m. JOANE ______ (d. Dec 1674 Salem)
Thomas received grants of land in Salem in 1636 and in 1654. He was trustee of the estate of Margaret Pease in 1645 and constable of Salem in 1648.
Issue-
Ref:
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury- Vol.III, p.1017
b.c.1644
John was admitted to the church in Rowley 22 Mar. 1666 and made a freeman in 1672.
"Merrimack:10th:12m:1670... Laid out to John Watson in right of Thomas Abbot, fiftie Acres of land bounded by John and Robert Hazeltine on the west, by the widdow Mighill on the east, by Rowley land south, by Merrimack river on the North, his northeast corner is a birch, from thence it runs one hundred fortie and thre pole to a white oake, from thence the line turns a littell westward, and runs four hundred forty and four pole to a heape of stones which is the Southeast corner, the Northwest corner is a white oake, by Merricmack river, from thence it runs one hundred fortie and thre pole, to a red oake, from thence the line turns a littell westward, and runs four hundred and thirtie pole to a great white oake marked with: W: H: which is the southwest corner, it is twenty two pole wide at the south end, and aleaven pole wide at the North end, and thirtiene pole wide at the elbowe in the runinge lines."(1)
"At a Leagall Towne Meeting Held the 16th of January 1671 for the year ensueing... Pinders for the northeast feild John Watson Timothy Pallmer John Wood..."(2)
In the will of James Barker of Rowley: "I will & Give unto my daughter Unice Watson my Fifty Acres of Land be it more or Less at Bradford: being my part of the Right of Nehemiah Abbots Lott I give it to her & her Eldest son after his fathers & mothers decease provided he live to Heir it : And If that child die I give it to the Rest of their children as she shal see good to dispose of it at her death : Also I will & give unto her the Best Cours Blanket : & Two Twild Cotton Blankets : & one flockbed & bolster belonging to it & a pillow : And one Quarter of the Comon Land that belongs to mee in the Three Thousand Acers above the Cow Commons in this Towne when it shall be divided : or the use and Emprovement til it bee... Also my wearing Apparrell I will that it be devided by my Overseers half to Burzillai : & the other half between my son Nathaniel & my son in Law John Watson... Third day of the seaventh moneth... one thousand six hundred & Seaventy Eight."(3)
John was one of the eighteen original members of the Bradford church 27 Dec. 1682.
Issue-
Ref:
(1) The Early Records of the Town of Rowley-Heritage Books, Bowie, MD, (ND), Vol.1, pp.209-10
Rowley Vital Records
Genealogical Dictionary of Maine & New Hampshire- pp.723-4
New England Marriages Prior to 1700- p.785
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury- Vol.III, pp.1017-8
b. 19 Nov. 1671 Rowley, MA
Ruth was admitted to the Bradford church in 1697.
"I James Tiler of Bradford... for and in Consideration of twenty five Ponds... Paid by Thomas Perkens of Arendal... Yeoman... Doe... sell... two thirds Parts of one fifty acres of Land : which is the one halfe Part of one hundred acres of Land and Marsh in arendel Which Mr Joseph Baley Bought of andrew auger and was taken by mr Nicholas Morey... from ye sd Baley which Land is bounded north by... Thomas Musseys and... by the flats which is between ye Said Land and the Neck Comanly Known by the Name of Mountiques Neck and... by Land Now in the hand of Benjamin Major and... by Land Laid out unto Ensign John Watson and other wise by the Town Comand Land... this thirteenth day of aprill... one thousand seven hundred and two- James Tyler... in the Presents of Us Ephrim Wilds, Samuel X Chevers". Recorded 7 Mar. 1722/3.(29) An identical deed is listed in folio 96 with the same property description and dated 13 April "one Thousand Seven hundred Twenty and Two". This latter date makes much more sense.
