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Waterbury family papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 537

Scope and Contents

This collection consists of correspondence, financial records, and memorabilia of the Waterbury family of Stamford, Connecticut, and of military papers belonging to David Waterbury (1722-1801). Included among these is an orderly book (1758-59) and orders for Brigadier General Benedict Arnold at Ticonderoga (1776 Aug 7). The correspondence contains both family and general letters, the most interesting being a letter from Roger Sherman to David Waterbury concerning a Continental Commission (1776 Apr 30). The financial and legal papers of the family include an indenture from 1700, account books, and deeds, while the highlight of the memorabilia is a series of diaries kept by William Waterbury IV (the son of David Waterbury) during travels through New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware in 1799-1800 and New York in 1812-13.

Dates

  • 1700-1966
  • Majority of material found within 1750 - 1897

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Due to the physical nature of the mug and ring in box 4, staff supervision is required.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown, though much of the material in this collection is likely in the public domain. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sara Mead Webb and Walter Edward Leaman, Jr., in 1964, and of Mrs. John L. Waterbury in 1981.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.0537

Additional Description

Overview

Correspondence, financial records, and memorabilia of this Stamford, Connecticut family. The principal figure is David Waterbury (1722-1801), who served as a colonel in the French and Indian War and again in the American Revolution. Included in the papers are military records relating to these events and a letter to him from Roger Sherman (1776 Apr 30) about a Continental Commission. Also two travel journals kept by his son, William Waterbury IV, one for a trip throught New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware in 1799-1800 and another for a trip through New York State in 1812-1813.

Biographical / Historical

David Waterbury (1722-1801): military officer; served in six campaigns in the French and Indian Wars; appointed Brigadier General, 1776; served 23 successive terms as Stamford representative in the Connecticut legislature.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Waterbury Family Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by Nancy Fappiano & Janet Gertz
Date
February 1982
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

http://www.library.yale.edu/mssa/
Contact:
Yale University Library
P.O. Box 208240
New Haven CT 06520-8240 US
(203) 432-1735
(203) 432-7441 (Fax)

Location

Sterling Memorial Library
Room 147
120 High Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours

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