Giving a fortune away!
Grateful to God and aware of the deserving poor, the childless Nathaniel Waterhouse gave away his fortune, mainly through the setting up of almshouses and a school for orphans. In his own words, he was "indebted for his acquisitions under God only to his own honest industry as a trader".
Little is known about the life of Nathaniel Waterhouse (1586-1645), up to his marriage to Dorothy Wilson in 1607 but they had no children. He prospered as a merchant and salter, selling salts, oils and dyes to clothiers and gradually built up his fortune. During his lifetime he gave property off Upper Kirkgate for use as a workhouse for the parish.
By his will of 1642 he additionally established almshouses for twelve aged poor persons from Halifax Parish (exclusively women from 1732) and a school for twenty parish orphans (later known as the Blue Coat School). The Almshouses and Blue Coat School were rebuilt on Waterhouse Charity land in Harrison Road from 1855. The school operated until 1959 and after four years was then demolished along with the Almshouses.
The collection includes minutes 1777-1956, accounts 1610-1998, Headmaster's report books/log books 189-1956, and a register of widows in the Almshouses and children in the Blue Coat School 1907-1963. There is also a Civil War pass (1643) issued to Nathaniel Waterhouse desiring all commanders and officers under the command of the Earl of Newcastle to allow Waterhouse to come to Halifax with his goods.
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Have you heard of Nathaniel Waterhouse? Did you or your relative attend the school?
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Grateful to God and aware of the deserving poor, the childless Nathaniel Waterhouse gave away his fortune, mainly through the setting up of almshouses and a school for orphans. In his own words, he was "indebted for his acquisitions under God only to his own honest industry as a trader".
Little is known about the life of Nathaniel Waterhouse (1586-1645), up to his marriage to Dorothy Wilson in 1607 but they had no children. He prospered as a merchant and salter, selling salts, oils and dyes to clothiers and gradually built up his fortune. During his lifetime he gave property off Upper Kirkgate for use as a workhouse for the parish.
By his will of 1642 he additionally established almshouses for twelve aged poor persons from Halifax Parish (exclusively women from 1732) and a school for twenty parish orphans (later known as the Blue Coat School). The Almshouses and Blue Coat School were rebuilt on Waterhouse Charity land in Harrison Road from 1855. The school operated until 1959 and after four years was then demolished along with the Almshouses.
The collection includes minutes 1777-1956, accounts 1610-1998, Headmaster's report books/log books 189-1956, and a register of widows in the Almshouses and children in the Blue Coat School 1907-1963. There is also a Civil War pass (1643) issued to Nathaniel Waterhouse desiring all commanders and officers under the command of the Earl of Newcastle to allow Waterhouse to come to Halifax with his goods.
Vote for the Waterhouse Charities Collection Today!
Have you heard of Nathaniel Waterhouse? Did you or your relative attend the school?
Leave us your comments here!