Major General James Wadsworth

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military Service: 1775; American Revolution (US) Major General

Notes:

Continental Congressman. He was born in Durham, Connecticut, and received thorough English training, before graduating from the distinguished Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, 1748. After graduating from college he studied law and was admitted to the bar. He first served in several law positions before entering politics. He was appointed to the position of Town Clerk of Durham, Connecticut, and served in that position for thirty years, 1756 to 1786. He also served as a Justice of the Peace in 1762 and was appointed as Connecticut State Court Judge of New Haven County, Connecticut, in 1773, before being promoted to a Presiding Judge in 1778. During this time he also served as a Member of the Committee of Safety. During the American Revolution of 1776, he put his career on hold and joined the Revolutionary Army as a Colonel and Brigadier General of the Connecticut Militia. Upon the death of General David Wooster in 1777, he was named as Second Major General with the Revolutionary Army from 1777 to 1779. At the time of his service, he was the second-highest-ranking officer in the State of Connecticut. Following the war, he resumed his political career and served as a Delegate to the Continental Congress from Connecticut in 1783 (some sources say 1784). He lastly served as the Connecticut State Comptroller from 1786 to 1787, Member of the Connecticut State ratification convention that opposed the adoption of the United States Constitution in 1788, and as a Member of the Connecticut State Executive Council of Assistants from 1785 to 1789. He then retired from public life. He was married to Katharine Guernsey, but all their children died in infancy. She passed away in 1813. He passed away in his birthplace of Durham, Connecticut, at the age of 87, and was buried in the Old Durham Cemetery in that city.

Both his children died young - land Genesee Valley in New York that he received for is service in the Revolution was given to his nephews, James and William.

Family/Spouse: Katherine Guernsey. Katherine was born on 15 Jan 1732 in Durham, Middlesex County, Connecticut; died on 13 Dec 1813 in Durham, Middlesex County, Connecticut; was buried in Old Durham Cemetery, Durham, Middlesex County, Connecticut. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]