[marlow.FTW]
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6300, Date of Import: Sep 11, 1998]
The first tannery in town was about half a mile west of the Holden Center, at the foot of Landlord Davis' hill...December 23, 1789, the tannery, together with seventeen acres of land, was sold by John Watson to Herman Richardson for 120 pounds. (David F Estes, The History of Holden, Massachusetts, 1684-1894, 202,324-Worcester, 1894)
According to Jonas Reed, who was born in 1759, and who lived in Rutland all his life, "John Watson was from Leicester, he married Thankful Watson of Brookfield. He bought the tannery, land and buildings, set up and owned by Simeon Stone. Mr. Watson was a respectable and useful member of society, carried on the tanning and currying business many years, but becoming lame, his eldest son succeeded him in the tannery.
John Watson's will was dated February 18, 1808 and was proved on April 17, 1816 in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. In it are mentioned his wife, Sarah, his sons, Samuel and John, the children of his daughter Sarah Smith, his daughter Jane, and the daughter of his daughter Thankful.
John Watson 
- b.WFT Est. 1652-1684 in Coleraine Londonderry Ireland d.1720 in Leicester Worcester Massachusetts
- b.1675 in Coleraine Ireland d.WFT Est. 1720-1770