Captain Luke Watson

Male Abt 1635 - 1705  (~ 70 years)


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  • Name Luke Watson 
    Title Captain 
    Birth Abt 1635 
    Gender Male 
    Death 06 Nov 1705  Cedar Creek Hundred, Sussex Co., Delaware, USA Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Notes 
    • First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodsridge Olde East New Jersey part 5

      VII. LUKE WATSON, COMMONWEALTH BUILDER

      This renowned, distinguished, original patentee of the Elizabethtown grant belonged to many colonies of the Period, notably, Connecticut, Long Island, (N. Y.), New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania, and as an influential citizen, during each place of residence, and a public official of prominence, he made a definite and certain contribution to those Great Beginnings of American History, in all of which his career shown forth most brilliantly in New Jersey and Delaware. Balanced against his popularity at E., he can be justly called the founder of Whorekill, (Delaware).

      He received a conveyance of land, at E., under survey, "Jan. 21, 1676, LUKE WATSON, 400 acres." In 1666, he was made Constable of Middlesex County, which entitles him to be designated as sheriff of that jurisdiction.
      (CLAYTON, U. & M. pp. 58 and 177).

      "Aug. 24, 1668, LUKE WATSON, was commissioned Lieut. of military company, at E., then organized of which John Woodruff was Ensign," (idem, p. 52).

      He gave the name to "LUKE WATSON'S POINT," near E. to which many references in the records, (idem, pp. 26, 29, 31, 34 and 37).

      Of course, the best story of his career at E. is in HATFIELD, (sev. ref., and partic. p. 62), which shows that before 1673 his wife was named Sarah).

      LUKE WATSON'S ORIGIN:

      LUKE WATSON, of Connecticut, Long Island, Elizabeth, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania, was undoubtedly a son of JOHN WATSON, dec'd. bef. 1638, and who had a dau. ANNA WATSON, by a former wife, because his then wife, ELIZABETH, was called "mother-in-law" (step-mother) to ANNA WATSON in 1639, and brother, THOMAS WATSON, since ANNA WATSON was called latter's "niece."

      In 1639 the mother, ELIZABETH, was the wife of JOHN GRAY at Quinapeage (L), i.e. New Haven, Conn.

      THOMAS WATSON was a planter, at Duxbury, Mass., Nov. 28 (7) 1639, when about to embark for England.

      Nov. 8, 1638, ELIZABETH WATSON, widow, Plymouth, assigned her servant Henry Blagge to THOMAS WATSON, (POPE, p. 482).

      LUKE WATSON'S WIVES:

      (It is said there was a first one, dau. of BARNABAS WINES, of E., not found by the writer.)

      Since LUKE WATSON was certainly m. bef. 1673, in E. N. J., to SARAH, and m. (2) to MARGARET SMITH, dau. of Captain Henry Smith of Delaware, before he m. (3), the widow, of RICHARD PAINTER, formerly of E., he must have had a first (or second) wife, SARAH, now discoverable by the writer to have been an
      unknown dau. of ISAAC WHITEHEAD, "CLARKE" of E., who died there and was probably buried in the WHITEHEAD burial plot at E. But, when he reached Delaware, LUKE WATSON, m. (2) before 1682, MARGARET SMITH, dau. of CAPTAIN HENRY SMITH, for, in RECORDS OF SUSSEX COUNTY, (p. 79, foot-note), as "the deft pleads that the Land is his father-in-law, HENRY SMITH." By her he had a dau., Mary, b. as late as 1685, "daughter of Luke and Margaret Watson," (idem, p.137).

      In 1687, "SARAH" was SARAH PAINTER, (widow of RICHARD PAINTER, senior). (Idem, p. 137), but soon she became the 3rd wife of LUKE WATSON, for-- "May 9th, 1706. SARAH WATSON, late Widow & Exec of CAPT. LUKE WATSON, Decd and former Widow and Adminx of RICHARD PAYNTER, Senr. Taylor, Decd (Intestate) being Sumoned to this Court at the Complaint of her son, RICHARD PAYNTER * * * (mention made of his Eldest brother JOHN." (Idem, p. 129.) It is very probable that it was this SARAH, who was a dau. of BARNABAS WINES of E., (supra).

