WATSON FAMILY REUNION John Watson I: 1752-1823 2002 - NEWSLETTER REUNION 2002 - The John Watson I Reunion with the Caran Brannon descendants will be held July 13, 2002 in Greenville SC. Place - Sears Shelter @ McPherson Park, 100 E. Park Ave., Greenville SC This is the same place the John Watson I Reunion was held in the 40's & 50's! Plenty of free parking, craft store, and play ground for the kids. Time - 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 10:00 - Meeting 12:00 - Lunch Buffet catered by Henry's Smokehouse Hotel - Quality Inn, Orchard Park Dr., Greenville SC, 1-800-525-8250 or 864-297-9000 ask for the John Watson Reunion Price for two double beds - $50.00 Reservations need to be made by June 28th !!!! REUNION 2001 - The John Watson I Family Association met from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Saturday, July 14th at the Sears Shelter @ McPherson Park, 100 E. Park Ave., Greenville, SC. 59 cousins of all ages attended the 2001 reunion , with 7 states represented, 1-VA, 2 - TN, 38 - SC, 2 - OK, 4 - NC, 10 - GA, 2 - FL. Lunch was catered by Henry's Smokehouse with all the fixins'. Jane Chandler and Charlie Watson provided the desserts. Charles Watson presided over our meeting. He shared valuable information about John Broadus Watson, the Lynn Walker cemetery, John Watson II cemetery and Rockingham Castle. Charles provided us with printouts and had two large boards with pictures and information. Charles talked about two books that Jane Morlan had given him on the WATSON family in England at Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. The books were ordered thru Barnes and Noble, the website is Barnes and Noble.com One of Charles's books is called "The guidebook and description of Rockingham Castle the Ancestral Home of the Watson's. John Broadus Watson - John Broadus Watson was born January 09, 1878 and died 1958. He married (1) Mary Amelia Ickes October 01, 1904 He married (2) Rosalie Rayner January 1921. John Broadus Watson was born at Travelers Rest, SC, but the family moved to Greenville in order for the children to have access to better schools. He earned the M.A. degree from Furman University in 1879 and PHD degree from Chicago University in 1903. He taught Psychology in Chicago University, and later was appointed professor and Director of the Psychological Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. Because of his revolutionary thoughts and experiments he became known as the "father of the school of behaviorism April 5-6 1979, the Department of Psychology of Furman University, Greenville SC his alma mater, held a symposium in his honor with lectures by three outstanding psychologist: Drs. B. F. Skinner, James V. McConnell, and Fred S. Keller. They discussed the pros and cons of his teaching and life. His first wife was Mary Ickes. McConnell said of this, "she was a cuff higher than Watson". The marriage ended in divorce, and he married Rosalie Raynor also from a prominent family. Furman honored him with the LL-D. in 1919. The Psychology Laboratory at Furman was dedicated to him April 5, 1979. He was included as a charter member of the Furman Hall of Fame. He, perhaps, the best known of all the Watson clan - whether we agree with him or not. Lynn Walker Home and Walker/Watson Cemetery - Lynn Walker b: March 09, 1778 d: September 03, 1859 married Susan West b: October 11, 1773 d: January 06, 1841 and who's sister Mary Polly Walker b: May 22, 1783 d: January 07, 1862 married James Watson b: May 05, 1785 d: October 30, 1865 the son of John Watson I b. 1752 d. April 21 1823. After the reunion Charles led a group to Stoneledge Plantation Apartments, where Lynn Walker's house built in 1802 is used for their offices. A tour of the house was given and ghost stories were exchanged with employees there. Another group went with Mary Jane Brock to Spartanburg County. This group toured a good part of the nearly 3000 acres of land owned by, William H. Brannon. They then went to the cemetery where both William H, Scarberry, William M and Judith Brannon are buried, then were able to visit another cemetery where Presley Ballenger Brannon is buried. $200.00 was voted out of treasury to give to Charles Watson for restoring the John Watson II cemetery and the Walker/Watson cemetery. Charles had recently visited the John Watson II cemetery off of Old Easley Bridge road where the Western County Sewer authority has a on-going project and has sectioned off a ¼ of an acre for the cemetery. We discussed that maybe after the 2002 reunion we could caravan out to see the cemetery, at the present it is too rugged for cars to get to, we would need a four-wheel drive vehicle. We had a lively discussion about last years reunion and what fun we had exploring cemeteries in Spartanburg, viewing the old Seay home, visiting the Old Brannon