John purchased land in Cape Porpoise in 1718 and then moved to the Saco road in 1729 next to the bridge over Card's Brook.(1)
"We James Tyler of Bradford & Jabez Dorman of Boxford... for & in consideration of Thrity pounds Ten Pounds in hand paid & ye rest by Bill secured to be paid by John Watson of ye Town of Bradford... do... sell... one third part of all ye Land & Marsh or Salt meadow... which sd Tyler bought of Nicholas Moorey of Trestown in ye County of Bristol... lying in ye Township of Cape Porpos... this Twenty Seventh day of March... 1718... James Tyler, Jabez Dorman... In presence of Mehetable X Kimbell, Abigal X Watson".(30)
"We John Watson Jabez Dorman & James Tyler all of Capeporpus... for & in consideration of ye Sum of Ten pounds... paid by Andrew Brown & Thomas Perkins... do... sell... fifte Acres... being ye Southwest Corner of ye Neck Commonly Called... Mountagues Neck... this Twenty fourth day of June... One thousand Seven hundred & Nineteen- John X Watson, Jabez Dorman, James Tyler... In presence of James March, Humphry Dearing".(31)
"Arundal March the 21: 1719/20 Layed out to John Watson 50 acers of Land... beginning at... Thomas Huffs Corner."(2)
"At a leagall Town Meeting of the Proprietors free holders & other Inhabitants as the law Directs for voting in Town Meetings held at Arondel on May the 30th 1720: then the persons here after Named was made free Commoners viz. John Watson..."(3)
In 1720 John Hartshorn of Rowley deeded rights in Coxhall to his grandsons John and Samuel Watson of Arundel, having already given half to their brother Thomas.(4)
"I John Watson of Arundel... Yeoman for several Causes & Considerations... set over unto James Tyler all my right... to any of the Lands that was formerly Andrew Alger in... Arundel alias Cape Porpus... this sixteenth Day of Septembr... one thousand seven hundred & twenty- John X Watson... in Presence of John Stackpole, Thomas Perkins".(27)
"At a leagal Town Meeting held at Arondel march ye 23. 1721... Ensign John Watson was Chosen Tithingman for the year Ensuing..."(5) John was elected "fencevewer" in 1723 and 1727 "Survair of highways" in 1725, 1730, and in 1733, tithingman in 1728.(6)
"John Watson and Jabez dorman both of arandle... Yeomen are holden & firmly Stand bound Unto Thomas Perkins... in forty Pounds... to be paid unto sd Thoms Perkens... this 6th day of March 1722/3... to... abide... and truly Preforme The award arbiterment... of Joseph Hill Esqr and Nicholas Cole Yeomen: both of wells... to... finialy End... all ye differancis Concirning a Certain Parcell of Land and Marsh which was Sold by Mr Nicholas Morery to mr James Tyler which Land and Marsh was originaly Joseph Boolses Morgain Howels Griffen Mounticues and as formerly Sold to Joseph Baley... John X Watson, Jabez Dorman... In Presents of Led : Hayes, Anthony Attwood".(28)
"Whereras thare has been a difference & dispute arisen Betwene Thomas Perkens of Arundel... on ye one Part Yeoman and John Watson and Jabiz Dorman... Husbandmen : on ye other Part Relating to ye divition of ye Right and Propiaty which Nicholas Moorey of ffreetown in ye County of Bristoll in... Massachusetts Bay... Clames or Challingeth in ye Township of Arundle... Having refered and Submited the determination of two of us... Joseph Hill Esqr and Nicholas Cole of Wells... ye Just... Title... of one halfe of... ye land and Marsh... Now by Right Doth belong to John Watson and Jabez Dormon... we also declare that Thomas perkens of Arundel... Shall have ye other halfe part... this fifteenth day of March... 1722/3- Joseph Hill, Nicholas Cole".(28)
John was licensed as a tavener and retailer in 1724 and afterwards kept a tavern on the Saco road and was licensed in 1734.(7)
Tradition states that he was a man of great size and strength and was a trumpeter in the King's service and an ensign in the militia.(8)
In 1725 the Indians attacked John's house. One of them had partly forced himself through the door while John was trying to keep the door shut. One of John's daughters wounded the Indian badly in the leg with an axe and they finally retreated.(9)
