The Wadsworth Family
In America
The Wadsworth Family
In America

Family Reunion
2032
Join us in 2032 for the Wadsworth Family Reunion. 400 Years of the Wadsworth Family in America.

Repealing Prohibition
James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr.
The 18th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited alcohol. James Wolcott Wadsworth Jr. was instrumental in repealing this amendment.

Fort Wadsworth New York
America's oldest continually manned military installation, strategically situated at the entrance to New York Harbor.

The Life and Legacy of Jonathon Wadsworth
Erick Wadsworth shares his appreciation for Jonathon Wadsworth, who gave his life at the Battle of Saratoga, a turning point in our Nation's history.

Jeremiah Wadsworth - Connecticut Businessman
Jeremiah Wadsworth profited from his involvement in the Revolutionary War and eventually became one of the most respected politicians and businessmen in American history.

Bill Wadsworth - Bowhunting Educator  
Founder of the National Bowhunter Education Foundation, Bill was a tireless advocate for the sport of Bowhunting.

Louis Fenn Wadsworth - The Origins of Baseball
Did Louis Fenn Wadsworth invent the modern game of Baseball? Find out more here.

Wadsworth Mansion - 1970's One Hit Wonder
The 70's Rock Group "Wadsworth Mansion" was a one-hit-wonder with their song "Sweet Mary". Read their story here.

Benjamin Wadsworth - Past President of Harvard
One of the early Presidents of Harvard University, Benjamin Wadsworth was influencial in shaping Harvard into one of the most prestigous universities in the world.

The "Master Letters"
The Reverend Charles Wadsworth may have been the subject of Emily Dickinson's "Master Letters" in which she poured out her heart over the love for a man that she could never have.

Alexander S. Wadsworth
1790 - 1851
Commodore Alexander S. Wadsworth rose through the ranks of the Navy in the early 19th Century. Wadsworth was highly decorated and has had three American Navy ships named in his honor. Read his story here.

Skull and Bones - America's Most Elite Secret Society
What do President George Bush, the Wadsworth family, and a secret society known as "Skull and Bones" have in common? Read this story to find out.

Tony Wadsworth - BBC radio personality
So what is a story about a British radio host doing on a website about the Wadsworth family in America? No reason, just enjoy!

Mike Wadsworth - Former Notre Dame Athletic Director
Athletic Director at Notre Dame, lawyer, corporate Vice-President, broadcaster and professional football player. Another amazing Wadsworth!

Moses Wadsworth 1774 - 1851
Farmer, carpenter and merchant, Moses Wadsworth and those hardworking men and women like him were the foundation of our great nation.

Wadsworth Atheneum America's First Art Museum
America's first art museum. Founded by a Wadsworth of course!
Wadsworth Family Heraldry
Do you have information on the origins of the Wadsworth Family Crest? The examples below have not been authenticated, but are presumed to be accurate.
Wadsworth Coat of Arms
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Wadsworth_Coat_of_Arms3
Wadsworth Crest handdrawn

Captain Dean Amick Wadsworth

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On June 3rd, 1999, Dean Amick Wadsworth was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, nearly 36 years after his death in Vietnam. For most of the time in-between, the Air Force Captain was considered Missing in Action (MIA), his remains, along with those who died with him on December 18, 1963 lay undiscovered until 1995. The war would continue for another 10 years after his death. Officially ending in January of 1973, the fighting continued until 1975. By the end of the war, 1,350 were listed as Prisoners of War or MIA with another 1,200 reportedly killed in action but their bodies yet to be recovered. Among those missing in action was Dean Amick Wadsworth, not just another statistic, but one of our own, a Wadsworth.

Dean Amick Wadsworth was born on November 30, 1930 and joined the Armed Forces while in Clarendon, Texas. He served in the Air force. In 12 years of service, he attained the rank of Captain. He began a tour of duty in Vietnam on October 8, 1963.

On December 18, 1963, Wadsworth and his South Vietnamese crewman were flying their T-28B Trojan on a combat support mission approximately 50 miles southwest of Da Nang, South Vietnam. As he completed his bombing run over the target, his aircraft broke apart in mid air, crashed and exploded, as reported by another pilot on the mission. A massive search and rescue operation was initiated that day by two Marine helicopters but they disappeared during the mission. At dawn on the following day, Marine helicopters airlifted two companies of South Vietnamese infantrymen to the area of the downed aircraft. As the helicopters landed, enemy troops fired on them, wounding three Marine crewmen and killing a Vietnamese soldier.

