Mary Tomlin

Mary may be identical to this lady:

Mary Tomlin

However, there is a huge birthdate discrepancy! Documentation is needed to establish Mary's birthdate.

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Mary Watson? Tomlin appears to be either the daughter of John Watson and Frances Bond, or the illegitimate daughter of John or Frances:

"Mary Watson's birth mother, Frances, is believed to have died in 1668 when Mary was 3 years old. The inventory of John Watson, her father's, estate was made in 1673 and it is believed that he had died, leaving her an orphan, when Mary was 8 years old. It is unclear why Mary's grandmother, Dorothy Bond, did not adopt her, however, there are anecdotal references, all unproven, that suggest that Martha Fulgham, widow, took Mary into her home. Mary's brother, William Watson's, nuncupative will dated June 9, 1688 and proven by John Prime, aged 22 years and John Portis aged 29 years states the following: "Whole estate to brother John, since his sister was unnatural to him. Recorded June 9 1688." William's meaning is not clear, however, it is speculated that he is saying that Mary was born out of wedlock. Perhaps that is why Dorothy Bond did not adopt Mary.

Orphan, adopted by Mrs. Martha Fulgham, widow, after 1669. Mary Watson was the daughter of John Watson and Frances Bond. As "...ye widow Tomlyn," Mary Tomlin heard and recorded the noncupative last will and testament of John Turner on March 25,1705. The will was recorded June 9, 1705."

From "Fulgham-Fulghum Family Database," Rootsweb tree:

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bfulgham&...

If you know more about Mary's parents, please contact the profile administrators.

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Mary Watson? Tomlin was not the daughter of Sir James Watson, Knight.

Not only is there no direct evidence (his will does not name a daughter Mary!), the circumstantial evidence is against her being a daughter of Sir James:

• Sir James was born and died in Yorkshire, and never came to America.
• Sir James was born in or before 1530, and was probably no longer having children in the 1600s. (Sir James was at least eighty-five years old in 1615.)
• Some of his Brigham grandchildren did come to America, but they came to Massachusetts, not Virginia.
• Mary Watson? Tomlin was illiterate (she signed Matthew Tomlin's will with her mark, rather than a signature)--the daughter of a knight would be expected to know how to read and write.