Waterman family papers

THOMAS TILESTON WATERMAN died August 2, 1873. He was the son of Rev. Elijah (Y. C. 1791) and Lucy (Abbe) Waterman, and was born in Windham, Conn., Sept. 24, 1801.

In 1805, Bridgeport, Conn., became his home. Here he was prepared for college in a private school kept by his father, with whom, after graduating, he pursued a course of theological study. He was licensed to preach by the Fairfield East Association, June 1, 1825, and was ordained pastor of what afterwards became the Richmond Street Congregational Church, in Providence, R. L, Dec. 13, 1826.

In Jan., 1837, he removed to Philadelphia, Pa., the change being made necessary by the state of his health, the result of a severe sickness. Here he remained until early in 1843, as pastor of the Fifth Presbyterian Church. Returning to Providence, he was instrumental in organizing the Fourth Congregational Church, and continued with them until the spring of 1852. He then removed to Galena, Ill., and on Dec. 15, was installed pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church. Leaving Galena early in 1856, he became acting pastor of the Congregational Church in Winona, Minn., and was active in securing the building of the house of worship upon which was raised the first spire north of Dubuque, and west of the Mississippi river.

In 1857 he returned to the East, and became pastor of the Congregational Church in Danielsonville, Conn. In 1861 he removed to Spencer, Mass., and was installed pastor of the Congregational Church there, June 5, closing his labors in Dec., 1862. In 1863, he removed to Monroe, Conn., of which place he was a resident until his death. He acted as pastor of the Congregational Church there until the latter part of 1868. During this time and afterwards, he assisted in establishing churches in Springfield, Ill., and Marshall, Mich. In the last three years of his life, he was prostrated several times by severe attacks of a chronic complaint, but continued to preach occasionally, until very near the end of life. He died in Stratford, Conn., at the residence of his daughter, which he had made an occasional and temporary home for a year or more previous.

He married, Dec. 11, 1827, Delia, daughter of Dan Storrs, of Mansfield Center, Conn. His widow, a daughter and four sons survive him. One son was graduated at this college in 1855; another at Beloit College in 1856. Yale College Obituary Record, 1871-1880. pp. 127-128.

ELIJAH WATERMAN, 1769-1825

ELIJAH WATERMAN, son of Nehemiah Waterman, Junior, of Bozrah, then a parish in Norwich, Connecticut, and of his wife, Susanna Isham, was born in Bozrah on November 28, 1769. He spent his early years in assisting his father on the farm, but exhibited, even in childhood, great precocity.

His preparation for College was completed under Stanley Griswold (Yale 1786) in Norwich. He came under discipline in December of his Senior year, for disobedience to the President's orders requiring him to room in College, but was restored to his rank in the Class three months later.

In May before graduation he took charge of a select school in Wethersfield, Connecticut; and in October after receiving his degree, he became the head of a similar school at Hartford, in which he continued until March, 1792.

It had been his intention, when he left College, to pursue the study of law; but during his residence in Wethersfield his mind received a religious direction, which deterimined him to enter the ministry. Accordingly, in June, 1792, he began the study of theology under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Timothy Dwight, at Greenfield Hill. He subsequently continued his studies under the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Edwards of New Haven, being at the same time a private tutor in the family of Judge Charles Chauncey.

He was licensed to preach by the New London Association of Ministers in May, 1793, and continued his studies until 1794.

In April of that year he went to preach as a candidate to the First Church and Society of Windham, Connecticut; and on June 23 a unanimous call was extended to him, offering him an annual salary of £145.

He was ordained and installed in Windham on October 1, 1794, and the sermon preached on that occasion by the Rev. Dr. James Dana, of New Haven, was afterwards published.

On November 18, 1795, he married Lucy, eldest child of Shubael Abbe (Yale 1764), of Windham.

He found his church cold, backward, and almost without influence in the community; while irreligion was rampant and aggressive throughout the parish. He devoted himself to his work with great earnestness, and soon aroused a new religious interest in the community. But his energy and zeal in opposing vice made many enemies, and after a few years so many of his congregation joined other denominations that his support became precarious. Finally, the sudden death of his wife's father, in April, 1804, removed one of the strongest pillars of the Society, and Mr. Waterman yielded to the advice of friends and sought a dismission, which was granted on February 12, 1805.

He was then employed for some time to supply the vacant pulpit in New Milford, Connecticut; and on January 1, 1806, he was installed pastor of the Congregational Church of forty-seven members in Stratfield, now Bridgeport, Connecticut. The installation sermon was preached by his friend and former neighbor, the Rev. Dr. Moses C. Welch (Yale 1772), of Mansfield, and was subsequently published.

He continued to minister to the congregation at Bridgeport with great acceptance till the close of his life, and about three hundred and sixty members were added to the church during this period.

His wife died on March 17, 1822, in her 44th year; and he was married, on December 24, 1823, to Lucy, second daughter of George and Alethea (Rowland) Wolcott, of Windsor, Connecticut, and widow of Captain Henry Talcott, of Windsor. She was born on January 31, 1780, and survived Mr. Waterman many years. He died of an inflammatory fever, while on a visit at Springfield (where his wife resided at the time of their marriage), on October 11, 1825, aged nearly 56 years.

By his first marriage he had five daughters and two sons, and by his second marriage one daughter. The eldest son was graduated at Yale in 1822, and entered the ministry.

Mr. Waterman was a preacher of considerable power, and of fervent piety. His theology was more strictly Calvinistic than that of most of the New England clergy of his dav.

He was for several years during his ministry in Bridgeport a successful teacher, both of students in theology and younger pupils. His interest in local history was peculiarly active and intelligent.

[bibliography omitted]

Franklin B. Dexter, Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College, Vol. TV, 1778-1792 (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1907), pp. 734-737.

For a chart outlining the genealogical relations of the Waterman family, please consult the Genealogical Chart.