Mary Perry Watson (1808-1891) was born in Rhode Island to Capt John and Mary Watson (who, by the way were first cousins, their fathers being brothers). In 1830 she married George Williams Peckham, also a Rhode Island native born 1796. George was a lawyer who moved his family to Albany, New York. Of their 7 children, only 3 lived to adulthood. Sometime prior to 1856 they moved westward to Milwaukee where George purchased 82 acres of land and had a lucrative law practice.
Both surviving sons, George Jr and William, served with Wisconsin Regiments in the Civil War. After the war George studied law and medicine and became an educational leader in Wisconsin. Daughter Isabella married lawyer Benjamin K Miller. William also practiced law, but in Texas. Other than William, the family members remained in Milwaukee for the rest of their lives.
Mary's younger sister, Mercy (1810-1880) followed the path established by their parents and also married a 1st cousin -- "Colonel" John Watson, son of Wheeler Watson and Sarah Taylor Peckham. (Sarah was 2nd cousin to George Williams Peckham noted above -- their fathers were 1st cousins).
"Colonel" John was a very successful leather tanner who had partnered with Zadock Pratt, his brother-in-law and later was involved in leather sales in NYC. He and Mercy had two daughters and no grandchildren. They lived on 5th Avenue and had a home in New Jersey. John's very substantial wealth passed to his daughters who were generous philanthropists .. and to many cousins. The will of younger daughter Emily who died in 1924 created lots of squabbling among relatives including some she'd never met from the deep south branches of the Watson family. The Milwaukee branch of the family was included in the will directly -- seems the sisters had maintained contact despite their geographic distance.
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