Queet, I have some Watson information that I will post to the NCMECKLE site (though it is almost all York County, SC) because it relates to Watsons that Mecklenburgers may have a connection with. First, a column I did for my weekly "Nearby History" column in the York Observer. Second, Watson notes from my personal files. I hope you find something helpful in the combination of the two. COL. SAMUEL WATSON OF THE REVOLUTION by Louise Pettus One of the region�s Revolutionary War heroes was Col. Samuel Watson who was born in Ireland in 1731. Watson�s family emigrated to York County, Pennsylvania where they prospered. In 1871 Watson�s grandson wrote that in Pennsylvania the Watson�s had a �large brick dwelling house finished from cellar to garret.� Watson was probably part of the great migration southward of Pennsylvanians and Virginians at the time of Indian attacks on the frontiersman during the French and Indian Wars which ended in 1763. It is known that Watson was first in Mecklenburg County, N. C. where he married Elizabeth McDowell (1738-1817). On the 6th of April 1765 Watson registered two plots of land totalling 760 acres , �whereon Watson now liveth,� in �Mecklenburg on Rockey Allisons Creek . . .� At this time much of present-day York County was claimed by Mecklenburg County, N. C. Watson�s house, like his Pennsylvania home, was constructed of brick. The house was located about half way between the town of York and the Catawba River on Hwy 49. Whatever the date of his arrival, the Allison Creek land grant places Watson in the heart of the Bethel congregation, which was located in the northeastern area of the part of York County west of the Catawba. The Bethel congregation covered 10 miles in every direction. As a Bethel elder, Watson became an influential member of the church as well as highly respected in the community. The Lyman Draper papers at the University of Wisconsin describe Watson as a man 5 ft, 5 in. in height, of compact build, and genial in disposition. However, like most Scotch-Irishmen of his time, he had no love for the English. When talk of rebellion became general, Watson quickly rose to the cause. Watson was elected to the South Carolina Provinicial Congress of 1775-1776, one of 46 delegates from the back country. In February of 1776 Watson participated in the framing of South Carolina�s first written constitution. The British, naturally, saw this constitution as defiance of their sovereignty. Watson volunteered his services to the South Carolina Regulars. It was not long before the S. C. troops were made a part of the Continental Army of the newly-formed Continental Congress. By 1778 Watson was a lieut-colonel in Col. Thomas Neel�s New Acquisition District Regiment of Horsemen, a part of Thomson�s Regiment of Rangers. He went with Neel in what is called the Charleston Expedition in the summer of 1779. Neel was killed at Stono Ferry on June 20, 1779 and Watson took his place. In June 1780 nearby Hill�s Ironworks were burned by the British. The terrified workers fled to Watson�s plantation which quickly became a center of resistance. A commissary was set up there to issue supplies to any Whigs who would carry a musket against the British. At the Battle of Hanging Rock in lower Lancaster County, a musket ball hit Watson�s sword, breaking his ribs and knocking him off his horse. The grandson wrote Draper that the family kept the prized sword with the ball half buried in its metal along with Watson�s giant musket which �kicked mightily�. Watson was also at the skirmish at Williamson Plantation near Brattonsville. The encounter is also called the �Battle of Huck�s Defeat� in some of the literature. Other battles in which Watson participated were Rocky Mount, Sumter�s Defeat and Biggin Church. Samuel Watson, Jr., born 12 August 1754 in York Co., PA, also fought in the Revolution. He served as a lieutenant under Col. Thomas Neel and Andrew Pickens. He was with his father at Williamson Plantation and Rocky Mount. Some time after the war he moved to Missouri. (There was another Samuel Watson who participated in the Revolution who was apparently no kin to the subject of this article. This Samuel Watson was born in Virginia in 1740 and served as a lieutenant in the Rangers under Capt. Ezekiel Polk. He was at the battle of Kings Mountain and Blackstock�s and was killed in the battle of Cowpens.) In his old age Samuel Watson, Sr. was paralyzed. He died November 25, 1810 at the age of 79 and is buried in Bethel Cemetery in York County. The Catawba Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution erected a marker in honor of Watson at the site of his Allison Creek home. Watson - William Watson, deceased; will written 23 Aug 1809, probated 6 April 1812 (Case 64, File 2985, York County Estate Records). Legatees: wife Mary; son James, grandson Thomas