Tracing the elusive Louisa Watson of Rensselaerville

Louisa was born in 1808 to Josiah and Bridget Watson of Albany County, NY, their only daughter. Her marriage to widower James D Fisher, a blacksmith from the city of Albany, on September 10, 1842 was announced in the Albany Argus newspaper. Unfortunately James died 5 months later and I was unsure of what happened to Louisa. I found many newspaper items regarding the settlement of his estate but could not find Louisa in subsequent census records. James’ first wife Elizabeth had died in 1839 and it seemed that they had no children, but I was uncertain.

Louisa’s father died in 1844 and her mother in 1849. I was not certain if she had returned to live with them or not as she was identified in those estate notices as “of Rensselaerville”, but did that mean “lives there now” or “had come from”? I looked for Louisa with her brothers – not found.

Then I discovered a fantastic source of Albany County records on the American Ancestors website of the NEHGS. They have a county land deeds index – WOW ! In searching there for Fisher I found that James owned land in the city of Albany (on Hamilton) and in Guilderland, west of the city.  Louisa W Fisher was listed as executrix on the transfer of his deeds in 1846. I also noticed some entries for James W Fisher, but passed them by as I did not recognize the name.  Looking beyond the initial listings for Louisa I noticed two transactions dated 1848 listing her as Louisa W Fisher (now Thompson). Bingo ! Looks like she remarried.

I searched census records for 1850, 1855 (a favorite NY state census which asks for county of birth which can be most helpful for individuals with common surnames – like Fisher and Thompson). Not found. NO 1860, no 1870. No marriage record found for Watson/Fisher and Thompson. Maybe it was a false lead.

Grand Rapids, Michigan 1880: Everett twins

In the 1880 census, Willis and Watson Everett were documented in the 12 person household of New York born Joshua Everett, age 65. The brothers were both listed as age 21 and were working as grocery clerks. I would come to confirm that they were twins born in Hurley, Ulster County, NY.  However, it took some digging to identify their relationship to "Uncle Joshua".

Joshua Morse (1809-1898) had a younger sister, Betsey, who married into the Everett family. Her husband Higby Everett (1808-1890) was the half brother of Willis and Watson's father, John S Everett (1827-1903). So, it seems Joshua considered the boys "nephews" and luckily so;  if he had listed them just as  "boarders" I would never have linked them together.