Major Watson (abt. 1747 - 1847)

Born about 1 Jan 1747 in Tyrone County, Province of New York

Ancestors

Husband of Mary (Robertson) Watson — married Jul 1782 in Canada

Descendants

Died 16 Mar 1847 at about age 100 in Walworth County, Wisconsin

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Laurie Donohue [send private message]

Biography

Private Major Watson served with Tryon County New York Militia during the American Revolution.

Private Major Watson served in the New York Militia in the War of 1812
Service started: 1812
Unit(s): 14th Regiment United States Army
Service ended: 23 February 1816

Buried Linn Hebron Cemetery, McHenry County, Illinois
Find A Grave: Memorial #9421346 Major Watson

Event: Tyron Co. Militia. Military Service. 1777 Ft. Stanwyck, Rome, Province of New York Note: "Was captured by the the Canadian Indians and held hostage by the British. He later returned to New York and took up arms again in the War of 1812 in Ogdensburg, New York was captured and held prisoner. It's a miracle that he lived to be over 100 years of age and traveled at over 93 years of age by ox and wagon to the wilderness of Wisconsin to Lake Geneva, with his daughter & son-in-law." 1843. Source: P Reagan

'Served Mar 1777 - 1780

MAJOR WATSON, RWPA #S38460. served as a private in Captain Joseph McCracken's Company of the First New York Regiment. Series: M805 Roll: 843 Image: 453 File: S38460 Page: 1 of 7.

Surname Given Name State Service. WATSON MAJOR New York War of 1812 Service Records.

Military Service 1812 Note: Benedicts Regiment, New York Militia. Captain Lytles Company, Rifleman, US Volunteers. 14th regiment, US Army. Military Service. 6 Jun 1813.

Note: "Captured in action by his Majesties forces at the Battle of Stoney Creek 6 June 1813 and the Battle of Beaver Dams on 24 June 1813. Interned at Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on 27 August 1813 as prisoner of war". Watson, Major Private #4179.

"On the 2nd of March, I was arrested, by order of Colonel Proctor, and accused of carrying on a private correspondence. On the 8th, without having any trial, ordered to Montreal, and hurried on from Fort George, night and day, although thinly clothed, and the weather very cold. From Kingston to Prescott, I was made to eat with the servants. This course of torture being finished, on the 28th, when I arrived in Montreal, and without being asked any questions, or suffered to ask any myself, I was put into the dungeon, eight or ten feet below the surface of the ground, where I had neither bed nor bedding, chair, bench, or stool; denied pen, ink, and paper, or even the use of a book, for two weeks. The only current of air that passed through my apartment came l'i the bowels of the privy! Here I was kept thirty-three days, when I was, to my great joy, put up with the American prisoners, and with them permitted to remain, till last Monday, when I was liberated by the intercession of Lieutenant Dudley, of the Navy. Colonel Baynes, aid to the Governor, told me the outrage which had been committed on my person was contrary to his orders.
I left fourteen American prisoners in gaol, viz: George H. Rodgers, United States army; Wm. Hollenback, Onis Hooker, Philaster Jones, Harry Jones. Lewis Minor, Zebina Conkey, Phiney Conkey, Canton; Seth Barnes, Camden; Jared Witheril, John Campbell, Schoharie; Major Watson, Ogdensburg; Alexander M'Gregor, Balston, who were kept in close confinement, notwithstanding Colonel Lethbridge and Major Shackleton had pledged their words to Captain Conkey, before he left Montreal for Quebec, that they should have the liberty of the town during the day. But the Captain was gone, when the pledge was either forgotten or disregarded. The prisoners now are not permitted to procure such things as their small stock of money would provide. Sometimes they are half a day without water, and two or three days without wood; and if they complain they are cursed and abused by the gaoler, and told they are only allowed a quart of water in the day. I am requested to represent their situation to General Dearborn, which I intend to do as soon as I arrive at Sackett's Harbor. This is a sketch of the indignities I have had to put up with since the last of January. I am, yours, &c. SAMUEL M'KEEHAN, Surgeon's Mate 2d Reg't Ohio Militia. ALBANY, May 24th, 1813.

