William (1790-1860) — m. Nancy Ann Bryan on 23 Oct 1810
Jane (~1790-????) — m. David Elliot
Mary Ann (9 Aug 1793-10 Dec 1865) — m. Hugh LaMaster in Apr 1819
Ehud Dempsey (5 Mar 1794-18 Sep 1877) — m. Susannah Weakley about 1821
George Washington (~1801-1850) — m. Martha Matilda Ferrell in 1826
Letta (1806-Aug 1858) — m. Samuel Weakley
Margaret (26 Apr 1811-31 May 1861) — m. Henry E. Hyde on 26 Feb 1829
Thomas H. (14 May 1812-26 Jul 1880) — m. Margaret Davis on 17 Nov 1833; m. Ann Davis Jellison on 5 Aug 1855; m. Eliza M. Carter on 7 Feb 1861
Nancy Murphey (20 Aug 1814-1866) — m. Hugh Head on 11 Jul 1832
George was born in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in the south central part of the state. Rival accounts claim his parents were either Felthan Watson and Anastasia Drew, or Thomas Chiripton “Cherrystone” Watson (1731-20 May 1811) and Alice Euphenia Justice (31 May 1739-1802). He enlisted in a Virginia cavalry unit during the Revolutionary War, from May 1781 to May 1783.
Peggy, also born in Pittsylvania County, was the daughter of Irish immigrant George or Edward George Murphy (1745-Dec 1832) and Elizabeth Robertson (1 Jan 1746-1840). The family name was also spelled Murphey.
George and Peggy married on 20 Oct 1790 in Pittsylvania County. They appear to have remained there into the 19th century, and almost all of their children were born there, except some of them claimed North Carolina.
On 14 Feb 1814, George purchased a tract of 640 acres on Lick Branch of Miller’s Creek in Robertson County, Tennessee, west-southwest of the town of Springfield. This tract had originally been a grant from the state of North Carolina to one Samuel Rudd. George established a plantation there, likely growing tobacco, the cash crop of the region then as now. Peggy’s parents moved to the same area.
In the 1820 census for Robertson County, the household of Peggy Watson (age 45+) contained, in addition to Peggy, one man age 26-44 (this would be Ehud), one man and one woman age 16-25 (George and ???), one boy and one girl age 10-15 (?Thomas? and Letta), and two girls under 10 (Margaret and Nancy). The ages don’t quite line up. There were also six slaves: two boys and three girls under 14, and one woman age 14-25. I’m guessing George was away on business.
George was apparently away for the 1830 census as well. Margaret Watson, now in in her sixties, headed a household of two younger men, one in his twenties and one in his thirties, plus a girl age 15-20 (Nancy) and a boy age 10-15 (???). The family had eight slaves, ages not recorded. Son Ehud and family, next door, had five more slaves. Older son William Watson and family were on the same census page.
George died in 1831. His will, executed on 30 Nov 1831 in Springfield, Robertson County, apportioned out nine slaves to his wife and eight of his children, excepting only William. Peggy died in 1833 in the part of Robertson County that is now Cheatham County. Their burial locations are unknown.
William said he was born in North Carolina. He married Nancy Ann Bryan (1796-1866) in 1810 in Johnston County, North Carolina. Their reported children:
William Jackson “Jack” (25 Oct 1816-11 Sep 1879) — m. Martha Jane Adams on 23 Dec 1841
Andrew Dickson (4 Jul 1820-10 May 1888) — m. Mary E. Norfleet on 18 Dec 1854
Choischana A. (~1823-????)
Christene “Sallie” (23 Sep 1823-18 Oct 1894) — m. James Charles “Charley” Baker on 11 Feb 1840; m. ??? Northington
James Robert (1826-????) — prob. m. Martha J. Adams on 30 Dec 1848
Mary J. (~1828-????) — poss. m. Claiborne Shelby Gooch on 6 Oct 1850
Elizabeth Elieanor (13 Dec 1831-22 Jan 1879) — m. Robert R. Mayes on 2 Oct 1848
Louisa C. (15 Jan 1831-1 Dec 1891) — m. William Joseph Holt on 19 Nov 1856
Susanna Penelope (~1839-1862)
Lucinda P. (~1840-????) — if existed, prob. died young
Sometime after 1820 they moved to Robertson County, Tennessee, like others of the family. In the 1850 census, children at home were Andrew (30), Mary J. (22), Louisa C. (16), Eliza (13), and Penelope (11). The census listed a William Watson of Robertson County as the owner of seven slaves. In the 1860 census, they still had daughter Penelope (20) at home, plus daughter Louisa and her husband and children. William died later that year. Burial location is unknown.
