BEE SPRINGS CEMETERY (N.E. of Elkton), GILES COUNTY, TENNESSEE
 

WATSON, William E., 29 Feb 1842 - 26 May 1922 (s/o James & Martha Watson; h/o Mary Emily Rowe Watson; (C.S.A. Giles co. Pension #2915 11th Bn. Holman's Cav., widow's pension Giles Co. W7798 filed for by Mary Emily Watson.)
WATSON, Mary E. (Emily Rowe), 20 Oct 1850 - (4 Apr 1926) (w/o Wm. E. Watson; d/o Miles Rowe & Mary Frances Stovall Rowe.)  3830

William E. Watson was nicknamed Gravy. Why, I do not know. His grandson Eugene Watson remembers his grandfather and relates this story "It was cold and snowy day during the Civil War, Gravy and some of the other soldiers came across a clothesline where a woman hung her laundry. There was a pair of socks hanging on the line. Gravy took the socks of the line. He was asked by the others why he was taking the socks. He said "Well, my feet are cold and she can knit another pair.' Eugene Watson gave me a copy of the picture attached. William is wearing his Civil War medal. Williams father was James Watson. His grandfather was William Watson. This William was one of the early settlers of Giles county on Indian Creek and Bunker Hill around 1809.
Mary Emily Rowe Watson was the daughter of Miles Rowe born 1826 in Giles Co. and Mary Frances Stovall born 1832 in Giles Co.. Her grandparents, Joseph Rowe born 1775 & Mary Asa Carden born 1790 in SC. Her great grandparents Joseph Rowe born ? in Ireland & Jane Paige born ca 1722 in Ireland. Jane is believed to be the first burial at Bee Springs Cemetery in 1822. There are conflicting stories about where Joseph Rowe h/o Jane died. Some say he died on the ocean coming to America.

William "Gravy" & Mary Emily (Rowe) Watson with unnamed child.

Compiled by Trumpshallblow17@aol.com (Mary Bob McClain Richardson), Info and photo from Sandi Russell rinnyn@aol.com, e-mail to Mary Bob Added  20 Jul 2012. CWA.