Philly Soul

Philadelphia, (PA) in 1768

A "Philly Soul," that was my takeaway after being lured over to take a closer look at seeing a unique name on a small gravestone. This occurred while on a recent walk through one of the "oldest" areas within Mount Olivet's 100-acre cemetery. More on my geographical reference to the "City of Brotherly Love" in a moment. I will share that the decedent died 15 years before our famous burial ground opened its gates in 1854.  This wasn't his first "place of rest," as he had been "removed" from elsewhere. His name —Phineas Watson.
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For starters, how many times do you stumble across the name Phineas, other then when reading the Bible, deciphering the initials of "the greatest showman in history," or watching the Disney Channel? I'm sure many of you readers have no idea what I'm talking about. First off, we'll go "old school" as the name Phineas (or Phinehas) has been around for centuries. It is of Hebrew origin boasting an impressive lineage of leaders, lawyers and esteemed artists. Ancestry.com says the name is derived from the word "Pinchas," which translates to "oracle" and "serpent's mouth." The attribution links the name to the great nephew of Moses and something called the  Baal Peor episode in the Bible. It's not the nicest story at face value as it involves "Pinchas" (aka Phineas) killing a hedonist couple  with a spear while they were in bed. In doing so, however, he zealously avenged God's name.

A depiction of the Paal Boer scandal by artist Ottmar Elliger in 1666.

PT Barnum

According to website TheTorah.com, "Pinchas" is portrayed as a hero in the Torah and Second Temple sources for killing Zimri and his Midianite lover, Cozbi. In the Bible's Numbers 25, the Israelites, stopping at the village of Shittim, are seduced by Moabite women (from the Moab kingdom east of the Dead Sea) into serving their gods, specifically Baal Peor. God is angered by this and instructs Moses to punish the transgressors. At the same time, God sends a plague into the Israelite camp. Before Moses and his appointees take action, an Israelite man brings a Midianite woman into the camp, apparently to be "intimate" with her. Pinchas sees this and immediately takes action:

"Num 25:7 When Pinchas, son of Elazar son of Aaron the priest, saw this, he arose from the assembly and took a spear in his hand, 25:8 and followed the Israelite into the chamber and stabbed both of them, the Israelite and the woman, through her belly. Then the plague against the Israelites was checked."

With a flare for the dramatic, we can now explain "the Greatest Showman." This Connecticut native and businessman was responsible for giving us "the Greatest Show on Earth" in the form of the Barnum & Bailey Circus. That's right, P. T. Barnum's full name is Phineas Taylor Barnum. He lived from 1810-1891.

And now for a softer, more modern, reference to the name Phineas in the form of the lovable Phineas Flynn, one-half of the popular Disney Channel cartoon Phineas and Ferb. He was a main character on the show which ran over four seasons between 2007-2015. I know it well because my son and I watched the program regularly — however, its been a while since I last saw it as my son grew up and is currently away in his freshman year in college. The series' premise follows stepbrothers Phineas Flynn and Ferb Fletcher during summer vacation. 

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Phineas Flynn (center) with Perry and stepbrother Ferb.

Every day, the boys construct a grand project or embark on a spectacular adventure to make the most of their time on school break. This always annoys their controlling older sister, Candace, who frequently tries to expose the boys' schemes to her mother. The animated show also features Phineas and Ferb's pet platypus, named Perry, who secretly moonlights as a secret agent and always upends the evil plans of the resident mad scientist named Heinz Doofensmirtz.This may seem confusing, but hey, at least no one gets brutally stabbed in bed in the latter offering!

Alright, let's get back to "Stories in Stone," shall we? Our subject, Phineas Watson, was born on July 4th, 1768 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I can only imagine how Phineas spent his eighth birthday (in 1776) based on the legendary events that would occur at Independence Hall that particular day. Sadly, I could find nothing of the sort, or any other birthdays celebrated in his 71 years. I had also hoped to find out his occupation, and reasoning for locating here in Frederick, but came up empty. 

Phineas is buried within Mount Olivet's Area NN/Lot 124. He is with other decedents moved here in April, 1907 from their original burial spot of Evangelical Lutheran Church's second burial ground. This was at the intersection of East Church Street Extended and East Street in the location later to be known as Everedy Square.