Jane reportedly married David Elliot. No further details.
Mary Ann married Hugh LaMaster (1788-1876) in 1819. Their children:
John (1819-1849)
Elizabeth (1820-1891) — m. John J. Jeter on 8 Sep 1844
Martha Ann (6 Nov 1822-1 Oct 1908) — m. Robert Ely Copher Sr. on 1 Dec 1846
Margaret J. (31 Aug 1824-10 Aug 1880) — m. Eli Sanders on 2 Nov 1843
George Watson (11 Aug 1825-5 Jan Jan 1897) — m. Matilda Perry in 1851
Ehud (1828-5 Nov 1895) — m. Martha J. Copher on 29 Apr 1854
They ended up in Illinois. Mary Ann died in 1865, and is buried in Campground Cemetery, Williamson County, Illinois.
Ehud was a private in the US Army during the War of 1812, and took part in the Battle of New Orleans. He married Susannah H. Weakley (1803-1874) from Tennessee about 1821. Their children:
William Riley (28 Nov 1822-11 Aug 1896) — m. Nancy Rice Cox in 1842
Matthew (12 Mar 1827-18 Mar 1896) — m. Nancy Odum in 1863
Mary (1828-1914)
Thomas Jefferson (12 Dec 1830-1 May 1896) — m. Melinda A. Powell in 1852
Sarah Belle (19 May 1832-1 Feb 1917) — m. ??? Odum
Isaac Weakley (10 Aug 1838-6 Dec 1908) — m. ???
Lettie Jane (6 Dec 1840-14 Dec 1902) — m. William Washington Grant in 1886
George Washington (6 Apr 1843-5 Apr 1920) — m. Sarah Jane Roberts
They also wound up in Illinois. Susannah died in 1874, and is buried in Watson Family Cemetery, Marion, Williamson County, Illinois. Ehud died in 1877, and is buried with her.
George married Martha Matilda Ferrell (6 Sep 1809-19 Feb 1885) in 1826 in Wilson, Tennessee. Claimed children:
Ezekiel Lewis (5 May 1827-23 Jan 1894) — m. Margaret M. Robinson
Elizabeth Jane (1829-1859) — m. John Wesley Underhill in 1845
Phebe (2 Mar 1831-16 Dec 1897) — m. Elam Edge in 1853
Washington McDonald (1834-1877)
Mary (1836-????)
William Jasper “Billy”, Sr. (13 Jun 1838-28 Nov 1923) — m. Catherine Keaton on 5 Jan 1857
Margaret Susannah (1841-1871) — m. John Wesley Underhill on 23 Nov 1859; m. George W. Ratleph on 12 Jul 1868
Nancy (1843-????)
George Milton Dallas (Nov 1845-30 Dec 1918) — m. Sarah Elizabeth Woodside
John Hardin (1850-)
John Miller (18 Dec 1850-23 Nov 1927) — m. Mary Lucinda Welcher
The 1850 census showed them in DeKalb County, Tennessee with six children, from Washington down to George. George Sr. died later that year, reportedly on a cattle drive. His burial location, if any, is unknown, but his findagrave.com page claims his parents were Samuel Watson and Phoebe Pedigro.
Letta married Samuel Weakley (~1800-10 Jun 1858). They lived in Tennessee until about 1840. Known children:
George W. (31 Mar 1830-15 Nov 1890) — m. Celia J. ???; m. Mary M. Barnhill
John T. (1833-1865)
Andrew (1834-????)
Margaret (1836-????)
Mary (1837-????)
Isaac Franklin (1841-?25 Jan 1884?) — m. Martha/Margaret B. ?Hopewell?; m. Amelia/Permelia M. Warren on 2 Sep 1873
Henry (1844-????)
The 1850 census showed them in Mississippi County, Missouri. Samuel died there in the summer of 1858, and Letta not long after. Burial locations are unknown.
Margaret married Henry Emerson Hyde (1808-1877) in 1829. They settled in Robertson County, Tennessee and had 13 children:
Almira P. (13 Feb 1830-22 Jan 1854)
Thomas (6 May 1832-5 Oct 1854)
Levi (~1833-????)
