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Edgerton

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Edward Edgerton of Hanover, Pennsylvania

Edward Edgerton was born circa 1746. Family tradition says that Edward emigrated from Ireland, however documentation of his ancestry or parentage has yet to be found. Edgerton Family History (Ina C. Dunwiddie; Beaver Dam, Wis., 1952) states that, “about 1768 one Edward Edgerton came from Ireland to America and settled at Hanover, N. H. (sic)”. Similar information is found in other secondary sources; and the Latter Day Saints’ International Genealogical Index references Edward’s birth as “1750, Ireland”.

Edward settled in Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, where he resided until his death in 1819.

The first definitive records we have of Edward Edgerton are those of his service in the Revolutionary War. He enlisted at Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on February 1, 1776 as a private in the Sixth Pennsylvania Battalion. According to Edward’s Revolutionary War Pension File (File #W7086), Edward had enlisted at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and served in the Pennsylvania Continental Line. The pension file also contains numerous details regarding the family of Edward Edgerton, as cited below.

Edward Edgerton was married in February 1787 to Prudence Dilley (aka. “Dilly”). From later census and military records (see below), it is inferred that Prudence was born in Pennsylvania circa 1766 – 1769. Prudence was probably a daughter of Richard Dilley Sr., who was listed, along with his son “Richard Jun.” in the 1790 Federal Census of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (pg. 146). [An Adam Dilley was also listed in the 1790 Federal Census of Luzerne County.] The names Jesse, Richard, James and Mary occur frequently in both the Edgerton and Dilley families of Hanover. According to the aforementioned Pension File of Edward Edgerton, a “Mary Dilly” was present at the wedding of Edward and Prudence. This was probably Richard Dilley Jr.’s wife, Mary (aka “Polly”) Vogt. Edward Edgerton’s will (see below) shows that his wife, Prudence, had inherited land from the estate of Richard Dilley Sr., however it is not specifically stated that she was Richard’s daughter.

Edward and Prudence (Dilley) Edgerton resided for most of their married life in Hanover, Pennsylvania. They had a family of nine children, all presumably born in Hanover:

i. James, b. July 28, 1789.

ii. Mary (“Polly”), b. February 24, 1792, married ---- Hoover.

iii. John, b. September 4, 1793; died young.

iv. Jesse, b. June 9, 1795, died young.

v. William, b. June 8, 1798; died young.

vi. Jesse, b. June 4, 1799, married Jane Whipple.

vii. Ruth, b. January 31, 1805, married Anthony Wilkinson.

viii. Richard D., b. July 25, 1807; married Eleanore Miller.

i. Elijah, b. ~1811, married Rebecca Nagle.

Edward Edgerton was listed as a head of household in the 1790 Federal Census of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (pg. 147). According to the census enumeration, his household consisted of:

1 male “of 16 years and upwards” (Edward);

1 male “under 16 years of age” (son James); and,

1 female (wife Prudence).

In the 1800 Federal Census of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania (pg. 330), Edward’s name was written as “Edward Adjutant”, and his household consisted of:

1 male “of 45 years and upwards” (Edward);

1 male “of 10 and under 16” (son James);

1 male “under 10 years of age” (son Jesse);

1 female “of 26 and under 45” (wife Prudence); and,

1 female “under 10 years of age” (daughter Mary).

Edward and Prudence Edgerton may have resided for a short time in Machackemeck, Orange County, New York. According to the Latter Day Saints’ International Genealogical Index, their eldest son, James, was baptised at the Dutch Reformed Church there on July 4, 1791. There are no records of baptisms mentioned for any of the other children.

Edward Edgerton applied for a Revolutionary War Pension File on April 16, 1818. He was residing in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania at the time of the application and listed his age as 72 years. Edward was subsequently placed on the Luzerne County Pension Rolls on November 2, 1818, with his pension commencing as of April 16, 1818. According to the Pennsylvania Pension Rolls of 1835, Edward received an annual pension of $96.00, with a total disbursement of $181.03. He was dropped from the pension rolls under the Act of May 1, 1820 (subsequent to his death).

Edward Edgerton died at Hanover, Pennsylvania on March 31, 1819. He left a Last Will and Testament, dated January 23, 1819, which was filed in the Luzerne County Will Book, Volume A, page 216. Edward’s will was proved on April 14, 1819, and mentioned his wife, Prudence, and six children: sons James Edgerton, Jesse Edgerton, Richard D. Edgerton and Elijah Edgerton; and daughters Polly Hoover and Ruth Edgerton.

Edward’s wife, Prudence, survived him many years. On September 29, 1841, she applied for a Revolutionary War Pension as the widow of Edward Edgerton. At the time, she was a resident of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania and listed her age as 72 years. Prudence was recorded in the 1850 Federal Census of Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, residing in the household of her youngest son, Elijah. She was enumerated as “Prudence Edgerton, aged 84, born in Pennsylvania”.

The descendants of Edward and Prudence (Dilley) Edgerton have not yet been researched in great detail. There is no further account of the eldest son, James, beyond his listing in the 1800 Federal Census. Edward’s will suggests that James probably disappeared and was not heard of again. The second surviving son, Jesse, was married to Jane Whipple and had at least three children: one son, Jesse, and two daughters, Susan and Ruth Ann. Richard D. (perhaps “Richard Dilley” after his grandfather) was married to Eleanore Miller and had a large family of at least seven children: Prudence E., Addison Joseph, Ruth Ann, Edward F., Annis J., Elijah, and Amos. Richard later removed to St. Joseph County, Michigan, where he settled in Park Township. He and his wife, Eleanore, both died there, and most of their children resided in St. Joseph County. The youngest son, Elijah, was married to Rebecca Nagle and at least one son, Charles Nagle Edgerton, born in Pennsylvania circa 1860. Edward’s two daughters were each married – Mary (“Polly”) to a Mr. Hoover and Ruth to Andrew Wilkinson. Ruth removed with her husband to White County, Illinois. There is currently no account of Mary’s descendants (if any). The following is a brief outline of the known descendants of Edward Edgerton.

