Chatham

Watson - Overton Family History

Image Courtesy Otto Overton, Farmville VA. 

The plantation home known as Chatham was built in 1858-59 for James A. & Martha R. Watson

The home was used as a hospital during the battle of High Bridge and for soldiers injured passing by during the retreat.

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The Watson family settled in what would become Prince Edward County before the Revolutionary war about 1746. 

John Watson,

b. abt. 1712 - d.1801,  

 m. Hannah Allen, b.abt. 1717 -d?

appear to be the earliest of the Watson family to settle in the area.

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 In Development

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James Allen Watson

b. 1816 - d. 1876

 m. Martha R. Watson

b. 1813 - d.  1840

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The 1860 Census taken by Theodorick B. McRoberts Ass't Marshall. Post Office Farmville. Shows  as of June 20,  1860 seven residents living together at (Chatham):

dwelling #17: Family #17:

James A. Watson age 45, M

Martha R. Watson age 42, F

B.A. Watson age 8, M

Saml. D. Watson age 6, M

L.A. Watson age 4, F

F. Ritchie 17, M

John A. Watson 24,  M

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Sallie Virginia Watson m.

Christopher (Kit) L. Overton

b. 1850

the following is a list of their descendants and their children and Grandchildren who lived at Chatham.

 From the John Mottley Overton Family Geneaology

by

Dorothy Overton Hankins

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Sallie & Kit's children

as follows:

Lena R. Overton

b. Jan 25, 1879 - d. Aug 26, 1967

James Watson Overton

b.Feb 1883 - d. Jan 20, 1950

Christopher Overton

b. Nov 1884 - d?

Martha Overton

b. Jan 27, 1888 -d?

Sally Overton

b. Jun 23, 1893 - d?

William Mann Bagby Overton

b. Mar 3, 1897 - d. Jul 19, 1967

Louise Overton b?-d?

Bessie Overton b?-d?

Burnell Overton b?-d?

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James Watson Overton 

b. Feb 1883 - d. Jan 20,1950

m. Grace Thompson

b. Sept 1, 1898 - d. Aug 13,1987

children:

Breetie Overton,

b. Dec 30,1920 - 

James Watson Overton Jr.

b. Mar 18, 1925 - d. Aug 3,1974

Otto Smith Overton

b. Jun 17, 1929 -

Campbell Lafayette Overton

b. Dec 23, 1930 -

Grace Ree Overton

b. Jun 12, 1933

Eugene Edward Overton

b. Aug 4, 1935 -

William Quinton Overton

b.Feb 12 1938 -

Wyatt Lee Overton

b. Dec 16, 1940-

 Chatham Today

Herbert C. Bradshaw an educator, local author and historian of the (History of Prince Edward County), Purchased Chatham, after the Depression, with hopes to preserve the property, but he  tragically died before he could further endeavor to do so.

Chatham eventually met a sad fate, as well, after some years of unuse and neglect and the lack of interest to sustain its preservation.  The home was dismantled, and its remnants which were not considered useful were bull dozed over and burned to ashes and dust.

The property was eventually sold to a land & timber company, which subdivided the Chatham estate renaming it Bradshaw subdivision selling it into various parcel lots.

Fortunately not all was lost as Booker Cunningham, Herbert Bradshaw's  brother in law, saved some pieces of the homes features including many of the windows, doors and mantles.

These items were purchased to restore them to there rightful place again at Chatham, and are now part of The High Bridge Battlefield Museum.

We hope you will make an appointment to visit and embrace our efforts to help preserve the History of High Bridge Battlefield & Chatham Plantation.  To Honor the memory of American Soldiers and Citizens of the Blue & the Gray who fought and died here.

Kind Regards,

Michael C. Lucas