Two T-28s, B-26s and a South Vietnamese A-1 aircraft responded by strafing enemy positions. An American L-19 light observation aircraft directing the strike was hit, the Vietnamese observer was wounded, and the aircraft made a forced landing. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese ground troops found both Marine helicopters that had disappeared on the first day. Ten bodies were recovered, but two remain missing in action to this day. In the days during the search and rescue operations, 207 missions were flown, three aircraft were lost and four others damaged. Fifteen South Vietnamese soldiers were killed and seven were wounded.

In late 1993, a Vietnamese local turned over remains he said were recovered near the crash site. In May of the following year, a joint U.S./Vietnamese team, led by the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, visited the area of the crash, interviewed villagers and obtained some aircraft debris and pilot-related equipment. In September, another joint team examined the crash site and found more debris, but no remains. Then in May 1995, another team excavated the site where they found remains, as well as two identification tags of Wadsworth.
The remains of six American servicemen previously unaccounted-for from the war in Southeast Asia were identified and returned to their families for burial in the United States.

They were identified as Air Force Capt. Dean A. Wadsworth, Clarendon, Texas; Marine SSgt. Harold E. Reid, Salt Lake City, Utah; Navy Lt. David L. Hodges, Chevy Chase, Md.; Air Force Lt. Col. Lewis M. Robinson, Saginaw, Mich.; Air Force Capt. Douglas K. Martin, Tyler, Texas; and Air Force Capt. Samuel L. James, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Captain DEAN AMICK WADSWORTH was one of the first Americans to give the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the freedom of South Vietnam. By the end of 1963, less than 200 American soldiers had lost their lives, Dean was among the first. Captain Wadsworth left behind a wife and three children.

Wadsworth, Dean Amick
Born 30 November 1930, Died 18 December 1963
US Air Force, Captain
Res: Devine, Texas
Section 34, Grave 1153, buried 3 June 1999
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/dawadsworth.htm

The Relationship Between William and Christopher Wadsworth

It's long been speculated that one of the unnamed passengers on the ship Lyon arriving in Boston, 1632, was Christopher Wadsworth, the younger brother of William, who is listed prominently on the ship's register. Upon their arrival, both Wadsworth men took active roles in their new English settlements in this country. Were the two Wadsworth men related? Recently, DNA evidence has revealed that there is more to this story than previously believed. Read more about this family mystery here.

Where is Xtopher Waddesworth's Bible?

The book "Genealogical and Family History of the State of Maine", published by Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, in 1909 tells of an inscription in a long lost Bible once owned by Christopher Wadsworth. Last known to be in the posession of Mr. Samuel W. Cowles, of Hartford, Connecticut in the late 1800's, the inscription may hold the answer to an old family mystery. Where is this book now, and what secrets does it hold? Find out more here.

The Wadsworth Family Arrives in America

"The ship Lion cast anchor in Boston harbor Sunday evening, Sept. 16, 1632. She brought", says Winthrop, "one hundred and twenty-three passengers, whereof fifty were children, all in good health." "Of the.passengers on this trip, only the names of about thirty are preserved, and of these the name of William Wadsworth heads the list, stating his family to consist of four persons." "The exact date of Christopher Wadsworth's arrival, or how he came, is not known."

Over the years, there has been much speculation concerning the relationship between Christopher and William and the exact date of Christopher's arrival. While these questions may never be answered fully, it is clear that there are two distinct genealogical Wadsworth lines in America starting in 1632.

Wadsworth Genealogy

This website is first a family site, then a site to document genealogical research. Please feel free to look around, sign our guest book or send an e-mail. Enjoy your stay! If you are a member of the Wadsworth family, whether directly descended from William and Christopher or not, we encourage you to consider joining our Family Reunion in 2032.

Wadsworth Family Members

Are you a member of the Wadsworth Family? Are you interested in Wadsworth family genealogy or the history of America's early families? If so, this site is for you. We are interested in your ideas on how to make this website more useful and user friendly. A place for making connections and sharing research. Please feel free to contact me.