Watson of Columbia, Coweta, Cobb, Haralson, Paulding and Carroll Counties



Email from Len Therrien On Mar 19, 2014, at 4:49 PM, Len Therrien wrote:

Jeannette

Our research subject is George Watson, Sr. Our direct lineage ends with him (my Mom's side). Attached is how I'm related to George.

Census records confirm that I am related to one of George's sons, Burton Watson. We have inferred that George had three sons: Burton, George Jr. and Benjamin F. based on the 1840 Census of all four of them living in District 649, Carroll County.

Research before 1840 is speculative. We have gathered possible research entries for 1830, 1820 as well as Marriages but have been unable to collobrate or infer if these entries are correct.

Also, many Ancestry.com Trees have listed George Watson as the son of a Thomas Watson. However, I've contacted Georgia Fleming who authored the Watson lineage listing George and I don't believe it is our George Watson. (We listed George's marriage to a Lucy Winnifred Winfrey at Columbia County, GA but I believe this to be incorrect).

Our goal is to: 1) Confirm that George had three sons 2) Find out the wife of George Watson 3) And find a link to George's father.

Please advise if you need more information and how I can help you with the research. Thanks.

Len

Email from Jeannette Austin On Fri, Mar 21, 2014 at 1:57 PM, Jeannette Austin wrote:

1. Did you find Burton on 1880 census to get State where George was born? 1880 and 1900 Census for Burton report his father's birthplace as Virginia
2. What is the age range of George from 1840 census?
60-69
3. Do you believe that the George listed on 1820 Census in Columbia Co. is yours? George of Columbia county also drew in 1820 lottery, land in Early Co. The 1821 lottery shows George of Richmond drawing in Dooly Co and Benjamin drawing land in Dooly Co.

Incidentally, your George Drew in 1832 Cherokee lottery, land in Paulding co. which he must have taken up because Burton was listed on 1850 Paulding Co, which is the likely place of his death. Sherman burned records during battle of New Hope Church, said to be hottest battle of the war.

I don't have any facts for or against this conclusion.
4. Where did you acquire the death date for George?
I can't find a citation for this. Must have been from another Ancestry unsourced page during the early days of my research.

I have some abstracts of deeds which shows an 1828 purchase of George for land in Carroll, now Haralson Co. Anyhow, I am trying to determine when George came to Georgia. So far, it appears that he came without parents.

Jeannette Holland Austin

Comments from Jeannette Austin. Mar 23, 2014.

According to your information from census records, George Watson was born 1770/1780. I wanted to know if George who resided in Columbia Co. GA in 1820 was the same George Watson on other census records. Here are the results from other census records, land lotteries and deed records:

  • George Watson - 1820 Columbia Co., born 1770/1780. Others of similar birth years: James Watson, 1775 or earlier. Benjamin Watson 1775/1794. Rebecca Watson, 1775 and older. Isaac Watson, 1775 and older. Peter Watson, born 1775 and earlier.
  • 1820 Land Lottery. George Watson of Columbia County, Bealls district, 2 draws in Early Co. (no record of his taking up these draws).
  • 1821 Land Lottery - George Watson of Richmond County drew land in Dooly Co. (no record of his taking up this draw). Benjamin Watson of Columbia Co. drew land in Dooly and Henry County (no record of his taking up these draws).
  • 1828 Carroll Co. Deed. Bk G, page 155. Headed Newton County. Jul 5, 1828 Green B. Daniel to George Watson for $150, 202 1/2 acres in 11th district of Carroll County, lot 61.
  • 1830 Newton County Census - George Watson.
  • 1832 Land Lottery. George Watson of Coweta County, Shaddix District, drew Lot 927 in the 19th district of Paulding County. I believe that he settled on this land .
Now, some facts on Burton Watson. Listed on 1850 Paulding Co. Census.

Carroll Co. Deed. Book F, 2/5/1852. John Caldwell of Walker County sold to Burton Watson of Paulding C. for $250, land lot 52 in second district of Carroll County, now Haralson County. 202-1/2 acres.

