Joseph Edson (March 3, 1782 – March 7, 1832) was a farmer, military leader, and government official in Vermont. Among the offices in which he served were United States Marshal for the District of Vermont (1823-1829), Sheriff of Orange County (1812-1813, 1815–1822), and commander of the Vermont Militia's 4th Division with the rank of major general in 1822.
Joseph Edson | |
|---|---|
| United States Marshal for the District of Vermont | |
| In office March 13, 1823 – June 6, 1829 | |
| Preceded by | Heman Allen |
| Succeeded by | Heman Lowry |
| Sheriff of Orange County, Vermont | |
| In office 1815–1822 | |
| Preceded by | Harry Hale |
| Succeeded by | Abel Carter |
| In office 1812–1813 | |
| Preceded by | Daniel Peaslee |
| Succeeded by | Harry Hale |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 3, 1782 Randolph, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | March 7, 1832 (aged 50) Randolph, Vermont, U.S. |
| Resting place | Randolph Center Cemetery, Randolph, Vermont |
| Political party | Democratic-Republican |
| Spouse | Sarah Throop (m. 1802-1832, his death) |
| Children | 5 |
| Occupation | Farmer |
Life
editEarly life
editJoseph Edson was born in Randolph, Vermont on March 3, 1782, a son of Josiah Edson (1758-1819) and Sarah (Pinney) Edson (1756-1804).[1] He was educated in Randolph and became a farmer.[2] A Democratic-Republican,[3] Edson began a career in government at an early age, serving as a town constable from 1805 to 1809.[4] after serving as deputy sheriff,[5] he was elected Sheriff of Orange County and served from 1812 to 1813, and then again from 1815 to 1822.[6]
Edson also became active in the militia.[4] During the War of 1812 he was commissioned as a major, and helped organize the Randolph-area contingent that took part in the defense of Plattsburgh in September 1814.[4] He continued to serve in the militia, and was commander of 1st Brigade, 4th Division from 1818 to 1822 with the rank of brigadier general.[4][7] In 1822 he was appointed to command the 4th Division and promoted to major general.[4][8]
From 1815 to 1821, Edson served as a trustee of Randolph's Orange County Grammar School.[4] In March 1823, Edson was appointed United States Marshal for the District of Vermont, succeeding Heman Allen.[9] He served until June 1829, when he was succeeded by Heman Lowry.[10]
Edson died in Randolph on March 7, 1832.[4][11] He was buried at Randolph Center Cemetery in Randolph.[11]
Family
editIn 1802, Edson married Sarah Throop (1783-1863) of Bethel, Vermont.[12] They were the parents of five children:
- Elizabeth (1804-1850), the wife of Rev. George H. Williams, a professor at the University of Michigan[13]
- Sarah (1806-1851), the wife of Edmund Weston of Randolph[14]
- Nathaniel (1808-1853), a graduate of Union College who studied law with Dudley Chase and became an attorney in Albany, New York[15]
- Royal (1811-1849), a merchant in Woodstock, Vermont[15]
- Olivia (1824-1893), the wife of Rev. John A. Wilson, pastor of a church in Ypsilanti, Michigan[15]
References
edit- ^ Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson, pp. 41–42.
- ^ The Illustrated Historical Souvenir of Randolph, Vermont, p. 68.
- ^ "To Joseph Edson, Esq.", p. 2.
- ^ a b c d e f g Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson, p. 43.
- ^ "Sales at Auction", p. 3.
- ^ Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont, pp. 81–83.
- ^ "Military Appointments", p. 3.
- ^ "In Joint Committee, Oct. 25", p. 2.
- ^ "Appointment by the President: Joseph Edson", p. 3.
- ^ "Appointment of Heman Lowry, Esq.", p. 3.
- ^ a b "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908".
- ^ Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson, pp. 42–43.
- ^ Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson, p. 48.
- ^ Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson, p. 49.
- ^ a b c Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson, p. 50.
Sources
editBooks
edit- Deming, Leonard (1851). Catalogue of the Principal Officers of Vermont. Middlebury, VT: L. Deming – via Internet Archive.
- Wells, Harriet Hyde; Van Dyke, Herry Weston (1901). Several Ancestral Lines of Josiah Edson and His Wife Sarah Pinney, Married at Stafford, Conn., July 1, 1779. Albany, NY: J. Munsell's Sons – via Internet Archive.
- The Illustrated Historical Souvenir of Randolph, Vermont. Randolph, VT: Nickerson & Cox. 1895 – via HathiTrust.
Newspapers
edit- "Sales at Auction". Weekly Wanderer. Randolph, VT. May 9, 1808 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Military Appointments". Vermont Republican and American Yeoman. Windsor, VT. November 16, 1818 – via Newspapers.com.
- "In Joint Committee, Oct. 25". Vermont Watchman and State Journal. Montpelier, VT. October 29, 1822 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Appointment by the President: Joseph Edson". Rutland Herald. Rutland, VT. April 23, 1823 – via Newspapers.com.
- "To Joseph Edson, Esq". Vermont Watchman and State Journal. Montpelier, VT. July 30, 1827 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Appointment of Heman Lowry, Esq". Vermont Gazette. Bennington, VT. June 2, 1829 – via Newspapers.com.
Internet
edit- "Vermont Vital Records, 1720-1908 Death and Burial Entry for Joseph Edson". Ancestry.com. Lehi, UT: Ancestry.com LLC. Retrieved December 28, 2019.