"Feb. 14th 1726, by virtue of a warrant from John Wheelwright, Esq. of Wells, a proprietor's meeting had been called... those persons herein named ware Entred Proprietors in the Rights of the Ainchient Proprietors viz.- John Watson and Jabez Dorman, in the right of Morgaing Howell..."(10)
"I James Tyler of York... Trader for & in Consideration of the Sum of ninety Pounds... paid by John Fairfield of Wells... Mariner... do... sell... one full third of one Moiety or half of a certain Neck of Land... in... Arundel which is comonly called Mountegues Neck (which half part of sd Neck is now in aqual Partnership between John Watson Jabez Dorman & my self) together with my dwelling House thereon (Excepting about four or five Acres of Land whereon the Fort stands which was sold by the sd Watson Dorman & Tyler unto Lieut Andrew Brown & Insign Thomas Perkins & the sd John Fairfield is to come no further upon the sd Dormans Land that he now possesseth... & reserving Liberty also of taking off a small Ware House of Colo Edmund Goffes standing thereon if he should demand it... this twenty seventh Day of September... One thousand seven hundred & twenty six... James Tyler, Phebe X Tyler... in Presence of us- Jacob Perkins, John X Wells, Dorothy Tyler".(26)
"We John Watson & Jabez Dormon both of Arundel... Yeomen for & in Consideration of Quit Claim or Deed from Thomas Perkins Junr of Arunsel... bearing aqual Date... do... quit Claim unto... Thomas Perkins... a Tract or Parcel of Salt Meadow or Mowing Land...in... Arundel... Part of the Right of Marsh or Salt Meadow bought by James Tyler of Nicholas Morey... and by sde Tyler conveyed to the sd Watson & Dorman... by the Creek known... by the Name of Mussey's Creek... then... running... next to Badsons River of ye Island called & known by the Name of Mountequies Neck or Islands... then to a Creek known by the Name of Bartons Creek &... between the Land known by the Name of Bartons farm... & the Land which is known by the Name of Mountequies Neck... this Fourth Day of August One thousand seven hundred twenty & seven- John X Watson, Jabez Dorman... in Presence- Stephen Averell, John Alltimes".(25)
"Arundel December ye 31. 1728 Laid out to mr. John Watson fifty acres of Land by vertue of a Town grant given in the year 1725... on the South Side of Dormans brook..."(11)
"Arundel october ye 22d 1729 Laid out to Ensign John Watson fifty acres of Land by vertue of a grant given to him may ye 30th 1720... adjoining the Easter most Side of ye Said watsons lot layed out December ye 31. 1728 and on ye Road of Dormans Land..." He was also granted five more acres as well as six acres of marsh in "Poodington marsh".(12)
On 6 Jan. 1729/0 Thomas Perkins sold to John Watson, Jabez Dorman and John Fairfield of Arundel, 50 acres of land on Mountigues Neck which was bounded by Watson and Perkins. The deed was witnessed by Nathaniel Averell and Samuel Wildes. (13)
"We John Watson & Jabes Dorman of Arundel... Yeomen for & in Consideration of the Sum of Eleven Pounds... paid by Thomas Perkins Junr... Yeoman... Land situate lying & being in Arundel... known by the Name of Monteque Islands... this Sixth Day of January... 1729/30... John X Watson, Jabez Dorman... in Presence of Nathaniel Averell, Samuel Wildes."(22)
"We John Watson Jabez Dorman & John Fairfield all of Arundel... in Consideration of a Quit Claim from Thomas Perkins Junr of Arundel... bearing equal Date with these Presents have given... Thirty Acres... Part of that Neck of Land known by the Name of Monteque Neck with the Neck Island... this Sixth Day of January... 1729/30... John X Watson, Jabez Dorman, John Fairfield... in Presence of Nathan Averell, Samuel Wildes."(23)
"I John Watson of Arundel... Yeoman for & in Consideration of the Sum of Three Pounds... paid by Nathaniel Hendrecks... Clothier... Land situate lying and being in Arundel... containing One Quarter of an Acre... bounded by... the sd John Watsons now Dwelling House... to the High Way & Cove... This Twenty Fourth Day of March... 1730- John X Watson, Ruth X Watson... in Presence of Jonathan Stone, Samuel Averell".(24)
