WATERS, Marantha “Minnie”
WATERS, Marantha “Minnie” (d. 1890) was widowed in 1863 with an adopted daughter, Edith, when she met and married Captain William G. Waters in 1880. They were both from Massachusets and lived on Post Street in San Francisco. With $10,000 she gave to her husband, he purchased 1/2 interest in San Miguel Island in November 1887. For Minnie, she hoped the island was to be a climatic health cure for her tuberculosis. She stayed on the island for the first five months of 1888, keeping a daily diary and celebrating her 38th birthday. Minnie Waters’ diary ends June 27, 1888 in Santa Barbara. She never returned to San Miguel Island. Following a series of health cures in San Francisco, she died of consumption (tuberculosis) in Santa Barbara on January 17, 1890. Her adopted daughter, Edith, later sued Captain Waters for inheritance from her mother.
» Waters, Minnie Mrs. Waters’ Diary of her life on San Miguel Island January 1-June 27, 1888 Pp. 4-51 in Santa Cruz Island Foundation Occasional Paper Number 4, Santa Barbara, California, 1990 (1995).
» BURRITT, Edith Scott [Waters]
In the News~
August 11, 1895 [SFC]: “Seeking a legacy. Mrs. Edith Walker wants her foster mother's estate distributed. Mrs. Edita A. Walker has commenced proceedings in the Superior Court to have William G> Waters removed as trustee to the estate of Mrs. Marantha Waters, deceased, and to secure the payment of a $5000 legacy due her from the estate. The plaintiff's petition states that she was adopted by the deceased before she was married to Waters, plaintiff being 1 year old at the time. Later the deceased married Waters, and they formally made the plaintiff their daughter with the aid of a Probate Court. Mrs. Waters possessed property in her own right, and at her death willed $5000 to the plaintiff and the residue to the estate of Waters. The plaintiff alleges that her foster father is now hostile to her, refusing to pay her any money or even communicate with her concerning the matter. He has threatened to expend every cent he possesses to prevent her collecting the legacy. The plaintiff is now a widow and asserts that shew is in great need of financial assistance.”
