The Edgerton Family
Regardless of ancestry, it is a fact that many of the great clan of Thomas of Haddonfield, have capably filled prominent places in the world's work. We can be thankful for a line of sturdy honest and respected ancestors.
Information contained in these pages has been gleaned from many fields. Perhaps the original inspirational force, which impelled the production of this work, came from a publication, the material for which was prepared many years ago by my mother's uncle, Jesse Edgerton (1845-1924). Several items of history are quoted from this pamphlet. The William Wade Hinshaw collection of Quaker Records of births, deaths, and marriages has been of great help and State Historical Libraries, and other public libraries have yielded valuable data.
There is evidence that the "Egerton� name, spelled without the "d,� appeared frequently in England in very early times, often among nobility or in military positions. Various documents, including wills of some of the Egertons of Cheshire and descriptions of Tatton Hall, home of Lord Egerton of Cheshire, have come to our notice.
Students of Edgerton history have made extensive research into the records of early English Egertons. A few of their finds are being mentioned here, not for the purpose of proving a relationship, but to serve as possible stepping stones to future searching for Edgerton connections.
An important English landmark was Tatton Old Hall of Cheshire, owned by Lord Egerton, located on an island in a mere in a remote and rather swampy part of Cheshire, unoccupied by the owner for almost 200 years, until a later grand mansion was erected on the estate. Thomas Egerton, Lord Chancellor of England, had acquired enormous estates elsewhere. He was buried at Dodleston and his successors for three generations were buried at Little Gaddesden in Herfordshire. It seems therefore, that they did not live in Cheshire, but as the family multiplied, a branch came to Tatton, where Samuel Egerton, the last male, died in 1780 The estate was left to his sister Hester Tatton and her issue, conditional on their taking the name of Egerton. Thus they became Egertons of Tatton. Hester Tatton's son, William Egerton, began to build the new hall at Tatton in 1794, and died before it was finished.
From "Little Gaddesden,� a book by Vicars Bell, we read "The second Earl, John Egerton, (father of Thomas Egerton of Tatton) succeeded his father during the Puritan inter-regnum, and was sworn a member of the Privy Council in 1666.�A description of him follows: "He was a person of middling stature, somewhat corpulent, had black hair, a round visage, adorned with a modest and grave aspect, a sweet and pleasant countenance, a comely presence, and allowed free access to all persons who had any concern with him; he was a learned man, and delighted much in his library: and was endowed with all the rare accomplishments of virtue and goodness, very temperate in eating and drinking: spoke sparingly, but always very pertinently: very pious to his God, most devout in his acts of religion, and firm to the Church of England: he was very loyal to his Prince, vary in Council, most affectionate to his lady, very tender to his children: remarkable for his hospitality to his neighbors and punctual in all his actions �Surely, an ideal character to claim as our progenitor if we might do so!.
A college text book of the works of John Milton, tells of John Egerton, First Earl of Bridgewater, who in 1631, was made �President of the Council of Wales and Lord Lieutenant of North and South Wales and of the counties on the Welsh border.� He was inaugurated with splendid ceremonies in the fall of 1634, and it was for this inauguration, that �Comus� was written by Milton. The masque was performed at Ludlow Castle on Michaelmas Night, September 29, 1634, before the Earl and invited guests. Three of the parts were taken by the Egerton children, Lady Alice Egerton taking the part of "The Lady,� and John and Thomas Egerton taking the parts of the First and Second Brothers. It is related that Alice Egerton and her two brothers, when very young, actually got lost at night in Haywood Forest near Ludlow Castle, and that Milton based his masque upon this incident.
There is an old family tradition that our first known American Edgerton ancestor was the grandson or heir of English nobility who, on account of marrying a Quaker Miss, so disgraced his family that he was thereupon disowned and disinherited by them. This episode "may� mark the entry of the Edgertons into the Quaker faith, followed (we may imagine) by persecution in England, escape to Ireland and eventual arrival in America. If this tradition has foundation, that fact may explain our inability to make the connection between the line of English noblemen and our American progenitor. If the young man so disgraced his noble name as to marry a Quaker, then his name was probably wiped off the family record, and he given to oblivion. Furthermore, he may thereafter, have respected his nobility so slightly that he didn't care to record his parentage.
