Taylor County Georgia Bios Perry M Watson File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carla Miles. grmiles1@bellsouth.net Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/taylor.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Perry Watson Perry M. Watson was born on May 3, 1821 in South Carolina. Nothing is known of his parents or siblings. We do know from census records that his parents were born in South Carolina. There is speculation on the part of researchers, but no one has been able to prove any of the ideas floating around concerning who Perry’s parents were. Perry married Martha Hart, no one has been able to determine when or where they married. Martha was born on December 15, 1825 in South Carolina. She was the daughter of Elizabeth Hart, who was born on May 8, 1798 in South Carolina. No records have ever been found regarding Martha’s father. According to census records, Elizabeth’s parents were born in South Carolina. Legend says she was part Indian. Elizabeth died on October 16, 1875 and is buried at a place that was once her garden. Her grave is located on Highway 90, approximately 1.4 miles below Pine Level Cemetery in Taylor County, Georgia. It is not known when the Watsons arrived in Georgia. They first appear in the 1850 Marion County, Georgia Census. Perry was 26 years old then and he was a farmer. Martha was 23 years old. During the time of this census, Martha’s mother, Elizabeth Hart, lived several houses up from them. Perry and Martha had ten children: Philistia Ann Elizabeth, Mary Elizabeth, Henry Thomas, Perry C., Burrell, Ellen, Bethel, Savannah, John L. and Eldora. By the time of the 1860 Census, the Watson family had moved to Taylor County, Georgia. Here they lived for the remainder of their lives. Perry continued to farm. The Census states that his Real Estate was valued at $600 and his Personal Estate was valued at $1,665. Perry M. Watson died at the age of 63 years on May 4, 1884. He was buried at Pine Level Cemetery in Taylor County, Ga. At the time of his death, Perry did not have a will, and I haven’t located an appraisement of his estate. After Perry died in 1884, Martha received a yearly support from his estate through the Court. Here is a record of her support from 1887: Year’s Support Mrs. Martha Watson Georgia Taylor County To W.H. Riley Ordinary Said County The undersigned having been heretofore appointed Commissioners to assess and set apart to Mrs. Martha Watson, widow of Perry M. Watson late of said County dec’d. and her three orphan minors the year’s support to which they are entitled out of the Estate of said Deceased, having had the same under consideration, submit the following report: After taking into consideration the condition of the family and condition of the Estate of said Deceased, assess as necessary for the maintenance and support of said widow and orphan minors for twelve months next ensuing the second day of May 1887 the sum of Seven Hundred and Eighty Four and 25/100 Dollars ($784.25). The said widow, Mrs. Martha Watson has selected out of the Estate of said Perry M. Watson the following named property at the value placed thereon by us and indicated below to-wit: Sheep valued at $100 Cows 14 Valued at $50 $150.00 Hogs (21) valued at $21 20 Bushels Corn valued at $18.75 39.75 Notes Mortgage to Lot No. 1, 12th Dist. Marion County 250.00 2 Horse Wagon valued at $5.00 Buggy valued at $22.00 27.00 Cane Mill Evaporater $5.00 40 gals. Syrup $16.00 21.00 50 pounds Bacon $5.00 5.00 Lot of land No. 14 in 15th District & 19 in 12th Dist. Taylor Co. 200.00 Fractional Lots No. 290, 292, and 294 in 11th Dist. Taylor Co. 62.50 ½ Lot No. 269 in 11th Dist. Marion County 25.00 $784.25 We have also set apart to the said widow for her use all the Household and Kitchen Furniture belonging to the Estate of said Dec’d. From the foregoing it will be seen that the amount or value of the selected by said Widow out of the Estate of her dec’d. husband aggregates the sum of: ---- which taken from the sum assessed for the years support of said Widow and orphans leaves a balance due them of: ---- which said balance can be paid over in money to the said widow by the Administrator on said Estate. Respectfully submitted 16th day of May 1887. James A. Steed J.L. Elliston H.O. Buckner J.H. Morris W.J. Hammock On November 25, 1899, Martha sold four lots of land to her sons Perry and John on the condition that they cultivate, rent out, and manage the property. They also agreed to “support her, furnish all her medicine, doctors and all other necessaries as long as she lived.” A historian of the Mauk, Georgia area, located in Taylor County, shared with me that Perry C. and John L. were bachelors, and bought land and built houses in Mauk, Georgia in the early 1900’s. In the 1900 Census, Martha is listed as living with John and Perry. She was 75 years old at the time. Martha lived to be 82 years old and died on June 25, 1907. She is buried beside Perry at Pine Level Cemetery in Taylor County, Georgia. 1850 Marion County, Ga Census 57th Division, Page 227 Census taken on 8/21/1850 #29 Perry Watson, 26 years, Farmer, Born SC Martha, 23 years, Born SC Elisabith, 4 years, Born SC Mary, 2 years, Born SC Nancy Hart, 16 years, Born SC, (Martha's sister) During this time, Martha Watson's mother, Elizabeth Hart lived several doors up at #25 and a Willis Watson lived at #26. He may be related to Perry Watson. 1860 Taylor County, Ga Census 853 District, Southern Division Census taken on 9/6/1860 #290 Perry Watson, 36 years, Farmer, Value RE $600, Value Pers Est $1,665 Martha, 34 years, Born SC Philistia A.E., 14 years, dau, Born Ga Mary 12, years, dau, Born Ga Thomas, 10 years, son, Born Ga Burwell, 8 years, son, Born Ga Ellen, 4 years, dau, Born Ga Bethel, 1 yr, dau, Born Ga Perry and Martha Watson's next door neighbors at this time were her brothers and their families. Calvin and Ellen Hart and William and Martha Hart. There is also a Jane Johnson with three small children living between the brothers, she may be their sister. 1870 Taylor County, Ga Census Census taken on 8/9/1870 #81 Perry Watson, 45 years, Farmer, Born SC, Value RE $1,000, Value Pers Est $1,000 Martha, 38 years, Born SC, Keeps Home Thomas, 18 years, son, Born Ga, Farmhand Burrell, 16 years, son, Born Ga, Farmhand Ellen, 14 years, dau, Born Ga, at school Bethel, 13 years, dau, Born Ga, at school Savannah, 10 years, dau, Born Ga, at school Perry, 8 years, son, Born Ga John, 6 years, son, Born Ga **Martha's age at the time of this census should be 45 years instead of 38 years. 1880 Taylor County, Ga Census 853 District - Howard Vol 23, E.D. 75, Sheet 9, Line 35 Census taken on 6/5/1880 #69 Perry M. Watson, 65 years, Farmer, Born SC, Parents born SC Martha, 51 years, Keeping House, Born SC, Parents born SC Bethell, dau, 21 years, at home Martha S., dau, 18 years, at home Perry C., son, 16 years, works on farm John L., son, 14 years, works on farm Eldora, dau, 9 years, Laborer At this time, Henry T. Watson and his wife Eliza lived next door to the Watson family. This is the oldest son of Perry and Martha. James and Mary Elizabeth Watson Layfield live in the next house down from Henry. This biography was written by Carla Miles. Email address: grmiles1@bellsouth.net ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. 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