SAMUEL M'KEEHAN Surgeon's Mate 2d Reg't Ohio Militia. NIAGARA CoFFEE House, June 4, 1813.
LIST OF PERSONS LEFT IN MONTREAL GAOL.
Geo. H. Rodgers, U. S. army, Wm. Hollenback, Seth Barns,. Gains Hooker, Philaster Jones, Danny Jones,. Jared Witherall, Major Watson, Alex'r M'Gregor,. Lewis Minor, John Campbell, Zebina Conkey,. Pliny Conkey. David Johnston. American State Papers: Documents, Legislative ..., Volume 1; Volume 5; Volume 16. By United States. Congress.

Application for Military Pension. Military Discharge. 7 Jun 1825. Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence Co., New York. Note: Abstracts of Rv. War Pension Files. "Watson, Major, NY line, S38460, appl 7 jun 1825 at Oswegatchie NY aged 72, sol had also srv in the war of 1812 for which service he enl on 1 Jan 1813 at Oswegatchie NY where he then lived, in 1817 he settled in Greene Co NY & in 1824 returned to St Lawrence Co NY, in 1843 sol had moved to Walworth Co in the WI Terr to live with his daughter Clarissa & her husband Daniel Downs who had recently moved there from the state of NY". Pg. 3702-3703.

Petition for Pension. Military
1835
Note: No. 272.
IN ASSEMBLY,.
March 9, 1835.
REPORT
Of the committee on claims, on the petition of Major. Watson.
Mr. M. H. Sibley, from the committee on claims, to which was referred the petition of Major Watson, for a grant of bounty land,.
REPORTED:
The petitioner represents, that on the 11th day of March, 1777, he enlisted, for three years, as a private. soldier in Capt. McCracken's company, of the first New-York regiment, and immediately joined the American army at Fort Edward, where he remained until it was evacuated in September of that year: that, while on the march from that station he was taken sick, and removed to his father's house: that he rejoined the army as soon as he was fit for duty; fought the enemy at the battles of Stillwater and of Monmouth; was taken prisoner by the Indians, on the 23d day of July, 1779, together with Lieut. William Scudder, and thirty-two others, who were subsequently ransomed; but, that the Indians refused to relinquish the prisoner, at any price, and kept him prisoner about two years, when he made his escape at Lachine, and put himself under the protection of Col. Campbell, a British officer at Montreal, where he was detained as a prisoner of war until the peace.
For such services and sufferings the petitioner asks a grant of bounty land, or of money in lieu of it. [Assem. No. 272.] 1.
The petitioner further states, that he made an application for bounty land about forty years ago, which was rejected, because his name was not found on the balloting book, or on any records of the war department: that he had not since ascertained that any evidence of his services existed, until some time in the month of October last, when he was informed, by Isaac Wood, Esq. of Aurora, that it might be found in the office of the Secretary of State.
The facts set forth in the petition are verified by the oath of the petitioner; an affidavit of David Dewey and Elnathan Mason, to the good character of the petitioner for truth, is also produced.
The only record evidence of the petitioner's services is found in Neely's Register, by which it appears that he enlisted in captain McCracken's company of the first New-York regiment, on the 11th day of March, 1777, for three years; deserted, on the 7th day of September in the same year; rejoined the army, on the 5th day of March, 1778; and was taken prisoner by the Indians, on the 23d day of July, 1779.
The petitioner has appeared, personally, before your committee and denied that he deserted from the service, as stated in Neely's Register, but insists that he continued a faithful soldier from the time of his enlistment until he was captured by the Indians; and he has rendered it more than probable, in the minds of your committee, that the note of his desertion was hastily and erroneously made, in consequence of his being compelled, by sickness, suddenly to leave the army, while on its march.
But, after this lapse of time, and because the petitioner's case is not within the terms of the bounty land law, the committee recommend that his prayer be denied; and have instructed their chairman to ask leave to introduce the following resolution:
Resolved, That the petition of Major Watson, for a grant of bounty land be denied, and that he have leave to withdraw his petition.

