John R. Watson (c1818) and Sarah Ford of Marion and Dillon Co, SC

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I (Marty Grant) am not related to John R. Watson as far as I know.

John R. Watson was born ca 1817/18 (per 1850 census) in Marion District, SC (per 1850 census). I don't know what his "R" middle initial stands for, though I have "Randolph", but I don't know from what source. The section of Marion District/County where this Watson family resided is now Dillon County.

John R. Watson is a proven son of Scace Book Watson (1755/74) as proven by probate records, and was also mentioned as such by Sellers.

John seems to have been home with his parents for the 1820 census, aged "under 10" (born ca 1810/20).

In 1830, John seems to have still been home with his mother. aged 10-14 (born ca 1815/20).

John R. Watson married Sarah Ford before 1840 in Marion District. She is a daughter of William Ford and Beady Thompson. Her maiden name was given by Sellers.

John R. Watson was listed on the 1840 census in Marion District. He was not listed near any other Watsons. He was next door to his father-in-law William Ford Sr.

1840 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1840 Marion Dist, SC pg 136 John Watson 0000100000000-0000100000000
Analysis:
1 Male(s) 20-29        (1810-1820)	John R. WATSON (1819) s/o Scacebook
1 Female(s) 20-29      (1810-1820)	Sarah FORD Watson (1816/17) wife

John and family were listed on the 1850 census in Marion District. They were not near any other Watsons, but close to several Fords, probably all related to his wife.

1850 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1850 MARION DIST, SC Page 53B   House/Family #  797/ 801 --  Twp

WATSON JOHN R         32 M W FARMER                2000 MARION               1817/1818
WATSON SARAH          33 F W                            MARION               1816/1817
WATSON JAMES           9 M W                            MARION               1840/1841
WATSON MARTHA          8 F W                            MARION               1841/1842
WATSON ANN             7 F W                            MARION               1842/1843
WATSON WILLIAM         3 M W                            MARION               1846/1847
WATSON CALVIN          1 M W                            MARION               1848/1849

John R. Watson died in March 1855 in Marion District. In his probate records, it shows that on 8 Mar 1855 William Ford Sr applied for letters of administration. No heirs were named in this record. (Probate Roll # 1147, published in "Probate Records, Marion County, South Carolina Volume Two", by Lucille Utley, Danny Smith, 1985).

In an equity record (dated ca 1857) pertaining to debts showed the heirs of John R. Watson as widow Sally and children James, Martha, Virginia Ann, William F., Calvin H., Calhoun, Francis and Amanda Watson. (Roll # 303, "Marion County South Carolina Extracts from Equity Rolls", by Lucille Utley)

In another Probate record dated 2 Jul 1860, Sarah Watson (widow) stated that John R. Watson died in March 1855, and that her father William Ford was administrator, but that he died in 1859. No other heirs of John R. Watson were named in this record. (Probate Roll # 1978, published in "Probate Records, Marion County, South Carolina Volume III", by Lucille Utley, Danny Smith, 1985).

In 1860, Sarah and family were still in Marion District. Sarah Leonard (c1783) was living with them. I don't know who she is.

1860 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1860 MARION DIST, SC Page 99B   House/Family # 1550/1533 -- MARION Twp

WATSON SALLIE         42 F W FARMER            7000  5500 SC                   1817/1818
WATSON JAMES          19 M W OVERSEER                     SC                   1840/1841
WATSON MARTHA         18 F W                              SC                   1841/1842
WATSON VIRGINIA A     16 F W                              SC                   1843/1844
WATSON WILLIAM F      13 M W                              SC                   1846/1847
WATSON CALVIN H       11 M W                              SC                   1848/1849
WATSON JOHN C          8 M W                              SC                   1851/1852
WATSON SARAH F         6 F W                              SC                   1853/1854
WATSON BEEDY A         4 F W                              SC                   1855/1856
LEONARD SARAH         77 F W                         3000 VA                   1782/1783

"Sarah Watson" was named on 5 Dec 1863 in the Equity records of her father William Ford. (Roll # 328, "Marion County South Carolina Extracts from Equity Rolls", by Lucille Utley)

Sarah and family were listed on the 1870 census in Marion County, in Hillsboro Township. 

1870 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1870 MARION CO, SC Page 70B   House/Family #   46/  47--HILLSBORO Twp

WATSON SARAH          51 F W FARMER                1800   500 SC              1818/1819
WATSON VIRGINIA       25 F W AT HOME                          SC              1844/1845
WATSON WILLIAM        22 M W FARM LABOR                       SC              1847/1848
WATSON CALVIN         20 M W FARM LABOR                       SC              1849/1850
WATSON JOHN           19 M W FARM LABOR                       SC              1850/1851
WATSON SARAH          17 M W FARM LABOR                       SC              1852/1853
WATSON BEADY          15 F W AT HOME                          SC              1854/1855

Sarah and family were listed on the 1880 census in Marion County, in Hillsboro Township.

1880 census abstract: (Explanation of this census)
(Note: The dates at the end of each line are not part of the original census, but are approximate birth years based on age)
1880 MARION CO, SC Page 104B  House/Family #    89/  92 -- HILLSBORO Twp

WATSON SARAH         W F  62    W                      SC  SC  SC  1817/1818
WATSON V A           W F  35 D  S                      SC  SC  SC  1844/1845
WATSON B A           W F  24 D  S                      SC  SC  SC  1855/1856

I have no data on Sarah after this.


Children

John R. Watson and Sarah Ford had 8 children as proven by the census and by Equity records.


Researcher List

Persons researching this family (click here for data on how to get on or off of this list):


Register Report


1. John R1 Watson , born 1817/18 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC); died Mar 1855 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC), son of Scacebook Watson  and Sarah Cross .  He married bef 1840 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC) Sarah Ford , born 1816/17 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC); died aft 1880 in Marion Co, SC (now Dillon Co, SC), daughter of William Ford Major  and Beady Thompson .

 

      Children of John R Watson and Sarah Ford were as follows:

      2          i      James2 Watson , born 1840/41 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      3          ii      Martha2 Watson , born 1841/42 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      4          iii      Virginia Ann2 Watson , born 1842/43 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      5          iv      William F2 Watson , born 1846/47 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      6          v      Calvin H2 Watson , born 1848/49 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      7          vi      John Calhoun2 Watson , born 1851/52 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      8          vii      Sarah Frances2 Watson , born 1853/54 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).

      9          viii      Beady Amanda2 Watson , born 1855/56 in Marion Dist, SC (now Dillon Co, SC).


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