I Haplogroup - Family E
One member of G Haplogroup - Family A also claimed descent from County Tyrone for the ancestor James Watson,[5] migrating to modern West Virginia in the 1800s.
Watson
- The Clan Watson Society by Shane Watson, bearing some of the most dedicated research including which family last held a claim to clann chiefship and progress in tracking down a new chief.
- Watson Y-DNA project on FamilyTreeDNA.
People whose families use ‘Watson’ or variants for any reason are encouraged to congregate here.
- Watson Y-DNA results
- Watson Y-DNA distribution map – meant to show the primary locations of members’ earliest known ancestors.
- Watts, Watt, Watson DNA Project on FamilyTreeDNA.
Earliest recorded Watsons
Subgrouping names are taken directly from the Watson DNA project to maintain a sense of consistency.
- Walter 4th Laird/Chief of Buchanan born no later than about 1125. 🏴
- — Border reiving from the late 1200s to early 1600s. Consider joining Border Reivers. —
- Richard Watson in the 1324 Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield (Yorkshire).[1] 🏴
- Sir Walter Buchanan born and succeeded as 11th Chief of Buchanan 1338. 🏴
- — Black Death reached England by June 1348, then spread through Scotland. —
- 1354 CE – R1b1 Family A: R-FTD38441 (genealogical – 1663 🏴)
- John Wattessone in the “Close Rolls, 13 Edward III. pt”[2] circa 1369–1374. 🏴
- Johannes Watson in the 1379 Yorkshire Poll Tax. 🏴
- Johannes Wattson, 1379: ibīdem. 🏴
- William Watson of Cranston (southeast of Edinburgh), 1384.[3] 🏴
- 1386 CE – R1b1 Family Y: R-FT128338 ??? (genealogical – 1779)
- John Watson who held lands in Edinburgh in 1392.[4] 🏴
- Sir Walter Buchanan (second) succeeded as 12th chief before 1394. 🏴
- 1428 CE – R1b1 Family H: R-FT89173 (genealogical – 1718 🏴)
- Sir Walter Buchanan (third, 14th chief) born 1443. 🏴
- 1477 CE – R1b1 Family C: R-FT71811 (genealogical – 1665 🏴)
- — End of English mediæval period with the death of King Richard III, August 1485. —
Prominent Watsons and available haplogroups
- — Beginning of Modern period with Christopher Columbus landing in the New World, 12 October 1492. —
- Sir Edward Watson of Rockingham born about 1525. 🏴
- Richard Watson of Saughton [in the west of Edinburgh], proprietor of those lands 1537. 🏴
- 1575 CE – I2a2a Haplogroup - Family B: I-FT157280 (genealogical – 1788 🏴)
- 1591 CE – I Haplogroup - Family E: I-BY97482 (genealogical – 1713 🇮🇪)
- 1610 CE – R1b1 Family B: R-BY84591 (genealogical – c. 1760)
- 1618 CE – R1b1 Family D: R-MF252384 (genealogical – c. 1700)
- 1627 CE – I Haplogroup - Family G: I-FTA81938 (genealogical – 1729)
- 1637 CE – R1b1 Family N: R-BY107055 (genealogical – 1702 🏴)
- James Watson (grandfather of the Aithernie Watsons) died at Lambieletham in 1657. 🏴
- 1719 CE – R1b1 Family K (Overseen by William Watson): R-BY98892 (1678 🏴)
- Killermont and Chapeltoun sold by John Watson of Muirhouse in 1746. 🏴
- David Watsone of Craslatt, Provost of Dunbartonshire – arms matriculated 1763. 🏴
- 1774 CE – G Haplogroup - Family D: G-Z31561 (genealogical – 1762)
- 1803 CE – R1a1a Haplogroup - Family B: R-FTB75872 (genealogical – 1776 🇮🇪)
- 1809 CE – Q Haplogroup - Family A: Q-BY146071 🏴 (genealogical – 1794, NPE of Eggleston after 1712)
- 1818 CE – James Watson of Saughton recorded as chief of the name in Scotland, during the time of 'highland mania'.
- 1885 CE – R1b1 Family ZT: R-FTB76282 (genealogical – 1775 🏴)
- 1897 CE – I Haplogroup - Family F: I-Y29655 (genealogical – c. 1650 🇬🇧)
From various websites ‘as is’ as of 31 January 2024.