Documents of the Assembly of the State of New York, Volume 4. By New York (State). Legislature. Assembly.

Employment Note: Worked for Indian Dept. RJDG after the war.
"Watson, Major suspended East District, Augusta, American soldier taken prisoner by our Indians, afterwards in the Indian Dept.".

Newspaper Article
Note: Watson Gave Ford Title Problems
BY PERSIS BOYESEN Oswegatchie and Heuvelton,br /> Historian Nathan Ford on his arrival at Fort Oswegatchie in August 1796 was not only beset by the usual problems of settling a new area but also by the unique problems resulting from the previous French and British administrations. The immediate legal problem for him as the agent for Samuel Ogden, the proprietor, was to remove the squatters who had obtained spurious land tides from the Chiefs of the Oswegatchie Indians. In a letter dated Sept. 7, 1796 Ford wrote to Ogden: "When I wrote you last, I mentioned Major Watson and several other persons who had settled upon the lands up the river. These people have relinquished their pretentions and find that they had better become purchasers. Watson, and several others of them, are at work for me. From what I had heard before, it was Watson I was expecting I hat would be the person who meant to give us trouble, but I am glad to find it is not like to be the case. "But I am well informed that John Smith, or Joseph Smith (who goes by the name of Yankee Smith) is the man who says he will try the title with you. He lives upon the other side himself and keeps a tavern. I believe he is a man of bui little force to set about establishing title to such a tract. I have been told that he was on his v> a> to warn me about in> business, but was taken sick and returned. I have not seen him. It would be well to make an example of him, if we could get him over this side. "Those fellows only want to be treated with promptness, to bring them to terms. I dare say. Smith's object is, to make a fuss, hoping that to get clear of him, you will give him a Deed for a tract, which he is not able to purchase. This I would never indulge him in. It is through such fellows that so much trespass has been committed, and by this Smith particularly. Whether he was called "John Smith" or "Joseph Smith" is further complicated by the fact he was also called "Daniel Smith." At this point research has not pointed the way to further identification unless he is the John Smith, listed in the 1800 census of Oswegatchie and his name follows that of Nathan Ford. Later events show that Major (a name not a title) Watson was the one that caused trouble for Ford and not "Yankee" Smith. The land title of Major Watson was dated Aug. 2, 1792 and the grantors were four representatives from the Indian Village of Oswegatchie. At this point it should be noted that the Indian Village of Oswegatchie was not on the south side of the St. Lawrence but on the north side within the present boundaries of the Town of Augusta, Grenville County, Ontario. This is an important fact that researchers and writers of local history have confused and identified incorrectly. At the time Major Watson purchased his land from the Indians he was a resident of Oswegatchie, the Oswegatchie in Grenville County. His land was located on the south side of the River St. Lawrence "beginning at the northeast corner of a tract of land granted to Daniel Smith and running up along the stream of the river one league or three English miles; thence south east from the Lake or River into the woods three leagues or nine English miles, along the line of said Daniel Smith to the place of Beginning, at the river keeping the breadth of one league or three English miles, from the front of the River with nine miles in depth for the yearly rents to commence on Dec. 1, 1793 the sum of 20 Spanish milled dollars; thirteen and one third bushels of wheat and 33 and one-third pounds of pork." To further substantiate title the four leases obtained on June 10,1794 from the commanding officer of Oswegatchie, Sergeant Richard Porters, a permit to locate and occupy the tracts described in the leases. This document says in part: "This is to certify that John Levingston, Daniel Smith, Major Watson and Jared Seeley have made a purchase of land from the Indians of the Oswegatchie within the Jurisdiction of the British Post of Oswegatchie, I having examined said purchase and find it to be a fair one therefore are authorized to settle, cultivate and improve the same and I as commanding officer of said Post do hereby notify and confirm said purchase and promise the King's protection to them and their associates." Little did Richard Porter know about Jay's Treaty of February 1794 that slated among other items that the live northern Posts then under the British command were to be turned over to the Americans in June 1796. An endorsement on the back of the document conveying the title to Major Watson read: "that the chiefs of the Oswegatchie Nation, have received of Major Watson, Jared Seeley, Daniel Smith and John Livingston an actual payment for the consideration contained in the Deeds executed by us and our fathers, comprehending ten miles on the River St. Lawrence with nine miles back into the woods, we say received the rent in full for the year of our Lord 1797. Canada was the only one of the original representatives of the Indian Village to sign that endorsement. Quoting again from the letter of Sept. 7,1796 of Ford to Ogden; "I can now give you an accurate account of the surveys and claims, made by the people who have leases from the Indians — Yankee Smith begins one mile from the fort, runs 3 miles upon the river and nine miles back. Watson then begins and has the same quantity. Sealey then begins and has a like quantity. Sealey lives upon the other side, he has been here, but I do not know at the time of his pretensions. Watson tells me that Sealey's lease is in New England. I should not be surprised to find that he had sold out to the speculators there." It was Major Watson who was to cause a great deal of trouble with his Indian land title. (Continued Next Week).

