WADSWORTH. The family bearing this name is
an old Colonial one, and conspicuously prominent in the annals of Connecticut.
But in this article it is our intention only to refer briefly to the late
Daniel Wadsworth (the founder of the Atheneum bearing his name), his distinguished
father, Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, and their ancestry.
One William Wadsworth settled at Cambridge,
Mass., as early as 1632, and is found at Hartford, Conn., in 1636, as a
member of Rev. Mr. Hooker's Church, and holding the office of collector
of Hartford in 1637. At this time he was in middle life, and a widower.
He married (second) probably in 1644 Elizabeth Stone. Mr. Wadsworth was
one of the original proprietors of Hartford in 1639, held several important
offices in the town and Colony, and sustained a high rank with the best
Puritan families. He died in 1675.
From this William Wadsworth the late Daniel
Wadsworth, of Hartford, was a descendant in the sixth generation, his line
being through John (by & former wife), who settled in Farmington; Deacon
John, who settled in Hartford; Rev. Daniel, a graduate of Yale, 1734, who
married Abigail, daughter of Gov. Talcott, and was pastor of the First
Church of Hartford; and Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth.
COL. JEREMIAH WADSWORTH, son of Rev.
Daniel, was born July 12, 1743. In early youth he was with his uncle, Matthew
Talcott, a merchant of Middletown. Later for a time he followed the sea,
from boy-before-the-mast to master. He settled down in Hartford in 1773,
and was during the Revolutionary period and the years following the foremost
man in the town. He served as deputy commissary under Joseph Trumbull,
and succeeded by appointment of Congress to the office of commissary-general
of purchases. After the arrival of the French troops he became commissary
of the French army, and served until the close of the war. He shared largely
in the confidence of Gen. Washington, and under his roof the General was
entertained when he came East with Knox and Lafayette for the first interview
with Count Rochambeau and Admiral Ternay. Col. Wadsworth was a member of
the State Convention for ratifying the Constitution of the United States,
and was a firm supporter of the patriot cause. He served six years as a
member of Congress, and was a member of the Council of Connecticut from
1795 to 1801. He had been largely concerned in the West India trade, was
a leader in all mercantile enterprises. He was probably the wealthiest
man in Hartford.
Col. Wadsworth married Mehetabel Russell,
and at his death, in 1804, left one son, Daniel. Mrs. Wadsworth died in
1817.
DANIEL WADSWORTH was born in Hartford,
and in early life married Faith Trumbull, daughter of Gov. Jonathan Trumbull,
of Connecticut. From childhood Daniel Wadsworth had delicate health. He
possessed great wealth, being probably the wealthiest man of his day in
Connecticut, was generous, and gave liberally to all good purposes, using
his estate as though it was a gift of Providence, He did much for the growth
and prosperity of Hartford. The Wadsworth Atheneum, on Main and Atheneum
streets, is a lasting monument of his desire to promote library and institute
objects. He gave the ground, valued at $20,000, on which the Atheneum building
stands, for that purpose, it being the site of his birthplace and the family
home for three generations. He also contributed largely to the building.
He died in 1848, and his wife passed away in 1846.
(Photo attached.)
Commemorative
Biographical Record
of
Hartford County,
Connecticut
Illustrated
Chicago
J. H. Beers & Co.
1901
pgs 1492 - 1493
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