Former site of the second Evangelical Lutheran Church Graveyard at the corner of East Street and East Church Street Extended

​I found a record on Ancestry.com that corroborated information in our cemetery database pertaining to Phineas being married. His wife, Catharine Watson, was also re-interred here in Mount Olivet and Area NN back in 1907. However, she is not buried beside her husband, but instead is  located in the row in front of Phineas in Lot 125. Since all these graves in surrounding lots are removals (from other burying grounds), they are packed in very tightly with most stones touching one another. Born October 25th, 1777, also in Philadelphia, Catharine died on April 21st, 1855. She was originally buried side by side with Phineas in the the Old Evangelical Lutheran Graveyard on the east side of Frederick City.

Area NN with the gravestone of Phineas Watson (left side in second row) and Catharine (far right in first row).

This would be a very challenging story, with little obvious information to sift through. I found that I had to look closely at scarce references to friends, relatives and acquaintances in order to try to understand the life of Phineas Watson. My assistant and I also had to do a deep dive on alternative sources such as property transactions found in land records within the state and county records.

​Marilyn Veek searched the Frederick County Register of Wills, Frederick County Orphans Court, and came up with a last will and testament for Phineas, and another from Catharine. In Phineas' document, made in October, 1836, we learn that Phineas and Catharine had no direct heirs living in the form of children (as far as we know). Phineas' executors were well-known Frederick citizens John P. Thomson, John Baltzell, and Henry Doyle. I've written past stories on the first two, having no difficulty whatsoever in learning about their respective past lives before winding up in Mount Olivet. 

Phineas bequeathed all his holdings to his "dearly beloved wife Catharine Watson during her life." He made provisions to give his belongings to a sibling and her children after the death of his wife. 

Last Will and Testament of Phineas Watson (GME-2-41/ Nov 21, 1839)

 Here we would learn that Phineas had a sister named Ann Lambe, wife of Lacon Lambe. The Lambes were living in Washington County, PA in 1836 (the time the Final Will and Testament was written by Phineas). I did a little online searching and soon found Ann buried in Eighty Four, Pennsylvania's Emmanuel United Presbyterian Church Cemetery. 

Grave of Phineas' sister, Anne Lambe in Eighty-Four, PA

The fine, upright stone of marble states that Ann was the wife of Lacon Lambe and lived from 1770 to March 17th, 1844. The couple married on November 19th, 1803. Ann Lambe's husband is also buried here, and lived until 1861 to the ripe old age of 91. He can be found with his adult child's (Mary Ann Whitely) family in Somerset, PA at the time of his death. Lacon was a native of Bath, England and, before immigrating to the United States, worked in conjunction with his father as a grocer specializing in the sale of teas, sugars, spices and coffees.

Phineas also mentions the potential sale of stocks with dividends going to benefit the children of William Hunt of Washington, DC, and another individual, Tabitha Appleby (wife of Washington Appleby) and resident of Montgomery County, MD. I guess we can call our subject "Philanthropic Phineas" in addition to "Philadelphia Phineas." Regardless, what a kind "Philly Soul."

From looking at documents like the will and other land records, we uncovered the following land dealings in Frederick County:

December 3rd, 1835: Phineas Watson bought from George and Ann Cole the eastern half of lot 286, which we believe to be located at today's 221 East Church Street. The house here now dates only to around 1900, but the earliest owner was Frederick Kinckley, a carpenter.

November 9, 1837: Phineas and Catherine sell half of lot 286 to Henry Lare and Thomas O'Neill. After Phineas' death, Catharine held mortgages for Daniel Martin and William Laley (a gravestone mason) at different times but didn't own any property herself.

221 East Church Street (with yellow door) on original lot 286 that was purchased by Phineas Watson in 1835.

Catharine Watson's will was also an interesting find for us. Written in 1850, we see Mrs. Watson giving money to benevolent causes including funds to the American Bible Society of New York, a scholarship for "a Professorship of Theology" at Hillsboro College of Illinois (on behalf of Frederick's Evangelical Lutheran Church), and money to the Frederick County Orphans Court and "the poor of Frederick."