Major Watson: Unraveling The Mystery
BY PERSIS BOYESEN
Oswegatchie, Heuvelton Historian
Last week: the Indian land titles granted to claimants which began one mile from the boundary of Fort Oswegatchie along the St. Lawrence River totaling an area of 10 miles along the river and nine miles back into the woods. Part II As the winter approached in late 1796 Nathan Ford returned to Morristown, N.J. and did not arrive back at Oswegatchie until Aug. 9, 1797. He found a very sorry mess. The Canadian claimants had been over the spring before, held a town meeting and elected civil and military officers. They had also opened a land office for selling and settling the lands. Ford wrote immediately to Samuel Ogden: "I, also, found that some of those jockeys had come over and stripped a quantity of bark. I immediately sent Mr. Randolph with a boat with orders to take on board as much bark as he could and burn the residue. He did not arrive at the place before they got off with one boat load, but was fortunate enough to arrive just as they had got the second loaded, which he detained, and after making them assist in loading his boat, he ordered both to sail for the garrison. I gave out that I wanted more bark, and only wait for trespassers to come over and get it for me. If it is possible for processes to be made out, leaving the names to be filled up, and a deputation made, I am clear for having some of the ring leaders in Herkimer jail — this I am sure would settle the business." Early in 1798 Ford again wrote Ogden regarding his anxieties about the leases. He stated that it would "make a fatal hole in Oswegatchie township should the claims happen to be by any means confirmed." The first constitution of the State of New York adopted April 20, 1777 reserved only to the authority and consent of the Legislature of the State of New York the purchase of lands from the Indians. Major Watson was arrested on a charge of having violated the statute by dealing with the Indians for their lands. He had attempted to sell lands to the settlers. He was taken to the county jail at Rome, Herkimer County. He was indicted in June 1799, tried and convicted in June 1800, and because he had been in jail one year, he was released upon signing a release and quit claim and surrendering his papers. As a person who was Major Watson and what were some of his contributions to the settling of Oswegatchie? He was listed in the 1800 census of Oswegatchie with seven persons in his household under the age of 26, three males and four females. Reconstructing the census age groups I pose the picture that the children probably ranged from about age four years to 17 years. Both he and wife are listed in the age group of being over age 26 and under age 45. Later facts show that Major Watson was probably over age 45 and his wife was approximately 10 to 11 years younger. He was also one of the signers of the petition for the erection of St. Lawrence County which was received in the assembly on Feb. 8,1802. In the return of electors of 1801 for the Town of Lisbon when that town embraced Oswegatchie, Major Watson was reported as renting real estate worth at least 40 shillings per annum. The 1810 census of Oswegatchie shows him living in the town in that section known as Edwardsville. Morristown was organized from Oswegatchie in 1821. The Revolutionary War pension petition of Major Watson is very informative. On June 7,1825 he petitioned the Court of Common Pleas of St. Lawrence County and from that document some interesting biographical facts are obtained. At that time he was 72 years old (born in 1753). He enlisted in March 1777 at Salem, Washington County, N.Y. in the company commanded by Captain Joseph McCracken in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Goose Van Schaick of the First Regiment of the Line of the State of New York. He continued to serve in the same corps until July 25, 1779 when he was taken prisoner by the Indians at Fort Stanwix and carried to Montreal in Canada and detained there as a prisoner until the peace, when he returned to the State of New York. That sentence revealed to me a whole series of events that pertained to this man that I had found in other sources. An examination of the Rolls of New York in the Revolution revealed the name of Major Watson as an enlisted man under the command of the same men as lie related to the court in 1825. Captain Alexander Fraser, in • command of the Indian forces at Foort Oswegatchie, wrote Col. Haldimand on July 29,1779: "I have the honor to report to your excellency the return of Mr. Lorrimier and his scout from Fort Santwix with 29 prisoners and three scalps. The party was surprised in mowing grass." The coincidence of the information from the 1 petition of Major Watson and that from the letter of Capt. Fraser points to the fact that Watson saw Fort Oswegatchie in the summer of 1779 as a prisoner of the British and then sent to Montreal. Mr. Lorrimier was the son of the French commandant of Fort La Presentation under the French regime, and his widow Catherine also took issue over a land title with Mr. Ford. I found a marriage record at Montreal in July 1782 by the Rev. Mr. D. C. Deisle for Major Watson and Mary Robertson. AH evidence points to this being that of the same Major Watson of Oswegatchie when we find in the 1820 census of the Hague (Morristown) the name of Mary Watson as head of a household. Who was Mary Robertson? A great deal of research needs be done. Is it coincidence that Captain Daniel Robertson commanded a company of Royal Emigrants at Fort Oswegatchie at the same time as Major Watson was here as a British prisoner? Was Mary Robertson a daughter of Captain Daniel Robertson? In the year 1779 there were two commanding officers at Fort Oswegatchie. Captain Alexander Fraser was from the Indian Department in charge of the Indian forces and Captain Robertson commanded the Fort and its attachment of Royal Emigrants. Captain Robertson commanded here from May 1779 until July 1782, when he was transferred to take command at Fort Michilimackinac. (Continued Next Week).

