The Edgerton Database |
Capt. Daniel Edgerton, son of Hezekiah and Freelove (Miner) Edgerton.
Sarah Griggs, daughter of Ichabod and Sarah (Hatch) Griggs.
Children:
Mary Cobb, daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Bicknell) Cobb.
Children:
Captain Daniel Edgerton was born in Norwich, Connecticut on November 11, 1747, the son of Hezekiah Edgerton I and his second wife, Freelove (Miner) Hilliard. Daniel was raised in Norwich. In early adulthood, he left his hometown and settled in Tolland, Connecticut, probably arriving there in the Spring of 1770. On March 20, 1770, he bought land in Tolland of Daniel and John Lathrop, upon which he subsequently settled and built the home farm. He resided in Tolland the remainder of his life. In 1776, Daniel inherited additional lands in Norwich and Tolland from the estate of his father, Hezekiah. The land in Tolland, to be divided with his younger brother, Oliver, was described in Hezekiah’s will as that “bought of Jacob Eatton late of said Tolland”. Daniel’s mother, Freelove, later came to live with him following the death of Daniel’s father, Hezekiah. Daniel’s siblings, Oliver and Phebe, also moved to Tolland about this time. Daniel Edgerton was married twice. He was married first on December 19, 1771 at Tolland, Connecticut to Sarah Griggs, the daughter of Ichabod and Sarah (Hatch) Griggs of Tolland. Sarah was born in Tolland on June 6, 1749. Daniel and Sarah had two daughters together – Sarah and Phebe – before her early death in 1777. Sarah was buried at the South Yard Cemetery in Tolland; her headstone there was inscribed: “In Memory of Mrs. Sarah, wife of Capt. Daniel Edgerton who died June 23, 1777 in her 28th year”. A record of Sarah’s death was included with the family entry in the Tolland Vital Records (Book 2, pg. 109). Daniel married as his second wife, Mrs. Mary (Cobb) Chapman, the daughter of Samuel and Hannah (Bicknell) Cobb and widow of Reuben Chapman. She was born in Tolland on December 29, 1753. Daniel and Mary were married in Tolland on November 27, 1777, and had six children together – four sons and two daughters. The family was fully recorded in the Vital Records of Tolland (Book II, page 109). Daniel was a farmer and resided in Tolland for the remainder of his life. He was a Captain of Connecticut troops in the Revolution; however, the specifics of his military career have not been ascertained. Daniel was not listed in the DAR Patriot Index, nor are any of his descendants found in the DAR Lineage Books. Daniel Edgerton was a prominent and influential member of the Tolland community and held a number of public offices during his years there. The Early History of Tolland (Loren P. Waldo; Hartford, Conn., 1861, p. 99) gives the following commemorative biography of Capt. Daniel Edgerton: “Capt. Daniel Edgerton…was very highly respected, and was a very active and useful man. Besides his military rank, he was fourteen years selectman, a large part of which time he was the first selectman and principal manager of the affairs of the town; one year a justice of the peace, (which he probably declined holding longer), and was chosen a representative to the General Assembly twenty-three times. In stature he was quite six feet high, stout built and well proportioned. In demeanor he resembled a gentleman of the old school, – always dignified, affable, respectful, courteous. He deserved and received the general good will of his entire acquaintance, and discharged all the duties of life conscientiously and satisfactorily, and has left a very honorable and well deserved reputation.” Daniel Edgerton was listed as a head of household in the 1790 Federal Census of Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. The household consisted of: 3 males “of 16 years and upward” (Daniel and ?); 4 males “under 16 years of age” (sons Daniel Jr., Reuben and Erastus, and ?); and, 6 females (wife Mary, daughters Phebe, Sarah and Mary, mother Freelove, and ?). Daniel was listed again as a head of household in the 1800 Federal Census of Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut. His household was recorded with the following enumeration: 1 male “over 45 years of age” (Daniel); 2 males “of 16 and under 26” (sons Daniel Jr. and Reuben); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (son Erastus); 1 male “under 10 years of age” (son Levi); 2 females “over 45 years of age” (wife Mary and mother Freelove); and, 2 females “of 16 and under 26” (daughters Sarah and Mary). The household of Daniel Edgerton was recorded in the 1810 Federal Census of Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut (pg. 366), with the following enumeration: 1 male “over 45 years of age” (Daniel); 1 male “of 16 and under 26” (son Levi); 1 female “over 45 years of age” (wife Mary); 2 females “of 26 and under 45” (daughters Sarah and Mary); and, 1 female “of 10 and under 16” (?). Daniel Edgerton was listed again as a head of household in the 1820 Federal Census of Tolland, Tolland County, Connecticut (pg. 955). By this time, his eldest son, Daniel Jr., had died, and his wife and five children were recorded in Daniel’s household. The enumeration of the entire family was as follows: 1 male “of 45 years and upwards” (Daniel); 1 male “of 26 and under 45” (son Levi); 2 males “of 16 and under 26” (grandsons Marvin and Linus); 1 male “between 16 and 18” (grandson Linus); 1 male “of 10 and under 16” (grandson Erastus); 1 female “of 45 years and upwards” (wife Mary); 2 females “of 26 and under 45” (daughter Mary and daughter-in-law Sarah); and, 1 female “of 10 and under 16” (granddaughter Betsey). [Note: The enumeration of this latter census should have also included one female “under 10 years of age” – ie. granddaughter Phebe.] Capt. Daniel Edgerton died at Tolland, Connecticut on January 10, 1825; his death was recorded in the Vital Records of Tolland (VR 2:109). Daniel was buried at the South Yard Cemetery beside his first wife, Sarah. His headstone there was inscribed: “Capt. Daniel Edgerton, died Jan. 10, 1825, aged 77”. Daniel Edgerton left a Last Will and Testament, dated at Tolland on February 21, 1824, in which he left bequests to his wife, Mary, sons Reuben and Levi Edgerton, and daughters Mary Edgerton, Sarah Kingsbury and Phebe Steel. Also mentioned in the will (though not by name) are the five children of his deceased son, Daniel Jr., each of whom was to receive a bible. Daniel’s will was proved in Tolland on January 24, 1825 before Calvin Willey, Justice of the Peace. Mrs. Mary (Cobb) Edgerton died in Tolland on February 12, 1833. Her death was listed in the Tolland Vital Records (VR 2:109), as “Mary, widow of Capt. Daniel Edgerton”. She was buried beside Daniel in South Yard Cemetery. Her gravestone inscription reads: “Mary, relict of Capt. Daniel Edgerton, died Feb. 11, 1833, aged 79”. Numerous descendants of Capt. Daniel Edgerton resided in Tolland and the surrounding towns throughout the 1800’s. A number of them are buried at South Yard Cemetery. [CAUTION: A few genealogies and histories have confused this Capt Daniel Edgerton (1747-1825) with another, contemporary Capt. Daniel Edgerton (1737-1783), who also served in the Revolution. This latter Daniel was the son of John and Phebe (Harris) Edgerton and the progenitor of the extensive Wallingford, VT line of Edgertons. Most notable among those making this error is the LDS Ancestral File, which incorrectly lists the Vermont Daniel as the son of Hezekiah and Freelove Edgerton.] |