Lydia Watson

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History and Genealogy of the Watson Family: Descendants of Matthew Watson ..

Lydia (Watson) Watson [137], Leicester, Mass., lived to the remarkable age of 102 years, 3 months, and 6 days. Her life had always been an active one. She was the mother of and cared for eleven children. She was a member of the first Congregational Church the greater part of her life and attended worship until her advanced age would not permit. Sunday was a sacred day to her, a devoted reader of the bible. When her sight would not allow her to read the bible, she would read portions of scripture in large type from a chart, pointing to the lines with a pencil that she might not lose the place. She was endowed by nature with remarkable physical vigor, but it seemed as if her serenity of mind and happy disposition had added very truly to her length of days. In 1887 her one hundredth birthday was celebrated at Leicester by her relatives and friends from far and near. She received in the parlors of the Leicester Hotel. The reception lasted nearly two hours. About 230 persons were present, 178 of the number signed an autograph album. Dinner was served in the hotel dining-room, Mrs. Watson occupying a seat at the head of the table. It was an enjoyable affair long to be remembered. Friends felt that it would not be probable that she would live to see another birthday, but she did add two years to the century of her life, welcoming friends and relatives to her side. Jan. 5, 1889, she reached the very remarkable age of 102 years, "Older than the Constitution, yet hale and hearty." She said to a gentleman, "I feel that I have erred so many times, and God in his goodness has spared my life, that I wish to urge lives of sobriety and industry to all." Three months and six days after her 102nd birthday, she passed peacefully away, willing and ready to meet her Master. All that knew her speak pleasant words of her loving, kind heart and true life. To know her was to love her. The aged people and the number of friends that attended her funeral attested their love for her.

CHILDREN.

348. Calista Amelia Watson, born Dec. 1, 1810; died Sept. 22, 1875. Married William Allen Draper, son of Zenas and Jemima (Allen) Draper, of Spencer, Mass., Nov. 26, 1833. He was born Dec. 19, 1806; died May 24, 1855. He was one of the pioneer boot manufacturers of Worcester, who went to that city from Spencer, Mass., in 1830. Ch. 663-669.

349. Edwin Alucius Watson, born Nov. 26, 1812; died June 22,1830.

350. Lydia Ann Watson, born Aug. 16, 1814; died May 13, 1846. Married William Bolles, son of Ebenezer and Abigail Bolles, of Delphi, Ind., July 19, 1838. He was born April 12, 1808; died July 14, 1889. Merchant in Delphi, Ind. Last residence, Hartford, Conn. Ch. 670-672.

351. Roxanna Watson, born Sept. 22, 1816; died May 17, 1881. Married William Bolles, son of Ebenezer and Abigail Bolles, of Delphi, Ind., Nov. 20, 1846. He was born April 12, 1808; died July 14, 1889. Merchant in Delphi, Ind. Last residence, Hartford, Conn. Ch. 673-679.

352. Samuel Baldwin Watson, born Aug. 1, 1818; died Dec. 6, 1869. Married Olive Daniels Lawrence, of Worcester, Mass., Nov. 3, 1840. She was born at Leominster, Mass., July 12, 1813; died July 8, 1854. Ch. 680-683. He again married, Mrs. Lucy Ann Clapp, of Worcester, Mass., Oct. 20, 1854. She was born July 15, 1817; died Nov. 18, 1893.

353. James Draper Watson, born March 5, 1820. Married Letitia Bigelow Atkinson, of Philadelphia, Pa., June 19, 1844. She was born Nov. 27, 1820; died April 2, 1851. Ch. 684-685. He again married, Roxanna Woodward, of Worcester, Mass., April 29, 1855. She died Aug. 3, 1881. Ch. 686.

354 Robert Watson, born March 29, 1822; died March 31, 1845. Married Sophronia Martha Sanderson, of Greenwich, Mass., Jan. 1, 1844. She was born Jan. 25, 1824,; died Feb. 27, 1846. Ch. 687.

355. Albert Watson, born July 12, 1824; died Nov. 6, 1853. Married Martha Sprague, daughter of Austin and Laura (Wilson) Sprague, of Leicester, Mass., Nov. 19, 1846. She was born Dec. 18, 1825. Ch. 688-690.

356. Tulia Draper Watson, born July 15, 1826. Married Edwin Amasa Bemis, son of Amasa and Laura (Pike) Bemis, of Spencer, Mass., 1847. He was born Dec. 25, 1823; died Nov. 27, 1887. Ch. 691-701.

357. Edwin Alucius Watson, born Dec. 22, 1831; died Dec. 23, 1831.