hmtl5 John Watson b. 1616 Harby, Newark and Sherwood District, Nottinghamshire, England d. 4 Jun 1650 Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut: Gage and Shook Families

John Watson

Male 1616 - 1650  (34 years)


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  • Name John Watson  [1
    Born 1616  Harby, Newark and Sherwood District, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3
    Gender Male 
    Died 4 Jun 1650  Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [2, 3, 4
    Buried Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Person ID I551  Gage and Shook Families
    Last Modified 6 Nov 2022 

    Family Margaret Smith,   b. 1620, England Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Aug 1683, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 63 years) 
    Married 1644  Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Children 
    +1. Sarah Watson,   b. 16 Feb 1636, Newbury, Essex County, Massachusetts Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Nov 1687, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 51 years)
    Last Modified 5 Nov 2022 
    Family ID F234  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 1616 - Harby, Newark and Sherwood District, Nottinghamshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 1644 - Connecticut Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 4 Jun 1650 - Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Ancient Burying Ground, Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Documents
    JohnWatson_Will01.jpg
    JohnWatson_Will01.jpg
    JohnWatson_Will02.jpg
    JohnWatson_Will02.jpg

  • Notes 
    • Note on Find a Grave
      Immigrant and early settler of Hartford. He was a juror in 1644 and surveyor of highways in 1647. May, 1645 he took the Oathe of Fidelity at the General Court in Hartford.

      The inventory of his estate taken on June 4, 1650 by John White and John Barnard was valued at 126 pounds, 1 shilling, & 6 pence. His will was dated March 26, 1650 as follows:
      I John Watson doe ordayne this my last will and Testament: My debts being paid, my dwelling house and all my moveable goods I give and bequeth to my wife, and the use of my meadow & swamp till my son John Come to Twenty years of age; and my will is that She should bring up my Children; and my will is that my son John Shall have my meadowe and swampe at the age afore mentioned. And further it is my will that my wife should paye to my Daughter sara five pound when she is Eighteen years of age, and to my Daughter Mary also five pound at Eighteen years of age. And further it is my will that my son John shall paye to his Mother five pound when he Come to his Land. And it is my will also that if any of my Children departe this life before they Come to the age that is before mentioned, that then the portion of that that dy shall be equally divided between them that are living. And my will is, in Case that my Children Should not be well Educated or not well used, then my overseers dispose of them so they may be brought up in the fear of God, and my wife to paye what shall be thought meete for bringing of them up. I ordayne my beloved friends John White and Gregory Wolterton to be overseers of this my will. Signed John X Watson. Witnessed by John Moodie and Francis Barnard.

      [2]
    • From Dunham Genealogy, Deacon John Dunham of Plymouth, Massachusetts: 1589-2660 and his descendants. By Isaac Watson Dunham. 1907.
      Page 105-106.
      Watson.
      In the distribution of land, March 11, 1646, John Watson owned numerous parcels upon Connecticut, which are described in the Records. The land on the Great Swamp and the meadows, both of Thomas Judd included. John Watson, b. Harby, Nottinghamshire, Eng., bout 1610. Came early to Hartford, where he was appointed in 1644 a grand juror and the same years, highway surveyor. He held the office two years. 1846 he lived on the lot now known as No. 9 S. Main Street, Hartford, Conn. He afterwards removed to Wes Hartford. He m. Margaret (Peggy) Smith, who he had rescued from drowning in their passage to this country. He d. in 1650. His will was made March 26, 1650 and property inventoried June 4, 1650. He gave house and movable goods and use of meadow land and swamp to his wife. After he death the property was to be equally divided between his children, Joh, Sarah and Mary.

      https://archive.org/details/dunhamgenealogyd00dunh/mode/2up

      [3]
    • From John Watson of Hartford, Connecticut, and his descendants.
      John Watson is supposed to have been a native of England. A tradition among his descendants, says, that one of the passengers on the same vessel with him was Peggy Smith, a young woman who fell overboard, and that he saved her life, and on reaching New England they were married.

      We first find him in Hartford, Onn., in 1644, in which year he was a juror. In 1646, he was highway surveyor; and, as shown by Mr. W.S. Porter, he lived on lot No.9, South Main street in 1646. He afterwards bought land of the original proprietors in the West Division, now West Hartford.

      [1]

  • Sources 
    1. [S72] John Watson: a genealogy, Thomas Watson, 1865, (https://archive.org/details/cu31924032226577/page/n15/mode/2up).

    2. [S8] Find a Grave.

    3. [S73] Dunham Genealogy, Isaac Watson Dunham, (1907).

    4. [S75] Families of early Hartford Connecticut. https://archive.org/details/familiesofearlyh00barb_0/page/n3/mode/2up , Lucius Barnes, Barbour.

    5. [S74] Marriage record.