Mill site. Charles recognized Charlie Watson and Jane Chandler for their efforts that day reading tombstones and Charlie was given a bottle of Mountain Dew. Mary Jane Brock was recognized for organizing and taking us on our Spartanburg adventure. A group picture was taken on the front steps of the Sears Shelter, we are a handsome bunch! Anyone wanting a copy please contact Jane Chandler, reunion chairperson. Copies will be available at this years reunion. In July 1950 there was also a picture taken at the Sears Shelter and it is in the John Watson I book. The following were elected officers - President - Secretary - Charles Watson Anne Jones 17 N. Harbor Dr. 4878 Old Kinneys School Road Greenville SC 29611 Springfield, TN 37172 Treasurer - Reunion Chairperson - June Watson Jane Chandler 100 Gosnell Dr. PO Box 81 Travelers Rest, SC 29690 Simpsonville, SC 29681 864-963-8117 NEW GENEALOGY BOOK - Betty C. King, A Brannon Cousin has completed her book on the Brannon line. The book is 367 pages including 11 pages of photographs. It sells for $45.00 with $3.00 S&H. This is an excellent, well put together book, there are only 10 copies left. Betty will be attending this years reunion and will have copies available for purchase or you may contact Betty. A copy of her book is in the Greenville and Spartanburg libraries plus several branches. Betty Collier King 2 Flamingo Dr. Greenville, SC 29609 Home phone 864-244-1956 E-Mail - betck@email.com WESTERN REUNION - 2002 Watson/Watson Reunion The reunion including 2 Watson lines from: Martha Ann Mayfield m. Reuben Elzer Watson Descendants of John Watson I & Mary Brannon & Descendants of Pierce Butler Watson & Fatima Mandy "Timie" Hudson. (Many are fortunate to be from both Watson lines.) The reunion will be held on October 19, 2002 at the Glendale Civic Center, N 57th Drive & Glenn Drive, Glendale, AZ., between the hours of 11am-6pm. The catered luncheon will be served at 1pm and following will be a Meeting, Family Stories, Group Pictures, Games, Prizes and Entertainment. Sunday the 20th, all those interested will meet at 9am at the Phoenix Cemetery, 11am at the Liberty Cemetery and 1pm at the O'Neal's Open House where 2 computers will be showing Slide Shows of Watson Families. Anyone wishing their pictures in the show, email them to Nancy O'Neal (below). Western Hotel/Inn block rates can be reserved just 2 blocks from the Civic Center. If interested, email Nancy. Contact for information (we will send you a conformation letter of the reunion): Nancy Watson-O'Neal 6607 N 62nd Avenue Glendale, AZ. 85301 (623) 847-3451 Nancyann1230@aol.com -or- Troy Watson Jr., twatsonjr@juno.com -or- C.J. Dees, CJHeart1@aol.com New Additions to our "Clan" - Born Jacob Larkin Beasley November 19, 2001 Christopher Brett Knight, Jr. August 30, 2001 Elody Watson August 29, 2001 Hailey Nicole Sedgwick January 18, 2001 Our Sympathies to the Families of - Born Death Thomas Wilton (Woody) Watson December 31, 1919 April 30, 2002 Lillie Mae Watson Compton May 19, 1909 April 25, 2002 Arthur Seabrook Chandler July 25, 1920 April 10, 2002 Mary Sarah Beam December 10, 1911 April 05, 2002 Katie Virginia Green Byars May 11, 1915 March 30, 2002 Frontis Keys Chandler September 25, 1920 March 29, 2002 Mary Verta McNeely Elrod May 17, 1922 March 14, 2002 Gladys Corinne Pearson Howell May 5, 1914 March 08, 2002 Stanley H. Brannon July 20, 1916 February 10, 2002 Maude Lee King Watson April 19, 1916 February 04, 2002 Kenneth Joe Sanders 1937 January 21, 2002 Harriett Etta Reeder Granger October 01, 1922 January 13, 2002 Thomas Martyn Shockley June 12, 1917 January 06, 2002 Clarence Herbert Greene April 05, 1930 December 21, 2001 James (Jack) Woodrow Henderson, Sr. December 18, 1918 December 16, 2001 Gloria Ann Watson August 29, 1935 November 26, 2001 Kikue (Emiko) Kay Sekine Watson November 06, 1931 October 27, 2001 Elmer Murial Sturdivant February 23, 1916 October 26, 2001 Luchia Adalaide Hester Tanner September 07, 1920 October 21, 2001 Frank Godfrey Honea, Jr. September 23, 1927 October 20, 2001 Hortense Greene Vaughan February 10, 1915 October 14, 2001 Hettie Octavis Henson Duncan December 17, 1902 September 24, 2001 Walter Alwin Chandler, Jr., M.D. January 10, 1916 September 02, 2001 Maysie Idaline Kemp Moore August 23, 1910 August 23, 2001 Roy Mathis Roop December 18, 1912 August 22, 2001 John Willis (Shorty) Holcombe, Sr. May 08, 1919 August 17, 2001 Granville Matthias Watson May 31, 1923 August 11, 2001 Daniel (Dan) Howard Bagwell April 03, 1926 July 28, 2001 Vesta Lydie Cooper Donnahoo March 25, 1916 July 12, 2001 Agnes Marietta Walters McDaniel June 06, 1911 July 03, 2001 Emmett Smyer Brannon July 04, 1909 June 26, 2001 James Ralph Vaughn October 27, 1926 May 31, 2001 Fannie Laura Green Mahaffey February 26, 1914 May 28, 2001 John Forrester Smith August 