R1b1 Family A
1700s
In the Carolinas
In the Commonwealth of Virginia
To the right is a compilation of the little 'Watson logo' plastered in all four corners of the Slate River Branches newsletter. It probably means nothing outside of being a fancy decoration within that page (I haven't seen other pages), but proves eye-catching. The newsletter is discussing William Watson Jnr and his descendants.
It is worth nothing that there is a John Watson born 1763 in Powhatan County (hard to source), who is constantly confused with John Watson Jnr born 1763 in Pennsylvania (the South Carolina one, already related to this family). This John also enlisted for a year in the Virginia line, in 1781, for the American Revolutionary War. He migrated to Kentucky by 1800, and in 1807 was licensed as a Methodist Episcopal minister as was his son Joel, also associated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
England
Migrants to Bucks County, Pennsylvania
Descendants of a John T Watson (born 1660).[19] Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
John Watson Jnr (born 1763) is believed to have been married to Elizabeth Pearson (her birth date provided by Bible Records of Enoch Pearson and Tabith Jacocks) as his first wife. Elizabeth’s nephew Kindred Pearson married Sidney Watson – John’s daughter by his second wife. These Pearsons were descended from a Smith family who on another branch married into this Quaker family. It is said that Elizabeth’s father Enoch Pearson set out with his cousin John Watson to learn the surveyors trade from George Washington, in Winchester, Virginia.[20]
Watsons of Rockingham(?)
A family that migrated from County Londonderry to 1718 Leicester, Massachusetts have an account of how their family escaped to Ireland due to persecution by King James I (circa 1603 – 1625), and of persecution by the forces of King James II on the way to 1689 Derry. A footnote in the narrative explains that they could have moved through Scotland or maybe were of Scots heritage in the first place, but that they assume they are English, and believe they may be descendants of the Watsons of Rockingham so much so as using their coat of arms. William Watson is described as a Presbyterian of English parentage.[21]
Shropshire
This information was saved from a user-generated tree.
- John Watson I (1603 –)
- John Watson II (1633 – 1680)
- John Watson III (1661 – 1680)
- William Wattson (1579 – 1640)
- Samuel Hugh Watson (1685 –)
Ireland
Migrants to Williamsburg County, SC
Arrived in Charlestown onboard the Prince Henry from Ireland, and petitioned for land[22] around the Santee River.
- George Watson
- Hugh Watson
- Elizabeth Watson
- Andrew Watson
- Sarah Watson
- John Watson (1752 – 14 June 1821).
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Lancaster County was split to form Northumberland County (in 1772), Dauphin County (in 1785), and Lebanon County (in 1813).
Lancaster County
A book in letter form prepared and written of the Watson genealogy, 1760-1909 (Watson 1909) follows the descent of Joseph Watson’s descendants from 1760 Lancaster, whose descendants were primarily Methodist and Lutheran.
Scotland
Misc events which are found in Church of Scotland records (per ScotlandsPeople). Be advised that I am not sure how accurate some of these relationships are:
County of Aberdeen
Cruden parish
- Agnas Watson, m. John Gray 1714
- Jean Watson, m. William Mudlert 1714
- Thomas Watson m. Janet Will 1732
- Christian Watson, m. Robert Watt 1737
- Margaret Watson, m. John Ligertwood 1776
- Isabel Watson, m. Alexr. Daniel 1786
- Jean Watson, m. George Smith 1790
- Elisbeth Watson, m. James Sim 1798
- Alexander Watson, m. Janet Sangster 1809
- Mary Watson, m. Alexander Yule 1809
- Mary Watson, m. James Hardy 1834
- Mary Watson, m. John Grieve 1836
- Margaret Watson, m. Alexander Elrick 1841
- Margaret Watson, m. Peter Davidson 1848
- Barbara Watson, m. James Cruickshank 1853
- Margaret Watson, m. Alexander Paul 1853
Methlick parish
- William Watson b. 1768 Methlick parish, married Ann Midler / Middler 1802 Cruden
- Alexander Watson b.1803, married Grizel Hutchison 1842 Cruden
- Robert Watson b.1805, died 21.03.1805 Cruden
- William Watson b.1806 Cr
- James Watson b.1809 Cr
Slains parish
County of Angus
Alexander Watson and Elizabeth Bain family that moved to Peterhead.[23]
County of Peebles
No known relationship with Robert Watson (1716?) and Jean Tait/Teatt (1720?).
