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Historic Review of the Joseph Watson Building
The Joseph Watson building remained in the Watson family until
July 9, 1929 when Joseph Taylor the executor of the estate of Susan
G Hancock, a late descendant of the Watson family conveyed the
property to the Church Foundation. The building was then used as a
church rectory. The Church Foundation, a corporation and a part of
the Episcopal Church of Langhorne conveyed the Joseph Watson
property to John B. and Jean B h/w of Langhorne Manor on April 14,
1958. John Wood a local attorney operated his law practice there
until the property was sold to Dwight P. and Sue L. Webster on April
30, 2007.
After a complete
renovation, the property is now the home of Webster Insurance
Agency. The Joseph Watson building now lays fully restored to its
original grandeur. There are local rumors that Joseph Watson has
still been seen traveling back and forth from his home and the old
Bank Building on Bellevue Ave now the home of Will Travel. It is
rumored he visits there to see his old girlfriend. Although we have
not seen Joseph we are looking forward to seeing him to get his
reaction to the renovation. We are sure he would/will be pleased.
The Watson Family History
Joseph Watson,
the man for whom this house was built, was born August 25, 1805, son
of John Watson 3rd and Lydia (Blakely) Watson, died
October 25, 1886, in Langhorne. He was buried at Friend’s Cemetery
of Middletown Monthly Meeting. He married on February 27, 1834, by
Friends Ceremony, in Mayor Swifts office, Philadelphia, Elizabeth
Gillam, born September 17, 1810, daughter of Susanna (Woolston)
Gillam of Middletown Township, died January 25, 1879, in Langhorne.
She was buried at Friend’s cemetery of Middletown Monthly Meeting.
Joseph and
Elizabeth were the parents of six children; Franklin, died at four
years of age; William married first Mary Rich and second Caroline
Walton. William was buried at Friend’s cemetery of Middletown
Monthly Meeting between his two wives. Then there was Mary
Elizabeth Watson, unmarried; Susan Gillam Watson, who married
Charles Hancock, son of Joseph and Susan B. Hancock of
Philadelphia. They were an elderly couple when they were married,
they had no children and they were both buried at Friend’s Monthly
Meeting cemetery. Lastly there was Joseph John Watson, married Jane
Wildman, daughter of John and Abigail (Thompson) Wildman of
Langhorne.
The Watson
family in America started with Thomas Watson who was born Ca. 1651
at Strawberryhowe, parish of Cockermouth, County Cumberland,
England, buried at Oxford Graveyard, Falls Township in 1738. They
were married November 4, 1684 or 5 at John Richardson’s house Scotby,
near Carlisle, by Friend’s Ceremony, County Cumberland, England,
Rebecca Marke, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Bewley) Marke of
Bleikell Hall, St. Cuthbert’s parish, County Cumberland, England,
December 24, 1663. They were the parents of Debovak; Mary; Amos;
Nathan; Mark; John and Joseph. Thomas was the son of Thomas and
Jannat (Feddel) Watson.
John Watson, son
of Thomas and Rebecca, was born in 1703 at Strawberryhowe, Falls
Township, died 1764 in Middletown Townsip, married 1729, Ruth
Blakely, daughter of William and Margaret (Wigglesworth) Blakely of
Pennsbury, Falls Township, and they resided in Middletown Township.
John Watson Jr.,
born August 12, 1736 at the “Old Watson Place” Middletown Township,
died March 15, 1779 at “Old Watson Place”, married November 14, 1764
Rachel Paxson, born March 6, 1744, died April 5, 1800 at “Old Watson
Place”, buried with John at Friend’s Cemetery, of Middletown Monthly
Meeting. Rachel was the daughter of Thomas and Jane (Cauley) Paxson
of Buckingham Township.
John Watson 3rd
was born August 1, 1768 at “Old Watson Place”, died January 7, 1844,
buried at Friend’s Cemetery Middletown Monthly Meeting. He married
Lydia Blakey on December 19, 1799. She was the daughter of William
and Sarah (Kirkbride) Blakey of Middletown Township. Lydia died
February 22, 1859. John and Lydia were the parents of this sketch.
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