Book G. page 391. 9/26/1851. The heirs of William Bryce relinquish their claim. Burton Watson, Sally Sampson, James Bryce, Thomas J. Bryce, Joseph Bryce, Robert Bryce and P. P. Alford.

Burton Watson buried in the City of Buchanan Cemetery 12/25/1820-6/17/1906.
Ellen Watson 2/15/1819-9/27/1909. Source: Haralson Co. Cemeteries by Haralson Co. Historical Society.

More Carroll Co deeds

Book F, page 627. 3/31/1851. Benjamin F. Watson to Cannon Chance for $110, 100 acres, Land Lot 268, 6th district. Wit: George W. Watson.

Book F. page 652. 10/27/1851. Ruben Reid to Benjamin F. Watson for $100 part of land lot 257 in the 7th district of Carroll County (now Haralson Co.. 101-1/4 acres.

Book G, p. 87. 6/5/1852. Benjamin F. Watson to John Thomas for $11.00, 5 acres on the NW corner of land lot 268, in 6th district.

Comments

All of the George Watson's of the 1820-30 census and 1820-1821 land lotteries are the same person. Also, the Coweta Co. deed ties George to having purchased land in Paulding Counties. I believe that George died in Paulding County. It may be that Burton settled on his land (drawn in lottery) added to it in 1852 (by deed). It was Burton, Benjamin and George Jr. that moved over to that part of Carroll County which later was Haralson County. Once the facts align up to George of 1820 Columbia County being the same George of Coweta and Carroll Counties, it becomes apparent that he descends from the Watsons of Columbia County.

Thomas Watson and Wrightsboro

I realize that Thomas Watson is recorded as receiving a land grant of 500 acres in in Wrightsboro, Georgia in 1768. However, that was the beginning of the founding of the settlement and it was 1775 before as many as 60 families were residing in the quaker town. One of its founders, Joseph Maddock was not recorded there until 1773. The Bush River Quaker Meeting (held in Wrightsboro) has one entry: "1779. John Watson recrq." Joseph Maddock was there in 1773 and the Hixons or Hicksons in 1783. This is the only surviving Wrightsboro Meeting House record that I can locate.

Also, here are two Columbia County deeds:

9/6/1793. Sale by Heirs. Joseph McCormick and wife, Margaret (widow of Thomas Watson), admr of Watson estate. Heirs: Thomas, Benjamin, Peter, Mary (now Maddocks), Rebecca (now Durden), George, Hannah, William and James, for 90 pounds, sell to Richard Harrison 162 1/2 acres whereon said Harrison now lives, part of 500 acres granted to Thomas Watson, deceased, and surveyed by Ignatius Few. Note: Thomas Watson died in 1783, most likely at his home in Wrightsboro on Germany Creek. There is a 1784 deed in Columbia Co. of Abraham, Isaac and Margaret Davis selling George Carter of Montgomery Co. Virginia 150 acres on Germany Creek bounded northwest by Thomas Watson. So, we know that Thomas Watson was in Ga at least by 1784. He did not die in Savannah. There is no record of that.

Children of Thomas Watson:
  • Peter Watson, died 1828, married in Columbia County 10/15/1811 Elizabeth McCormick. His LWT in Columbia Co. 8/11/1826:4/19/1828 named wife, Elizabeth. Son: Thomas. Step-daughter, Louvenia Wade and her heirs.
  • Thomas Watson (age 26-45 in 1820) married Rebecca Maddox 4/10/1815 Columbia Co. I believe this the same Thomas Watson listed on 1830 Coweta Co. Census, age 20-30.
  • Benjamin Watson. (born 1775/1794 in 1820). His estate distribute in Columbia Co. 1809-27, page 418. (I do not have access to this).
  • Mary Watson married Maddocks.
  • Rebecca Watson married Durden.
  • George Watson (age 26-45 in 1820) m. Winny Winfrey 4/30/1803.
  • Hannah Watson.
  • William Watson (age 45 and over in 1820) married Kissy Hixon 12/21/1801 Columbia Co.
  • James Watson. (age 45 and over in 1820).
JOHN WATSON considered as a possible father of your George.