It has been stated, without proof, that Sir Thomas Egerton, Chancellor of the Exchequer during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, was the direct ancestor of our Thomas Edgerton of Haddonfield, New Jersey. Proving this may be a project for someone with time, patience, and determination. The results would be rewarding. It is my hope that the information recorded may serve as a basis for further study and research.
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After Mr. Binns published his �Meet The Edgertons� in 1970, concerning the American family, his wishes come true. Much more has been found about the ancesters.
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Edgerton Country House. |
John William Belward was born in 1013 and died in Malpas, Cheshire, England
John of Malpas Belward, son of John William Belward, born 1040, died 1079, in Malpas, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1075, to Ellen de Cholmondeley, who was born in 1056, in Chalmondelei, Normandie, France.
William de Belward, son of John of Malpas Belward and Ellen de Cholmondeley, was born in 1070, died 1111, Malpas, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1098, in Whitechurch, Chesire, England, to Mabilia (Mable) of Malpas, de Fitz Hugh, who was born 1075, died 1175, in Malpas, Cheshire, England. She was the daughter of Hugh (Saxon thane) de Fitz Baldric and Emma de Lascelles.
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Hugh (Saxon Thane) de Fitz Baldric, son of Baldric Bernhard Ii of Saxong Billung and Mother, Countess Erica Schweinfurt, was born in 1045, North Riding, Yorkshire, England, and died in 1086, in Cuttingham, Yorkshire, England.
He was married to Emma de Lascelles, who was born in 1050, in Lascellles Normandie, France, and died in 1075, in Cottingham, Yorkshire, England. She was the daughter of Duninge de Lascelles, who was born in 1025, in Lascelle, Auvergne, France
John le Belward, son of William de Belward and Mabilla of Mapas, was born in 1098, and died in 1160, in Malpas, Cheshire, England.
William Malpas, le Belward, son of John le Belward, was born in 1120, died in 1144, in Malpas, Cheshire, England.
William Belward Egerton, son of William Malpas, le Belward and Letitia Mabel, was born 1140, died 1180, in Malpas, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1170, in Malpas, to Tanglust Beatrix, de Chester, de Keveliock, who was born in Keveliock, Wales, and died 2 November 1247, �alpas, Cheshire, England.
David Clerke Belward Egerton, son of William Belward Egerton, was born in 1171, died in 1201, both in Malpas, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1201 (the same year he died) in Malpas, to Margrett Eynion, who was born in 1175, died 1269, in Cheshire, England.
Philip Belward Egerton, son of David Clerke Belward Egerton and Margarett Eynion, was born in 1197, died 1272, both in Egerton, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1197, in Cheshire, to Catherine Hutton, who was born in 1201, in Egerton, died 1250 in Malpas, both in Cheshire, England
David Malpas Egerton, son of Philip Belward Egerton and Catherine Hutton, was born in 1228, in Egerton, Cheshire, England, and died in 1317, in Malpas, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1254, in Cheshire, to Cicely Thorneton, who was born in 1201, in Egerton, and died in 1250, in Malpas, both in Cheshire, England.
Phillip Egerton, son of David Malpas Egerton and Cicely Thornrton, was born in 1255, died in 1315, both in Egerton, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1276, in Malpas, Cheshire, England, to Margaret Wrenbury, who was born in 1259, in Wrenbury, Cheshire, England, and died in 1318, in Malpas
David Malpas Egerton, son of Phillip Egerton and Margaret Wrenbury, was born in 1277, in Egerton, Nantwich, Cheshire, England, and died there in 1362.
He was married in 1295, to Isabella Fulleshurst, who was born in 1278, in Egerton, Nantwich Cheshire, England, and died there in 1349. They had 8 children. See: David Malpas Egerton
Richard Fouleshurst, was born in 1230, Cheshire, England, and died in 1299-1300, in Cheshire, England.