Watson; sons David, Robert. Witnesses: Will Pettus, Samuel Smith, Archibald Steele. Appraisers: William Dobie (Doby), Henry Tally, Andrew Heron, Richard Ticer. - Jean Watson Estate, Robert Hemphill & Aaron Watson, admin. York Co. Estate Book B, p. 594, Jan 2, 1809. - William Watson, deceased, inventory of estate in hands of Samuel Watson, May 1793. (York Co. Estates Book ABC, p. 82) - �George W. Pettus & others vs. Robert Watson, Court of Common Pleas, Series 6, #102. Synopsis: Around 1820 George Pettus largely in debt got $1100 in notes from �intimate friend� Robert Watson and put up 3 slaves as security. The slaves ran off to Watson; George paid but Watson kept the slaves. Stephen Pettus swore that William Watson, defendant, was outside the state. David Patton said William Watson was in Tenn. Robert Watson�s wife Elizabeth and sons Joseph, William and daughter Mary who married George Cathey and Louisa married Theodorick Webb. [Mary Cathey Watson and George Cathey were the parents of Robert A., William H., John H., James J. and Sarah Ann Cathey, the first four being children of Mary Cathey, the latter the child of George Cathey before his marriage.] - James Watson. Revolutionary soldier; born and lived in Bethel Community, York County. Moved to Andrew Pickens� area in Anderson Co, SC. Buried at Pickens Chapel Baptist (formerly Presbyterian) church cemetery located on Co. Road S4-485 off SC Hwy 88, Anderson Co. A son of Samuel Watson. James Watson married the daughter of Capt. James Anderson. York County Watsons as heads of households in 1810 census: John Watson Esq; David Watson; Hugh Watson; Robert Watson; Samuel Watson; James Watson; William Watson; Aron Watson; Katherine Watson; John Watson (CF); Violet Watson, David Watson, Elias Watson, William Watson, Sr., William Watson, Robert Watson. - Robert Watson, 1830, had land, formerly that of John F. Kendrick, on west side of Catawba River adj. William E. White and near James Perry and William Ticer. Robert Watson died Nov. 1832 -Robert Watson estate in York Co. Estate Book O, p. 254. Joseph J. Watson, exor, in 1833: Sale bill, $4227.51 1/4. Cash at intestate�s death, $27.50. - William T. Watson, Sarah A. Watson, minors under 21 placed under guardianship of William Watson, York Co. Probate Judge Case #35, File 1500. Year: 1856. William T. Watson and Sarah A. Watson, the children of Elizabeth Kenmore, Rock Hill. -Mrs. Mary M. Watson, 83, died at Ft. Mill, 1918. Born Gaston Co, NC 12 May 1835. Married Dec 1858 to John L. Watson & resided in Ebenezer a number of years. Buried in Ebenezer. Children: Anna Watson, Mrs. David Trainer, Dr. S. P. Watson, J. Lyken Watson, all of N. Y. and W. A. Watson, Charlotte, NC. -Thomas Watson m. Miss Patsey Patterson, 3 Jan 1824. (Yorkville �Pioneer�, 17 Jan 1824) 1870 Fort Mill Census: #311. J. J. Watson, 57, $4,000 real estate, $1700 personal est.; James, 19. William McKee Bigger (May 14, 1797-ca 1840) m. Mary Watson. William McKee was the son of James McKee (1761-May 14, 1800) and Edith Wilson (d. Jan 28, 1833). William McKee�s brothers and sisters: Moses, b. Jan 14, 1787 in NC; Matthew, Jan 28, 1789, d. June 30, 1827 who m. Erixeny Barnett (d. Dec 15, 1826, Matthew drowned in Catawba River; Mary Ann , b. Nov 27, 1790, m. William Neagle; Elizabeth, b. Nov 25, 1793, m. Andrew Patterson; and James, b. Dec 1, 1794. ---------- >From: [email protected] >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [NCMECKLE] Steele Creek Church/Bethel Church >Date: Sat, Feb 5, 2000, 8:52 AM > >Thought this might be of intererest to someone who has >Rev S. L. Watson in >ther line. It comes from a newpaper clipping written by >Rev R A Webb at the >death of Rev >Watson.(this would be 1882) >The Rev. S L Watson died this morning, November 13, at >his residence, in York >County ,SC. He lacked two months of being 85 years of >age, had been preacher >fifty six years: and forty two of those he had spent as >pastor of Bethel >church, Bethel >Presbytery. >Mr Watson was born Feb 5, 1798 at Bethel, SC. He pursued >his literary course >at South Carolina College, graduating in 1820. His >theological course was at >Princeton Seminary, where he graduated in 1823. His early >labors were those >of a domestic missionary in what was then the "far south >west", namely >Alabama.In 1827 he began his labors at Steel Creek >Church, Nc as stated >supply. In 1828, he was ordained as an evangelist by the >Presbytery of SC and >in 1829 he was installed as pastor of that church. He >labored there until >1840 when he was called to the county of his nativity >where he spent his long >and useful pastorate of forty two years. A noble record >is his. >If anyone has additional info on Rev Watson please let me >know-I'd like to >know how >(or if )he ties into our line. This article was among >papers saved by a >grgrgrandmother.