Catharine Watson's will (GH-1-41 & codicil GH-1-42/April 23, 1855)

Maryland Gazette (Feb 11, 1830)

Catharine Watson also calls out three women to give varying sums of money too. These echo children mentioned nearly twenty years earlier by Phineas and include Lydia E. Hunt (daughter of deceased Washington, DC bookbinder William Hunt), Harriet Burdett of Howard County, Harriet's daughter Achsah Elizabeth Burdett, and Ann Maria Appleby (daughter of Washington and Tabitha Appleby).

As for Lydia E. Hunt, I believe she may well be a cousin through Phineas' mother. Focus immediately shifted to her father's origins. Marilyn conducted a familysearch.com search and found a family tree of William Hunt which  showed that Ann (Watson) Lambe, like her husband (Lacon), was born in England to parents Richard Watson and Catharine Hunt, but gives no source. This is a bit confusing because Ann (Watson), supposedly born in 1770, is two years younger than Phineas. My premise for the onset has been that of Phineas Watson being born in 1768...in Philadelphia!

My assistant went on to find that William Hunt (1783-1829), the bookbinder, is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, DC. He looks to be a first cousin of Phineas (on his mother's side) and gives rise to the Watson estate gift going to William's daughter, Lydia Hunt, who married David Todd on May 23rd, 1843. The couple would move to Greensburg, Westmoreland, PA.  
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In the case of Miss Appleby, we connected the dots to Phineas' mention of a Tabitha (Mockbee) Appleby in his will. It was stated that a husband was Washington Appleby who I soon found to be from a pretty colorful, and "rough and tumble" family living in Montgomery County back in the early 19th century. Mr. Appleby, like his brothers, father and grandfather appear in county records quite often for the wrong reasons, and usually in front of a magistrate. The family was destitute. The Maryland Gazette carries a mention of the state giving "relief" to Washington in 1830.

​I found that Tabitha and Washington Appelby married in 1827 and had at least one daughter together, Ann Maria, whom Catharine writes that she (herself) "acted the part of a mother" by raising the young child until an affliction prohibited her (Catharine) from doing so. At this time, Ann Maria went to live with her aunt, the forementioned Harriet Burdett. I'm assuming Tabitha died or had a debilitating illness herself which caused the Watson's interest in the young child's welfare. 

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Ann Maria Appleby was born around 1836 according to this 1850 Census from Howard County showing the household of widow Harriet Burdett of Poplar Springs

I  would later learn that Harriet (Appleby) Burdett (1797-1880) is buried in the Stackhouse Family Cemetery in Poplar Springs, Howard County. However, I don't know what became of Ann Maria Appleby. Reading this information makes me think that Mrs. Watson perhaps played some greater role in educating or working with poor and orphaned girls over her lifetime. Or, maybe she just had a big heart in seeing the plight of these youngsters in poverty situations, be they related to her, or not. 

We may not have figured out much on our mystery couple, but we had a few "persons of interest" that may show us the light. So, it's time to go back in time to see if I could glean anything further about Phineas or Catharine and why they came to Frederick. My favorite find  in research was a photocopy of an entry for the marriage of Phineas Watson and Catharina Heyl in the combined church ledger records of St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia on December 4th, 1802. This at least connects Phineas' gravestone epitaph to Philadelphia in wedlock, as I'm still hopeful that is where his birth occurred.

Philadelphia marriage record for Phineas Watson and Catharine Heyl from 1802

St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran Church (Philadelphia)

If we trust the logic used in deciphering the fascinating connection to William and Lydia Hunt in both Phineas' and Catherine's wills, combined with the info on Phineas' sister Ann Watson, then we can speculate that our subject's parents are Richard Watson and Catharine Hunt. As for the parents of Catharine (Heyl) Watson, I found a baptismal record that could be hers. It shows a Catharine Heel, daughter of Revolutionary War soldier Phillip Heel (1739-1810), and wife Catharine Zeiglerine. Could this be Phineas' Catharine Watson in Mount Olivet's Area NN?

​The best I could muster in scanning the 1790 and 1800 US Census records for the City of Philadelphia were instances of Philip Heyl (1739-1810), a baker by profession, living on the east side of Water Street. On this same street, I found a John Watson in the 1790 and 1800 census records but the name (obviously) and age doesn't quite work out right for this to be Phineas' father.