Columbia Co. Deeds
  • 11/22/1783. Commissioners of Confiscated land of Abraham Ravot, Hugh Lawson and Hepworth Carter to Robert Flournoy for 240 pds sterling all that plantation of Sir James Wright in the township of Wrightsboro known as the Quaker Meeting House tract, bounded northwest by Joseph Maddock, Thomas Jackson, northeast by John Davis, Poge and John Watson. Southeast by Smith and Samuel Oliver. West by Jonathan Sell, John Sidwell, Joseph Maddock and the mill of Isaac Vernon, containing 1579 acres.
  • 10/26/1796. John Watson of Warren Co. to Jeremiah Moates for $100, 100 acres in Wrightsboro Township on Germany Creek bounded south by lands formerly of George Watson. And west by land formerly owned by Jacob Watson, granted to said John Watson on 11/6/1790 by Sir James Wright.
  • John Watson was at Bush River Meeting in 1779. Word meaning: recrq means received by request possibly from another meeting. This must have been John Watson's arrival in Wrightsboro. The only question which I have here is whether this John Watson was the father of your George? This John Watson could be the same person as John Watson Sr. If he was, Cassandria was his second wife and George was not listed in his estate. I have exhausted this theory.
-Note- There is a John Watson Sr. on the 1820 Columbia Co. GA Census, male 16-26, female 45 and over, male 45 and over. John Watson of Columbia Co. had a 1790 land grant. He also had land in Warren County, but the last deed record of him is Richmond Co. mentioned in a deed dated 4/3/1800 of William Offutt of Richmond Co. to Thomas Carr, land bounded west by John Watson. Cassandria Hoge m. John Watson 9/11/1810 in Columbia Co. Cassandria is listed on 1830 Coweta Co. Census, aged 40/50. Her youngest daughter under 5, so this John must have died ca 1825. I found his estate in Richmond County and no George was listed as an heir. After this study I believe that John Watson Sr. was not old enough to be a father of George. He could be a son of Thomas Watson, but did not receive from that estate. J

Conclusion: I searched Coweta, Carroll, Dooly, Warren, Richmond and Columbia Counties, Paulding and Haralson Co. records in order to verify the identity of these families and hopefully find a substantial link. Also, I wanted to establish exactly when George's parents came into Georgia. I have searched high and low for this and evidence points to his coming to Georgia at a very early date. I searched the Watsons who appeared on 1800 and 1810 Virginia Census records and found nothing.

I have learned that the quakers at Wrightsboro, Georgia came from the Orange Co., NC meeting in 1768. This was the first group to Wrightsboro. I searched Hinshaw's Encyclopedia for NC, VA and PA, hoping to find some reference to Thomas or George Watson, but did not find the family at all. All of the Watson families in Columbia and Richmond Counties were quakers. After the Revolutionary War, those persons at the Wrightsboro Meeting, began moving on. No one really knows what happened to the quakers after about 1800. My own personal research has discovered that the families did not move again as a group. The fact that George Watson was found in Columbia, Newton, Carroll (now Haralson Co.) and Paulding Counties, and was drawing in the land lotteries, suggests that he was searching for land to settle. From the beginning, quakers suffered from persecution, were not really welcome and moved in congregations after acquiring huge land grants. The evidence points to George being the son of Thomas Watson, who came out of Pennsylvania through Virginia into Georgia. I never found an estate of George Watson in Georgia. Some sort of estate record or deeds are needed to get the names of his children or wife. He had at least 4 sons and 6 daughters. My best guess is that this family came to Georgia in 1782.

I did a research of all of the early Watson families in Georgia and eliminated all, except those in Columbia County. This concludes my research at this time and the only suggestion is to research Montgomery Co. VA as well as the Orange Co. NC deeds.

