Gilbert Watson

Male10 May 1831–4 January 1900

Brief Life History of Gilbert

Gilbert Watson was born on 10 May 1831, in Friendship, Knox, Maine, United States. He married Martha Condon about 1870, in Maine, United States. They were the parents of at least 1 daughter. He died on 4 January 1900, in Thomaston, Knox, Maine, United States, at the age of 68.

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Family Time Line

Gilbert Watson
1831–1900
Martha Condon
1835–
Marriage: about 1870
Florence Lillian Watson
1870–1955

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    There are no historical documents attached to Gilbert.

    Spouse and Children

  • Marriage
    about 1870Maine, United States

    • Children (1)

    World Events (8)

    1832 · The Black Hawk War

    Age 1

    Convinced that a group of Native American tribes were hostile, The United States formed a frontier militia to stop them in their tracks. Even though Black Hawk was hoping to avoid bloodshed while trying to resettle on tribal land, U.S. officials opened fire on the Native Americans. Black Hawk then responded to this confrontation by successfully attacking the militia at the Battle of Stillman's Run and then left northward. After a few months the militia caught up with Black Hawk and his men and defeated them at the Battle of Wisconsin Heights. While being weakened by hunger, injuries and desertion, Black Hawk and the rest of the many native survivors retreated towards the Mississippi. Unfortunately, Black Hawk and other leaders were later captured when they surrendered to the US forces and were then imprisoned for a year.

    1832 · Calais Branch is Chartered

    Age 1

    The State of Maine chartered the Calais Railway in 1832, one of the first railway charters to be granted by the state. Construction was very long, as the project was reorganized, abandoned, transferred to other companies, and extended several times. It was finally completed in 1898.

    1851 · First State to Attempt Prohibition

    Age 20

    "In 1851, Maine outlawed the sale of alcohol, allowing exceptions only for ""medicinal, mechanical, and manufacturing purposes"". This made Maine the first state to experiment with prohibition. Neal Dow, mayor of Portland, believed that alcohol was linked to slavery and was also convinced by the Christian temperance movement. Dow ran into problems later for his anti-immigration rhetoric against the Irish, and also for breaking his own prohibition laws; although not a designated ""purchaser"", Dow personally purchased alcohol to distribute to local doctors, violating a technicality. As the citizens turned against him, Dow eventually ordered soldiers to fire on protesters. This marked a sharp decline in Dow's political career, and the Maine Law was repealed by 1856. Aspects of the law would remain in tact, however, and ultimately paved the way for the 18th Amendment, which prohibited alcohol on the national level."

    Name Meaning

    Scottish, English, and Irish: patronymic meaning ‘son of Wat’, a pet form of Walter that was particularly common in Scotland and northern England. See Watt .

    Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

    Possible Related Names

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