Unknown
A Mrs Watson aged 33, her son John aged 7, daughter Jane aged 4, and infant. Travelled from Victoria aboard the Alhambra to Port Chalmers in October 1863, originally from Scotland.[24]
South Carolina
“Whereas the Provost-Marshal of this province [Georgia], by virtue of a writ of attachment to him directed, did attach the lands, tenetments, goods, chattels, monies, debts, and books of account, of Thomas Liston and William Hope, surviving copartners of Middleton, Liston, and Hope, of South-Carolina, merchants, who are absent from and without the limits of the said province, in the hands and possession of Roger Kelsall, one of the copartners of Kelsall, Darling, and Munro, at the suit of Messirs. John Addison, and Robert Dodson, merchants: AND WHEREAS the said John Addison, Richard Millerson, Thomas Millerson, William Watson, John Watson, and Robert Dodson, HAVE, agreeable to the direction of the Attachment Law, filed their declaration in his Majesty’s General Court of Pleas against the said Thomas Liston and William Hope, surviving copartners of Middleton, Liston, and Hope, and have obtained the following rule, viz. Addison and others versus Liston and Hope, surviving copartners, 29th Jan. 1768. ORDERED, That the defendants do appear and plead within a year and a day, otherwise judgment. By the Court, PRESTON and PRYCE, C.G.C. NOTICE is therefore hereby given, That unless the said Thomas Liston and William Hope do appear and plead agreeable to the aforelaid rule or order, judgment will be made against them accordingly. WILLIAM YOUNG, attorney for the plaintiffs.”[25]
One member of the Watson project, under G Haplogroup - Family A, is also descended from a William Watson born around 1785 in an unknown county in South Carolina.[26] His WikiTree entry names him 'William H. Watson'.[27]
Edgefield County
Apparently this family came from Wales through England, through New York, through Virginia:[28]
- William Watson abt. 1700 – 1767.[29]
- John Watson ... William's cousin. On Little Saludy, Ninety Six District Grand Jury
list?[32]
- Martha Watson ... married Michael.
- Penelope (William's wife) ... no known documentation for it, but some say her maiden name was also Watson and that she was a sister to John Watson.
- Private[?] Richmond Watson[33]
- Abner
- Michael Julius Watson abt. 1775
- Richmond
- Willis
- Arthur
- Benjamin
- Michael Perry
- Mary Elkins
- Sealy
- Elendor
- Mary
- Archibald
- Arthur Watson on Grand Jury list.
- Ezekil Watson
- Lewis Watson on Grand Jury list.
- Lieutenant Willis Watson under Captain Michael Watson.
- Private[?] Hezekiah Watson under Captain Michael Watson.
Laurens County
"The first Watsons in Laurens County from land grants appear to have been William Watson, John Watson and Edward Watson. If related to each other the fact cannot be now established. No doubt they were connected and also with Watsons in adjoining counties."
- William Watson (possibly in South Carolina 1718 – 1804) buried in the Watson Burial Ground at Cross
Hill.[34] Commissary of Issues in the Little River District Regiment. The official 'Daughters of the American Revolution' website points out that
William's wife's maiden name has never been
proven[35] (it is listed as Poundstone on the Find A Grave Memorial entry as well as several other user-generated areas).
- Older brother born no later than 1760[36] "William Watson and his wife had another son, descendants believe, by the name of William." ... source theorises that John Watson Snr probably born no earlier than about 1773 and m. "about 1790", father of Elihu, is a son of this man. For sake of argument say marriage was about 1787 and this John Watson Snr is at № 14, 442 as the John Watson with wife and what look to be two daughters. Possibly (№ 15, 443) William Watson with wife and one under-16 boy are a brother of the John Snr, especially being listed right under 'uncle' Elijah? Were Elijah's older brothers possibly killed in the war?
- Older brother ... see the timeline under R1b1 Family A; Carolinas as these (David and John) may be the names of the older brothers.
