The

Edgerton

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John Edgerton, son of John and Mary (Reynolds) Edgerton.

 

born:

February 26, 1689/90; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (VRp I:44)

died:

February 15, 1768; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (GI)

buried:

Old Norwich Town Cemetery; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (GI)

 

married:

1:  December 27, 1714; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (VRp I:79)

 

Ruth Adgate, daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Brewster) Adgate.

 

born:

March 27, 1693; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (VRp I:49)

died:

February 23, 1728/9; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (VRp I:79) (GI)

buried:

Old Norwich Town Cemetery; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (GI)

 

Children:

  1. Ruth, b. September 28, 1715; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  2. Mary, b. November 19, 1717; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  3. John, b. August 16, 1720; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  4. Lucy, b. August 22, 1723; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  5. Elisha, b. February 28, 1726/7; Norwich, New London Co., CT.

 

 

 

 

married:

2:  May 11, 1731; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (VRp I:79)

 

     May 11, 1731; First Cong. Church; New London, New London Co., CT.  (ChR 1:168)

 

Phebe Harris, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Stevens) Harris.

 

born:

January 24, 1700/1; New London, New London Co., CT.  (VR I:26)

died:

July 29, 1763; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (VRp I:412) (GI)

buried:

Old Norwich Town Cemetery; Norwich, New London Co., CT.  (GI)

 

Children:

  1. Phebe, b. February 8, 1731/2; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  2. Eunice, b. June 25, 1735; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  3. Daniel, b. March 1, 1736/7; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  4. Temperance, b. March 18, 1738/9; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  5. Nathaniel, b. November 30, 1741; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  6. Sarah, b. March 20, 1742/3; Norwich, New London Co., CT.
  7. Nathaniel, b. December 31, 1746: Norwich, New London Co., CT.

 


John Edgerton II was born at Norwich, Connecticut on February 26, 1689/90, the only child of John and Mary (Reynolds) Edgerton.  John Edgerton Sr. died in May 1692, when his son was only two years old, and his mother was remarried on December 30, 1697 to Samuel Lathrop.  It is not known how close the relationship was between John Jr. and his stepfather, although he was certainly the only father figure John ever knew. 

 

John Edgerton married first at Norwich on December 27, 1714, Ruth Adgate.  Ruth was the daughter of Thomas and Ruth (Brewster) Adgate, and was descended from elder William  Brewster of the Mayflower.  John and Ruth Edgerton had five children –  Ruth, Mary, John, Lucy, and Elisha.

 

Ruth Edgerton, “wife of John” was admitted to the First Congregational Church of Norwich in 1719. (ChR 2:206)  The eldest two daughters, Mary and Ruth, were baptized at the Church on May 10th of that year, and the next three children were later baptized at the Church, each shortly after their birth. 

 

Mrs. Ruth (Adgate) Edgerton died in Norwich on February 23, 1728/9.  Her death was recorded in the vital records of Norwich (VRp I:79) as well as in the records of the First Congregational Church (ChR 4:205), where only the year – “1729” – is given.  She was buried in the Old Norwich Town Cemetery, where her tombstone was inscribed:  “Ruth, wife of Lt. John Edgerton, died Feb. 23, 1729, aged 36 years”.

 

Two years later, on May 11, 1731,  John married Mrs. Phebe (Harris) Crank Prentice, who had been twice widowed.  Phebe was the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Stevens) Harris of New London, Connecticut, and had previously been married to John Crank and Stephen Prentice.  Phebe had three children by her second husband, one of whom, Elizabeth, later married John Edgerton’s eldest son, John Edgerton III.

 

John and Phebe lived in Norwich and had seven children together:  Phebe, Eunice, Daniel, Temperance, Nathaniel (who died young), Sarah, and another Nathaniel.   Their births, as well as those of the children by the first wife, were all recorded in the vital records of Norwich.  “John Edgerton and his wife, Phebe” were admitted to the First Congregational Church of Norwich in 1736.  (ChR 4:208).  Their seven children were also baptized at the Church. 

 

John Edgerton served in the Connecticut Train Band in 1724, and received the rank of Lieutenant in 1725.  The duration of his military service is not known (see General Register of the Society of Colonial Wars, 1899-1902, New York, 1902).

 

Mrs. Phebe (Harris) Edgerton died at Norwich on July 29, 1763, “aged 62”, and was buried in the Old Norwich Town Cemetery.  John Edgerton survived his wife by five years, dying in Norwich on February 15, 1768.  Two years before his death, he had written his Last Will and Testament, dated May 13, 1766, in which he mentioned each of his children, as well as the children of his deceased daughter, Ruth.  His son Daniel was named sole executor of the estate.  The will was proved in Norwich on March 1, 1768, before Simon Tracy, Jun., Justice of the Peace.

 

Lieutenant John Edgerton was buried at the Old Norwich Town Cemetery (also called Revolutionary Cemetery), where his two wives were previously interred.  Several of his children and grandchildren are buried there as well.

 


 

Original Source Documents:

 

Gravestone photo – John Edgerton; Old Norwich Town Cemetery; Norwich, New London Co., CT.

Gravestone photo – Mrs. Phebe (Harris) Edgerton; Old Norwich Town Cemetery; Norwich, New London Co., CT.