      It is not difficult to trace the PAYNTER (or PAINTER) relationship, as RICHARD PAYNTER was one of the orig. 80 "Associates" of Elizabethtown, (vide, ante, PART ONE, p. 102), in 1665, together with LUKE WATSON, JOHN GRAY and BARNABAS WINES, all four of whom were interrelated by both blood and marriage. See account of RICHARD PAYNTER in HATFIELD, (p. 88), where he is called "TAILOR," identifying him with the above. (Vide, post, under each of the above names, for further particulars, pp. indic.) The JOHN WINES (or VINES), who appears in the Delaware records was related, a son of BARNABAS WINES of E. Also, the SAMUEL GRAY was a half-brother to LUKE WATSON.

      By his first wife, SARAH WHITEHEAD, LUKE WATSON, had, at least four sons, LUKE WATSON, JR., JOHN WATSON, SAMUEL WATSON and ISAAC WATSON (vide, his will, post, p. indic.). By his sec. wife, MARGARET SMITH, he had a dau., MARY WATSON, (supra), and by his third wife, SARAH, he had a dau., ELIZABETH WATSON, (supra), and no doubt, other children, deceased in 1705.

      This ELIZABETH WATSON, (supra), became first wife of Thomas Coddington, and as his widow, m. 1700, ANTHONY MORRIS, 2d., of Burlington, N. J., and Phila., (ABRIDG. COMPEND., Vol. I, p. 985; Vol. II, p. 408; and, Vol. III, p. 759).

      LUKE WATSON'S WILL:

      Though certain children may have previously deceased, the six living are shown by the 1705 "Last Will and Testament of Luke Wattson, Snr., Esq.

      In the Name of God, Amen: I Luke Wattson Senr Esq of Lewis Town in the County of Sussex in the Territories of the Province of Pennsylvania being sick and weak of body, but of sound and perfect mind and memory, praise be therefore given to Almighty God for the same, doe make this my last will and
      Testament in manner and form following vizt First and above all I give and bequeath my Immortall Soul into the hands of Almighty God that give it me Trusting and assuredly believing that in and through the Meritorious Death and Passion of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to receive full and free pardon of all my past sins and offences and as for my body I committ it to the earth from whence it was taken to be decently buried at the descretion of my Executrix hereafter named and my worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God in this vain and transitory world to bless me with all I give and dispose thereof as followeth vizt. Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my Sons Luke, John, Samuel and Issac Wattson five shillings money of Pennsylvania and to my Daughter Elizabeth now wife of Antoney Morris Senr of Philadelphia The sum of five Shillings like money to be paid them within three months after my decease by my Executrix hereafter named Item whereas by a former covenant between myself and Johnothan Graves Senr late of this County deceased I am held and obliged to enfeoff him and his heirs &c' with a good right and title of in and to One Hundred Acres of Land being part of a tract of Five Hundred Acres of land situate Lying and being in Sussex County aforesaid and called by the name of Wattsons Choice which is not yett made over to him nor them, I hereby Therefore acknowledge to have received a full consideration for the Same and doe by this my last Will and Testament Give full power and authority to my Executrix to make over enfeoff and alienate One Hundred Acres of the said Tract of land unto the heirs of the said Johnothan Graves upon demand and on That side of the land next
      adjoining to the Plantation of Johnothan Winne, Taking in the plantation formerly cleared by said Graves, and as near as can bee to have it to their charge Laid out four square ITem As to the remaining part of the said five Hundred Acres of Land I give and bequeath it unto my well beloved Now wife
      Sarah and my Daughter Mary, that I had by my wife Margery Daughter of Capt. Henry Smith and all the rest and Residue of my now possessed Estate both real and personal of whatt nature quality or kind whatsoever any manner of wayes due, oweing or belonging and appertaining to mee I give and bequeath
      as well as the above recited four hundred acres of land after my funerall charges and just debts paid and discharged unto my said well beloved wife Sarah and my said Daughter Mary to be equally divided between them their heirs and assigns forever hereby Nominateing ordaining Constituteing &
      appointing my Sd. Loving wife Sarah Wattson my full and whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and my son in law Richard Paynter and Justice Phillip Russell both of Lewis Town above to be overseers of this my last will and testament to bee aiding and assisting to my said Executrix and
      Daughter Mary hereby revoking and Disannulling all other and former wills either by word of mouth or in writing by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this onely to stand for and bee my last will and testament In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the Sixth day of September in the Fourth of the Reign of our Soveraigne Lady Queen Anne over England ect Annog Dom 1705.

