Watson, Elkanah, 1758-1842

Prominent businessman, land speculator, promoter of public works, and one of the founders of the Bank of Albany. Authored a number of works on agricultural and economics topics.

Biography

Born in Plymouth, Mass., Jan. 22, 1758; 1773 apprentice to a merchant; active in war, 1775-79; in trade in S.C.; 1789 moved to Albany, N.Y for 18 years promoter of public enterprises and navigation; 1807 moved to Pittsfield, Mass; engaged in farming; 1816 returned to Albany; organized first agricultural society in N.Y; 1828 settled in Port Kent, N.Y.; died there, Dec. 5, 1842; wrote much about his travels in Europe and U.S. & on agriculture & canals. (Appleton's Cyciop.of American Biography) (blue index cards)

Resources

• Elkanah Watson letter : Cherry Valley, to Judge White, Cherry Valley, 1821 June 21. (Buffalo History Museum). WorldCat record id: 175290533
• Elkanah Watson papers 1793-1834 (Detroit Public Library). WorldCat record id: 505441428
• ALS [draft], 1812 July 15, Quincy, Mass., to Elkanah Watson, Pittsfield, Mass. (Rosenbach Museum & Library)
• Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection. 1668-1983. (American Philosophical Society)
• Papers, 1792-1877. (American Periodical Series I)
• Papers, 1753-1847. (Hagley Museum & Library)
• Elkanah Watson Letters, 1797; 1831 (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection)
• Elkanah Watson research collection, [ca.1947]. (American Periodical Series I)
• The Erie Canal : who first suggested its construction, Mar. 1882 / by M. S. Hawley. (Buffalo History Museum)
• James Freeman Clarke family papers, 1777-1914. (Houghton Library)
• Livingston, Robert R., letter, 1803. (University of Texas Libraries)
• Miscellanea, 1819-1891. (New York State Historical Documents Inventory)

Relationships

• Associated with: Adams, John
• Associated with: Adams, John, 1735-1826
• Associated with: Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873
• Associated with: Banks, Joseph, Sir, 1743-1820
• Associated with: Barber, Charles H.
• Associated with: Bleecker, Hermanus
• Associated with: Bogert, James, 1786-1862
• Corresponded with: Clarke, James Freeman, 1810-1888
• Associated with: Cooper, Thomas, 1759-1839
• Associated with: Coues, Elliott, 1842-1899

Places

• United States
• Europe
• Ohio
• New York (State)--Albany

Subjects

• Agriculture
• Corn
• Merchants