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Azel Edgerton, son of Charles and Jane (Utt) Edgerton.

Phebe Locke Rice, daughter of John Ogden and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Rice.

Children:

1. Justin Alva, b. November 27, 1848; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
2. Sarah Catherine, b. December 2, 1850; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
3. John Locke, b. May 28, 1852; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
4. Byram Chedister, b. November 5, 1853; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
5. Eli Firth, b. May 18, 1855; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
6. Lydia Elmira, b. February 28, 1858; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
7. Charles Clinton, b. December 28, 1859; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.
8. William Albert, b. June 29, 1861; Frelinghuysen, Warren Co., NJ.

Azel Edgerton was born December 21, 1822 in Hardwick (Frelinghuysen), Warren County, New Jersey, the eldest son of Charles and Jane (Utt) Edgerton.  He was no doubt named after his paternal grandfather.

Azel resided most of his life in Warren County, New Jersey, in the township of Frelinghuysen.  He was married on December 12, 1846 at Warren County, New Jersey to Phebe Locke Rice, daughter of John Ogden and Elizabeth (Armstrong) Rice.  Phebe was born at Hardwick, New Jersey on September 25, 1825.  A listing of the marriage is found in the private diary of Mr. Isaac Crisman of Warren County, New Jersey (see Interesting Records – Warren County, New Jersey – Blairstown Area).

Azel and Phebe (Rice) Edgerton had a large family of eight children – six sons, Justin Alva, John Locke, Byram Chedister, Eli Firth, Charles Clinton and William Albert; and two daughters, Sarah Catherine and Lydia Elmira.  All eight of the children survived to adulthood and were married, most raising families of their own.

The household of Azel Edgerton was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Frelinghuysen, Warren County, New Jersey (pg. 482; dwelling #78; family #87; enum. July 24, 1850), as follows:

As a minor note of interest, this census was enumerated by Azel’s father, Charles Edgerton.

The household of Azel Edgerton was recorded in the 1860 Federal Census of Hardwick, Warren County, New Jersey (pg. 555; dwelling #456; family #456; enum. July 14, 1860), as follows:

Azel Edgerton fought in the Union Army during the Civil War.  He enlisted from New Jersey on September 6, 1864 and served as a private, first in Company F, 2nd New Jersey Cavalry, and then in Company A, 31st New Jersey Infantry.  He later applied for a Civil War invalid Pension on November 28, 1879.  The application was filed from the state of New Jersey, and cited Azel’s service in the New Jersey Cavalry and Infantry.  Azel’s widow, “Phebe L. Edgerton”, later applied for a Civil War widow’s Pension on August 19, 1899, residing in New Jersey (see National Archives Pension Applications; Application #324539, Certificate #549356; and Application #660575, Certificate #404478).

The household of Azel Edgerton was recorded in the 1870 Federal Census of Hardwick, Warren County, New Jersey (pg. 147; dwelling #3; family #3; enum. August 1, 1870), as follows:

The household of Azel Edgerton was recorded in the 1880 Federal Census of Hope Township, Warren County, New Jersey (pg. 413; dwelling #10; family #10; enum. June 4, 1880), as follows:

Azel Edgerton died at Newton, New Jersey on June 26, 1897 and was buried at the Newton Cemetery.  His gravestone there, and that of his wife Phebe, record their complete dates of birth and death.  Azel was survived by his wife, Phebe, and all eight of their children.  He apparently did not leave a will.  The following obituary notice was published in the Belvidere Apollo on July 2, 1897 (pg. 3):

“Death of Azel Edgerton.

Azel Edgerton, a native of Warren county, died at his home in Newton after a long illness on Saturday last, aged 84 years.  Mr. Edgerton was born near Marksboro where he lived until about fifteen years ago since which time he has made Newton his home.  In early life he was a farmer, but was elected a justice of the peace for two terms.  In 1862 he enlisted among the nine month men, and afterward he entered the Second New Jersey Cavalry where he remained until honoably discharged at the close of the war.

He married Phebe Rice, who, with a family of eight children, survive him.  During the past winter the aged couple celebrated their golden wedding.  His soldier comrades attended his funeral in a body.”

Mrs. Phebe Locke (Rice) Edgerton died at Newton, New Jersey on November 22, 1899, as reported in the probate record of her estate (Sussex County Book of Wills, Volume L, Folio #450).  Phebe was buried beside her husband at the Newton Cemetery.  She left a Last Will and Testament, dated July 11, 1899, which was proved at Sussex County Surrogate Court in Newton on December 5, 1889, before Jacob M. Demarest, Surrogate.  In the will, Phebe gave instructions for her estate to be equally divided among her eight children, “Justin A. Edgerton, Sarah C. Pool (wife of Joseph Pool), John L. Edgerton, Byram C. Edgerton, Lydia Almira Andress (wife of Joseph C. Andress), Charles C. Edgerton, William A. Edgerton and Eli F. Edgerton”.  Son John L. Edgerton and daughter Sarah C. Pool were appointed joint executors of the will.  The witnesses were Howard Little and Robert T. Johnson.