"I John Watson of Arundel... Husbandman for & in Consideration of the sum of One Hundred & Sixty Pounds... & Three Thousand of Merchantable Pine Boards... paid by Jonathan Stone of Beverly... Coaster... One Messuage or Tract of Land situate lying & being in Arundel... containing by Estimation Seventeen Acres... bounded... with a Salt Water Cove or Flats... Land sett off to Jabez Dorman... the High way... & a small creek which Parcel of Land was set off to the sd John Watson as his Part of ye Neck of Land which was called Mounteques Neck... And Ruth Watson the wife of me the sd John Watson doth... yield up... her Right of Dowry... this Eleventh Day of May... 1730... John X Watson, Ruth X Watson... in Presence of John Burbank, Saml Averell".(23)
John Watson and Jabez Dorman sold to John Fairfield of Arundel, 10 acres in Arundel, 10 Jan. 1729/0: "being the Middle Division & Bounded with Flats on the West End & by Dormans Land on the South & by Capt. Perkins Land on the East & by the High Way on the North..." The deed was witnessed by Samuel Wildes and Thomas Perkins.(14)
On 23 Mar. 1730 John exchanged 1 1/2 acres of land with Thomas Perkins.(15)
"I Samuel Averell of Arundell... in Consideration of a certain Tract of Land which I have of my Father in Law Mr John Watson of Arundell... do... sell... Forty One Acres which was a vote of the Proprietors of Arrundel to Divde all the Land on the upper Road & was Laid out to myself being date March the 11th 1730 & is Bounded... by Benja Haley... the Highway... this fourth Day of May... One Thousand seven hundred & thirty two- Samuel Averel... Witnesses Jeremiah Storrer, Dorothy Light."(20)
"Arundel may ye 17th 1732 then Laid out to mr. John Watson & Mr. Jabez Dorman a Tract of Meadow in Arundel at a Place known by the name of Desarts Containing one Hundred acres..."(16)
"I John Watson of Arrunel... Yeoman for & in Consideration of the Sum of Fifty five Pounds... paid by Jonathan Stone of Beverly... Coaster... do... sell... One... Tract of Land lying... in Arrundel... Containing One Hundred & Twenty three acres & half... Bounded... by Benja Haley... the Highway or Country Road from Wells to Biddeford the upper Way through Arrundel... Land Laid out to Nathal Hendrocks... this thirteenth Day of May... 1735- John X Watson... in Presence of Thomas Chute, Thomas Perkins".(21)
On 21 June 1737 John Watson Senr of Arundel, husbandman, sold for £20 to Samuel Averel of Arundel, laborer, two acres of marsh on Museys Creek bounded by Jabez Dorman and Capt. Perkins. The deed was witnessed by Stephen Averell and Ebenezer Watson.(17)
On 4 June 1737 John Watson of Arundel, husbandman: "for and in Consideration of the Parentell Love and Affection I owne toward my Sons John Watson Shadrack Watson Ebenezer watson of said town aforesd. Labourers... one half of one hundred acres of Upland and Marsh being In Partnership with Jabez Dorman at the Deserts I wch is Called Running Midow and Likewise thirty three Acres of up Land and Marsh at Duckbrook and all my writ In the Salt marsh and thatch beds being in Partnership with Jabez Dorman... At an Infer. Court of Common pleas held at falmouth... the first Tuesday of Octo: 1737 appear'd Jabez Dorman & Stephen Averell and Made Oath that they Saw John Watson Since deceased Sign... the above Instrument."(18)
Also on 4 June 1737 John gave land in Arundel to his son Ebenezer which was bounded by Mr. Pudington, Ebenezer and Shadrach Watson, the County Road, and John Willing. He then gave his son Shadrach land on Pudington Brook(19)
Issue- all children born in Bradford, MA
Ref:
(1) History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.132
Rowley Vital Records
New England Marriages Prior to 1700- p.785
Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury- Vol.I, p.341, Vol.III, pp.1017-8
5VII. SHADRACH (THOMAS 1, JOHN 2, JOHN 3)
b. 3 Feb. 1712/3 Bradford, MA
"I John Alltimes of Arrundell... Husbandman for and in consideration of a valuable Sum of Forty Pounds... paid by Shadrach Watson of Arundel... do... sell... Fifty Acres which I the sd John Alltimes had given by the Proprietors of arundel Janry ye 14th One Thousand Seven Hundred Twenty Eight Nine... this seventh day of March One Thousand Seven Hundred Thirty Three- John Alltimes, Elizabeth X Alltimes... Witnesses- Steven Averell, Samuel Watson".(14)
