My brick wall is John T. Watson, b abt 1806 in KY, according to the only census on which I can find him, 1860 Bastrop Co. TX. On 06 Sep 1838 he applied for grant of 1280 acres (as married man) Red River Co. TX, with Coleman Watson as a witness. Coleman is a son of Evan Thomas Watson but apparently Evan's son John died before my John T. On 08 Sep 1841 John T. was issued a final land grant in Bowie Co., TX & sold it soon after to W. W. WOOTON. He appears on the 1845 tax list of Sevier Co. AR but I cannot locate him in 1850. 1860 Bastrop Co. TX census, 634-590, p281B, prec 10, Bastrop P.O.: John T. Watson, 54, Farmer, $500, $1530, KY Elizabeth K. Watson 18, AR [m Wm. F. Yates, Bastrop Co. 15 Jul 1869] [NOTE: "18" might just as easily read "28"] Hulda A. Watson 15, AR [Angeline Watson m Levi Madison BARNARD 15 Jul 1869 - same day as Elizabeth m Wm F. YATES] W. H. Watson, 20 TX ["Bud" m Mary SHEPARD, Bastrop Co. 1 Apr 1866] Mary W. Watson 10, AR [m Joseph WHITE, Bastrop Co. 22 Feb 1872] Eliza A. Watson 7, TX [m James C. SHARP, 17 Oct 1872; m Joseph Toliver "Tol" CLARK 11 Feb 1891] Eliza Watson's family history says that John T. disappeared during the Civil War on a cotton-trading trip to Brownsville, TX and that she, being only about 10, was raised by relatives of Edna HOCKER, who later married Eliza & Joseph's son, Alva CLARK. I do not know who those relatives are. Eliza's death cert. reported that her mother was a "Miss Birkhana," probably a corruption of the surname BUCKHANNON & BUCHANAN. Whether this is also the mother of the other children is uncertain. There is no probate in Bastrop Co. TX & no land transfers. He probably owned the land reported in 1860 by virtue of a deed with the owner holding the mortgage. Other records of Bastrop Co. indicate that such deeds are not registered until the mortgage is paid. If it is never paid, the land reverts to the owner with no paperwork to indicate there ever was a sale. The 1870 census of Bastrop Co. records no inhabitants of the community called Red Rock, suggesting it was missed, lost or the entire community upped and moved away on or after 15 Jul 1869 (when Elizabeth married William Yates & Hulda Angeline m Levi Barnard), to return by 22 Feb 1872 (when Mary W. married Joseph White). John's first identified child (though there could be earlier ones) was Sarah Jane Watson, b Jan 1836 in AR, who married Franklin SHEPARD. His next identified child is William H. "Bud" Watson (who married Franklin's sister Mary SHEPARD), b 07 Jun 1840 in Bowie Co. TX. John is not listed on the 1840 "census" of TX but it is not a census but a land-owner's tax list. Since his land grant was not finalized, he might not have been listed. You can see my Watson chart at http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=dwbender I believe he is related to the WATSONs of Logan & Lincoln Co. KY but I have found no proof. There is another WATSON family, including a John T. and a William H. in Bastrop Co. TX in the same time frame, but I cannot tie them to mine despite many tempting coincidences. I have worked on this line since 1991 with little to show for it. Diane Bender POB 178 Washington Grove MD 20880