      Luke Wattson (SEAL)

      Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us Phillip Russell, Dorethy (her mark) Givens, Sarah (her mark) Russell, Anna O (her mark) Corbett, Roger Corbett."

      "STATE OF DELAWARE | ss. SUSSEX COUNTY |

      I, Frank L. Joseph, Register for the Probate of Wills and Granting Letters of Administration, &c., for Sussex County, in the State of Delaware, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the last Will and Testament of Luke Wattson, Senr., Esq., as recorded in Will Book No 1, on Page 52, etc. as the same remains on file and of record in this office.
      IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal, at Georgetown, this 23rd day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty-two.

      (Signed) Frank L. Joseph,

      (SEAL) Register."

      The foregoing will is now published for the first time, but the full elucidation of his estate, widow and heirs is to be found in the title and text of "Petition (Feb. 24th, 1747), to divide the lands of SARAH, WIDOW OF LUKE WATSON OF DELAWARE," as given in exact language: (Notes and Queries: PENNA. MAG., Vol. 18, pp. 170-1). Plantation - "Fairfield"

      Information obtained from Dover Archives..."Capt. Luke Watson & His Descendants" by Charles Pettit

      A tract of 200 acres near the home plantation of 'Fairfield' was set aside for Samuel, son of Capt. Luke Watson, out of the Marsh Patent. Luke Watson and his family, consisting of wife Sarah and children, came to Lewes, DE between December 6, 1676 and November 6, 1677

      First land purchase in DE was on November 6, 1677 and September 7, 1679 a grant was made to him of 1000 acres and to his four sons, John, Luke Jr., Samuel & Isaac, 250 acres each.

      A patent was granted him by William Penn , February 14, 1684, called the Marsh Patent, for 2049 acres of land and marsh, extending along Delaware Bay from Slaughter Creek to Prime Hook Creek and from 1 to 2 miles back from the bayside.

      Other patents: Fairfield on south side of Prime Hook Neck and tracts in the present Milford and Mispillion Hundreds, the town of Houston being on one of these sites.

      Capt. Luke Watson, along with three men, purchased land from the Indians in 1668 and founded Elizabethtown, New Jersey, the oldest city in NJ.

      Some data concerning Luke Watson can be found in the Historical and Genealogical Societies of Philadelphia, PA..
      Notes for Sarah (Spouse 1)
      First Settlers of Ye Plantations of Piscataway and Woodsridge Olde East New Jersey part 5, Page 729

      NOTES AND QUERIES:

      PETITION TO DIVIDE THE LANDS OF SARAH. WIDOW OF LUKE WATSON OF DELAWARE.

      To the Worshipfull Jostiees of the Orphans Court now holden in and for Kent County upon Delaware. The Petition of Dogood Painter and Luke Shields, and Adam Fisher and Lidia his Wife.

