Asa Watters II (November 2, 1769 in
Sutton – December 24, 1841 in
Millbury) was an American
gunsmith
A gunsmith is a person who repairs, modifies, designs, or builds guns. The occupation differs from an armorer, who usually replaces only worn parts in standard firearms. Gunsmiths do modifications and changes to a firearm that may require a very h ...
and industrialist.
He learned gunsmithing from his father, and earned a patent for turning a gun barrel in a lathe.
In 1808, with his brother Elijah, he founded an armory, which contracted with the government. In 1825 he founded Millbury Bank. In 1823, he was elected to the
Massachusetts House of Representatives.
He married Susan Holman Waters, on May 19, 1802; they had eight children:
* Susan Holman (Waters) Torrey born 1803, died February 3, 1866, married Samuel Davenport Torrey (1789–1877), They had 5 children including Louisa Maria (Torrey) Taft (1827–1907) mother of President
William Howard Taft,;
* Sarafina;
*
Asa Holman Waters, born February 8, 1808, died January 17, 1887, married Mary Elizabeth (Hovey) Waters (1829–1892), maternal grandfather of
Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor, editor of
National Geographic Magazine, This Asa H. Waters wrote: Biographical Sketch of
Thomas Blanchard and his inventions, Printed by L.P. Goddard in 1878 in Worcester, Mass.;
* Fanny Jane;
* Anna Jane;
* Harriet Newell (Waters) Dutton born August 18, 1814 died July 3, 1864, m Samuel William Southmayd Dutton (1814–1866),; mma
* Adelia Augusta (Waters) Tarbox born January 18, 1820 died October 7, 1883 married Increase Niles Tarbox (1815–1888), 2 children;
* Caroline S. (Waters) Forbush born January 17, 1826 died August 7, 1886 married Jonathan Forbush (1802–1882), 2 children.
He built the
Asa Waters Mansion
The Asa Waters Mansion is an historic mansion at 123 Elm Street in Millbury, Massachusetts. Designed by architect Asher Benjamin for Asa Waters and Susan Holman Waters, the mansion was built between 1826 and 1832, It is a three-story wood-frame ...
from 1824 to 1829.
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References
1769 births
1841 deaths
American industrialists
Gunsmiths
Members of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
People from Sutton, Massachusetts
People from Millbury, Massachusetts
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