7 generations of Watsons

I have now gone back 7 generations (8 if you count my son) of the Watson family. Here is what I have:

1. Me (1963- ) Married to F. Glenn Padrick (1984) - one child

2. Henry P (1940- ) Married to Marilyn Lewis (1962) - 2children

3. Henry P (1914-1977) Married to Sylvia Hammack (1935) - 6 children

4. Henry Clay (1883- ??) Married to Grace (??) - not sure how many children yet

5. Henry Clay (1858-1939) Married to Elizabeth A. ?? (??) - 7 children

6. James A. (abt. 1827-1863) Married to Mary Ellen Gibson (??) -not sure how many children. He was a POW during the Civil War, held at Camp Chase Prison in Columbus, Ohio where he died. (See pics below)

7. Isaac Scott (??-??) Married to Susannah Roberts (??)

Here are so pictures of Camp Chase where James Watson died:

POWs at Camp Chase. Courtesy of www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/5109/

Cemetery at Camp Chase courtesy of: www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/5109/

Unknowns...

I have scanned old pictures into my computer to post on this blog and ran across several I don't know anything about. A couple had dates, others had names and many had nothing on the back. I assume most come from my Grandma Watson's collection of pictures, not my Granny Lewis's, but I could be wrong. Anyone recognize any of these people or names???

"Sept. 1945"

"May 1950 JoAnn Roy"

"May 1950 Laura Tait"

"May 1951"

"Sept. 28, 1953 Garnett, Ruth, Mary & Jane"

"Marshell Lacy & Vick Ware"

"Blair & Stellena"

"Merta & Ray Waggon"

"Lucille Jack"

The following had nothing written on the back:

James & Jesse Watson

On the back of this picture was written "James & Jesse Lee Watson" So I am making the assumption that they are the brothers of Henry C., Jr. I am basing that on the 1900 census report for Upshur County, WV under the listing for Henry C., Sr. which has the following listed under his name:

• Elizabeth A. - wife - 37 yrs old - married 19 years - mother of 10 children 7 living in 1900.
• James L. - 17 yrs old
• William W. - 15 yrs old
• Jesse J. - 12 yrs. old
• Henry C. Jr. - 10 yrs old
• Elsa B. - 6 yrs old
• Emma J. - 4 yrs old
• Juley E - 1 yr old

Henry was a farmer. They owned the farm free of a mortgage.

Elizabeth could not read or write, but all the boys and Henry C. Sr, could read. Only Henry C. Jr could not write according to the census report. Each of the boys had attended school for 5 months. Neither mother or father had attended school.

One more generation back!!!

This is so exciting! I believe I have found one more generation (my great-great-great-grandfather). The 1860 census list abbreviated his name as Jas. A Watson (I assume this means James). He was 33 years old and married to 26 year old Amanda. They had 4 children: Andrew J. age 8, Jas. F. age 6, Martin L. age 4 and Henry C. age 1. Of course this was before WV was a state so they are listed as Virginians. Jas. was a farmer with assets valued at $100. but does not show any value to his real estate.

I also found death information on Amanda Watson. Who died in June of 1892 of "consumption" (which according to http://www.dictionary.com/ used to mean pulmonary tuberculosis) in Albemarle County, VA. She was 58.

I found that on www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/vital/

I have found some Civil War listings for numerous James Watsons, so will have to do more digging to see if I can figure out which one he may be. One interesting note, some of this information divides West Virginia from Virginia but there are just as many confederate soldiers listed for the Watson family as there were union in WV. All those I found in VA were confederates. The war between the states divided families and obviously states and counties! It will be interesting to find out where old Jas.'s loyalties were placed.

Some Cousins

Some of my "Watson" cousins probably mid-1970's??

More Watson-Hammack Family Photos

Henry Paul Sr. (Can you believe this is Grandpa?)
.

Elsie Carr & little Sylvia. Anyone know who Elsie is?




















I know this is Ray Hammack but the lady and child I don't know. Is this his wife Lula that I have no other info on? .









My Grandpa & Grandma Watson: Paul & Sylvia (no date on the back)

I love old pictures, don't you?

(Sorry about the formatting, I can't seem to get this one situated!)

Days 1-3 of my Watson Heritage Quest

This is my first attempt at a genealogy search. My Granny (Bernadine Lewis) died earlier this year and I've just realized all those things I wish I had asked her about her life. Like where was she born, what was her childhood like, who were her boyfriends and why did she choose Grandpa over all the others...She wasn't much of a writer so I don't have a journal to guide me, now what?

As for the Watson side of my family I am plugging along (thanks to my grandmother, Sylvia Hammack-Watson, who kept some newspaper clippings and other odds and ends.) I've been checking US Census reports and following a nice neat path to the past until I hit a road block, either my great-great grandfather was orphaned or sent to live with an uncle in Virginia for a while.

I've basically been organizing the information I have so that I know where to begin my search. Many of the genealogy tips web sites say to begin with Census reports, so I think I have accessed all the "free" info I can get, except for calling all my aunts, uncles and cousins. I'm hoping by starting this blog, any one with information of the following people will post me a note or shoot me an email message. Pictures, copies of birth, marriage and death certificates are always welcome.

So far my search has uncovered the following Watson family lines for:

Henry Paul Watson, Sr. (my grandfather) born 4/3/1914 in Elkins, WV & died 1/18/1977.

He was married to Sylvia Hammack (place and date unknown for now.) The first pic to the left is of Paul and Sylvia in Sept. 1935.

Henry Paul, Sr.'s parents were: Henry Clay Watson Jr., born October 1883 and Dema Grace Harris (no further info yet) Second photo.

Henry Clay, Jr's parents were: Henry Clay Watson Sr. born 9/1958 and Elizabeth L. ??? born March 1863. Both of their parents live in Virginia.

From here the US Census reports get confusing, in 1870, 11 year old Henry Clay, Sr. was living with another family, the John Wentz family, in Upshur County, VA.

As for the Hammack's, here is what I have:

Sylvia Hammack was born in Braxton, WV 3/2/1916, and died on 9/28/1985.

Her father Ray Martin Hammack (pictures here) was born in 1893 and died on May 24, 1968 in Barbour County, WV. He was married to Lula (??) according to his obituary. His parents were VanBuren Hammack & Mary Givens Hammack. I come up with blanks in my search for any of these people in the US Census reports I can access from the computer.

Anyone know of some good "free" sites to aid in my Heritage Quest? I will pay for www.ancestry.com or a similar site once I gather more names and dates from my relatives.

I am also searching my mother's family: Calvin Lewis & Bernadine Harper from WV and my in-laws family history (mostly in NC) too. Any and all help is appreciated! Thank, Tonia