03, 1918 May 20, 2001 Nina Mildred (Millie) Adair Shockley April 23, 1917 May 07, 2001 Harold Curtis (Curt) Suber December 02, 1919 May 01, 2001 Lois Zeliz Bamburg Osborn 1916 May 01, 2001 James Edward Sullivan July 15, 1927 April 23, 2001 Jane Crittenden Woodside Roe July 18, 1914 March 16, 2001 Robert Scott Garrison May 03, 1914 March 12, 2001 James (Joe) Edwin Watson April 20, 1920 March 04, 2001 Evie Ola Stokes Lynn August 17, 1908 February 13, 2001 Correll Ezell Camp September 28, 1917 January 08, 2001 Thoughts from "Cousin" Jane - I would like to say how much I enjoy doing the newsletter and making the reunion plans. Yes, both tasks take a lot of time, but to me it is worth it. Family means so much and after September 11 families mean even more. Getting together even if it is just once a year is so wonderful. We always seem to run out of time during the reunion so this year we have a whole extra hour for socializing! Everyone always asks me what they can do to help, well this year I am taking ya'll up on your offer. If I could have volunteers to stay after 2:00 and help with the clean up it would be greatly appreciated, another function is at 2:30 and we have to get everything put back and cleaned. Also, if anyone could bring a dessert this year that would help tremendously. My brother Charlie and I enjoyed doing the desserts last year but we could use your help. The recipes for the desserts we had last year will be available at the reunion. Thanks in advance to those of you who will help with these two things! The John WATSON I/Mary BRANNON family site thru www.myfamily.com has been utilized by approximately 60 cousins since it started two years ago. About 25 cousins check the site on a regular basis. Anyone that would like to access the site that doesn't now please send me your e-mail address and you will receive an invitation. The site is secure and only individuals that have been invited can access it and are given private passwords. You are missing out on plenty of pictures, stories and family news that have been posted. I have finally finished typing in the entire John Watson I book into my database. With my added research and the updates that many of you that have sent me there are over 13,000 descendants of John and Mary in my file. This file can be accessed via the web-site. Always looking for more data so please send it in! There are many many more "cousins" out there we don't have a record of. Many of you ask when the reunion will be held next year, if we continue to hold the reunion the second Saturday in July each year. Future dates are as follows - July 12, 2003, July 10, 2004, July 9, 2005, July 8, 2006, and July 14, 2007. So mark your calendars! With the price of postage going up some of you with e-mails will be receiving this newsletter by e-mail. Also, there are a lot of individuals on our mailing list that we haven't heard a peep from in years, so this year I am asking that each one that receives a newsletter to please let us hear something back from you. We have 235 addresses on our mailing list and since I started doing the newsletter in 1997 I have only heard from approximately 50 of these. So, please, write, e-mail, or phone and let us hear from you! We don't want to drop anyone from the mailing list that wants to continue to receive the newsletter. Suggestions or ideas for our reunion are always appreciated. Looking forward to seeing all ya'll at the reunion, and hearing from the rest! Your "Cousin" Jane WATSON FAMILY REUNION 2002 WHEN: Saturday, July 13, 2002 from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. WHERE: Sears Shelter @ McPherson Park, 100 E. Park Ave., Greenville SC COST: $12.00 per person Please send your reservations by June 29, 2002 to: Jane Chandler Phone # (864) 963-8117 PO Box 81 E-Mail - GrammyJane@aol.com Simpsonville SC 29681 RESERVATION FORM NAME ____________________________________________________________ ADDRESS _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ E-MAIL ADDRESS __________________________________________________ I want to continue to receive the newsletter _________ YES _________ NO I plan to attend the reunion this year ____________ YES _____________ NO Please reserve ___________ place (s) for ______________________________ Check is enclosed _______________ or pay at the door ________________ I can help with the cleanup after the reunion _________ YES _________ NO (note: we realize not everyone can do this) I can bring a dessert ____________________ YES ____________________ NO (note: we realize not everyone can do this) Return this portion to the address listed above. Please include any changes of address, births, deaths, marriages or if you know of someone who would like to be added to our mailing list. Share this information with a relative and bring them with you. !!!!!!!!!!!