Lieutenant Nathaniel Wattles, Esq

The records of Westfield, Massachusetts and Montgomery, Massachusetts (in 1780 part of Westfield was set off and named Montgomery) show the activities of Nathaniel Wattles in the organization of Montgomery, a newly formed township. He was appointed lieutenant of its militia company and held the offices of tithing-man, assessor, and select man. (Autobiography of Gurdon Wallace Wattles, 1922, Page 208)

Soon after selling land in Montgomery on March 26, 1784, Nathaniel moved his family to Harpersfield, Montgomery County, New York. In 1787 he opened a tavern and maintained "Wattles's Ferry" on the Susquehanna River.

In 1790, the New York legislature passed an act to construct a road from Catskill, on the Hudson River, to Wattles's Ferry, on the Susquehanna River. Nathaniel and others performed the work.

In 1797, Nathaniel was elected assemblyman to represent the new county of Delaware, New York. During the last week of the year he went to Albany. While leaving Church on New Years Eve, Nathaniel fell on icy steps and received injuries from which he died on January 2, 1798.

Four of Nathaniel's sons served in the state militia. James was a captain; Jehiel was a lieutenant and paymaster; Mason was a colonel; and Gurdon H was a captain.

(Autobiography of Gurdon Wallace Wattles, 1922, Page 210)

• Reference: Find A Grave Memorial - SmartCopy: Oct 4 2018, 11:43:42 UTC