James E. Watson (1820) and Milly Cribb and Sarah M. --- and Rebecca J. --- of Marion Co, SC

James E. Watson was born "1820" per his tombstone. None of his census entries seem to agree with this date, but they are usually close enough. He was born in Marion District, SC per the 1850 census or North Carolina per the 1860 census. I don't know what his "E" middle initial stands for.

I have not been able to identify James E. Watson parents. He was mentioned in a roundabout way by Sellers, but no details were given. Sellers mentioned that there were Watsons in Brittons Neck but that he had no information on them. James Watson was the patriarch of the Brittons Neck Watsons, so I'm sure it was him Sellers was thinking of, though he did not list his name. ("A History of Marion County, South Carolina", 1902, by W. W. Sellers, Esq, page 206)

Census analysis will not be easy considering the doubtfulness of James' birth year. If he was born in 1820, then (if born yet) he should be listed on the 1820 census, aged "under 10" (born ca 1810/20). There were several Watsons in Marion District that year with apparent sons that age. Most are already identified, but Green Watson had 3 apparent sons that age with him, who are yet unidentified. Green M. Watson is a son of Needham Watson (bef 1765), I believe.

In 1830, James would have been either aged 10-14 (born ca 1815/20) or perhaps age 5-9 (born ca 1820/25). Dosing Watson had a boy age 5-9 with him, Green M. Watson had one 5-9, and one 10-14.

For the 1840 census, James would have been 20-29 (born ca 1810/20) or 15-19 (born ca 1820/25). None of the Watson households had someone this age with them, except Isham Watson, but his family is well proven, and does not include James E. Watson. This means that James was probably living with another family this year, perhaps as a hired laborer.

James E. Watson married Milly Cribb between 1840 and ca 1847. Milly was born ca 1831/32 a daughter of Anthony Cribb and Cortney Runnells. (See their page for the evidence I used to conclude that Milly was a Cribb, and was their daughter).

James and family were listed on the 1850 census in Marion District just two houses from his wife's parents.

Milly Cribb Watson apparently died in the 1850's for by the 1860 census James had a new wife, and his two children by Milly were living with their Cribb grandparents.

James E. Watson married Sarah M. --- sometime before 1860. They had no children yet by the 1860 census, so probably hadn't been married too long. They were just two houses from the Anthony Cribb family where James' children were living.

James and family were listed on the 1870 census in Marion County, in Brittons Neck Township. Apparently, James' wife Sarah had died in the 1860's. James was listed next door to Samuel Lewis Watson (c1845 NC) who had married a Cribb also. I wonder if Samuel is James' younger brother, or perhaps a nephew? He is of age to actually be James' son, but I have no data proving that he was. The census entry was incredibly dim, and I can't make out the name of the second member of James' household. It looks like "Emana" but the age is illegible. A transcription shows "3" for the age. This could be a daughter of James, but this same child (if it is the same) was listed in 1880 with John Cribb as his granddaughter, so that would make her a child of Samuel Lewis Watson and Cortney Cribb instead.

I was unable to locate James and family on the 1880 census. I don't know where they might have been. There is a J. R. Watson age 50 listed by himself in Brittons Neck in 1880, listed as widowed. This may be the same person as James E. Watson. In fact it must be, even though the middle initial is wrong, and the age is off by 10 years.

James married Rebecca J. --- ca 1880/81 in Marion Co, SC. I don't know her maiden name.

They were listed on the 1900 census in Brittons Neck Township next door to James' grandson Benjamin Watson. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

James E. Watson died in "1909" per his tombstone. He is buried at the Watson Cemetery in Brittons Neck.

Rebecca was listed on the 1910 census in Brittons Neck. ** I don't have this entry typed up yet.

Children

James E. Watson and Milly Cribb had two children, and it is not clear whether James and second wife had any children. James and third wife Rebecca had at least 4 children. It is also possible (but unproven) that Samuel Lewis Watson (c1845) is a son of James.

