The men and women of the Wadsworth family have secured a permanent place in the history of America through  uncommon acts of bravery, heroism, service, hard work, and philanthropy for nearly 400 years.  The first American ancestor was William Wadsworth (1594-1675), who sailed from London, England with his wife Sarah and four children (Sarah, William, Mary and John) and about 100 other passengers on �the Lyon�.  They arrived in Boston in September of 1632, and the rest, as the saying goes, is history....
     William and his family settled in Newtown (Cambridge) MA, where they resided for 4 years.  In 1636, they left Cambridge with Thomas Hooker and Samuel Stone for a 100 mile journey to the banks of the Connecticut River where the town of Hartford, CT was founded.  After the death of his wife Sarah, William married Elizabeth Stone in 1644 in Harford, and to this union 6 children were born (Elizabeth, Samuel, Joseph, Sarah, Thomas, and Rebecca).
     Born during the early formation of our country, Joseph Wadsworth participated in what may have been the first act of civil disobedience against the King of England by the Colonies.  With a charter in hand from King Charles II, the freemen of the Connecticut colony were allowed a form of self government, while still enjoying all the privileges of one born in England.  However, a new king, James II, appointed Sir Edmond Andrus as governor over all New England, and instructed him to retrieve the charter from the citizens of Hartford.  At the meeting, during a brief moment of total darkness, Joseph Wadsworth, a lieutenant in the train band, grabbed the charter from the table, and fled the room.  He ran to the home of Samuel Wyllys, and hid the document under a large oak tree.  The quest for America�s freedom had begun.
     In 1777, Captain Jonathan Wadsworth was pressed into military service in the Revolutionary War.  Under the command of General Benedict Arnold, Jonathan fought in the decisive Battle of Saratoga, which is considered by many to be the turning point of the war for independence.  It was at this battle that he died on Sept. 19, 1777, continuing in America�s pursuit of freedom.
     Colonel Jeremiah Wadsworth, Revolutionary War soldier and congressman, was born in Hartford, CT, son of Rev. Daniel Wadsworth and Abigail Talcott, the daughter of Governor Joseph Talcott.  George Washington made 4 visits to Hartford during his lifetime, and each time was entertained at the Main St. home of Jeremiah Wadsworth.  Jeremiah was a key player in securing Connecticut�s ratification of the US Constitution.  He was founder of the Bank of North America in Philadelphia, and of the Hartford Bank; director of the US Bank, and the Bank of NY.  Not only having banking expertise, Jeremiah also introduced fine breeds of cattle from abroad and helped improve agriculture in America.  He was one of the 2 most powerful men in the state of Connecticut.
     At his death, Jeremiah left a huge estate in the amount of $125,000 to his son Daniel.  This allowed Daniel, an amateur artist, to become the city�s first philanthropist.  He is most remembered as the founder of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT.  Daniel married Faith Trumbull in 1794, and was thus associated with Jonathan Trumbull, her uncle, who was one of the period�s most celebrated historical painters.  In later years, Daniel Wadsworth was a leading patron of Thomas Cole, considered at the time America�s greatest landscape painter.
     Two Wadsworth brothers, James and William, founded one of the greatest dynasties of the Genesee Country after arriving in Geneseo in 1790.  Acting as land agents for their wealthy cousin, Jeremiah, the brothers accumulated vast tracts of land in their own name.  It was once said that a Wadsworth could ride his horse from Geneseo to Rochester and never leave his own land. 
     James Samuel Wadsworth was a philanthropist, politician, and Union General in the Civil War.  Born in Geneseo, NY, he attended both Harvard and Yale.  James led his division under the command of Gen. Grant  during his Overland Campaign.  He was mortally wounded on May 6, 1864, and later died in a Confederate hospital.  He is buried in the Temple Hill Cemetary in Geneseo, NY.
     Several other prominent Wadsworth�s have served in our country�s government through the years, and they remain a prominent family today in Livingston County.

 Cottone Auctions is honored to be able to offer several pieces of
 American history from this notable family, unreserved, at auction.