Major Watson Was Prisoner Of War
Edjtor's Note: Last week, Major Watson's Revolutionary War experiences were related, and that he was probably a British prisoner at Fort Oswegatchie in 1779.
BY PERSIS BOYESEN Oswegatchie, Heuvelton Historian
On June 7, 1825 before the open Court of Common Pleas of St. Lawrence County, Major Watson petitioned for a pension as a Revolutionary War soldier under the provision made by the Act of Congress passed March 18,1818 and also that of the Act of May 1, 1820. The Act of 1818 concerned officers and enlisted men of the Continental Establishment of the Army and Navy who were in "reduced circumstances." The period of service required was for nine months at any time or service to the end of the war. The Act of 1820 required all pensioners then on the roll to file a schedule of property in their possession. In pursuance of the Act of 1818 Major Watson declared before Myrtle B. Hitchcock the clerk of the court that he was 75 years old and had enlisted for the term of three years in March 1777 at Salem, N.Y. in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Van Schaick of the Continental Establishment. In pursuance of the Act of 1820 he said that since the date of March 18, 1818 he " had not by gift, sale or in any manner disposed of my property or any part thereof with the intent to diminish it so as to bring myself within the provisions of the Act passed in 1818." He further stated, " I have not nor has any other person in trust for me any property or securities, contracts or debts due to me nor have I any income nor any property other than my clothing and no real or personal estate whatever, my clothing excepted." He by occupation was a farmer but was unable to labor hard. His wife, 61, was living with him and was in poor health. None of his children were living with him and were unable to contribute to his support. Apparently Mr. Watson (Major was a name not a title) did not receive the pension due him after making the petition for again in open court of Common Pleas on Nov. 23', 1826 he had to make more declarations as to the reasons why he did not make an earlier application for pension. That governmental red tape was certainly exasperating especially when Mr. Watson so much needed the small amount it provided but the second petition revealed points of history that would have been lost. Mr. Watson related that he was a resident of the Town of Oswegatchie at the beginning of the War of 1812 and had been so resident for upwards of 20 years. That really pinpoints his having been a resident since 1792 and that makes him actually the oldest continuous settler and the first permanent settler of the town regardless of the fact of his not being legally right in settling here. On Jan. 1,1813 he enlisted for one year in the volunteer Rifle Company commanded by Captain John Lytje under Major Benjamin Forsyth's command at Ogdensburg, where Major Forsyth was then stationed. He was in Captain Lytle's company when on the morning of F e b . 22, 1813 the British captured Ogdensburg and he was taken prisoner and carried to Canada. Within a few days he and the other Americans captured were sent to Montreal and imprisoned in the jail there for four months when he was sent to Quebec and then imprisoned on a transport ship. About the middle of September he with 20 other American prisoners were shipped to Halifax and shortly after to Portsmouth, England. From there they were sent to Chatham and put on board a prison ship in that harbor and detained as hostages until October 1815, when he with the other prisoners were sent home to the United States in a cartel exchange. They landed at Norfolk Feb. 23, 1816 and proceeded to Baltimore and were there paid off. Hough's "History of St. Lawrence County," in relating the account of the capture of Ogdensburg, says "Fifty-two prisoners were taken over to Canada, where citizens were mostly paroled and allowed to return home, excepting those who had been found under arms. Joshua Conkey and his men, Sergeant Rogers, Lieutenant Baird and a few others, believed to be about twenty, were sent as prisoners of War to Montreal and thence by water to Halifax, until exchanged, except fourteen, of whom Rogers was one, who escaped from jail at Montreal and returned Home. (Now the immediate project is to discover the names of the other 19 persons who were sent to England.) Shortly after his arrival at Baltimore he was taken sick with a fever and was unable to do anything for 11 months. After having spent all his money he endeavored to work his way home on the St. Lawrence. (Continued Next Week).

