Notes on the Jacob and Hannah Waterhouse family of New London, Connecticut

 In the course of my multi-year project of improving my source citations, trying to get away from secondary sources to primary ones, I've come across some amazing finds, some of which have added to or corrected published information in those secondary sources.

I recently contacted the Connecticut State Library regarding a probate record mentioned in the article "Jacob Waterhouse of Wethersfield and New London, Conn., and some of his descendants," by Grace Pratt Bonsall (1).

She stated that John Waterhouse, son of Jacob and Hannah Waterhouse, married Mary "and had a son Jacob, an infant in 1687." This is followed by the statement "New London Court Probate Record, 20 Mar 1704, Jacob Waterhouse, son of John, late of New London, dec'd, who about sixteen years ago chose Lieut. Abraham Waterhouse as guardian."

I didn't realize it at the time, but the math doesn't work.  How can an infant choose a guardian?

In reading through one (there are two) probate record for Jacob Waterhouse, son of John, I learned that his guardian was actually Lieut. Abraham Chalker (2).  The probate record consists of a single scrap of paper:

Upon receiving the record from Mike Sullivan of The Connecticut State Library, I realized that Bonsall made several more mistakes (3).

The record, actually dated 30 Mar 1704 reads "Jacob Waterus Son of John Waterus late of New London Deceased being about Sixteen Years of Age having made Choice of Lieut. Abraham Chalker of Say=brook to be his Guardian as appears under the hands of Nathaniel Lynde and Daniel Taylor Justices of the Peace this Court approves of the Same, he giving bond accordding to Law."

That is three errors:  the date, when John Waterhouse appointed his guardian, and who his guardian was.  This is why I exhort other family historians to ferret out those original records.  They are incredibly rewarding!

John Waterhouse married Mary, or Marah, about 1687, their son Jacob was born about 1688, and he probably died about 1688.  Marah then married John Hayden (4).  Her first name was discovered in the birth record for their sons (5).

Mr. Sullivan also sent another image that I didn't even know about, that referred to Hannah Waterhouse.  I knew that she was living on 10 Nov 1693, when she acknowledged a deed (6) but I didn't know when she died.  I still don't, but I now know that she died before 31 Mar 1704 (7).

This record, dated 31 Mar 1704, reads:  "... which land was left in the Widows hands by said [word covered by tape] during her life and she being lately deceased..."  This wording leads me to suppose that she died in late 1703 or early 1704.

1. "Jacob Waterhouse of Wethersfield and New London, Conn., and some of his descendants," Grace Pratt Bonsall, The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, Volume 104, page 189, 1950
2. New London District Probate Record no. 5541, FSL #007628900, Image 407, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92R-DFFL
3. Record Group 4:95, Records of the New London Probate Court, Journal, Volume 1, 1700-1705, page 27, Connecticut State Library
4. Connecticut, New London, New London Probate District, Probate Packet no. 5542, FHL #007628900, Images 408-413, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L92R-D61F
5. Connecticut, New London, Lyme Land Records, Volume 2, page 201, FSL #007833645, Image 202 of 344, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS3N-4QJJ-F
6. Connecticut, New London, New London Land Records, Volume 4, page 134, FSL #008140613, Image 532, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKW-F3FC-X
7. Record Group 4:95, Records of the New London Probate Court, Journal, Volume 1, 1700-1705, page 28, Connecticut State Library