Evan Thomas WATSON Family, Bowie County Texas Submitted BY: Mark T. Watson Sent: 10/28/01 1:30:23 PM ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** Descendants of Evan Thomas WATSON (1759-1834) who came from KY to Arkansas Territory in the Fall of 1833. Here is a brief summary: Evan Thomas WATSON, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, migrated to Arkansas Territory with his three living sons, Jesse, William and Coleman in the Fall of 1833. They settled in Hickman's Prairie, joining the McKINNEY and AKIN families, among others, who had preceded them. Evan's son, Evan Thomas WATSON, Jr. had come to Arkansas the previous year, and died in 1832 in Hempstead County. The area they settled in was at the time considered Miller County, Arkansas Territory, but the border with Mexico was in dispute. When Texas gained independence as a Republic in 1836, the border was redrawn, and Miller County was abolished. The region of Hickman's Prairie became Red River and Bowie counties of Texas. What had been the eastern portion of Miller County was absorbed into Lafayette County, Arkansas. These events, coupled with the deaths of Evan and his sons Jesse and William by late 1834, has made the search for estate documents concerning this family very challenging, as some records have been found in Red River and Bowie TX, but some are likely held yet in Arkansas. The surviving son of Evan WATSON, Coleman WATSON, resided for a time in Bowie County TX, but removed to Collin County TX by 1850. The descendants of William WATSON remained in NE Texas, and Rebecca DENTON Watson, widow of Jesse WATSON, moved to the Alabama/Mississipi border where her brothers lived. Jesse and Rebecca's son, John WATSON, migrated to Collin County Texas when he turned 21, and sought out his uncle Coleman WATSON to help him apply to the state of Texas for land stemming from his father's early settlement, and alleged headright grant in Texas. The application failed, but John remained in Texas and married Coleman's daughter Lucy WATSON. Lucy died shortly thereafter, and John WATSON remarried to Julia WHITAKER in 1860; it is this union from which I descend. Evan Thomas WATSON (1889-1976) mentioned in the obituary was the great-grandson of William WATSON who died 1834 in Miller County, Akansas Territory. I have 10 "Evan Thomas WATSON" descendants in my database, along with many records and old letters regarding this family. Descendants of Evan Thomas WATSON Generation No. 1 1. EVAN THOMAS1 WATSON was born Jan 11, 1759 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died Jun 15, 1834 in Hickman's Prairie, Miller Co., AR Ter. (Bowie Co., TX). He married LUCINDA "LUCY" COLEMAN Jan 04, 1785 in Albemarle Co., VA, daughter of JAMES COLEMAN and ELIZABETH LEAKE. She was born Abt. 1762 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died Bet. 1820 - 1830 in Kentucky. Children of EVAN WATSON and LUCINDA COLEMAN are: i. NANCY L.2 WATSON, b. Jan 11, 1787, Albemarle Co., VA; d. Aug 08, 1839, Benton Co., MO; m. JONATHAN LAMB, Dec 16, 1802, Madison Co., KY; b. May 07, 1776, Virginia; d. Mar 03, 1842, Benton Co., MO. ii. JESSE WATSON, b. Sep 07, 1788, Albemarle Co., VA; d. Aug 04, 1834, Hickman's Prairie, Miller Co., AR Ter. (Bowie Co., TX); m. REBECCA DENTON, Abt. 1817, Kentucky; b. Abt. 1798, Jefferson Co., TN; d. 1842, Sumter Co., AL. iii. JOHN WATSON, b. Mar 27, 1792, Madison Co., KY; d. Jun 26, 1826, Simpson Co., KY; m. MARY SPEARS, Abt. 1815, Kentucky or Tennessee; b. Bet. 1794 - 1800; d. Aft. 1830, (Simpson Co., KY).. iv. WILLIAM WATSON, b. Nov 11, 1793, Madison Co., KY; d. Sep 04, 1834, Hickman's Prairie, Miller Co., AR Ter. (Bowie Co., TX); m. MARY ELIZABETH "BETSY" SUTNER, Abt. 1816, Kentucky or Tennessee; b. Abt. 1796, Virginia; d. Aft. 1860, (Lafayette Co., AR). v. SUSANNAH WATSON, b. Feb 09, 1795, Madison Co., KY; d. May 10, 1889, Bates Co., MO; m. SAMUEL JOHN COLEMAN, Feb 01, 1814, Madison Co., KY; b. Abt. 1794, Albemarle Co., VA; d. 1833, Todd Co., KY. vi. EVAN THOMAS WATSON, b. Dec 11, 1797, Madison Co., KY; d. Jun 17, 1832, Hempstead Co., Arkansas Territory. vii. COLEMAN WATSON, b. Jan 23, 1800, Madison Co., KY; d. Jul 06, 1876, Grayson Co., TX; m. (1) LUCY M. COLEMAN, Sep 13, 1821, Todd Co., KY; b. Nov 17, 1803, Lincoln Co., KY; d. Apr 13, 1862, Grayson Co., TX; m. (2) JANE H. SLAUGHTER, Nov 26, 1863, Collin Co., TX; b. Abt. 1820. viii. DOWNING WATSON, b. Apr 17, 1803, Madison Co., KY. Regards, Mark Watson Box 4447 Carmel, CA 93921