"I Shadrach Watson of Arundel... Yeoman for & in Consideration of the Sum of Fifty Seven Pounds Ten Shillings... paid... by David Foulton of Wells... Labourer... do... sell... Land situate lying & being in Arundel... containing... Fifty Acres... being the one half Part of one hundred Acres of Upland formerly granted by ye Town of Arundel & Laid out unto John Althimes of sd Arundel... Bounded... by Land formerly Granted to John Baxter... Saco old Path... this seventeenth day of Feb.ry... one thousand seven hundred & thirty four five- Shadrach Watson, Susannah X Watson... in Presence of Fran. Littlefield, Jn.o Storer".(12)
"I Thomas Watson of Wells... Yeoman for and in consideration of the sum of Ninety Pounds... paid... by Shadrach Watson of Arundel... Yeoman... do... sell... one messuage or Tract of Land scituate lyiing & being in Wells... containing Fifty acres... being part of One Hundred Acres of Land which I formerly bought of Samuel Littlefield of Wells... Bounded... by Land formerly belonging to Noah Wilson late of Wells Deceased... Kennebunk River...Land belonging to the sd Samuel Littlefield... this Sixth Day of March... One Thousand Seven Hundred and Thirty four five... Thomas Watson... in the presence of Jonathan Jackson, John Storer."(10)
Shadrach then sold this property the following year:
"I Shadrach Watson of Arrundel... MillMan for & in Consideration of the Sum of One hundred Pounds... paid by Benja Sawyer... Labourer... do... sell... Land situate lying & being in Wells... containing Fifty Acres... Part of One hundred Acres... which formerly belonged to Samuel Littlefield of Wells and sold by him to Thomas Watson... on Kennebunk River... this Twenty fifth Day of Augt... One Thousand seven hundred & thirty six... Shadrach Watson... in the Presence of Noah Bayley, John Burbank".(11)
Shadrach was made a proprietor in 1738 along with his brother Ebenezer.(1) He was appointed one of the surveyors of the highways at the town meeting 24 Mar. 1737/8 and was again the surveyor in 1740.(2)
"I Shadrach Watson of Wells... Husbandman for & in Consideration of the Sum of one hundred & ten Pounds... paid... by John Martyn of York... Husbandman... Fifty Acres... being half of one hundred Acres of Land which is Partnership between me... & Caleb Kimball junr of Wells... up Kenebunk River... And Susanna Watson the wife of me the said Shadrach Watson doth... give... up... her Rigt of Dower... this Tenth Day of Febry... One Thousand seven hundred & thirty five Six... Shadrich Watson... in Presence of David Follton, Benja Stevens, James Elliot".(13)
Shadrach then paid off this mortgage in Aug:
On 27 Aug. 1736 John Martin of York, husbandman, sold for £110 to Shadrach Watson of Arundell, husbandman, 50 acres of land in Wells "being the moiety or half Part of one Hundred Acres of Land which was formerly in Partnership between the sd Shadrach Watson & Caleb Kimbal junr & being the same Fifty Acres which I Purchased of ye said Shadrach Watson as may appear by his Deed to me Dated Febr 10 1735/6." This mortgage was witnessed by Moses Ingraham, John Woodbridge, and David Love.(3)
Ebenezer Watson of Arundel, yeoman, sold for £50 to "my Brother Shadrach Watson of Arundell... yeoman" land on the southeast side of the Saco Rd. in Arundel on 12 Oct. 1739. The deed was witnessed by Rebekah Watson and Stephen Averell.(4)
On 12 Dec. 1741 Shadrach sold for £300 "paid... by my Brothers in Law Nathaniell Kimball & Richard Kimball both of Wells", 75 acres on the southeast side of the Saco Rd. and Pudington Brook in Arundel. The deed was signed by Shadrach and Susannah Watson and witnessed by William Waterhouse, Caleb Maddock, Samuel Littlefield and Joshua Kimball.(5)
Shadrach became a member of the church in Wells on 24 Oct. 1742.(6)He was sued for debt by Humphrey Scammon in July 1742 in the York Court of Common Pleas and was sued for trespass by Mary Prentice in Apr. 1753. (7)
Shadrach also served in the expedition against Louisbourg in 1745 as a member of Capt. Thomas Perkins' company.(8)
Shadrach and John Black evidently moved east and settled in Sedgwick in 1762 at Naskeag, now Brooklin, where he ran a trading post.(9) At one point there was a thought of naming the town Port Watson. Supposedly Shadrach moved to Deer Isle in 1765, however, a Shadrach Watson is listed in the 1790 census for Sedgwick Town.
Issue-
Ref:
(1) History of Kennebunk Port- Charles Bradbury, Kennebunk, 1837, p.128