Major Watson Finally Gets War Pension
Editor's Note: Last week, Major Watson's experiences as a war of 1812 prisoner were related.
BY PERSIS YATES BOYESEN;
Major Watson with 20 other of his fellow prisoners who were also captured at the Battle of Ogdensburg on Feb. 22, 1813 were returned to the United States on Feb. 22, 1816 and paid off at Baltimore. Shortly after his arrival there he was taken ill with a fever and was an invalid for 11 months. After having spent all his money he attempted to work his way to his home in St. Lawrence County. In the month of March 1817 he found employment in the Town of Hunter in Greene County, New York. He worked for three years in getting out lumber and the greater part of the time he was in the woods. If ill luck could strike anyone with such regularity- it was persistent in following Major Watson. His employer in Greene County failed and he never received payment of his wages. He then found employment in a glass factory. He said that the reason for not applying for his pensions for Revolutionary War services until June 1825 was that he had never received any information or had knowledge of the law granting pensions until April 1824 when he was informed of it at Catskill in Greene County. He then determined to return to St. Lawrence County as soon as he could and to make application to be placed on the pension list. He arrived at his former resident in the Town of Oswegatchie (probably now in the area of Morristown) in May 1825 after an absence of over 12 years. He made his application at the first court held after his return home. He further related that he had had no property since his return in the cartel and was poor when he enlisted. The first petition presented June 7, 1825 was signed with his mark. The second petition of 1826 carries Major Watson's signature. That letter petition was witnessed on Nov. 23, 1826 by Thomas Hill who certified, "I am acquainted with the said Major Watson, having known him in many years and that he is a man of truth and credibility." Thomas Hill was listed as a resident of the Town of Morristown in 1820. Major Watson's pension commenced on Nov. 23, 1826 at the rate of eight dollars per month. The next record found concerning Major Watson is in the 1840 census when he is listed as being a resident of Dewitt, Onondaga County, New York in the household of Daniel Downs. The travels of Major Watson are not over yet. The experiences of this man are unbelievable, a prisoner of war by the British in 1779 and again in the War of 1812 and both instances have connections with Oswegatchie. On Sept. 9, 1843 he appeared before a justice of peace in the County of Walworth, Wisconsin territory in regards to pension payments not received and that he desired to be placed on the pension roll of Wisconsin territory. In that petition he stated he had not drawn nor received the pension due him from March 4,1843 to Sept. 4,1843. That is the probable date of migration from Onondaga County to Wisconsin. He gave his reasons as removing from the State of New York that he was a widower and of the age of 97 years and for the last 15 years had lived with his son-in-law, Daniel Downs, who married his daughter, Clarissa. Daniel Downs and his wife had recently removed to the Territory of Wisconsin to reside permanently and he, having no other home except in this family, removed with and intended to reside with them. This petition is signed with his mark. So from approximately 1828 he had resided with daughter, Clarissa, and one must assume that Mrs. Watson died about this time. The death date of Major Watson is not known. A note on one of his pension papers indicates his pension payments in Wisconsin were from March 4, 1843 to Feb. 2, 1844. Only one child is known, Clarissa. Who were the other children of Major Watson? The 1800 census indicated that there may have been seven children, three boys and four girls. The 1810 census shows him in the Town of Oswegatchie and the age groups indicate a married daughter or son with family residing with him. There is also a Joseph Watson listed in that census and he is of the age group to have been the eldest son of Major Watson. The 1820 census of Morristown enumerates Mary Watson next to Joseph Watson and the age groups indicates that Mary probably had a. married child with family living with her. 1976 OJ.