- Elijah Watson Esq, found on the 1790 census with another over-16 male, three under-16 boys, two females in 1790 Laurens County № 15, page 443[37] ... Owned six slaves in 1810, 13 in 1820, and 23 at death in 1839; Hannah, Ret, Betsey, John, Sarah, Henry, Allen, Dilly, Mariah, Charlotte, Sophia, Burley, Pleasant, David, Tabby, Holiday, Emily, Jim, Amos, Flora, Betty, Peggy, Mark Anthony
“Deed Book L: 275 January 7, 1827. Mortgage. I William A. Ligon, in Laurens District, South Carolina in consideration of the sum of $1202.50 paid by Joseph Ligon and Daniel S. Beacham, of the same place have sold unto said Joseph Ligon and Daniel S. Beacham, two negro boys, Viz., Jesse about 16 years of age, and Joe about 14 years of age. It is understood that if the said William A. Ligon do well and truly pay the note of hand the mortgage to be of no effect. [No signature]. Wit. Allen Watson, Jr. Proved by Elijah Watson, Jr. 2 May 1827 before Elijah Watson, JQ. Recorded May 5, 1827.”[41]
A current theory is that the progenitor William Watson may be the father of R1b1 Family A's John Watson Snr, also from Laurens County.
- 1790 Laurens County № 3, 431: William Watson, wife, two under-16 sons, three slaves.
- 1790 Laurens County № 3, 431: Benjamin Watson, wife, four under-16 sons.
- 1790 Laurens County № 5, 433: Mrs _____ Watson, one over-16 man.
- 1790 Laurens County № 17, 445: John Watson, wife, four under-16 sons, another three females. Two slaves.
- 1790 Laurens County № 17, 445: Watson Allison, three under-16 boys, two females. (Several other Allisons on this page.)
- 1790 Laurens County № 17, 445: William Watson, wife, three under-16 sons, another female.
References
- ^ SurnameDB accessed 2023.03.23
- ^ Forebears accessed 2023.03.23
- ^ Watson, Scott J. (2022.12.10). The Watsons of Cranston (Part 1) accessed 2023.03.23
- ^ House of Names accessed 2023.03.10
- ^ James Watson (1763-1846) - Find a Grave Memorial
- ^ The American Revolution in South Carolina - The Little River District Regiment of Militia
- ^ Literally Wikipedia... only references on the page are to William Graves.
- ^ Joseph Greer 1st Family Hint: ctrl+f and type 'Watson'
- ^ Laurens County, South Carolina/1790 US Census | Familypedia | Fandom
- ^ A Historical Sketch by the Editors: William E. Watson (1986). Slate River Branches; accessed 2023.03.24
- ^ Earlier researched by Mrs Mary Price née Watson
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Unknown reference
- ^ Thomas Watson (1721 - 1787) - Genealogy accessed 2023.03.23
- ^ Enoch Pearson (1718 - 1780) - Genealogy accessed 2023.03.23
- ^ Bemis (1894)
- ^ South Carolina Journals 1764–67
- ^ Descendants of Alexander Watson and Elizabeth Bain provides several census records for Peterhead Watsons. Accessed 2023.03.23
- ^ Public Record Office Victoria Collection | PROV
- ^ (1768.02.17) Georgia Gazette associated with 'Cross Hill William Watson' on his FindaGrave entry.
- ^ (2016.Feb.14) Abbeville Road: The Life of William Watson
- ^ William H. Watson (abt.1785-1864) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
- ^ Immigrant Watson Family History
- ^ Chapman, John Abney (1897) History of Edgefield County: From the Earliest Settlements to 1897 : Biographical and Anecdotical, with Sketches of the Seminole War, Nullification, Secession, Reconstruction, Churches and Literature, with Rolls of All the Companies from Edgefield in the War of Secession, War with Mexico and with the Seminole Indians. Pages 146—147.
- ^ Michael Allen Watson (abt.1726-1782) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
- ^ William Watson Family History
- ^ U.S, Census Reconstructed Records U.S, Census Reconstructed Records, 1660-1820 — Document: Jury Lists, 1779, Acts #1123 [at SC Archives]; Page Number: 6; Family Number: 21 (via Ancestry.com)
- ^ Watson's of South Carolina
- ^ William Watson (1718-1804) - Find A Grave Memorial accessed 2023.03.24
- ^ Ancestor #A122666 accessed 2023.03.25
- ^ 1936 September 26 A. C. Watson Dies at Home Here. The Index Journal (Greenwood, South Carolina); accessed 2023.03.25
- ^ Elijah Watson, 1790 census
- ^ Susan Watson Cheshire (1792-1834) - Find a Grave Memorial
- ^ Elijah Watson (1765-1839) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree
- ^ Adolphus's account of Elijah
- ^ Motes, Margaret Peckham (2013). Blacks Found in the Deeds of Laurens & Newberry Counties, SC, 1785 to 1827 Page 108.