John (25 Jun 1834-6 Sep 1853)
Margaret Jane (18 Oct 1836-30 May 1897) — m. Benjamin Franklin Wilson on 9 Dec 1865
Mary Ann (Apr 1839-Jul 1873) — m. Edward Sims Ellis about 1858
George William (16 Mar 1841-3 Mar 1922) — m. Lucrecia Wilson in 1864
Henry (16 May 1843-10 May 1861)
Richard H. (11 Nov 1845-15 Apr 1923) — m. Mary Elizabeth “Mollie” Justice on 12 Oct 1869
Irvin Blunt (25 Apr 1848-9 Aug 1919) — m. Beatrice Frey
Rufus (21 Mar 1850-28 Apr 1929) — m. Sallie L. Frey on 26 Oct 1870
Alice (4 Apr 1853-7 Mar 1934) — m. Edward M. Newton on 21 May 1870
Penola (7 Apr 1855-30 Jun 1949) — m. William Henry Chambliss on 23 Dec 1873
The 1850 and 1860 censuses showed them in Robertson County. Margaret died in 1861 in Cheatham County, Tennessee. Burial location is unknown.
Thomas has his own entry in the family tree. Note that this family’s son Thomas H. Watson might have actually been the man who married Sarah Hardin in 1832 in Kentucky, and settled in Crittenden County there.
Nancy married Hugh Head (28 Mar 1804-13 Jun 1866), which is not a joke name, on 11 Jul 1832. They remained in Robertson County, and had, no seriously, 14 children:
Martha Ann (30 May 1835-11 Sep 1924) — m. John A. Farmer on 10 Dec 1851
John Thomas, Sr. (3 Apr 1836-7 Apr 1916) — m. Martha C. Roberts in 1859
Margaret Jane (29 Oct 1836-18 Apr 1882) — m. Jesse Thomas Stroud in 1855
Mary Frances “Fanny” (13 Dec 1839-24 Jan 1859) — m. Jackson W. John Fort in 1859
John Robert (23 Oct 1840-1915)
Sarah Murphey “Sally” (17 Dec 1842-10 Jun 1908) — m. Jackson W. John Fort on 7 Jan 1860
George Thomas (2 Mar 1845-21 Oct 1917) — m. Margaret Merilla Elliott on 22 Oct 1863
Elizabeth Tennessee (2 Nov 1846-24 Dec 1920) — m. John Richard Elliott on 29 Jun 1865
William Elvis (1848-1866)
Hyram Jefferson (27 Mar 1851-10 Jul 1926) — m. Mary Minerva Murphey on 19 Nov 1871; m. Lucy Malissa Day
Hugh Wilson (20 Sep 1853-1908)
Wiley Ehud (2 Mar 1855-18 Jan 1917) — m. Leona Frances Bracey on 17 Oct 1874
Matthew Johnson (21 Apr 1857-1885) — m. Geneva Nichols on 16 Dec 1877
Christopher Columbus (3 Aug 1859-13 Apr 1919) — m. Martha Bell Lipscomb on 13 Apr 1882
Nancy and Hugh both died in 1866. Burial locations are unknown.
http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/p/i/g/Lori-Pignatelli-/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0802.html -- George and descendants
http://www.genealogy.com/ftm/w/i/n/Jack-Eugene-Winter-Illinois/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0026.html -- ditto
http://www.fairpoint.net/~jagile/fam/fam01042.html -- Peggy and descendants; email link
https://www.ancestry.com/genealogy/records/george-watson_15508179 -- another version of George’s family
https://www.geni.com/people/George-Watson/6000000002589253968 -- ditto
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5YP-VJ5 -- 1790 wedding
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHLT-H1W -- 1820 census
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH5W-D73 -- 1830 census
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11200010/george-murphey -- 1832 grave of Peggy’s father
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDB-6KB -- 1850 census, William
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M85H-P78 -- 1850 census, Mary Ann
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M854-F3G -- 1850 census, Ehud
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCDZ-LMD -- 1850 census, George
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDZX-81B -- 1850 census, Letta
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCD1-DTY -- 1850 census, Margaret
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195043516/george-washington-watson -- 1850 virtual grave of George
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8TJ-T4Y -- 1860 census, William
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHV-LWM -- 1860 census, Mary Ann
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXHV-KQT -- 1860 census, Ehud
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8TJ-5MW -- 1860 census, Margaret
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8TJ-5R5 -- 1860 census, Nancy
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MH8Q-DXG -- 1860 census, Letta’s son Andrew
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MHZL-DQ8 -- 1860 census, William’s son Andrew
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28434068/_ -- 1865 grave of Mary Ann
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28422391/ehud-watson -- 1877 grave of Ehud
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12529850/_ -- 1879 grave of William’s daughter Elizabeth
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX2M-ZNY -- 1880 census, William’s son Andrew
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/28450834/thomas-h-watson -- 1880 grave of son Thomas H., with story attached
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5BB-1NT -- 1880 death of Peggy’s younger sister Mary
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FDFR-553 -- 1884 death of prob. Letta’s son Isaac
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/29713133/_ -- 1888 grave of William’s son Andrew
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79176317/_ -- 1932 grave of Letta’s grand-daughter Annie