Origins of the Watson Family
Kilconnor House, sadly now demolished.
Apparently descended from the Watson family of Rutland, this branch is from Crosted in Cumberland, England. Crosted no longer seems to exist, but it could well be an old spelling Crosthwaite, Cumberland. As their are numerous Watsons christened in Crosthwaite, including ones that match with the dates on my tree, it is possible. However there are other places that were called Crosted in Cumberland which also seem to have ceased to exist, so we can't definitely say where the Watsons were from.
John Watson of Crosted came to Ireland in the mid 17th century. He built his house at Kilconnor or Kilconner, Co. Carlow in 1658.
This John appears to have married whilst still residing in Cumberland and had his children there.
John Watson of Crosted came to Ireland in the mid 17th century. He built his house at Kilconnor or Kilconner, Co. Carlow in 1658.
This John appears to have married whilst still residing in Cumberland and had his children there.
Watson of Kilconnor
The above John Watson (-1675) married Jane West and had at least four children:
1. Mary Watson (23/05/1647-) m. (06/08/1670), Robert Lecky of Ballykealey
Mary and Robert were parents to Dorothy Lecky, who married William Morris of Castle Salem
2. John Watson (1649 or 1651-08/02/1709) m. (1674), Anne, daughter of James Tomlinson
3. William Watson (-12/11/1686)
4. Samuel Watson m. (1676), Elizabeth, daughter of Oliver Thompson of Penrith
The eldest son, John, became a Quaker and built a Meeting House (now in ruins) at Kilconnor. Presumably his sister Mary converted too, as the Lecky family were also Quakers. Apparently he forfeited his land for joing the Society of Friends, but his family seemed to have retained Kilconnor. By his wife, who died in 1744 aged 97, he had nine children:
1. Samuel Watson (14/11/1682-14/05/1764) m. (14/01/1709), Susan, daughter of Jonathan Nicholson of Ballinacarrig, Co. Wicklow
m. Abigail Craven
m. Deborah Fuller
2. Anne Watson (1674-) m. (1694), Henry Ridgeway of Queen's County
3. Sarah Watson (1676-1745) m. (1695), Richard Pike of Summerhill
4. Elizabeth Watson (1687-)
5. Alice Watson (1679-1703)
6. Mary Watson (1678-) m. (1699), James Lecky of Kilnock Co. Calow (presumably a cousin)
7. John Watson (01/09/1683-)
8. Thomas Watson (01/01/1690-1691)
9. Joseph Watson (21/01/1688-13/04/1689)
1. Mary Watson (23/05/1647-) m. (06/08/1670), Robert Lecky of Ballykealey
Mary and Robert were parents to Dorothy Lecky, who married William Morris of Castle Salem
2. John Watson (1649 or 1651-08/02/1709) m. (1674), Anne, daughter of James Tomlinson
3. William Watson (-12/11/1686)
4. Samuel Watson m. (1676), Elizabeth, daughter of Oliver Thompson of Penrith
The eldest son, John, became a Quaker and built a Meeting House (now in ruins) at Kilconnor. Presumably his sister Mary converted too, as the Lecky family were also Quakers. Apparently he forfeited his land for joing the Society of Friends, but his family seemed to have retained Kilconnor. By his wife, who died in 1744 aged 97, he had nine children:
1. Samuel Watson (14/11/1682-14/05/1764) m. (14/01/1709), Susan, daughter of Jonathan Nicholson of Ballinacarrig, Co. Wicklow
m. Abigail Craven
m. Deborah Fuller
2. Anne Watson (1674-) m. (1694), Henry Ridgeway of Queen's County
3. Sarah Watson (1676-1745) m. (1695), Richard Pike of Summerhill
4. Elizabeth Watson (1687-)
5. Alice Watson (1679-1703)
6. Mary Watson (1678-) m. (1699), James Lecky of Kilnock Co. Calow (presumably a cousin)
7. John Watson (01/09/1683-)
8. Thomas Watson (01/01/1690-1691)
9. Joseph Watson (21/01/1688-13/04/1689)