First Regiment Note: From 1st New York McCracken's Co. 1775 site and Wikipedia.

After coming across this regiment as being the one McHenry County's Major Watson (his first name, not rank) served in during the American Revolution, I did some more research on it.

The 1st New York Regiment was authorized 25 May 1775 and organized in new York City from June to July under the command of Colonel Alexander McDougall. Their enlistment ended 31 December 1775. The second 1st New York Regiment was organized 19 January 1776, again under McDougall.

It participated in the invasion of Canada, Battle of Valcour Island, Battle of Saratoga, Battle of Monmouth, the Sullivan Expedition and the Battle of Yorktown.

They were furloughed 2 June 1783 at Newburgh, New York and disbanded 15 November 1783.

From Wikipedia.

On 21 November 1776, Captain Joseph McCracken was placed in command of the First Company of the First Regiment. In December of that year, some contingents of the First participated in Washington's Crossing of the Delaware River to attack the Hessians at Trenton.

In 1777, the regiment did garrison duty at Albany and Fort Schuyler in New York. During August of 1777, the First New York accompanied General Benedict Arnold for the relief of Fort Schuyler. After the British withdrew from their planned attack on the fort, six companies remained to reinforce the garrison.

That fall, 24 men were detached as General Philip Schuyler's "Guards" where they remained for five years.

In November 1777, the regiment was finally reunited to go into winter quarters at Schenectady, New York.

In May 1778, the regiment marched south to Valley Forge in Pennsylvania to join Washington and were placed under the command of Brigadier-General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

On 28 June 1778, they met British General Clinton's army retreating across Jersey country to New York City. A rear guard action between the two armies became known as the Battle of Monmouth in New Jersey. The First NY served on the American left in the action. Here, Captain Joseph McCracken had his left arm shot away by a British cannonball.

He was promoted to major and on May 29th was transferred to the 4th New York regiment.

The 1st spent the rest of 1778 encamped at White Plains and Peekskill on the Hudson River.

In the spring of 1779, the 1st NY marched west along the Mohawk River and returned again to Fort Schuyler where they relieved Col. Peter Gansevoort's 3rd NY Regiment. Much of 1779 was spent campaigning against the Iroquois Indian settlements in the area.

This was in the central New York and Finger Lakes region and in response to British and their allied Indian attacks on American settlements in the Mohawk and Schoharie valleys.

On 18 April 1779, the regiment attacked the British garrison at Oswegatchee, west of Fort Ontario, but failed. On April 21st, Goose Van Schaick led a successful expedition against the Onondaga Indian settlements.

During the rest of the summer, Tory and Indian forces attacked the garrison at Fort Schuyler, capturing several soldiers of the 1st NY including Lt. William Scudder, later reported as a prisoner of war in Canada. This would most likely be when Major Watson was captured and also held in Canada.

