuesday, November 3, 1896.