(V) Captain John Waterman, son of Colonel Resolved (3) and Lydia (Mathewson) Waterman, was born in 1728. He became a ship owner and sea captain, sailing his own ships to China and other foreign countries. He was known as 'Paper Mill John', from the fact that he built one of the first paper mills in America. He was an early and extensive manufacturer not only of paper, but operated a fulling mill, a woolen cloth finishing mill, and a chocolate factory. In 1769 he engaged in printing and publishing. His enterprises brought him great gain, and he was rated among the wealthiest men in the State, part of his wealth consisting of slaves. His property and personal estate were inherited by his only son, his daughters receiving only their wedding outfits. He died February 7, 1777.
Captain John Waterman married, January 17, 1750, Mary Olney, who was born in 1731, died September 5, 1763, daughter of Captain Jonathan and Elizabeth (Smith) Olney, her father the founder of Olneyville, R. I., her mother a daughter of Christopher Smith. Mrs. Waterman was a granddaughter of James and Hallelujah (Brown) Olney, and a descendant of Chad Brown.