A little more pecking around led me to find a Richard Watson who had died back in April 1775 on the eve of the American Revolution. This man was a talented craftsman and affiliated with another named James Reynolds who is noted for his intricate woodwork in connection to furniture (particularly chairs and side tables) and particularly framing for paintings and portraits at the time.  I found a fascinating passage from www.Chipstone.org, the website of the Chipstone Foundation, a Wisconsin-based foundation dedicated to promoting American decorative arts scholarship:

"Like most craftsmen of his stature, Reynold’s took apprentices and almost certainly employed journeymen. He also appears to have been associated with Richard Watson, a London carver who immigrated to Philadelphia before 1774, when the latter’s name appeared on the Provincial Tax List. Reynolds witnessed Watson’s will, probated on April 27, 1775. William Macpherson Hornor alluded to a business connection between the two men in his Blue Book: Philadelphia Furniture (1935). Although he did not cite his source, Hornor noted that Watson made “1 Pair Mahoganey brackets” and “1 Pair Paint’d Do.”[17]

The #17 at the end of the passage refers to the exact bibliographic source: 
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/philadelphia/taxlist/northward1774.txt>. Will of Richard Watson, probated April 27, 1775, Philadelphia Wills, 1775, no. 115, p. 134, City Hall, Philadelphia. William Macpherson Hornor, Blue Book: Philadelphia Furniture, William Penn to George Washington (Philadelphia: by the author, 1935), p. 284.

This image accompanied the article and shows a "carved" wooden bust of "Philly's own" Benjamin Franklin by Martin Jugiez which has been gilded

1771 Pier Glass mirror made by James Reynolds shop in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania Gazette (Dec 29, 1768)

Carved and gilded frame detailing represent the type of work Richard Watson performed in his profession

Was Richard Watson, the noted carver and gilder of Philadelphia in the 1770s, and direct from London, the father of Phineas Watson? Its certainly not far-fetched to think this man could have been in Philadelphia by 1768, the year of Phineas' birth. 

I saw a brief summary of witnesses of Richard Watson's will of 1775, and these included James Reynolds and Richard's wife named Elizabeth (who served as executrix) and his father named George. In this case, what became of Phineas after the death of his father? We can assume he was raised by his mother into adulthood, or perhaps it was a relative or family friend. Maybe he was orphaned? Regardless, it would certainly make for a soft spot in the heart for other children experiencing the same situation with the loss of a parent(s).

This doesn't resolve the issue of Ann Watson's supposed 1770 birth in England, but that could have been an erroneous birthdate, or the statement that she was born in England could have been wrong. That family tree had a name of Catharine for Ann Watson's mother as well. That's certainly not Elizabeth, but could there be an error here as well? Anyway, I am excited that there is a chance here for discovering Phineas' father, and perhaps a clue to unlock Phineas profession if he learned the carving talents of Richard.

Marilyn dug up these land transactions (selling lots) involving Phineas, done shortly after his marriage to Catharine. 

May 22nd, 1805: Phineas Watson to Jno Meer - west side of "Seventh and Delaware Street"  between High and Chestnut Streets  - 17 feet wide and 81 feet westward, bound on the south and west sides by other land of Phineas Watson.

May 17th, 1806: Phineas Watson to Simon Gratz -- west side of Seventh Street from the River Delaware between High and Chestnut Streets - being part of the larger lot that Phineas bought from the High Sheriff on July 6th, 1800 deed D 185

Aug 14th, 1805:  Phineas Watson to Jno Meer  - description seems the same as EF 19/537

Again, it's just interesting that these properties are located near to the forementioned Phillip Heyl and John Watson. Water Street is located along the Delaware River. 

Philadelphia scene of the early 1800s

This leads us to believe that this was the probable time of departure from Philadelphia, and the couples' move to western Maryland around 1806.  However, it would not be Frederick right away. I found only two census records for our subjects.  We find them in the 1810 US Census living in Washington County. However, study of land records show the following transactions involving Phineas in the vicinity of Elizabethtown (later renamed Hagerstown). The earliest coming in 1807.

June 1st, 1807: Phineas Watson bought from Michael Hager a 92 3/4 acre tract of land that included part of Hager's Delight, part of Cellar's Resurvey, part of Cellar's Establishment, part of Pleasant Garden, part of Friendship Ended, part of Hagers Fancy, and part of Fertile Meadow. He sold this property to George Lyday on March 31, 1810.