Researcher List

1. James E¹ Watson , born 1820 in Marion Dist, SC; died 1909 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married (1) in 1840/47 in Marion Dist, SC Milly Cribb , born 1831/32 in Marion Dist, SC; died 1850/60 in Marion Dist, SC, daughter of Anthony Cribb and Cortney Runnells ; (2) in 1850/60 in Marion Dist, SC Sarah M (---) , born 1840/41 in Marion Dist, SC; (3) in 1880/81 in Marion Co, SC Rebecca J (---) , born Mar 1865 in NC; died aft 1910 in Marion Co, SC.

Children of James E Watson and Milly Cribb were as follows:

2 i Sarah² Watson , born 1846/47 in Marion Dist, SC.

+ 3 ii James Anthony² Watson , born 29 Mar 1849 in Marion Dist, SC; died 25 Oct 1922 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married Rachel Agness Rowell .

Children of James E Watson and Rebecca J (---) were as follows:

4 i Willie T² Watson , born 1884 in Marion Co, SC; died 1886 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

5 ii Lizzie R² Watson , born Apr 1886 in Marion Co, SC.

6 iii Curtis M² Watson , born Feb 1890 in Marion Co, SC.

7 iv Henry L² Watson , born Mar 1898 in Marion Co, SC.

Generation 2

3. James Anthony² Watson (James E¹), born 29 Mar 1849 in Marion Dist, SC; died 25 Oct 1922 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married in 1870/71 in Marion Co, SC Rachel Agness Rowell , born 11 Oct 1851 in Marion Dist, SC; died 16 Jan 1932 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC, daughter of William L Rowell and Eliza A Tanden .

Children of James Anthony Watson and Rachel Agness Rowell were as follows:

+ 8 i Benjamin S³ Watson , born 21 Feb 1873 in Marion Co, SC; died 7 May 1936 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married Cealy W (---) .

9 ii Charles Edward³ Watson , born 19 Feb 1875 in Marion Co, SC; died 29 Oct 1902 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

10 iii Ann³ Watson , born 1876/77 in Marion Co, SC.

11 iv Davis Parmer³ Watson , born Apr 1879 in Marion Co, SC; died 20 Dec 1957 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

12 v Jacob B³ Watson , born Jan 1881 in Marion Co, SC.

13 vi David Alexander³ Watson , born 30 Dec 1882 in Marion Co, SC; died 2 Nov 1922 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

14 vii Joseph H³ Watson , born 13 May 1885 in Marion Co, SC; died 6 Jan 1960 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

15 viii James³ Watson , born Aug 1887 in Marion Co, SC.

16 ix Martha J³ Watson , born Aug 1889 in Marion Co, SC.

17 x William James³ Watson , born 7 Aug 1871 in Marion Co, SC; died 2 Sep 1875 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

Generation 3

8. Benjamin S³ Watson (James Anthony², James E¹), born 21 Feb 1873 in Marion Co, SC; died 7 May 1936 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC. He married in 1893/94 in Marion Co, SC Cealy W (---) , born 21 Sep 1878 in Marion Co, SC; died 10 Sep 1901 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

Children of Benjamin S Watson and Cealy W (---) were as follows:

18 i Benjamin F⁴ Watson , born 19 Jan 1896 in Marion Co, SC; died 26 Sep 1932 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

19 ii William C⁴ Watson , born Feb 1898 in Marion Co, SC.

20 iii Luther B⁴ Watson , born 8 May 1900 in Marion Co, SC; died 1 Dec 1932 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

21 iv Martin M⁴ Watson , born 8 Mar 1909 in Marion Co, SC; died 25 Aug 1918 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.

22 v Joseph L⁴ Watson , born 23 Jan 1918 in Marion Co, SC; died 1 Apr 1918 in Marion Co, SC; buried in Watson Cem, Marion Co, SC.