Collection Overview
Title: Watson/Peterson Collection
Dates:
Creator: Alice Berriman
Repository: Drew Archival Library
Call Number: DAL.MSS.120
Accession Number:
Location: Fogg Archives Room
Quantity: 1 box and books (Conservation Room)
Language: English

Administrative Information
Access Restriction: Collection is open to researchers
Acquisition Information: Donation, Alice Berriman, bef. 2007
Preferred Citation: DAL.MSS.120, Watson-Peterson Collection, Duxbury Rural & Historical Society
Finding Aid Prepared 2015

Scope and Content:
The Watson-Peterson Collection is a compilation of materials from both the Watson family of Clark’s Island, Plymouth, and the Peterson family of Duxbury, MA. Papers for the Peterson family include legal documents and newspaper clippings from the late 19th to early 20th century. The greater volume of the collection is of the Watson family correspondence, journals, and genealogical information. The genealogical information includes family trees, notebooks, transcribed material, photographs, and books. Much of the material was compiled by Julia Bradford Holmes. Also included are the composition book (1852) and journals of James M. Watson. A scrapbook (c. 1930) of Clark’s Island photographs, news clippings, and notes is also interesting. Correspondence includes a letter written by Albert Watson to Abby Watson on Clark’s Island 91837) and a letter from Walker James Watson from “Cedarfield” to his cousin, Huldah Watson Peterson (1897). There are a number of books in the collection, including a family Bible with some genealogical information.

Biographical Sketch:
The entwined history of the Watson family and Clark’s Island was first established in 1690 when Elkanah Watson purchased the land with Samuel Lucas and George Morton. The Watson family continued to own the island well into the 20th century. There are still Watson descendants there today.

Albert Mortimer Watson (b. abt. 1806) was the son of John Watson and Eunice Marston. In 1831 he married Abigail Burgess (b. 1812). The couple lived on Clark’s Island. Together they had four children: James Marson Watson, Edward Winslow Watson, Albert Mortimer Watson, and Nathan Burgess Watson.

James Marston Watson (1833-1898), a boat builder, was the son of Albert M. Watson and Abby Burgess. He was born on Clark’s Island. His journal demonstrates that he was a poet, and it has come to light that he may have also bee the author of sea chanties. In 1882, at the age of 349, he married the widow Marion J. (Hayden) Smith in Boston. He died on Aug. 26, 1898, after being shot by his nephew, Joseph Bolton, on Clark’s Island. Bolton was arraigned on murder charges, but they were dropped after the shooting was deemed justifiable, as Watson had been in the act of beating his wife. James M. Watson is buried in the Watson family plot on Clark’s Island. Marion continued to live on Clark’s Island for a time before moving to Tremont Street in Duxbury. She died in 1904 and is buried in Mayflower Cemetery.

Huldah Watson Peterson (1844-1915), the recipient of one of the letters in the collection, was the daughter of George and Hannah Watson. She grew up in Duxbury, where her father was a farmer and laborer. In 1870, she married Alonzo Peterson, the son of Elisha and Ann Peterson of Duxbury. Together they had four children: Leona, Grace, Leroy, and Paul. The letter is written by her cousin, Walter James Watson, who lived at Cedarfield on Clark’s Island. The donor of the collection was the granddaughter of Huldah Watson Peterson.

Julia Bradford Holmes (1873-1954) was the daughter of Gershom L. Holmes and Julia E. Whiting. She was also the granddaughter of Almeda Watson Whiting (1817-1899).

Series List:
Series I – Simeon Weston Sr. Papers (1800-1805)
Series II – Simeon Weston Jr. Papers (1821-1824)
Series III – Business Papers (1818-1824)
Series IV – Miscellaneous, n.d.