Robert Waterman of Marshfield, Massachusetts (1616-1652)

The life of Robert Waterman has been detailed in the Waterman Descendants book by Edgar Francis Waterman in 1939.  Fortunately Google Books has digitized the entire volume and provides it for free to those searching for Robert and his descendants!  Thank you Google and thank you Edgar for researching and writing it down!

Here is an excerpt about my 10th great grandfather (on my mother's side), Robert Waterman with my notes in [brackets]:

Robert Waterman first appears in Plymouth County [Massachusetts] records in 1638, when he married a daughter [Elizabeth] of Mr. Thomas Bourne, an original Marshfield settler, and a citizen of standing. Through this marriage, he became brother-in-law of John Bradford, eldest son of [Mayflower Pilgrim] Gov. William Bradford [and Dorothy May Bradford], and also of Josiah Winslow, a brother of [Mayflower Pilgrim] Gov. Edward Winslow.

Ten months later, Robert was fined for intemperance [drinking enough alcohol to be under the influence! At that time, everyone drank alcohol - mostly beer - even for breakfast, but not being able to handle it was illegal!], and since the other three who fell under the displeasure of the Court at the same time for the same offense were all called "Mister," the prefix of respect for social standing, it appears that the young Waterman fell into error in good company. No further entry of this kind has been found, and he was not long after honored by his fellow-townsmen with important offices, so it seems fair to attribute the one lapse from sobriety to inexperience. [This is Pilgrim talk for one and done!]

A letter written by Edward Winslow to John Winthrop [Puritan leader and another of my 10th great grandfathers], dated Plymouth, 7 July 1640 shows that Winslow was indebted to Winthrop, and discharged the debt by payment in cattle [which Robert delivered by boat]. 

"Concerning your acceptance of the five cows I am willing to send them, & becawse the wether is so

hott, the flies so busie, & the woods so thick, I have agreed with Robert Waterman to bring them by water. I pray you send me a receipt under your hand for them upon the back of the note or bill I left with you." 

He was made a freeman of the Colony, 7 Mar 1642, and immediately became one of the two Grand Jurors for Marshfield. He served the town as Committee Deputy in the General Court of the Colony, 1643 to 1644 and 1646 to 1650.  

On 27 Sep 1643, Mr. Thomas Bourne, Robert Waterman, John Bourne, Roger Cook, and John Russell were appointed to keep watch at Thomas Bourne's house. Robert was a member of the military company in Marshfield. 

In 1645 he was one of the twelve men in Marshfield to establish a public school, one of the earliest in New England.

Early in 1651 he was found guilty of an offense, the exact nature of which is not known, save that the charge was made by Sarah wife of James Pitney of Marshfield. The wording of the record is not pleasant, but should not be construed too harshly, remembering that comparatively trivial episodes, such as a kiss in fun or a casual caress, were serious infractions of Puritan manners. The [small] size of the fine indicates that Waterman sinned against the manners of the period rather than against morality. 

There is little on which to base a characterization of Robert Waterman. Well connected by marriage, he possessed some native ability, sufficient to warrant his neighbors in returning him to the General Court for several terms. He seems to have been of a social disposition, and perhaps was too jovial or exuberant in temperament to suit the staid manners of the period. [I inherited this trait!] 

He died in the prime of life, probably under forty years. [Since then, we know his death was in 1642 at age 36 leaving behind his young widow Elizabeth and their 10-year-old son John who grew up to marry Ann Stuartevant and have 6 healthy children who survived to adulthood!]

Welcome to Family History Tyd Byts!

I'm so excited to share this inaugural post of Family History Tyd Byts!  As an avid and lifelong family historian, I've discovered wonderful and evocative stories that make up world history from a very personal view.  Sadly, after I share them with friends and family, I move on to the next discovery and they are lost in the depths of my vast family tree.

All that loss stops now!  Here, I will share the people and stories that I find who make up the rich fabric of not only my family, but America's family, and even the world's family!  I love the personal stories of history and I share them with various groups.

Recently I spoke to members of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants in Florida's capitol about the four brave Pilgrim women who survived the first disastrous winter in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  I'll tell you more about them in another post.  One of the audience members brought me a letter (transcribed) that had been in her family since it was written in 1802.

It's the beautiful and tragic story of a young mother whose 39-year-old husband has just died.  She's writing to his brother with the sad news and more.  I hope (like me) you can appreciate the language and ideas that she (and our ancestors) might have used. Sometimes as family historians we are more concerned with the dates and locations than the effects and consequences of those events.  Betsey is lucky to be able to write at all.  It was not common for girls to be taught reading and writing.  I keep her spelling as a reminder that in 1802, there were no dictionaries or spelling conventions.  Webster's Dictionary didn't appear until 1828.   Betsy also uses no punctuation, but I have added it for ease of understanding.

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Personal letter from Betsy Hawks in Rutland, Vermont to her brother-in-law 

6 November 1802

Dear Brother -
I am through the mournfull dispensation of providence called to mourn the loss of my beloved pardner. Att the same time you are called upon to lement the loss of a dear and affectionate Brother.  The loss is great to you, but to me it is much greater. Here is my little ones sighing out that mournful complaint, "What shall we do? For Papy is gone."

You may judge for yourself the distriss I am in.  Your brother was sick five weeks with a long billious attack fever [possibly malaria causing jaundice]. Then a nervis fever [possibly typhoid causing delirium] set in which put a period to his life.  He was exercised with great pain through the whole of his sickness and often said he should never get well.

I asked him is he was willin to die.  He said he was. That was a great sattisfaction to me.  I often told him I should be willing to part with him, as my loss was his unspeakable gain. That if God saw fit to take him away in the midst of his days, I desire to acquiess in it.

He often told me that I should take good care of the children, which words drew tears from my afflicted eyes.  He was much concerned about Moses for fear he would not have good learning. He often called him to his bed and would talk to him til it seemed that his little heart would break.  He often called the little girl and gave them good council and told them he was going to leave them, which word pierced Fanny to the very heart.

He died 26th of October in the 39th year of his age.  My Mamma died 30th September with a billious fever.  She lived only seven days after she was taken.

I would inform you of our health which is good at presant, through devine goodness.  I have been better this fall than usual.  My brother desired me to write to you in regard to what Mr. Hawks owed you and how long could you conveniently wait for our pay, as we have a payment to make for our farm from the first money we collect.  That is if you can wait.

I wish you to send word now how much it is that we can tell better how to calculate.  I wish you to write the first opportunity & wish you to come and see us, if it is in your power.

I want to see you very much. I hope you will write soon for I want to hear from you and your family very much.  I conclude by subscribing my self your sincere friend and much afflicted sister -

Betsy Hawks

P.S. You must excuse my errors for I have not wrote so much for seven years.  We have this day received a letter westward and they are all well.

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This is a gentle reminder how hard life was for those who came before.  Betsy is lucky to have her brother nearby to help.  We know that her son Moses grew up to become a grandfather and thus continue the family line.

See you next time for another family history tyd byt (which is Pilgrim spelling for tidbit)!