Richard Fulleshurst, Lord of Crewes, was born in 1230, in Crewes, Cheshire, England, and died in 1299-1300, in Barthornley, Cheshire England. He was married in 1278, to Elizabeth Praers, born in 1260, in Fuukleshurst, Cheshire, England
Daughter: Isabella Fulleshurst
Sir Urian Egerton, son of David Malpas Egerton and Isabella Fulledhurst, was born 1302, in Le Large, Cheshire, England, and died in 1396,in Egerton, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1352 to Lady Amelia Warburton, who was born in 1325, in Warburton, Cheshire, England, and died in 1375, in England, the daughter of Sir John Warburton and Lady Margaret, le Boteler de
Peter Dutton de Warburton was born in 1236, in Dutton, Runcom, Cheshire, England, and died in Warburton Cheshire, England. He was married to Margaret Warburton, who was born in 1241, died in 1297, in Warburton, Cheshire, England.
Sir Geoffrey Warburton, son of Peter Dutton de Warburton and Margaret Warburton, was born in 1272, in Warburton, Cheshire, England, and died in 1360, in Cheshire, England. He was married to Lady Margaret le Boteler, who was born in 1278, in Warrington, Lancashire, England, and died in 1314, in Warburton, Cheshire, England.
Sir John Warburton, son of Geoffrey Warburton and Lady Margaret le Boteler, was born in 1296, and died in 1391, in Warburton, Cheshire, England. He was married in 1328, to Mrs. Alice Warburton who may have been his 2nd wife. Some of these dates seem to be confused.
Child: Amelia Warburton, born 1320
Sir Phillip Egerton, son of Urian Egerton and Amelia Warburton, was born 1362, in Egerton, Cheshire, England and died in 1446, England.
He was married in Egerton on 1 September 1403, to Lady Matilda Malpas, who was born in 1377, in Hampton, Cheshire, England, and died in 1404 in England.
Her mother was Lady Katherine de Bickerton, born 1320, in Hampton, Bickerton, Cheshire, England, died 1377, in Hampton.
John Edgerton I, son of Phillip Egerton and Matilda Malpas, was born in 1404, in Egerton, Cheshire, England, and died 23 September 1459, in Staffordshire, England. He was married in 1429, in Edgerton, Cheshire, England, to Margaret Fitton who was born in 1408, in Cheshire, England, and died in 1430, England
Sir (Knight) Phillip Egerton, son of John Egerton and Margaret Fitton, was born in 1436, in Egerton, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1455, to Margaret Mainwaring, who was born in 1433, in Cheshire, England, and died in 1460, Lightfield, Cheshire, England. Phillip died in 1474, Cheshire, England. (See: Mainwaring Family, Part V)
Sir Ralph George Edgerton, son of Sir Philip Egerton and Margaret Mainwaring, was born in 1468, in Egerton, Cheshire, England.
He was married in 1507, in Staffordshire, England to Margaret Bassett, born 1472, in Blore, Staffordshire, England, died 1522, in Edgerton.
She was the daughter of Ralph Bassett of Blore, Staffordshire and Eleanor Egerton.
Ralph Bassett, was born in 1466, Staffordshire, England. Eleanor was born in 1458, in Wybunbury, Cheshire, England
Margaret was first married, about 1498, to an important Leicestershire sergeant-at-law named Thomas Kebell (c.1439-June 26,1500), as his third wife. The match was arranged by her grandmother, Joan Biron, after the death of William Bassett, Ralph Bassett�s father, in November, 1497.
After Kebell�s death, because the widow was a wealthy heiress, she was abducted from Blore Hall on the first of February 1502 by a band a men brandishing swords. There were, by various accounts, either a hundred or a hundred and twenty in the band and it was led by Roger Vernon, son of Sir Henry Vernon of Haddon Hall in Derbyshire. Roger wanted to marry Margaret, even though she was already planning to wed Ralph Egerton of Ridley (c.1468-March 9, 1528).