Jeannette Austin

From: Len Therrien
Date: April 6, 2014

Jeannette

I've spend some time reviewing your research and trying to tie in all the notes with what I know about George Watson. A number of new leads have been uncovered and still more questions arise!

I'm attaching my summary recap of the information you sent to me along with my notes.

Also, I've come across several other documents which I'm sending you that you may or may not have seen before about Thomas Watson.

My original goal in our research was three-fold:

1) Confirm that George had three sons: George Washington, Burton, and Benjamin. I certain now that this is confirmed.

2) Confirm the Wife(s) of George. We have marriage records for three wives and I'm now certain all three were his (Winny Winfrey, Sarah Boyd, Sarah Easterwood Brook)

3) Confirm the Father of George. We only have a tentative confirmation. I'd like to work to make this more solid so I can feel confident that Thomas F. Watson is his Father.

In regards to #3 above, I also have these questions:

1) George’s birth date. If he died in 1849 and was first married in 1803 (assuming he ma

rried at age 20), then his birth date may be near 1783? 2) If we accept 1783 as the birth date, then this may be why his name is on the 1793 Land Sale Deed but he does not sign the document?

3) When did George’s first wife (Winny Winfred) pass away and she is the mother of Burton and George only or is she the mother of Benjamin as well? (George married his second wife, Sarah Boyd, on 3/10/1824 and Benjamin was born in 1824)

4) Is there an Estate document for George when he passed in 1849 in Carroll County to confirm his children?

5) Is there an Estate document for Thomas Watson to confirm George is his son?

On Sun, Apr 6, 2014 at 4:13 PM, Jeannette Austin wrote:

Let me think on this. I searched diligently for some sort of estate record for George Watson, but found nothing. That is why I asked you how you got the date. If the father was born somewhere around 1723 and he had three sons in his old age (in 50s), I was trying to establish the proper generation for George. At first glance, he looked like a grandson. If George was born during 1760s, for example, the 1849 death date seemed unlikely. Be that as it may, I think 1783 is the proper range. As I said, I feel that George died on his land grant in Paulding County, not Carroll County. Regardless, I searched everywhere I could think of to possibly locate an estate for him in Georgia. Yes, I think that your George was born ca 1783. When distribution was made of the estate of Thomas Watson, it appears that it was divided up in land. Therefore, the names on the deed were heirs, but not necessarily of age. Only those of age would sign, or their guardians. Other than that, a receipt should have been given in the probate of the estate. (Nothing found on Watson’s estate in Columbia County). Looks like George was the youngest son. To get better proof, I searched the quaker records for Virginia meetings in hopes of finding the children listed for Thomas Watson. It might be well to search the remainder of Hinshaw’s books on MD, NJ and NC. I can do that now and then we look at it, if you like. Two hours should be enough.

Jeannette

From: Jeannette Austin
Date: April 10, 2014

In answer to your question about districts, these were tax districts, probably named after the tax collector. It sort of gives you an idea where people resided. Capt. Benjamin Watson. The Watsons in Wrightsboro were all related to one another.

Report on the Quaker Meetings in the Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy by Hinshaw: I searched all six volumes and copies those entries which might connect later. In the meanwhile we will have the information.

  1. Quaker abbreviations for Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy
  2. Philadelphia Meeting (PA)
  3. Falls Meeting (PA)
  4. Marriages from Falls Meeting (PA)
  5. Burlington Meeting (NJ)
  6. Salem Meeting (NJ)
  7. Richland Marriages (PA)
  8. Wrightstown Marriages (PA)
From: Jeannette Austin
Date: April 13, 2014
Research: Frederick and Orange Counties, Virginia

Links below are copies of information found pertaining to Watson. The most interesting link is that of the Hopewell Friends History. There was a Meeting House in Frederick County from about 1734 to 1752, when it burned down and the records were lost. Thereafter, the Friends built another church, which burned down in the 1780s and all records were lost. The records found in this book date during the 1800s and it is noted that there was a Joseph Watson still therre in 1791. Also, the marriages at the court house reflect some Watson marriages. On page 358 of this history, however, it is noted that "prior to this period (1823) Friends' marriages were not, as a rule, entered upon the county records." There are some Watson marriages in the court house marriages (as you will see from the links), but they do not appear to be quakers. On page 23 of this book is the most interesting reference of Ann Watson, who was among those who witnessed the marriage between Thomas Brown and Margaret Moon of Frederick County on June 10, 1748. This information was sent to the Hopewell Meeting from New Garden, North Carolina. (Note: New Garden's records also begin in the 1800s). This one reference proves that there was a Watson family at the Hopewell Meeting in 1748.

