Military Monday ~ Revolutionary War Surgeon: Luther Waterman

Dr. Luther L. Waterman was my 4th Great-Grandfather.  He was christened 25 March 1753 in Norwich, New London, Connecticut, and was the son of David Bassett Waterman and Anne Bartlett, both of Connecticut.

Luther entered the Revolutionary War in 1775 as Surgeon's Mate under Doctor Spaulding in Colonel John Durkee's Connecticut Regiment, where he served nine months.  In 1776 he served as Surgeon in Colonel William Bond's Continental Regiment.  In 1777 he joined Colonel Webb's Continental Regiment.  He served as Surgeon under Colonel Webb for one year.

According to Luther's Pension File, he was at the Siege of St. John's and was present at the following battles:  Isle aux Noix, White Plains, Stamford, Horseneck and Rye.

On January 1, 1778 at Franklin, New London, Connecticut, Luther married Phebe Barker, daughter of Dr. John Barker and Phebe Hyde.

Luther and Phebe had nine children:

1. Samuel Waterman (1778-1857)
2. Erastus Waterman (1780-1859)
3. Child Waterman (died 1784)
4. Jerusha Waterman (1786-1867)
5. Phebe Waterman (1789-?)
6. Asher Waterman (1791-1875) [my 3rd great-grandfather]
7. Eusebius B. Waterman (1795-?)
8. David Bassett Waterman (1798-1851)
9. Lucinda A. Waterman (1803-1879)

The conditions for both surgeons and patients during the war must have been appalling.  According to the article Surgeons and Butchers by Elizabeth Rorke at ushistory.org,

"…Revolutionary War surgeons did a notable job of attempting to save lives. Most were competent, honest, and well-intentioned, but conditions and shortages in medical supplies placed an overwhelming burden on them. Besides caring for those wounded in battle, the camp surgeon was responsible for caring for the camp's diseased soldiers. The camp surgeon was constant alert for unsanitary conditions in camp that might lead to disease. He spent a good deal of time aiding patients rid their bodies of one or more of the four humors. Common diseases suffered by soldiers were dysentery, fever, and smallpox. Most illnesses were caused by unsanitary conditions in camp."

If you'd like to learn more about the Revolutionary War, the website The American Revolution is an excellent resource.  It contains information about battles, people, commanders, events, and more.

Luther Waterman passed away on September 9, 1807 in Cazenovia, Madison, New York. He is buried in the Union Cemetery, in Cazenovia, Madison County, New York.

I love military records and have found some fascinating and unexpected documents in Luther Waterman's pension file.  I will be sharing more from his pension file in future posts.

Thanks for reading!

Jana

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