Waterbury was born in New York City on July 9, 1819, the son of Col. Jonathan Waterbury (d. 1828) and Elizabeth (Jarvis) Waterbury, a niece of Bishop Abraham Jarvis.[1]
He married Nancy D. M. Gibson (d. 1897), and they had three daughters and a son—Nelson J. Waterbury Jr.—who became his father's law partner in 1884.[2]
The elder Waterbury studied law, was admitted to the bar, and in 1842 formed a partnership to practice law with Samuel J. Tilden.[2] From 1845 to 1849, Waterbury was a justice of the New York City Marine Court.[1] In 1855, he was appointed by Postmaster of New York City Isaac V. Fowler as his assistant and established the first sub-postal station in the city.[2]
He was New York County District Attorney from 1859 to 1861, elected on the Democratic ticket in November 1858, but defeated for re-election in 1861 by Republican A. Oakey Hall. In March 1862, he was elected Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall. In 1863, Waterbury was appointed by Gov. Horatio Seymour Judge Advocate General of the State Militia. In 1865, he resumed the practice of law.
Although Waterbury left Tammany Hall after William M. Tweed became the boss, he defended Tweed at his trial following the fall of the "Tweed Ring".[2] After Tweed's fall, Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall, but left again in 1875 disagreeing with John Kelly. Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall in 1890, being an admirer of Richard Croker and Mayor Thomas F. Gilroy.
^ abThe National Cyclopaedia of American Biography. Vol. XII. James T. White & Company. 1904. pp. 383–384. Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via Google Books.
^ abcde"Ex-Judge Nelson J. Waterbury Dead. Succumbs to Pneumonia After Three Days, Illness". The New York Times. April 23, 1894. p. 1. Retrieved August 17, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Nelson Jarvis Waterbury died last evening at his home, 13 West Fifty-sixth Street, of pneumonia, after an illness of three days. He caught cold Wednesday while attending to business at his law office, 32 Nassau Street, and it settled in his lungs. Dr. Loomis and Dr. Bartholow of Philadelphia were called to attend him.
Further readingedit
The New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough, Stephen C. Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner (1867; pages 401 and 531) [gives wrong year of election "1859" for Waterbury's successor Hall]
The New York State Register for 1845 edited by Orville L. Holley (page 394)
JOHN KELLY VS. NELSON J. WATERBURY in NYT on March 7, 1875
Obit of Nancy Gibson Waterbury, in NYT on March 16, 1897
nelson, waterbury, nelson, jarvis, waterbury, july, 1819, april, 1894, american, lawyer, politician, from, york, bornnelson, jarvis, waterbury, 1819, july, 1819new, york, yorkdiedapril, 1894, 1894, aged, york, yorkoccupation, jurist, politicianpolitical, party. Nelson Jarvis Waterbury July 9 1819 April 22 1894 was an American lawyer and politician from New York Nelson J WaterburyBornNelson Jarvis Waterbury 1819 07 09 July 9 1819New York New YorkDiedApril 22 1894 1894 04 22 aged 74 New York New YorkOccupation s Jurist politicianPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseNancy D M GibsonChildren4SignatureBiography editWaterbury was born in New York City on July 9 1819 the son of Col Jonathan Waterbury d 1828 and Elizabeth Jarvis Waterbury a niece of Bishop Abraham Jarvis 1 He married Nancy D M Gibson d 1897 and they had three daughters and a son Nelson J Waterbury Jr who became his father s law partner in 1884 2 The elder Waterbury studied law was admitted to the bar and in 1842 formed a partnership to practice law with Samuel J Tilden 2 From 1845 to 1849 Waterbury was a justice of the New York City Marine Court 1 In 1855 he was appointed by Postmaster of New York City Isaac V Fowler as his assistant and established the first sub postal station in the city 2 He was New York County District Attorney from 1859 to 1861 elected on the Democratic ticket in November 1858 but defeated for re election in 1861 by Republican A Oakey Hall In March 1862 he was elected Grand Sachem of Tammany Hall In 1863 Waterbury was appointed by Gov Horatio Seymour Judge Advocate General of the State Militia In 1865 he resumed the practice of law Although Waterbury left Tammany Hall after William M Tweed became the boss he defended Tweed at his trial following the fall of the Tweed Ring 2 After Tweed s fall Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall but left again in 1875 disagreeing with John Kelly Waterbury returned to Tammany Hall in 1890 being an admirer of Richard Croker and Mayor Thomas F Gilroy Waterbury was elected a delegate to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1894 but died three weeks before the convention met He died of pneumonia at his residence at 13 West 56th Street in Manhattan 2 References edit a b The National Cyclopaedia of American Biography Vol XII James T White amp Company 1904 pp 383 384 Retrieved August 17 2020 via Google Books a b c d e Ex Judge Nelson J Waterbury Dead Succumbs to Pneumonia After Three Days Illness The New York Times April 23 1894 p 1 Retrieved August 17 2020 via Newspapers com Nelson Jarvis Waterbury died last evening at his home 13 West Fifty sixth Street of pneumonia after an illness of three days He caught cold Wednesday while attending to business at his law office 32 Nassau Street and it settled in his lungs Dr Loomis and Dr Bartholow of Philadelphia were called to attend him Further reading editThe New York Civil List compiled by Franklin Benjamin Hough Stephen C Hutchins and Edgar Albert Werner 1867 pages 401 and 531 gives wrong year of election 1859 for Waterbury s successor Hall The New York State Register for 1845 edited by Orville L Holley page 394 JOHN KELLY VS NELSON J WATERBURY in NYT on March 7 1875 Obit of Nancy Gibson Waterbury in NYT on March 16 1897Legal officesPreceded byJoseph Blunt New York County District Attorney1859 1861 Succeeded byA Oakey Hall Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nelson J Waterbury amp oldid 1093008159, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