--DaCoot

http:/cootershistorything.blogspot.com/search/labelMajor%20Watson

NY in the Revolution.
Military Service.
1898(published)
Hudson, Mohawk & Schoharie Co.
Note:
Watson, Major. Watson, Joseph. Watson, Thomas. First Regiment. Enlisted men.

Immigration: Bef 1783.
Maitland, Augusta, Grenville, Ontario, Canada.
Note: Maitland: A Very Neat Village Indeed. ,br /> "Gov. Halimand and Capt. Justus Sherwood both signed Major Watsons location ticket... for the west half of lot 32, first concession, in 'segneirie of number seven', as Augusta Twnsp. was first known. Before 1783 was in Maitland, Augusta, Grenville, Ontario, Canada.

Watson was arrested on a charge of having violated the statute by dealing with the Indians for their lands; taken to the county jail at Rome; indicted in June 1799, tried and convicted in June 1800, having laid in jail a year, and was released upon his signing a release and quit claim, and surrendering his papers.

History tells that Major Watson was released from jail in June of 1800, thus by his being named head of a household we surmise that the census of 1800, town of Oswegatchie was taken after the month of June.

Census
1810
Oswegatchie, St. Lawrence Co., NY.
Wadson, Major
Series: M252 Roll: 36 Page: 23.

Census"
1830
Jefferson Co., NY.
Note: M Watson.

Census
1840
Onondaga Co., N.Y.
Watson, Major
Watson, Mary
census of petitioners
1 Jun 1840.
Dewitt, Onondaga Co., NY.
Census of Pensioners - Revoluntionary or military service.
Printed by Blair & Rives 1841.
Copied by S. Goodfellow for NY Gen. web site.

Names ages Heads of family where resided June 1, 1840 Onondaga County.
DeWitt
Major Watson 93 Daniel Downs

Major Watson The name is not a title, and as a pensioner he resided with Daniel Downs in 1840, being then 93 years old. He served under Col. Goose Van Schaick, in the 1st Regiment, N. Y. Line, and does not appear in the census of 1790. Revolutionary Soldiers of Onondaga County, Pg. 34.
He left St Lawrence County in 1840 and for a short time was in the Town of Dewitt, Onondaga County NY (shows in the 1840 Veterans Census) and arrived in Wisconsin in 1841. Travel was by Ox and wagon and he was 93 years of age at that time. PatR.

Residence 1802
St. Lawrence Co., NY.
Note: Major Watson was one of the petitioners to make St.Lawrence a new county.
1835
St. Lawrence Co., NY.
Note: The pension roll of 1835, Volume 1 By United States. War Dept.
Major Watson.
Rank - Private.
Allowance - 96.00.
Recieved - 699.16.
Descrip. O service - New York line.
Placed on Pension Roll - 4 Jan 1827.
Age - 81.

1843, 44 & 46.
Note: Listed on voters list for St. Lawrence Co.:
Major Watson 7 nov 1843.
Major Watson 5 Nov 1844.
Major Watson 3 Nov 1846.

Lived with Downs 1828-1843.
Note: William Downs.
Birth: Sep. 12, 1830.
Ogdensburg, St. Lawrence County, New York, USA.

Obituary
Revolutionary Soldiers.—The last winter carried off many of the veterans. Major Watson died lately in Wisconsin, aged 100 5 years 3 months and 16 days. He enlisted in Col. Van Schaick's regiment, in the New York line, the second year of the war, and was in active service to the close of it. New York Sun, Saturday Morning 15 May 1847

DIED - In Linn, Walworth county, Wisconsin, March 16.1847, Maj. Watson, aged 100 years. 3 months and 16 days. Mr. W. was a patriot of the revolution, and a hero in our last war with Great Britain. He was born in Ireland, and came to this country at the early age of seven years. He listed in Col. Van Schaick's regiment, in the New York line, in the second year of the war of the revolution, and was in active service or a prisoner with the enemy until its close. Image 3 of The New York herald (New York [N.Y.]), May 15, 1847

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/

• http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/

• Patricia Regan - Professional Genealogist

• https://www.loc.gov/resource