Blore Hall was the home of Margaret�s uncle, William Bassett, and Egerton and his father, Hugh Egerton (about 1425-1505) were present, possibly to celebrate the betrothal. There was an additional connection. Margaret�s mother, Eleanor, was Ralph Egerton�s half sister.
After the abduction, Vernon and Margaret were hastily married in Derby, much against the bride�s will, and afterward she was sent to Vernon�s uncles at Netherseal in Leicestershire and then into the Welsh Marches, where Sir Richard de la Bere kept her confined at his manor house in Clehonger.
Margaret�s mother, Eleanor, accompanied by Eleanor's father and brother, set off in pursuit of the abductors. They were outnumbered and unable to rescue Margaret, but Margaret later managed to escape on her own and reach safety in London.
The case ended up before the court of the Star Chamber, where changes and counter-charges kept the litigation active for the next seven years. Vernon was fined, but in December 1509, all those involved in the abduction were pardoned by the king.
Margaret did eventually marry Ralph Egerton, who was knighted in 1515. Margaret had three children (Richard, Ralph, and Elizabeth) by Egerton. Until her death, she collected a jointure of �40 per annum from her first marriage.
Children:
Richard Egerton, son of Ralph Egerton and Margaret Basset, was born 1512, in Ridley, Cheshire, England, and died in 11 June 1597, in Bunbury, Cheshire, England.
He married Alice Sparke, who was born in 1512.
Children:
Sir Thomas Egerton I, (1st Viscount Brackley) the son of Richard Edgerton and Alice Sparke, was born in 1540, in Ridley, Cheshire, England and died 15 March 1617 in Whitehall, London, England, (or Shoreditch, Middlesex, England.)
He married to Elizabeth Ravencroft, who was born in 1544, in Bretton, Flintshire, Wales, and died in 1588, in Dodleston, Cheshire, England, the daughter of Thomas Ravencroft and Katherine Grosvenor. See: Ravencroft Family. This family is recorded from the year 1260 in France.
Children:
Sir John Edgerton II, 1st Earl of Bridgewater, son of Sir Thomas Edgerton and Elizabeth Ravencroft, was born in 1579, in Dodleston, Hertfordshire, England, and died 4 July 1649, in Little, Hertfordshire, England.
He married Frances Stanley, who was born in 1583, in Derby, Derbyshire, England, and died in 1636 in Little, Hertfordshire, England, the daughter of Ferdinando Stanley, Earl of Derby, and Alice Spencer. See: Stanley Family. This family is recorded from the year 1260 in England.
Children:
John Edgerton III, son of John Edgerton and Frances Stanley, was born in 1598 and died 26 December 1656.
He was married to Lady Elizabeth Cavendish, who was born in 1626, in Welbeck Abbey, Welbeck, Nottinghamshire, England
Her parents were:
William Cavendish (born 1593, died 1676) and Elizabeth Basset, who died in 1643, the daughter of William Basset, who was born 1542, in Blore Staffordshire, England; For Basset Family, see Roots Web: Basset Family
Thomas Edgerton, Sr., son of John Edgerton III & Elizabeth Cavendish, was born 1679, in Colledine, Wexford, Ireland.
He was married to Elizabeth Nicholson, who was born 1681, in Colledine, Wexford, Ireland, and died 1663, Westminster, London, England.
Children:
Thomas Edgerton, Jr., son of Thomas Edgerton Sr. and Elizabeth Nicholson, was born in 1710, in Colledine, Ireland. He was a Quaker arriving at Philadelphia in 1733 with a removal of certificate from Colledine Monthly Meeting, Wexford County, Ireland. He lived in Newton, Glouchester County, New Jersey.
In 1733, he made application the Monthly Meeting of Friends at Haddonfield, New Jersey, for permission to marry Elizabeth Sarah Stephens, of that meeting. As was customary, a committee was appointed to investigate his qualifications as to morals and his membership with the Friends, etc, also requesting him to furnish a certificate from his own meeting stating his membership in good standing. It was not uncommon in those days for a young man to leave wife and children in the old country, come to one of the American colonies, marry a new wife and start life anew in a new country. Friends were careful to guard against this happening in their society.