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1 Edward Edgerton (c. 1746 – 1819)

. + Prudence Dilly (c. 1766 – )

....... 2 James Edgerton (1789 – )

....... 2 Mary Edgerton (1792 – )

...........+ ---- Hoover

....... 2 John Edgerton (1793 – )

....... 2 Jesse Edgerton (1795 – )

....... 2 William Edgerton (1798 – )

....... 2 Jesse Edgerton (1799 – )

...........+ Jane Whipple (c. 1797 – )

.................3 Susan Edgerton (1815 – 1894)

.....................+ Daniel Vandemark (1811 – 1835)

.....................+ Benjamin Vandemark (1820 – 1899)

...........................4 Charles Vandemark (1849 – 1925)

...........................4 Ruth Anne Vandemark (1851 – 1940)

................................+ Thomas Keating (1849 – 1928)

...........................4 Mary Jane Vandemark (1855 – 1920)

................................+ Robert B. Frankenfield (1850 – 1923)

...........................4 Eliza Vandemark (1858 – 1896)

................................+ Henry W. Stivers

...........................4 Matilda Vandemark

...........................4 Ella Vandemark (1861 – )

................................+ George D. Humple

...........................4 Harry Edwin Vandemerk (1863 – )

................................+ Dollie Ellen Stair

.................3 Ruth Ann Edgerton (1822 – )

..................... + Catlin S. Robbins (1820 – )

.................3 Jesse Edgerton (1830 – 1901)

.....................+ Lovisa ---- (c. 1842 – )

...........................4 Jessie Edgerton (1863 – )

................................+ Richard A. Carpenter

...........................4 Elizabeth Edgerton (1868 – )

................................+ James Edward McMaster (1868 – 1898)

...........................4 Harriet L. Edgerton (1870 – )

................................+ Bennie C. Hill (1842 – )

......................................5 Ruth Anna Hill (1891 – )

......................................5 Marcus R. Hill (1893 – )

......................................5 Jesse Edgerton Hill (1894 – )

......................................5 Marie Esther Hill (1896 – )

...........................4 Sherman A. Edgerton (1874 – )

................................+ Lola A. ---- (1871 – )

......................................5 Allen R. Edgerton (1904 – 1960)

......................................5 Della R. Edgerton (1912 – )

...........................4 Horace Pearl Edgerton (1877 – )

................................+ Martha Ansley (c. 1890 – 1963)

......................................5 Ansley Edgerton (c. 1925 – 1934)

...........................4 Gertrude Edgerton (1881 – )

....... 2 Ruth Edgerton (1805 – 1859)

...........+ Anthony Wilkinson (1804 – 1876)

.................3 Mary A. Wilkinson (1832 – 1857)

.................3 Thomas J. Wilkinson (1835 – 1863)

.................3 Elijah E. Wilkinson (1838 – 1864)

.................3 Edward Wilkinson (1839 – 1858)

.................3 William Harry Wilkinson (1842 – 1903)

.....................+ Julia Ann Danforth (1848 – 1930)

.................3 John Wilkinson (1844 – 1862)

.................3 Prudence Wilkinson (c. 1847 – )

.................3 Sarah J. Wilkinson (c. 1849 – )

.................3 Harriet Wilkinson (1851 – 1855)

....... 2 Richard D. Edgerton (1807 – 1885)

...........+ Eleanore Miller (c. 1813 – )

.................3 Prudence E. Edgerton (c. 1846 – )

.....................+ Torrence Webster Harned (1844 – )

.................3 Addison Joseph Edgerton (1847 – )

.................3 Ruth Ann Edgerton (1849 – )

.....................+ John B. Craig (1850 – )

.................3 Edward F. Edgerton (1851 – )

.....................+ Rachel H. Griffith (1865 – )

...........................4 Forrest G. Edgerton (1894 – 1965)

...........................4 Florence M. Edgerton (1896 – )

.................3 Annis J. Edgerton (c. 1855 – )

.....................+ Melvin A. Lambert

.................3 Elijah Edgerton (1860 – )

.................3 Amos Edgerton (1861 – )

....... 2 Elijah Edgerton (c. 1811 – )

...........+ Rebecca Nagle (c. 1811 – )

.................3 Charles Nathaniel Edgerton (1860 – 1923)

.....................+ Myra Bell Thompson (1863 – 1939)

...........................4 Roy Thompson Edgerton (1880 – 1943)

................................+ Gertrude Ellen Serine (1887 – 1972)

......................................5 Astor Edgerton (1915 – )

......................................5 Charles Henry Edgerton (1927 – 1973)

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Bibliography:

White, Virgil D. (comp.); Abstracts of Revolutionary War Pension Files, Vol I; The National Historical Publishing Co., Waynesboro, Tenn., 1990.

1790 Federal Census, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pg. 147.

1800 Federal Census, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pg. 330.

1850 Federal Census, Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania; pg. 910.

1870 Federal Census, Park Twp., St. Joseph County, Michigan, pg. 279.

Pennsylvania Revolutionary War Pension Rolls of 1835.

Dunwiddie, Ina C.; Edgerton Family History; Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, 1952.

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