According to Hinshaw, quakers from the Philadelphia Meeting removed to the Hopewell Meeting House. I found one reference in familysearch.org which pedigrees Thomas F. Watson, born 1725 in Chester Co., PA, died 15 Nov 1783 in Columbia County, Georgia, married Margaret Paschall. Issue: James, William, John, Thomas, Peter and Benjamin. (Thomas F. Watson, son of Nathan Watson and Sarah Biles, my note: probably was Beales).

I wanted to find a quaker record of the birth of at least one of the children of Thomas. Despite the lack of records, the history itself shows the Watsons came into Frederick County, Virginia from Pennsylvania. (I search all of the PA and NC Meetings) Also, the history shows that Joseph Maddock came down from New Jersey to the Hopewell Meeting, then on to New Garden, NC and Wrightsboro, GA. Apparently one of his children or grandchildren married into the Watson family in Georgia. Based on the quaker movement, I believe that Thomas F. Watson was at the Hopewell Meeting in Frederick County, Virginia from the 1740s (where he probably married ca 1750), and that is where all of his children were born. Apparently, they came to Georgia after ca 1780 where he died in 1783. If this is the case, then George was probaby an infant, born ca 1780/1782 in Virginia. Those children who signed the deed of inheritance had to be over 14 years of age, otherwise, a guardian would have been appointed if they probated the estate at the county court house. The Hopewell Meeting should have registered the birth of George, and a reference should have appeared in the Wrightsboro Meeting records as to the death of Thomas F. Watson. Apparently, all of those records did not survive. This is why I wanted to search all quaker meeting records to see if anything was noted elsewhere. Also, although quakers seldom filed marriages, deeds and probates with the local county court house, yet there may have been something from another family member to use as a clue.

Conclusion.

It appears that the records most needed did not survive.

From: Jeannette Austin. April 21, 2014. Carroll County Research for Estate, Will, deeds of George Watson.

Deed Records in Carroll County. In 1832 there was an entry from Asa Watson of Laurens County, Georgia appointing James Hooker of Pike County Alabama as attorney to his his Lot No. 170 in the 5th district of Carroll County. Asa Watson deed

R. A. Watson (from Tax Digest of 1842)

R. A. Watson (from Tax Digest of 1844)

Tyree Watson (from Tax Digest of 1842)
  • Lee B. Watson (from Tax Digest of 1842)

    The above deeds and tax digest is the only entries of (any) Watsons in Carroll County. The Carroll County Wills, Estates, Returns book 1841-1853 was not indexed nor included in the General Estates Index. Therefore, I read every page and did not find a single Watson (also scanned it and put it on the website). This is the record where George Watson would have recorded had he died in 1849. It is quite thoroughly detailed, includes orphans and estates of all descriptions, and it is difficult to believe that anyone was omitted.

    I found three entries in the Georgia Militia Records at the Georgia State Archives as follows:

    Militia Records, 1829 to 1841, page 98

    George Watson, Ens. (ensign), 132nd district of Columbia County G. M. 8 June 1814

    Thomas Watson, Ens. (ensign), 132nd district of Columbia County G. M. 29 Mar 1836.

    Thomas Watson, 2nd Lieut., 132nd district of Columbia County G. M. 29 Mar 1836.

    I also searched the Carroll County Inferior Court Minutes and there were no Watson entries.

