Which John Watson ?

It’s tough to research a family with a common name like Watson, but so much worse when there is more than one member with a common first name like John.  Which is which?  My Watsons had numerous Johns and Williams. Some were of similar age, some used a middle initial.  But ages are not always recorded correctly and middle initials seem to show up in some records but not in others. Here’s a recap of some of those named John Watson in the family line I’m tracing.

Initially I was working on the children of Wheeler Watson and his wife Sarah Taylor Peckham. They were Rhode Islanders who moved to Rensselaerville, NY in 1800.  Their son John born in 1808 and died in New Jersey in 1891.  Being a prosperous leather tanner in business with his brother-in-law Zadock Pratt, and later a very successful leather manufacturer/merchant in New York City, he got lots of press. 

Less known was his nephew John Watson born in 1841 to his brother Malbone in Catskill, New York.  I first found him in the 1850 and 1860 census records but then lost his trail.  Later, while focusing on family members who served in the Civil War, I thought I might have found him fighting with a unit from Iowa – in fact, killed in the Battle of Nashville with Co H, Iowa 5^th Cavalry.  Was it actually him or another John Watson born in New York?  I found two things that helped confirm his identity.  Firstly, he is buried in the Catskill Village Cemetery with his parents and several sisters as Lt John W. Watson.  Secondly, in 1858 his older sister Harriet had married William Graham, a NY lawyer who was practicing law in Bellevue, Iowa.  So, it was assumed that John followed them.  Then I found this Greene County, NY record that cemented my hunches.

GAR Post # 514 - Catskill  Chartered Sept. 24, 1884 – Disbanded 1924

Second Lieutenant John W. Watson, Company H, 5th Iowa Cavalry. A native of Greene County, Watson moved to Iowa in 1860 to practice law with his brother-in-law. He enlisted on October 26, 1861, as a First Sergeant; was promoted to 2d Lt. on August 1, 1862; was killed at the battle of Nashville on December 15, 1864.

So, that confirmed that Lt. John W. Watson was indeed Malbone’s son and Harriet’s brother. And now we have a bit more information about John working or at least training, as lawyer. He enlisted at age 21 and died at age 23. If I had not known about Harriet living in Iowa I would have discounted the Iowa Civil War record as not likely. It helps to know where the siblings are and to whom they are married!

More John Watsons next time.