Beriah Andrew Watson (1836 - 1892)

Born 26 Mar 1836 in Lake George, New York

Husband of Phoebe A. (Traphagen) Watson — married 2 Sep 1868 in Hudson City, Hudson County, New Jersey

Died 22 Dec 1892 at age 56 in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey

Biography

Beriah Andrew Watson was in Lake George, New York, on 26 March 1836. His parents were Perry and Marion Watson; he was their third son.^[1]

After early schooling in local schools and some additional education in the home of a Quaker teacher, he taught school himself until he saved enough money to attend the State Normal School at Albany, where he received an academic education. At age 21 he began preparing for a career in medicine in the office of Dr. James Reilly at Succasunna, New Jersey, before enrolling as a student in the medical department of New York University in the fall of 1859. He received a medical degree in 1861, then located as a physician at White House, New Jersey.^[2]

During the U.S. Civil War, he became a physician in the U.S. Army medical service, serving at the Army Hospital at Newark, New Jersey, until March 1863, when he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the Fourth New Jersey Volunteers. Subsequently he was affiliated with the Fourth Artillery Brigade, at Falmouth, Virginia. He was commissioned surgeon with rank of major after the Battle of Gettysburg, and served as operating surgeon of the First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Army Corps, and took charge of the Division hospital.^[3]

After the war ended, Dr. Watson resumed the practice of medicine in Jersey City, New Jersey. He built a large practice in Jersey City and became prominent in the medical profession in New jersey, with a major role in organizing both the Jersey City Hospital and the New Jersey Academy of Medicine. He and another doctor were given credit for securing the passage of a law legalizing the dissections of human cadavers in the state of New Jersey. He was attending surgeon at several hospitals and contributed more than a dozen articles to the published medical literature.^[4]

Beriah A. Watson, was married to Phebe A. Traphagen in Hudson City (which later became part of Jersey City), New Jersey, on 2 September 1868.^[5] Two children were born to their marriage:

1. Myra Moffatt Watson, born 24 July 1869.^[6]
2. Henry Mackaness Traphagen Watson, born 10 May 1871. ^[7]

The 1880 U.S. Census recorded the household of Beria Watson, M.D., age 41, and wife Sarah Watson (name should be Phebe?), age 40, and their children Myra M., age 10, and Henry M. T., age 9, in Jersey City, New Jersey. Others in the household were Henry M. Traphagen, age 72, "Gentleman" and widowed (Phebe's father), and four servants.^[8]

For nearly the last 15 years of his life, Dr. Beriah Watson suffered from diabetes. After several years of ill health, he died in Jersey City on 22 December 1892, survived by his wife and daughter. ^[9] He was interred in Green-Wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York, on 24 December 1892.^[10][11]

Sources

1. ↑ Inglis, page 257.
2. ↑ Inglis, page 257.
3. ↑ Inglis, page 257.
4. ↑ Inglis, pages 257-259.
5. ↑ "New Jersey, Marriages, 1670-1980," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FZPQ-RCP : 31 March 2016), Beriah A Watson and Phebe A Traphagen, 02 Sep 1868; citing Third Ward Hudson City, Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, Division of Archives and Record Management, New Jersey Department of State, Trenton.; FHL microfilm 494,146. The record names the bride's father as H. M. Traphagen.
6. ↑ The Archives of the Reformed Church in America; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Wayne Street Church, Baptisms, Communicants, Marriages, Deaths, 1846-1962. Baptism register. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
7. ↑ The Archives of the Reformed Church in America; New Brunswick, New Jersey; Wayne Street Church, Baptisms, Communicants, Marriages, Deaths, 1846-1962. Baptism register. Accessed at Ancestry.com.
8. ↑ United States Census, 1880. Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Roll: 782; Family History Film: 1254782; Page: 248A; Enumeration District: 009; Image: 0497.
9. ↑ Inglis, pages 260.
10. ↑ Inglis, pages 261.
11. ↑ Find-A-Grave, Dr. Beriah Andre Watson, Memorial #13204161

• Inglis, Roy. Necrology: Beriah Andrew Watson. Annals of Surgery, 1893 Feb; 17(2): 257–261.