William James Watson and Anne (---) of Bladen Co., NC

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        26 Oct 2008 - Created by Marty Grant.

I dont know where he was born, nor who his parents were.

William James Watson married Anne (---) at some point. She was born ca 1755/74 per her age on the 1800 census. Im not 100% certain that Anne is William James wife, but it seems likely. I havent found a record that proves they were a couple, but it fits pretty well. She appeared in 1800 in Bladen and he died just before that. He had slaves in 1790, she had slaves in 1800. Not entirely conclusive, but it seems likely that they were husband and wife.

William James Watson is listed on the 1784 Bladen Co., NC Tax list in Capt. Irvins District. He is taxed for one white (himself) and two blacks. He is the only Watson in that district, but not the only Watson in Bladen at the time. There is also a William Watson on the tax list in Capt Burns District. He has one white and no blacks. That could be him also or perhaps a different person.

On 16 Nov 1785 Wm James Watson and James Ervin witnessed a deed from Joseph Singletary to William Kirkpatrick. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 1, page 168)

On 13 Feb 1786 William James Watson deeded 100 acres and 3320 acres to James Bradley. The 100 acres was described as the plantation now occupied by Watson. The land was sold for ₤100. Witnesses were John Patrick and Jared Irvin. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 7, page 131).

On 1 Sep 1786 Aaron Plummer deeded land to William James Watson for ₤500, being 640 acres on north east side of North West River, above Mount Arrat on both sides of Harrisons Creek. 160 acres was excepted as it was already deeded. Witnesses were William Wilkison and John Blake. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 1, page 281)

On 1 Oct 1786 John Harrison, planter, deeded land to William James Watson, planter for ₤334, 10 shillings. It was 400 acres on Cedar Swamp, north east side of Drowning Creek and south west of North West River joining Thomas Bryan, deceased. Witnesses were Bartram Robeson and Street Alford. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 1, page 313)

On 5 May 1787 William James Watson deeded land to James Bradly and John Cowan for ₤500 being 100 acres on both sides of Browns Creek joining Robert McKonkey and Thomas Bryan. Witnesses were Richard Q. Watson and L. Berry Stokes. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 1, page 376)

I dont know how William James Watson and Richard Q. Watson are related, but the above deed suggests they are brothers or something close.

William J. Watson is listed on the 1788 Bladen Co., NC Tax list in the 2^nd District. He has 1,680 acres of land, one white and four blacks.

He is listed twice on the 1789 Bladen Co., NC Tax list. He is listed in Capt Watsons District (he was the Captain in question). He is listed as William Watson, 2,780 acres, one white, four blacks, one lot in Elizabethtown, one lot in Fayetteville and two lots in Lumberton.  He is listed again in Capt Watsons District, 2^nd District, as William James Watson with everything the same except the lot in Fayetteville isnt listed this time. I cant imagine why he is listed twice, unless one was a corrected entry.

He was listed on the 1790 census in Bladen Co., NC, the only Watson in the county at the time. He was also the very first person listed on the census for Bladen which may indicate he was the census taker.

1790 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1790 Bladen Co., NC pg 186 William J. Watson 1-0-3-0-19

Analysis:

1 Male(s) 16 and Up (before 1774)     William J. Watson (bef 1774)

3 Females (no ages) (before 1790)     1-Anne (---) Watson (1755/74) 

                                      2-Daughter? (bef 1790)

                                      3-Daughter? (bef 1790)

On 2 Feb 1790 William James Watson, Coroner, sold Benjamin Willis a Negro boy named Jim for ₤90, being the property of Benjamin Willis, deceased. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 1, page 575)

I didnt find the original deed, but on 28 Oct 1790, William James Watson sold 280 acres to Needham Gause Jr, being part of the same land he purchased from Aaron Plummer on 1 Sep 1786. This was recorded in a deed dated 2 Mar 1822 between William Spears and Jeremiah Norman for the same land. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 11 page 65)

On 7 Jul 1791 William James Watson and William Bryan were named Executors of the Will of Richard Collum, Planter. (Bladen County North Carolina Abstracts of Wills 1734-1900, Bladen County Bicentennial Commission, 1975, abstracted by Wanda S. Campbell.)

On 19 Jun 1793 William J. Watson and James Moorehead were named Executors of the Will of Abram Gray. (Bladen County North Carolina Abstracts of Wills 1734-1900, Bladen County Bicentennial Commission, 1975, abstracted by Wanda S. Campbell.)

On 2 May 1796 Wm Jas Watson deeded 200 acres to Ithamon Singletary for ₤40. The land was on the north side of Boot Swamp adjoining David Russ. Witnesses were James Bryan and William Cheshire. (Bladen Co., NC Deed Book 7 page 275).

William James Watson died before 1800, presumably in Bladen County, though I dont know exactly when, but sometime between 1796 and 1800.

There is an undated nuncupative Will (spoken, not written) for a William Watson. The only legatee named was John Lloyd son of David Lloyd. Witnesses were John Simpson and David Russ. The clerk at the time was William J. Cowan. I cant pinpoint the date of this, but it seems too late to be the Will of William James Watson considering that William J. Cowan was born in the 1780s and probably wasnt clerk of court until the 1820s at least. He was the census taker for Bladen in 1830 for example. This probably isnt William James Watson for he had proven heirs who werent mentioned in this Will.

An 1814 deed between Richard L. Watson mentions that there was a division of the estate, but I havent found a record of that yet.

Anne was listed on the 1800 census in Bladen in Capt. Ashfords District. There is also a Levin Watson and William Watson in Bladen that year, but in a different district. Keep in mind that I dont know for certain that Anne is the widow of William James Watson, but it seems probable.

1800 census analysis (based on available evidence): (Explanation of this census)

1800 Bladen Co., NC pg 32 Anne Watson 21000-00010-0-9

Analysis:

1 Male(s) 10-15        (1784-1790)    Son? (1784/90)

2 Males 0-9            (1790-1800)    1-Son? (1790/1800)

                                      2-Richard L. Watson (1790/94) son

1 Female 26-44         (1755-1774)    Anne (---) Watson (1755/1774)

9 Slaves

Anne Watson was not listed on the 1810 census in Bladen. She may have died there or moved away, or perhaps she was still there but living with one of her children and therefore not listed by name.

Ann Watson and Elisha Morse witnessed the Will of Elizabeth Haynes (no date).  Mrs. Haynes named her daughters Mary, Elizabeth and Ann, and son John Haynes, who where children by her last husband Mr. Haynes. She named her brothers Thomas and Jonathan Smith as Executors. I dont know if this Ann Watson is the same person or not since the date isnt given, but it probably is her.

There was an Ann (---) Watson in neighboring Brunswick Co., NC in 1810 and 1820, but I think that is a different person, but perhaps not.

1.      Unknown Daughter (bef 1790)

2.      Unknown Daughter (bef 1790)

3.      Unknown Son (1784/90)

4.      Richard L. Watson (1790/94)

5.      Unknown Son (1790/1800)

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• Marty Grant, relationship unknown, but interested.

First Generation

1.     William James Watson was born before 1768. He died in 1796/1800 in Bladen Co, NC.

William married Anne before 1794 in Bladen Co, NC. Anne was born in 1755/1774. She died after 1800 in Bladen Co, NC.

They had the following children.

                2    M         i.    Richard L Watson was born in 1784/1794 in Bladen Co, NC. He died after 3 Feb 1814 in Columbus Co, NC.