      Humbly Sheweth,

      That whereas Luke Watson late of Sussex County deceased, died seized in his Demean as of Fee of a Tract of Land called Hunting Quarter lying in Kent County afsd laid out But & Surveyed to him for Fifteen Hundred Aeres or thereabouts by Virtue of a Warrant bearing date the 21st day of ye 12th month Anne Dommini 1681--and he by his last Will hearing date the 6th day of Septembr Anno Dom 1705, after other Legaeys therein bequeathed Devised all the Residue of his Estate real & personal to his Wife Sarah and his Daughter Mary Watson equally to be divided & which sd Devise the said Land was included having never been before disposed of by the said Testator. After the death of the said Testator the said Sarah sold her One moiety of the said Land to Berkly Cod and Mary his Wife to which Mary the said Moiety,
      after the death of the said Berkly Cod Descended remained by Survivorship, and after her Death the same discended to her Grand-Daughter and heir at Law Mary the Wife of William Till Gent between whom and the Heirs of the said Sarah partition was made & Agreed, in manner following (to wit) the Upper Moiety of the said Tract to the Heirs of the said Sarah, and the lower Moiety or half part thereof to the said Heir of Mary Cod, afterwards sold to Andrew White. And whereas the said Sarah Watson on or about the year of Our Lord Seventeen Hundred & Eight died Intestate Seized of One undivided Moiety of the said Tract of Land by whose death the same discended to her Children (Vizt) Two Fourth parts thereof to her eldest Son John Painter, And One Fourth part to her Son Richard Painter and the One other Fourth part Residue thereof to her son Thomas Painter; according to the Laws of this Government. And whereas Richard, Second Son of the said Sarah by his last Will d??ised his part of the said Land to his Wife Margret and his Son Dogood Painter your Petit??, and the said Margret, wife of the said Richard, died Intestate whereby her one Eighth part of the Sd Moiety of the said Land called Hunting Quarter discended to her only Son & heir Lake Shields Your Petitioner. And whereas Thomas the Third Son of the said Sarah died Intestate and Left only Two Daughters to wit Lidia the wife of Adam Fisher, and Mary the Wife of Peter Hopham, to whom the death of their said Father. His said fourth part of the Moiety of the said Land dis??. And whereas there has never been any partition or Division of the said Sarah Watson's Moiety of the said Land between the Heirs of the said Sarah, or their heirs or Assigns, but the same hath been hitherto holden in Common, and undivided. And Two Fourth parts of the said Moiety of the said Land pertains to the Heirs & Representatives of the afsd John Painter to have in Severalty: And One Eighth part thereof to yor Petitioner Dogood Painter as Devised as afsd of his Father Richard as afsd
      and One Eighth part to your Petitioner Lake Shields Son of Margret . . .late Wife & devisce of her said Husband Richard Painter, as heir of his said Mother: And One other Fourth part of the said Moiety residue to Adam Fisher and Lidia his Wife (in Right of the said Lidia) and to Peter Hopham and Mary
      his Wife (in Right of the said Mary) to Each one Moiety of the said Fourth part as Daughters and Coheirs of Thomas Painter afsd to be held in Severalty.
      Therefore YOR Petitioners Humbly pray that your Worships would please to appoint. Five Sufficient Freeholders under such Qualifications as the Law direets (they or any Three of them) to make Division of the said upper Moiety of the said Tract of Land called Hunting Quarter, between the said Heirs and Representatives of the afsd John Painter. Richard Painter and Thomas Painter (Sons of the said Sarah Watson) according to the Directions purport and Intent of the Act of Assembly in such case lately made and provided, to be held in Severalty.
      And the said Adam Fisher and Lidia his Wife, One of the Daughters & Coheiress (with Mary the Wife of Peter Hopham, another Daughter & Coheiress )of the afsd Thomas Painter. ALSO Humbly pray That the said Five Freeholders or some others in like manner to be qualified: may be appointed to make
      Division of that Fourth part of the said Moiety of the Land afsd which may be allotted to them as heirs of their said Father: Between them the said Adam Fisher & Lidia-his Wife in Right of the said Lidia, and the said Peter Hopham and Mary his Wife in Right of the said Mary to be held by them in Severalty, and the Heirs & Assigns of the said Lidia and Mary respectively.

      And your Petitioners as in duty bound Shall ever pray & The within Petition being Considered by the Court is Granted and thereupon the Court Appointed Peter Galloway. John Brinckle & Thomas Clark Esq??, Doctr Speneer Cole & Joseph Dowding or any three of them who are to Go up on the Lands within mentioner and make an Equal Division and Distribution of the Lands within mentioned between the parties within named according to the Directions, true Intent and meaning of the Act of Assembly within named and persuant to the prayers of the Petrs. And at the same time the persons afsd were Quallified according to the Act of Assembly afsd--William Killin is appointed Surveyor to run & plot the Lines on the Divisions afsd.

      February 24th 1747. (Test.) Nicholas Ridgely. Clk.

      (On the back of the petition is endorsed the following:) ORPHANS COURT Feb. 24, 1747.

      Petetn or Bill of Dogood Painter. Luke Shields. Adam Fisher & Peter Hopham & their Wives for, the Division of Sarah Watson' Lands all Recorded together with the Return of sd Division and Plott & Certs thereof In ye afsd Orphans Court Dockett, & allso in the Orphans Court Record Boob. pages 90:91 & 92
      all at large.
    Person ID I32212  OurNorthernRoots
    Last Modified 29 Aug 2011 

    Father John Watson,   b. 1614   d. Bef 1638 (Age 24 years) 
    Mother Elizabeth Frost,   b. 24 Nov 1614, Bankside, Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 12 May 1682, Newtown, Suffolk Co., New York, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years) 
    Marriage 24 Jun 1634  Nottinghamshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F11868  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

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