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Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Watson and Haymond Families Papers, A&M 4222, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Biographical / Historical

Collection materials indicate that the Haymond family and Watson family lines intersect when sisters Rebecca Haymond (1796-1845) and Ann Maria Haymond (1801-1844) married brothers Thomas Watson (1788-1851) and James Dent Watson (1796-1865). Thomas and Rebecca Watson had multiple children, including Thomas Green Watson (1821-1865) and James Otis Watson (1815-1902), the Fairmont industrialist. James Dent and Ann Maria Watson had multiple children including Thomas F. Watson (1832-1896).

Rebecca and Ann Maria were sisters of Thomas S. Haymond (1794-1869); their parents were William Haymond (1771-1848) and Cynthia Carroll (1774-1852). Thomas S. Haymond and his sisters are grandchildren of Major William Haymond (1740-1821) and his first wife, Cassandra Clelland (1741-1788). Major Haymond served in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War, commanding troops at Prickett's Fort, and later became surveyor for Monongalia County and then Harrison County, [West] Virginia. Thomas S. Haymond was the father of Alpheus F. Haymond (1823-1893) and Virginia Haymond (1834-1865), author of the journal in this collection. Thomas S. Haymond was a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, a branch of the Virginia General Assembly. He had to travel to the state capital for this work, which explains why Virginia Haymond was in Richmond at the time of the state of Virginia's secession. Alpheus was also there to represent Marion County at the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861.

Scope and Contents

Papers of the Watson and Haymond families of Marion County, West Virginia. Includes a journal, family financial and legal materials, correspondence, genealogical research materials, publications, photographs, a painting, and other material. Includes significant material regarding the American Civil War, particularly in the diary of Virginia Haymond. Series include:

Series 1. Journal of Virginia Haymond; 1859-1863, undated; box 1 and box 2, folders 1-2. This series includes Virginia Haymond's original journal/diary as well as typed and handwritten excerpts copied from it. The journal includes mentions of secession, as her father served in the Virginia General Assembly in 1861 and her brother attended the Virginia Convention.

Series 2. Financial and Legal Materials; 1796, 1846-1906; box 2, folders 3-10, and box 6, folders 1 and 5. This series includes materials pertaining to the Watson, Haymond, and Arnett/Arnette families. Types of material include receipts, court documents including deeds, and diplomas.

Series 3. Correspondence; 1844-1932, undated; box 2, folders 11-19. This series includes mostly letters to and from members of the Watson family. Some of the letters pertain to Thomas F. Watson (1832-1896) and his imprisonment. He was arrested in June 1862 as a rebel and was a prisoner of war at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio.

Series 4. Genealogy; 1834-2016; box 2, folders 20-30. This series includes material pertaining to the genealogy of the Haymond, Watson, Arnett/Arnette, Leigh, and Barnes families, as well as Colonel Benjamin Wilson and family.

Series 5. Printed Material; 1871-1963; box 2, folders 31-33, box 3, and box 6, folder 1. This series includes books and an advertisement.

Series 6. Photographs; ca. 1860-1961; boxes 4-5, box 6, folders 2-4, box 7. This series includes images of Watson, Arnett/Arnette, Haymond, and Wilson family members, among others. Roughly half are identified.

Series 7. Artifacts & Artwork; 1892, undated; box 8 and unboxed painting. This series includes Mary Etta Watson's lap desk, two pocket knives, and a painting of Thomas Green Watson.

Related Material

See also A&Ms 630, 1815, 1949, all titled "Watson Family Papers."

Separated Material

Books accepted into WVU Libraries Collection:

Colonial Churches in the Original Colony of Virginia: A Series of Sketches by Especially Qualified Writers . Richmond, Va: Southern Churchman Co., 1908.

In Memoriam Woodrow Wilson; Late President of the United States ; by Dr. Edwin Anderson Alderman; President of the University of Virginia; December 15, 1924

Brine, Mary D. Grandma's Memories . New York: E.P. Dutton and Co., 1888.

Books accepted into WVU Libraries Collection as uncataloged duplicates:

Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia, Illustrated: Containing ... Special History of the Virginias, Maps and Histories of Harrison and Marion Counties, West Virginia, Containing a Condensed History of the Counties, Biographical Sketches, General Statistics, Miscellaneous Matters, &c. Chicago: H.H. Hardesty, 1883.

Dunnington, George A. History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia: From Its Earliest Settlement by the Whites Down to the Present, Together with Biographical Sketches of Its Most Prominent Citizens. Fairmont, W. Va: G.A. Dunnington, 1880.

Lewis, Virgil A. History and Government of West Virginia. Chicago: Werner School Book Co., 1896.

Fleming, A. B. Public Papers of Governor A.B. Fleming, February 6, 1890 to March 4, 1893. Charleston [W. Va.]: M.W. Donnelly, 1893.

Mitchell, S. A. Mitchell's New General Atlas: Containing Maps of the Various Countries of the World, Plans of Cities, Etc. ... with ... Statistical Tables. Philadelphia: S.A. Mitchell, Jr., 1868.

Added to WVRHC newspapers collection:

Fairmont W. Va. Up to Date Twentieth Century Edition of the West Virginian ; supplement to the Fairmont West Virginian, January 10, 1902; the coming metropolis of the state – a synopsis of the resources of the City of Fairmont and the county of Marion West Virginia; published by L. C. Powell & Son – 40 pages.

Current Events , "A Condensed Newspaper, Weekly, for Use in Public and Private Schools"; published by American Education Press, Inc. -- issues from 1925-1927 -– these were used in Fairmont public school by Elizabeth L. Miller.

The Monongahela Magazine; Times-West Virginian ; Sunday, February 3, 1957: Cover Story – "The Valley of Coal Story" – the development of the coal industry in the Upper Monongahela Valley – by James Otis Watson, II.

Added to WVRHC maps collection:

Map of the City of Fairmont, West Virginia. Designed and engraved by Canton Engraving & Electrotype Co.; printed by the Wilkinson Printing Company, Lancaster, Ohio; undated (possibly printed in early 1940s or late 1930s due to the reference to "population based on 1930 census"). Shows the locations of Palatine; Smithtown and Rivesville; reference in Virginia's Journal and family documents.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Marion County (W. Va.)
• United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives
• Watson family - Genealogy