Thomas Edison on a U.S. stamp printed c. 1947, photo by Lefpap/Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Thomas Alva Edison
Date of Birth: February 11, 1847
Place of Birth: Milan, Ohio, U.S.
Date of Death: October 18, 1931
Place of Death: West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, small amount of Dutch
Thomas Edison was an American inventor and businessperson. He is credited for his pioneering work in electric power generation, mass communication, sound recording, and motion pictures, including the phonograph and the film picture camera, and early versions of the electric light bulb.
Thomas was the son of Nancy (Matthews Elliott) and Samuel Ogden Edison, Jr. His father was born in Marshalltown, Nova Scotia, Canada. His mother was born in Chenango County, New York. Both of his parents had significant Colonial American (English) ancestry, with roots in the U.S. going back to the early 1600s.
He was married to Mary Stilwell, until her death, and then to Mina Miller, until his death. He had three children with Mary; and three children, including politician Charles Edison and environmentalist and inventor Theodore Miller Edison, with Mina. Charles was U.S. Secretary of the Navy, from July 7, 1939 to June 24, 1940, and Governor of New Jersey, from January 21, 1941 to January 18, 1944.
Thomas’ paternal grandfather was Samuel Odgen Edison (the son of John Edison/Edeson, also known as John Marselis Edah, and of Sarah Ogden). Samuel was born in Newark, Essex, New Jersey. John was born in Belleville, Essex, the son of Marselis/Marshall/Marcellus Ideson/Edeson. Sarah was the daughter of Samuel Ogden and Phebe Baldwin.
Thomas’ paternal grandmother was named Nancy Stimpson/Simpson (the daughter of William Stimson). Nancy was born in Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Thomas’ maternal grandfather was Ebenezer Matthews/Elliott (the son of Abner Matthews and Lois Hotchkiss). Ebenezer was born in Farmington, Hartford, Connecticut. Abner was the son of Caleb Matthews and Elizabeth Hotchkiss. Lois was the daughter of Obediah Hotchkiss and Eunice Beach. Elizabeth and Obediah were siblings.
Thomas’ maternal grandmother was named Mercy Peckham (the daughter of William Peckham and Mercy). Thomas’ grandmother Mercy was born in Connecticut or Rhode Island.
Sources: Genealogies of Thomas Edison – https://www.geni.com
https://gw.geneanet.org
https://famouskin.com
https://www.wikitree.com
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