The Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas
Coleman Watson, born January 28, 1800 in Madison or Warren Co., Kentucky.
Died July 6, 1876 in Farmington, Grayson Co, Texas.
Buried in Van Alstyne Cemetery, Grayson Co, Texas.
Married his cousin, Lucy L. Coleman, born November 17, 1803 in Todd Co., Kentucky. Died April 13, 1862 in Farmington, Grayson Co, Texas. Buried Van Alstyne Cemetery Grayson Co., Texas. They were married September 13, 1821 in Todd Co., Kentucky.

Out of eleven children, six lived to be grown.
John Dention
James Sidney
Emily Elizabeth
Polly Susan
Samuel Coleman
Lucy Ann
Evan
Louisa Jane
Martha Emelie
Nancy Margaret
Edward H.T.

Of those six, only four had families of their own. Coleman and Lucy Watson were children of pioneers from old families in Kentucky and Virginia. When Coleman and Lucy settled in Bowie County in 1833, Texas was an unbroken wilderness under Mexican rule. In addition to their own roles as pioneers, they were surrounded by relatives and associates (such as Collin McKinney, Jefferson Milam, Ben Milam) who are well known in local history and genealogy circles of today.

Coleman and Lucy Watson were first cousins as well as husband and wife. He was the son of Evan Thomas Watson and Lucy (Coleman) Watson. She was the daughter of Samuel Coleman and Mildred Coffey. Both were grandchildren of James Coleman and Elizabeth Leake. It should be noted that it was not uncommon in the 1820's for first cousins to be married. In some situations, the marriage was arranged by the parents of the parties. Other times, it was not. The circumstances which led to the marriage of Coleman and Lucy are not known to me, and I have found no source, printed, traditionary,
or otherwise, that even acknowledged the fact that their blood kinship existed. I have proved that fact through my research of the Coleman family pedigrees.

The will of Coleman Watson, dated August 6. 1875, holds a wealth of reliable information. The children, John Denton, James Sydney, Lucy Ann, Evan and Martha Emelie, are not mentioned as having survived their mother, Lucy, who died April 13, 1862. It can be assumed that all of these died in infancy or childhood, except Lucy Ann.

 Lucy Ann married John Watson in 1853, her cousin, son of her uncle, Jesse Watson. I have found no record to indicate that Lucy Ann Watson had children. I feel that she did not, since there is no mention of them in Coleman Watson's will. It is safe to assume that Lucy Ann Watson died  prior to 1860. No grave has been found for her.  John remarried Julia Whitaker. (family information provided by Mark T. Watson, son of John and Julia)

Edward H. Tarrant Watson died after his mother, probably within the year. According to census records, he was born about 1843. The will of his father states that he died "who is still a minor and at the age of
19 years." That would be 1862-63. No grave has been found for Edward Watson.

Mary Susan (Watson) Butridge died six months after her mother. She left five small children, two of whom died later "in their minority."

Riley E. Butridge, husband of Mary Susan, died in March 1863, six months after her death. In the period 1862-68, there were six deaths in Coleman's immediate family.

The second marriage of Coleman Watson apparently caused some discord among his children, as Coleman mentioned an 1868 agreement was not carried out because "some of the children refused to give me a receipt for their interest ... believing that they want of such receipt might be the means of harassing my present wife, I did not file an inventory and appraisal as agreed."

Coleman obviously had great affection for the children of Susan Butridge as he was very careful that they received an equal portion of his estate. It should also be noted that Coleman Watson's second wife, Jane H. Watson, was named as one of the executors of the will, but declined to act as seen in "The Petition to Probate Will."

The 1850 census of Grayson County lists Coleman Watson as a farmer with real estate valued at $3,800.00. His household at that time included his wife, Lucy, and children: M.S. (Mary Susan), Saml C., Lucy Ann, L.J. (Louisa Jane), Nancy M. Edward H. Tarrant, son-in-law Cary Watson and wife, E.E. (Emily Elizabeth), granddaughter L.E. (Lucy Elizabeth), and grandson, J.C. (James Coleman), age five months. Coleman Watson was listed as the owner of 19 slaves. Their neighbors in 1850 included the families of Uel Fox, John H. Miller, and John P. Ferguson.

Coleman Watson died 11 months to the day after making out his will. He was buried next to his first wife, Lucy, in the Van Alstyne Cemetery.