Apparently the required certificate from the meeting at Colledine, County, Wexford, in Ireland was produced and he and Sarah Stephens were permitted to proceed with their marriage which took place 10-20-1733.
Sarah was the daughter of Robert Stephens, who was born in 1682, in Ireland, and Elizabeth ___, born in 1684.
The marriage certificate of Thomas and Sarah was signed by Elizabeth and Robert Stephens, Sarah's parents, and by Mary Doyl, who evidently was Sarah's sister who had married Philip Doyl in Ireland. Also signing this certificate as a witness was William Edgerton, of whom we have no further knowledge. About 1740, a Joseph Edgerton, with a certificate from Lambstown Meeting of Friends, County Wexford, Ireland, arrived at Haddonfield, New Jersey, where he married Grace Varman, who had also recently come from the same meeting in Ireland. William and Joseph Edgerton may have been brothers of Thomas. At least, it seems likely that they were relatives, and all had come from Ireland.
The Edgertons were English and not Irish. Records in Ireland seem to make no mention of the family. Just why Thomas, William, and Joseph Edgerton, Grace Varman and the Stephens family had been living in Ireland when they made the move to Haddonfield is not certain. They were originally from England and had been in Ireland only a short time. This was time of much religious unrest in England. It may be that these people, presumably all Quakers, had a brief sojourn in Ireland for religious reasons, and from there, soon came on to America. This is largely supposition on our part.
The marriage certificate of Thomas Edgerton and Sarah Stephens bears the signatures of various witnesses, among which may be observed the name of John Estaugh in the column of men's names, and another column of women's names is that of Elizabeth Estaugh. In this connection one is reminded of the poem included in Henry W Longfellow's "Tales of a Wayside Inn� entitled "Elizabeth� which refers to the romance of John Estaugh, a young Quaker minister from England, and Elizabeth Haddon, wealthy young Quaker maid, living then in the vicinity of Haddonfield, New Jersey, a town which was named for her family Among the wills on record in New Jersey is that of Elizabeth Estaugh, a wealthy widow, dated November 30, 1761. In this will, which mentions her various properties, reference is made to her "upper house and lot� described as being in "tenor� of Thomas Edgerton. We may guess that this was Thomas III, son of Thomas and Sarah (Stephens) Edgerton. He was then a young man, married two years prior to the date of this will. Elizabeth Estaugh died in 1762.
Thomas and Sarah Stephens Edgerton remained in Haddonfield. Sarah died between 1735 and 1738, when Thomas III was very young.
In 1738, at Handdonfield Monthly Meeting, Thomas Edgerton, Jr was married a second time, to Esther Bate, a widow with children by a former marriage The meeting appointed a committee to see that the interests of her children were provided for when she married Thomas Edgerton. This procedure was customary among Friends in such cases, and does not indicate mistrust of the new stepfather.
In 1751, Thomas and Esther transferred their membership to Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. His son, Thomas III moved back to Newton, New Jersey in 1760, and then later removed his family to Dobbs County, North Carolina in 1777 during the Revolutionary War.
Esther died 19 October 1760; Thomas died 19 October 1768, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
In 1805, two of Thomas' sons moved to Ohio because of their opposition to slavery in North Carolina.
Children:
Family Group A.
Thomas E Edgerton III, son of Thomas Edgerton Jr and Sarah Stephens, was born about 1735, in Haddonfield, Glouster County, New Jersey
It seems that Thomas E Edgerton III and Elizabeth Saint, although both were probably Quakers, were married 27 April 1759, but were not married in the Friends meeting for we find recorded in the Minutes of Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, New Jersey, the following entry dated 11-10-1760:
"Thomas Edgerton produced an acknowledgment on behalf of himself and wife for their outgoing in marriage which was read & on consideration received & is as followeth: To ye monthly Meeting held at Haddonfield ye 10th of ye 11th mo, 1760, Loving frds We ye Subscribers for want of Due regard to ye rules Established amongst frds have gone out in our marriage contrary thereto & ye present Trouble of mind at our Disunited State Ingages us to offer this as our Sincere acknowledgment Earnestly Desiring to be received into unity again Signed: Thomas and Elizabeth Edgerton.�
His ancestors came from Ireland, to New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and then into the Carolina�s.
