Catharine H. Waterman

American writer

George J. Esling

(m. 1840; died 1897)

Catharine H. Waterman (née, Waterman; after marriage, Esling; April 12, 1812 - April 6, 1897) was an American writer and poet who contributed to the periodical literature.^[1] Her publications included books, edited volumes, as well as hymns.

Biography

Catharine (sometimes spelled "Catherine") Harbison Waterman (sometimes spelled "Watterman") was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 12, 1812.^[2]

Under her maiden name, she became known as an author in various periodicals. Her first published pieces appeared in the New York Mirror and subsequently, the Annuals, Graham's Magazine and Godey's Magazine.^[3]^[4]

Esling wrote hymns, such as "Come Unto Me", which were published in the annual The Christian Keepsake (1839).^[5] She stated that her hymns never would have been published but for her mother.^[6] In 1841, she edited a volume, Friendship's Offering for 1842.^[7] In 1850, her poems were collected and published under the title, The Broken Bracelet and Other Poems.^[8] In her later years, she gave up writing.^[6]

In 1840, she married Captain George J. Esling, of her native city, who was serving in the Merchant Marine. She resided in Rio de Janeiro from that date until 1844 after which she returned to Philadelphia.^[3]^[4]^[8] In 1883, after her husband's death in Philadelphia, Esling lived with a daughter. She was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Philadelphia,^[8]

Esling died April 6, 1897, in Camden.^[2] Interment was at Greenmount Cemetery, Philadelphia.^[9] She was survived by three sons.^[6]

Selected works

Books

The Broken Bracelet and Other Poems, 1850
The Book of parlour games : comprising explanations of the most approved games for the social circle, viz. games of motion, attention, memory, mystification and fun, gallantry and wit, with forfeits, penalities, etc., 1853
Flora's lexicon : an interpretation of the language and sentiment of flowers : with an outline of botany, and a poetical introduction by Catharine H. Waterman, 1857

Hymns

"Come sons of Columbia, while proudly and high"
"Come unto me when shadows darkly gather"
"Father, a weary heart hath come"

^[10]

Edited volumes

Friendship's Offering for 1842, 1841

References

^ May 1858, p. 328.
^ ^a ^b "People - Miss Catherine H. Waterman". www.eapoe.org. Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
^ ^a ^b Read 1849, p. 259.
^ ^a ^b Griswold 1849, p. 217.
^ Nutter & Tillett 1911, p. 244.
^ ^a ^b ^c Sunderland, Herford & Mott 1888, p. 355.
^ "Books, &C". Boston Post. 25 September 1841. p. 4. Retrieved 16 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ ^a ^b ^c Nutter & Tillett 1911, p. 407.
^ "Died". The Times. Philadelphia. 9 April 1897. p. 8. Retrieved 16 January 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
^ "Catherine Harbison Waterman Esling". hymnary.org. Retrieved 15 January 2021.

Attribution

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Griswold, Rufus Wilmot (1849). The Female Poets of America. Carey and Hart.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: May, Caroline (1858). The American Female Poets: With Biographical and Critical Notices (Public domain ed.). Lindsay & Blakiston.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Nutter, Charles Sumner; Tillett, Wilbur Fisk (1911). The Hymns and Hymn Writers of the Church: An Annotated Edition of the Methodist Hymnal (Public domain ed.). Methodist Book Concern. ISBN 978-0-524-03076-9.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Read, Thomas Buchanan (1849). The Female Poets of America: With Portraits, Biographical Notices, and Specimens of Their Writings (Public domain ed.). E. H. Butler & Company.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain: Sunderland, Jabez Thomas; Herford, Brooke; Mott, Frederick B. (1888). The Unitarian. Vol. 3 (Public domain ed.). Proprietors.