    Curd

    April 25, 2014

    "East and West Rairoad began building lines through the region, leading to the early industrialization of the area. The Cherokee Railroad built a line from Bartow County into Polk County in the 1870s, and the town of Rockmart developed around its depot about one mile north of the town of Van Wert. Incorporated in 1872, Rockmart was originally called Rock Market, indicating the importance of nearby slate deposits to its economy. Many of its buildings are built of slate and brick from local mines and brickyards. There are several other communities in the county. Aragon (named after the mineral aragonite) was incorporated in 1914. Unincorporated towns include Esom Hill, Lake, Prior, and Seney. Esom Hill grew up around the Shiloh Baptist Church, which was founded in 1848. " Ref: New Georgia Encyclopedia.org

    The above citation helps to explain the movements of Jeff Curd in Taylorsville in 1879 (birth of Willie Estella) and in Cedartown in Feb of 1883. Railroad workers resided in section hand houses. These were small one or two room houses built in the path of the railroad. As a general rule, they traveled where to where rail was being laid and did not own property. In 1880, Jeff Curd was in Whitfield County. This was still in the reconstruction of roads era. Remember, during the War Between the States, the famous Locomotive Chase of 1862 from north Georgia into Chattanooga. read about it here and view map of chase The line in Whitfield County was still under repair during the 1880s. No doubt but what Jeff was sent there to work. This explains what Mary T. Simerville was doing with her parents on the 1880 Cherokee Co. AL census. No doubt but what she caught the train at the Rockmart depot to go there. I double-checked the Bartow and Polk Co. wills and did not find a Curd marriage.

    Mary T. died Dec. 12, 1891. (Mollie is a nickname for Mary).

    St. Clair Co. AL Marriages
    • I found a marriage of T. Jefferson Curd to Maggie Maddox on Sept. 9, 1891 in St. Clair Co., AL. Hmmm. Looks like he was not legally married to Mary Simerville.
    • Mecca M. Curd to A. P. McGinnis 11/7/1909
    • Joseph E. to Barna Hamilton 12/25/1900
    • James W. to Mollie Powell 12/23/1900
    • Claud Curd to Ada Wilson 8/23/1914
    • Robert C. Curd to Lucie Box 5/26/1897
    Your notes about the 1900 St. Clair Co. Alabama Census help put the picture together. This census records states they were married for 20 years? This is a mistake or misread. There was a third daughter born to Mary T.
    Mary Pearl (Mamey), born Feb 1884 married Edward H. Green on 12/24/1911 in St. Clair Co., AL. She died 11/30/1948 in Eden, St. Clair County, Alabama, buried in Pell City, AL. You might want to order this death certificate to see if she was born in Cedartown or Polk Co. GA and if the name of her mother was listed.
    I figure that all three girls were taken to reside with the aunt upon the death of Mary T. in 1891 and that Jeff took the youngest daughter with him at some point after that. Perhaps at the time of the death (because he had a wife now) or after Willie married.

    1900 St. Clair Census. Based on the marriage, the children of Maggie Maddox should have been born from 1892. The children which are Maggie's for certain are: Becky b. 8/1896 and Jeffey b. 12/1896. However, Maggie stated to the census taker that she had born to her 5 children and that 5 were still living. Except the latter 5 looks like an attempt to write over it. I can make out (under the magnifying glass) what could be a 4. Also, she stated that they had been married for 20 years. The children listed were born between 1883 and 1896. Based on what we already know about the marriage occurring 3 months before Mary T.'s death, it becomes obvious that they had a common-law marriage going and as Mary T. lay dying, were married. In view of the overstrike, looks like Mamy (Mary Pearl) was a daughter of Mary T. The confirmation should appear in her death record, even if she does not name her mother, but places here birth somewhere around Polk Co. GA.

    Carroll County Deeds (searched 1843 to 1863) Haralson County Deeds (searched 1830 to 1884) Paulding County Deeds(searched 1858 to 1892) Conclusion
    The deeds in Carroll and Paulding Counties contain many boxes of microfilm. I went as far as I could time-wise.

    Jeannette