John Watson (1757 - 1818)

Born 26 May 1757 in Kingwood, Hunterdon, New Jersey

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Jackson) Watson — married about Mar 1780 in Shrewsbury, Monmouth, New Jersey, United States

Descendants

Died 20 Oct 1818 at age 61 in Lahaska, Buckingham Township, Bucks, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

John was a Friend (Quaker)

The excerpt below from Descendants of Matthew Watson omits an interesting period of John Watson's life -- see John Watson and the 18th Century New Jersey Saltworks

From "Descendants of Matthew Watson":

John Watson was born about 1755, eldest child of Aaron and Sarah (Emley) Watson of Chesterfield Township, Burlington County, N. J. He died intestate 20 March 1818 in Buckingham Township, Bucks County, Pa. His family was received at Kingwood Monthly Meeting, Hunterdon County, N. J., 9 July 1772 on their certificate from Chesterfield. The minutes of Kingwood report 11 November 1779 that “John Watson has removed without certificate and since married contrary to the rules of our Discipline; Henry Cliffton is appointed to have it under care." At the meeting 13 July 1780 “John Watson's paper of acknowledgement coming again under consideration was received, and he requesting a certificate to Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting, Samuel Kester and Henry Cliffton are appointed to prepare an essay of one for the approbation of the next Meeting." Finally, at the meeting 10 August 1780, "A certificate was signed on behalf of John Watson, wherein he was recommended to Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting."

At Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting John Watson married Mary Jackson, probably the Mary born 24 October 1761, daughter of William and Hannah (Bills) Jackson of Shrewsbury, Monmouth County, N. J., members of the Friends Meeting. At Kingwood Monthly Meeting 8 November 1781 "John Watson produced a certificate for himself and wife, and daughter Sarah from Shrewsbury Monthly Meeting, dated 7 February 1781, which was read and received." Then, at Kingwood Meeting 9 May 1782, "John Watson requests a certificate for himself and wife and their two small children to Middletown Monthly Meeting in Pennsylvania. Samuel Willson and Aaron Large are appointed to make the needful inquiry and if no obstruction appear, to produce an essay to next Meeting." Finally, at Kingwood Monthly Meeting held at Hardwick 13 June 1782, "A certificate for John Watson, Mary his wife, and their two small children Sarah and William, as directed at last Meeting was produced and signed." It was presented at the Middletown Monthly Meeting, Bucks County, Pa., 1 August 1782, but at the meeting 5 May 1785 a certificate for John Watson, his wife, and two children, William and Aaron, for their removal to Buckingham Monthly Meeting, in the same county, was signed and left with William Blakey for him.

In 1794 John Watson purchased 140 acres of land lying on both sides of the Mechanicsville road in Buckingham Township and including the present [1905] Watson farm, the original buildings being on the northwest side of the road, where John Rinker now [1905] lives. He died on this farm in 1818, and the farm was partitioned through the Orphans Court, the farm now [1905] occupied by Henry Watson being adjudged to his eldest son, William Watson.

From "A Genealogical and Personal History of Bucks County, Pennsylvania" written by William W. H. Davis, A. M. (President of the Bucks County Historical Society) with Warren S. Ely (Librarian of the Buck County Historical Society) and John W. Jordan, LL.D. (Historical Society of Pennsylvania). This paragraph appears on page 136:

John Watson, eldest child of Aaron and Sarah, born at Kingwood, about 1755, was reared on the Jersey farm. During the Revolution he removed to Shrewsbury, and engaged in the manufacture of salt on the Jersey coast, where Point Pleasant is now located. He sold the product to the continental army, and thus incurred the special enmity of the British, who destroyed his residence and plant, thereby ruining him financially.

Sources

• Biography of John Watson by his great-grandson in "History of Bucks County"
• "A genealogical and personal history of Bucks County, Pennsylvania," p 136, a biography by John & Mary Watson's great-grandson
• U.S., Quaker Meeting Records, 1681-1994
• National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Volume 59, December 1971, Number 4: Descendants Of Matthew Watson of Burlington County, New Jersey by Lewis D. Cook, F.A.S.G.
• Find a Grave for John Watson

• Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/117800390/john-watson: accessed 03 November 2022), memorial page for John Watson (1759–1818), Find a Grave Memorial ID 117800390, citing Buckingham Friends Cemetery, Lahaska, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by MeganZloty (contributor 47635532) .