John Watson

  Noted events in his life were:

• Background Information: ¹⁵⁴¹
John Watson, of Holme-on-Spalding-Moor. was probably born about 1500, since he was of age to act as executor of his father's will in 1521. John Watson died in July or August of 1568. He appears on the Rental Roll in 1528 with one of the largest rentals in the Manor. He held "a messuage late in the tenure of William Sotheron, a flatt called Moreflatt a close called Dawburding," ect. paying a yearly rental of 34s. 8d. He also appears on the muster roll for Harthill Wapentake, probably made about 1538, as an archer with "bowe and arrowsl"

John Watson's wife's name in unknown, thought perhaps she was a Sothereon which would account for his holding a messuage late in the tenure of William Sotheron and for the clause in the will of Sir Thomas Sotherone of Beverley (a priest), dated 28 Jul 1550 and probated 15 Apr 1551 [Prerogative and Exchequer of York Wills, vol. 13, fold. 710], in which he leaves a "a ryall betwixt them" to "both John Watsons," aso to "John Watson an almerie" and to "Thomas Watson's wife a ryall" together with other bequests to Sotherons, Millingtons and Tomlinsons, all person of Holme, and, in one way or another, related. (The will of Sir Thomas makes sense if this John Watson had married a daughter of a son of William Sotheron, and was the niece of Sir Thomas.)

John Watson's wife apparently died before 5 July 1568, at which time John made his will, because she is not mentioned in it. His will was proved on 31 Aug. 1568 [Prerogative and Exchequer of York Wills, vol.18, p. 6]. Besides his own children, there were legacies to "my brother Robert's children each 12d, "to John Crosby's two sons, Thomas and James, each 12d, "to William Watson one sack and one silver spoon," to James Watson (apparently not his own son James) a pair of wharnes," "To sister Annas (apparently Agnes, wife of John Crosby and mother of Thomas and James) one senlothe and a coverlet," to "Barbara Bosor a ewe." Sons Henry and Thomas Watson were the executors. Witnesses: Robert Baddye, John Allen, Richard Wright.

Children:

• James, b. abt 1530
• John, bur. 15 Mar 1559, likely died without issue
• Henry, m. 23 Nov 1580, Prudence Hewely. He left a will dated 19 Apr and proved 7 Jun 1597 by his widow, the children being minors, in which he left, wigh other legacies "to daghter Dorothie an arke at my bother James Watson's." He also named as brothers one Westebye, apparently the husband of his sister, and Thomas Hewley, probaby his brother-in-law. Children of Henry & Prudence were Dorothy, William, Barbara, Thomas, Katherine, and Anne.
• Thomas bur. 26 Apr or 1 Jun 1562
• Maria (or Isabel), married _____Westbie, mentioned in the will of her brother Henry.
• A daughter married to Thomas Hewley.

"The Watson Ancestry of Constance Brigham Crosby of Holme-upon-Spaling Moor," NEHGR, vol. 120, pp. 22-23