April 10th, 1810: Phineas Watson bought from Michael Rudicill 10 1/2 acres along the road from Elizabeth Town to Green Castle. He sold this land to Frederick Wolfersperger on April 11th, 1812. 

1810 US Census showing Phineas Watson in Washington County

I found multiple announcements in the April editions of the Maryland Herald and Hagerstown Weekly Advertiser stating that Phineas had unpicked-up mail at the post office there. A further look uncovered more mentions of dead mail in 1813, 1816, 1818 and 1819 with the earliest being a letter for Catharine Watson on behalf of Phineas Watson, in the year 1809.

An advertisement in the Hagerstown paper in April, 1811 stating that Phineas has mail in the post office that hasn't been picked up. A Mr. John Wolfersberger has the same situation. How is the latter related to Frederick Wolfersberger. And why didn't these guys get their mail?

By 1820, the Watsons are residing in the Goshen District of Montgomery County according to the US Census. This is near Clarksburg, and yes, we found land transactions by Phineas here as well.

January 13th, 1813: Phineas Watson bought from Zachariah Waters, trustee for the sale of the estate of Godfrey Waters, 64 3/4 acres part of Warfield's Vineyard

May 19th, 1817: Phineas Watson bought from Otho Willson 3/8 acre part of Moneysworth along the "great road" in the town of Clarksburgh

February 14th, 1823: Phineas Watson paid $43 for the household goods and furniture of Thomas Marman

February 7th, 1823: Phineas Watson bought from Alexander Winsor 28 square perches of part of Moneysworth and part of Woodport

July 15th, 1831: Phineas Watson sold to Elisha Lewis all of the above property

The household of 1820 shows Phineas and Catharine, but also a female child under 10 and an older female over 45. Who was this mystery child? Likely a youngster taken in for benevolent purposes by the "Godly" couple. Here, too, in this census, we get our only glimpse at Phineas in regards to an occupation as the census says he is engaged in agriculture. 

1820 US Census showing Phineas Watson living in Montgomery County.

In scouring the census, I found nearby neighbors in this Clarksburg vicinity to the Watsons. These included the earlier mentioned Washington Appleby and the Harriett Burdett family. I could not find the Watsons in the 1830 Census of Montgomery County. The chronology seems to indicate that this is where they would reside before moving into Frederick City by the mid 1830s. We base this presumption  on the land transactions by Phineas shown earlier. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything more on Phineas regarding his last four years of life in Frederick. All we know is that he and Catharine were members of Evangelical; Lutheran Church.

That leads us to the death of Mr. Watson. This occurred on October 20th, 1839. The burial ledger of Evangelical Lutheran states that his death came on suddenly and as a result of apoplexy-heart disease. Diarist Jacob Engelbrecht made an entry a day later in his celebrated diary saying:

"Died last night in the 71st year of his age Mr. Phineas Watson of our town. Buried on the Lutheran Graveyard. A note was later added that "He was born in Philadelphia July 4, 1768." 

Everyone in town must have been fascinated by the assumed fact that Mr. Watson was very proud of being born in Philly, perhaps his life's greatest highlight? All I can say is "Go Phillies, Sixers, Flyers....and E-A-G-L-E-S!"

ELC Burial Ledger Volume IIIB pg 460

That's the end of the road for me in seeking out more sources on the internet. Without direct heirs, it's as if it was the end of a legacy for Phineas Watson as well. All that remains is that gravestone here at Mount Olivet to prove he once walked the Earth. His wife certainly kept his memory alive for another 16 years until her death on April 20th, 1855. Catharine would be buried the next day.

Evangelical Lutheran Church Death Ledger showing the loss of Catharine Watson in 1855

So that is all I can tell you about this "Philly Soul" —a man named Phineas who was proud of the fact that he was born in Philadelphia. He may have been the son of a talented 18th century immigrant craftsman from London, and may have possessed some of those talents himself. Phineas, I wish I could have learned more about you and your wife Catharine. I hope it was a good life, and don't worry, I will never forget this meandering research quest each and every time I pass by your graves in that interesting cemetery area of NN.