Samuel Watson
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Samuel J. Watson (1850 - 1909)

Samuel J. Watson
Born in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United Statesmap
Ancestors ancestors
Son of and
Brother of and
Husband of — married 19 Sep 1872 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, USAmap
Descendants descendants
Father of , and
Died at age 58 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 7 Feb 2017
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Biography

Samuel J. Watson was born 22 Oct 1850 at the family homestead at Jefferson and Rector Streets in Perth Amboy, New Jersey to parents William B. Watson, a "Farmer & Lime burner", and Cornelia (Compton) Watson.[1][2][3][4][5] In 1896, the home was described as "one of the largest and handsomest homes in Perth Amboy ; its grounds extensive lawns with shrubbery, and stables in rear; it is of brick, and has been modernized from time to time, making an ideal home."[6]

His father William was an industrious English farmer and alderman for Perth Amboy. He acheived success running a lime kiln which transformed local shellfish shells into more useful lime which was then sold to farmers as a soil conditioner.

Samuel attended school in Perth Amboy and later went to boarding school in Essex, Connecticut.[2]

At 21, he wed New Yorker Ella L. Naylor on 19 Sep 1872 in Brooklyn, New York.[7] They were married by Wayland Hoyt, pastor of the Strong Place Baptist Church in Brooklyn.

Marriage announcement of Samuel J. Watson to Ella Naylor, 21 Sep 1872[8]

The couple had three children:[9]

  1. Helen Naylor Watson (b. 1873)
  2. Cornelia "Nela" C. Watson (b. 1877)
  3. Elizabeth "Beth" Gano Watson (b. 1885)

In 1871, Samuel went into business with his brother-in-law Edward R. Pierce.[6] As "Pierce & Watson", they sold dry goods and men's furnishings, and insurance on the side.[2] Around 1885 or 1886, the pair dropped the furnishings and pivoted to real estate and insurance.[2] By the end of the century, they had "an extensive real-estate and fire-insurance business, and represent[ed] fourteen of the strongest companies in existence."[6]

Samuel and his family lived for a short time with his parents before relocating to the apartments above the shop where they lived for 13 years.[2] Samuel built a new home at 284 High Street.[2]

Daughter Beth told her own granddaughter Paige that Samuel's brother-in-law embezzled from the business, nearly ruining him and his business.[10] In Beth's telling, the financial scare meant that she couldn't go to college and become a teacher (as she had wanted) and was instead pushed to secretarial school to became a book-keeper for the family business.[10]

Samuel may have been a "gentleman farmer".[10] He had some eyesight problems in his age.[10]

He became seriously ill for about 2 weeks and died about 2:30 PM on 30 Jul 1909 "from a complication of complaints" in his home at 284 High Street, Perth Amboy, NJ.[2][11][12] His funeral service was held at his home on 2 Aug 1909, officiated by Rev. James H. Northrup of the First Presbyterian Church in Perth Amboy.[2][12] His body was borne by Harry Conard, J. Bruce Smith, J. J. Deitche, Dr. J. L. MacDowell, Charles K. Seaman, and Louis Briegs, and placed in the family vault at Alpine Cemetery.[2][12][13]

Samuel's estate was probated in Surrogate's Court in Middlesex County, New Jersey on 21 Dec 1909.[14] His will, written 24 Apr 1907, mentions his wife Ella L. Watson, daughters Cornelia C. Watson and Elizabeth G. Watson, and grandchildren Allen W. Bliss, Helen M. Bliss, and Emily L. Bliss.[14]

Sources

  1. ↑ Birth record for Samuel Watson, born 22 Oct 1850 in Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., New Jersey: "New Jersey index to records of births, marriages, and deaths, 1848-1900", Births, marr., deaths Middlesex Co. v. V-W 1848- 1867), FHL #4210089, image 445 of 782, page 6, line 29 ; Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 Samuel Watson's obituary in Perth Amboy Evening News (Perth Amboy, NJ), 31 Jul 1909, page 1.
  3. ↑ "New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ35-262 : 12 December 2014), Samuel Watson, 22 Oct 1850; citing Perth Amboy, Middlesex Co., N. Jersey, reference p.6; FHL microfilm 584,572.
  4. ↑ "New Jersey Births and Christenings, 1660-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZQP-Z4X : 12 December 2014), Samuel Watson, 22 Oct 1850; citing PERTH AMBOY,MIDDLESEX,NEW JERSEY, reference ; FHL microfilm unknown.
  5. ↑ "New Jersey, Births, 1670-1980," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZ93-572 : 8 April 2016), Samuel Watson, 22 Oct 1850; citing Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton.; FHL microfilm 584,572.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Biography of E. R. Pierce in Biographical and portrait cyclopedia of the third congressional district of New Jersey, Philadelphia: Biographical Publishing Co, 1896. Pages 581-582. Available online at FamilySearch
  7. ↑ "New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1940," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:24ZK-GW2 : 20 March 2015), Samuel J. Watson and Ella L. Naylor, 19 Sep 1872; citing Marriage, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States, New York City Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,543,908.
  8. ↑ Marriage announcement of Samuel J. Watson to Ella Naylor in New Brunswick Daily Times (New Brunswick, New Jersey), 21 Sep 1872, page 2. Source: NewspaperArchive.com
  9. ↑ "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9F5-NTV : accessed 21 February 2017), Samuel Watson, Perth Amboy city Ward 1, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 48, sheet 14A, family 273, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,984.
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Recollections of Samuel's great-granddaughter Paige Miller, Oct 2017.
  11. ↑ Death notice of Samuel Watson in Perth Amboy Evening News (Perth Amboy, NJ), 30 Jul 1909, page 1.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Funeral notice of Samuel Watson in Perth Amboy Evening News (Perth Amboy, NJ), 2 Aug 1909, page 1.
  13. ↑ FindAGrave #184162485
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Ancestry.com, "New Jersey, Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991" Middlesex, Wills, Vol X, 1908-1910, images 266-267, pages 501-503.
  • "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFHP-TZ5 : 30 December 2015), Samuel Watson in entry for Wm Watson, 1860.
  • "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MND5-XVQ : 17 October 2014), Samuel J Price in household of William B Watson, New Jersey, United States; citing p. 31, family 263, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,373.
  • "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN8V-8GR : 14 July 2016), Saml J Watson, Perth Amboy, Middlesex, New Jersey, United States; citing enumeration district ED 128, sheet 180C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0790; FHL microfilm 1,254,790.




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It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Samuel by comparing test results with other carriers of his Y-chromosome or his mother's mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known yDNA or mtDNA test-takers in his direct paternal or maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Samuel:

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Images: 7
Obituary of Samuel J. Watson
Obituary of Samuel J. Watson
Probate of Samuel J. Watson's estate
Probate of Samuel J. Watson's estate
Death notice of Samuel Watson
Death notice of Samuel Watson
Funeral notice of Samuel Watson
Funeral notice of Samuel Watson
Obituary of Ella L. Watson
Obituary of Ella L. Watson
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