Elizabeth was born 1738, in Edgecomb, North Carolina, and died about 1776, in Haddonfield, Gloucester County, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Hercules Saint (born 1713 in Gloucester, New Jersey-died 26 February 1739 in New Jersey) and Rebecca ___.
Children:
James Edgerton, Sr., son of Thomas E Edgerton and Elizabeth Saint, was born 27 September 1764, Haddenfield, New Jersey, and died 21 January 1825, in Ceptina, Belmont County, Ohio.
A mill owner and Quaker Minister, he was married 22 December 1785, Neuse Meeting House, Contentnea Monthly Meeting, Wayne County, North Carolina, to Sarah Cox, who was born 26 August 1769, in Wayne County, and died 18 January 1828, in Belmont County, Ohio, daughter of Richard Cox & Mary Kennedy. (See: Cox Family, Part II)
During the winter of 1827, a serious epidemic, probably typhoid fever, swept through the Quaker community of Belmont County, Ohio, where James and Sarah settled, causing the death of 6 members of their family, including the mother. It was called by some, �Edgerton Fever� since so many of the Edgerton family were its victims. Two of James Jr�s sons, Joseph and Nathan, as well as some others of the neighborhood were also taken by the same epidemic.
Recommended reading: �Meet the Edgertons� for the many wonderful stories about these families. A copy is in the Kansas Genealogical Library, in Dodge City, Kansas.
Children:
Family Group B.
William Edgerton, son of Thomas Edgerton Jr. and his second wife, Esther Bate, was born about 1737, in Haddonfield, New Jersey.
He was married 22 June 1768, in Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, to Tabitha Henston (or Heuson) daughter of John Henston of Gloucester County, New Jersey. They were disowned by that meeting 12 January 1784. Both died before their only son was married.
Children:
Samuel Edgerton, minister, only son of William Edgerton (1) and Tabitha Heston, was born 13 March 1776, in Newton Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.
He was married 16 October 1800, in Haddonfield Monthly Meeting, to Elizabeth Wilkins, who was born 8 October 1775, daughter of William J & Sarah Wilkins, of Newton Township. On 10 March 1806, Haddonfield Monthly Meeting issued a certificate for Sam and Elizabeth, William, Sarah, and Hannah to move to Concord Monthly Meeting, Belmont County, Ohio.
Samuel died 28 November 1836, and was buried in Poplar Ridge, Indiana. 9 children (For a full account of these descendants see "Meet the Edgertons.� A copy is in the Dodge City, Kansas Genealogical Library.
Children:
Prudence Edgerton, daughter of Samuel Edgerton and Elizabeth Wilkins, was born 14 February 1807, Concord Monthly Meeting, Belmont County, Ohio.
She was married 1 October 1833, at Westfield Monthly Meeting, near Camden, Preble County, Ohio, to Jonathan Dallas Stratton, who was born 8 November 1804, in Maurice River, New Jersey, the son of Eli Stratton and Eunice Dallas.
Eli Stratton, was born 20 December 1772, in Eversham Monthly Meeting, Burlington, New Jersey, the son of Jonathan Stratton and Sarah Owen. He died 17 August 1839, and buried at Spiceland Meeting House, in Henry County, Indiana. He was married 23 October 1799, to
Eunice Dallas, who was born 7 October 1771, in Maurice River Monthly Meeting, in Cumberland County, New Jersey, and died 16 February 1859, buried in Raysville Monthly Meeting, Henry County, Indiana, the daughter of William and Rebecca Dallas
Jonathan died 8 June 1879, in New Jersey
Children: