The Waters Family of 1870 Patten, Maine

Blanchard Project

Blanchard/Utterstrom/Chase/Waters
By Don Taylor

During my ancestor sketch for Sadie Walters, I learned that Patten, Kennebec County, Maine, was settled about 1828, incorporated in 1841. Sadie was born in 1887 in Patten, and her parents were born in Patten as well. So, I wondered, when Sadie’s people came to Patten.  Sadie’s parents were William G. Waters and Laura M. Swett.

I looked previously at the Waters of 1880 Patten, Maine.

1870 Population Schedule

A search of the 1870 Census for “Waters” in Patten, Maine, had 13 results, plus 2 Rowe’s and 3 Grant’s.

1. George Waters, Age 57 – Widower – Farmer – $1000, $500 Born New Castle, ME – Citizen.
   1. Mary E. Waters, Age 29 – Keeping House Born Palermo, ME – Clearly Elen M. Waters from 1880 Census.
   2. Clara M Waters, Age 27 – Domestic – (possibly a daughter). Born Patten, ME – NEW Person!
   3. William G. Waters, Age 12 – Farm Laborer. Born Patten, ME. Attending School.
      
      

      George Waters family in the 1870 Federal Census.

2. Samuel Waters, age 55 – Farmer 2000 – 1000 – New Castle, ME – Citizen
   1. Frances E. Waters, Age 31 – Hartland, ME
   2. Emily Waters, age 4 – Patten, ME – – Attended School.
   3. Mary I. Waters, age 14 – Domestic – Masardis, ME – Attended School.
3. Mary Waters – Age 81 – Invalid – Born Jefferson, ME – New Person (Likely William’s mother) NEW Person!
   1. William Waters, Age 50 – Farmer – Born Palermo, ME – Citizen
   2. Olive T. Waters, Age 23 – Born Masardis, ME
   3. George Rowe, Age 12 – Born Masardis, ME.
   4. Emily A. Rowe, Age 9 – Born Masardis, ME.
   5. Martha A. Waters, Age 2/12 – Born in March – Patten, ME (Appears to be Alice M. Waters from 1880 Census)
4. Eunice W. Waters, Age 64 – Mother of Lonsen Grant – Born Westbrook, ME
   1. Lonson Grant, Age 37, farm Laborer 000 – 200 Born Patten, ME – Married previous October – Citizen
   2. Dora A. Grant, age 18, Born Crystal, ME – Married previous October – NEW Person!
   3. Fred Grant, Age 10 – Born Lincoln, ME – Attending School – Likely brother of Lonson – NEW Person!

Changes from the 1880 Census.

The George Waters household has a new person, Clara M. Waters. She is two years younger than George’s daughter Mary Ellen. I am tentatively assuming that Clara is the daughter of George. If so, Mary Ellen, who was born about 1841 in Palermo and Clara, who was born in Patten about 1843, would suggest that George came to Patten about 1842 or 3.

The William Waters household of 1880 has an 81-year-old invalid heading the household in the 1870 census. I am relatively confident that Mary Waters, born ca. 1789, is William’s mother. Olive and the two Rowe children are all born in Masardis, ME. As such, I believe they are likely siblings of Olive, suggesting her maiden name was also Rowe.

Lonson Grant and Dora A were married in October 1869. Dora would have been eight years old when Fred was born, so I’m confident that Fred is a brother of Lonson and the second son of Eunice W. Waters.

Non-population Schedules

The 1870 Mortality Schedule – William Waters died of cholera in October ed1869, at the age of 1.

The 1870 Agricultural Census Schedule lists the farm information regarding each of the Waters’ farms.[i]

George had 100 acres of land, 50 of which was tilled; he was able to till an additional 10 acres by 1880.  He had one horses, three milch (milk) cows, and 11 sheep. He grew wheat, oats, corn, buckwheat, peas, potatoes, and hay. The total value of George’s farm was $1,925.

Samuel and William’s farms were slightly larger at 150 and 140 acres and valued at $2,525 and $1,800, respectively.

Future Actions

Next – Review the 1860 Census records.

Sources:

• U.S. Federal Census Mortality Schedules, 1850-1885 – Ancestry.com – William Waters
• 1870 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com – Eunice W Waters
• 1870 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com –  George Waters
• 1870 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com – Mary Waters
• 1870 United States Federal Census – Ancestry.com – Samuel Waters
• U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 – Ancestry.com – George Waters – 1870 Agriculture Schedule
• U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 – Ancestry.com – Samuel Waters – 1870 Agriculture Schedule
• U.S., Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedules, 1850-1880 – Ancestry.com – William Waters – 1870 Agriculture Schedule

Endnotes

[i] Note: I deleted lines showing farm items that none of the Walters men possessed from the list. For example, Tobacco, which isn’t grown in Maine, was deleted.