On his death in 1893, the following appeared in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 17 August 1893, p. 5, "Jacob Outwater, the former senior member of the old iron manufacturing firm of Outwater & Saxton [sic], who died on Tuesday at his home, 584 Herkimer street, in his 85th year, was buried this afternoon. Mr. Outwater had been a resident of Brooklyn for over sixty years. He was born in New Jersey. He was a member of the volunteer fire department, having been connected with old engine company No. 2, on Henry street, before the advent of the paid fire department, and of Commonwealth lodge F. and A. M. He was also an old member of the First Unitarian church, on Monroe place."

The old firm of Outwater & Saxtan referred to in the obituary was in business in Brooklyn from 1851 until around 1866. They are first listed in Brooklyn city directories in the Hearne directory of 1852-53. This ad for Outwater & Saxtan was published in Lain's Brooklyn City Directory of 1858. Around 1866 Saxtan left Outwater and formed a partnership with James J. Howell. More on Howell and Saxtan can be found on the Howell & Saxtan foundry marks page.

A coal chute cover reading Outwater & Saxtan is found on Pierrepont St. in Brooklyn Heights.

The original Outwater & Saxtan foundry was located at 279 Adams St., and Outwater remained at this location until 1871/72. A coal chute cover with this address and the name Jacob Outwater, then, should date within the narrow range 1866 to 1872.

Jacob Outwater (1808-1893) appeared in the Webb & Hearne Brooklyn City Directory of 1842-43 as "Outwater Jacob iron chest maker, 76 Poplar h 71 [Poplar]." He appears in the U. S. Census of 1860, age 51, born New Jersey, living in Brooklyn with his wife, Olive, and son, John F. Outwater, age 9. In the 1870 census Olive Outwater was living in Hackensack township, Bergen County, New Jersey, with her son John F., now 19, but Jacob did not form part of the family. In the 1880 census Jacob Outwater lived at 340 Madison St., Brooklyn. He was 71 years old, his wife Olive was 64, and his children were John, age 29, William, age 27, and Mary Watkins, his daughter, age 38. There were also three grandchildren and a daughter-in-law. He is buried in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, lot 825 section 71 (find-a-grave).

Another Jacob Outwater coal chute cover is found on Sidney Place, Brooklyn Heights. This one has the address 339 Adams St. Outwater's foundry was located at this address from 1872 to 1882.

Copyright (c) 2010 Walter Grutchfield