I've been looking for the father of John Decatur Watson for 40 years, apparently in all the wrong places. I found information recently that he was from Illinois rather than Virginia --probably left VA to IL, then Independence Co AR. I've found a Robert Watson with a child of the right age to be John Decatur (at age 9) in the 1830 census for Franklin County, IL. Robert's wife was between 20 and 30, and they had three daughters: Two under 5 years of age, and 1 between 5 and 10. On down the road "a piece" there was one Thomas H. Watson, between 20 and 30 years of age, with one male between 15 and 20, and another between 10 and 15. No wife, no females listed at all. I got the impression that these were three brothers, probably related to Robert, since they weren't too far away from each other, at least not as they are listed in the 1830 census. Over in Pope County IL I found George Watson, between 50 & 60 years of age, his wife the same, with one child under age 5, 2 between 5 and 10, one between 10 and 15, and one between 15 and 20. Anyone have any Watson connections to Franklin County/Pope Co Illinois Watsons between 1820-1850? Anything in your files about Robert Watson or John Decatur Watson? :-) Don Watson