Mattison Watson (29th USCT)

Mattison (Madison) Watson) was born into slavery around 1819 in Albemarle County, Virginia, and his owner moved him to Missouri at some point before the war. He married Malvinia Scott, and they had at least six children together: Matthew, born around 1852; Isabella, born around 1854; Philip, born around 1857; Lucy, born around 1859; Mary, born around 1866; and Lucilla, born around 1876.

He enlisted in the Union army on May 14, 1864, in Quincy, Illinois, for a period of three years and mustered in as a private in Company F of the 29th USCT Infantry Regiment on July 8. His enlistment records describe him as 6 feet, 1 inch tall, with black hair, black eyes, and a black complexion. He took part in the Siege of Petersburg and saw action on July 30. He fell ill later that year, and the army sent him to the local general hospital to recover. He was discharged for disability near City Point, Virginia, on May 18, 1865. 

After the war, Watson returned to Lincoln County, Missouri, where he worked as a farmer. Malvinia died on October 3, 1882, and Watson married a woman named Susan on October 27, 1884. Watson eventually secured a $12 monthly pension, complaining of chronic diarrhea and rheumatism. He died in Lincoln County on June 6, 1900.

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DATABASE CONTENT
Name:Watson, Mattison
Alternative names:
  • Watson, Madison (alternative name)
Roles:
  • Soldier
Gender:M
Race:Black
Regiment/Ship:
RegimentCompany
29th Regiment Infantry U.S. Colored TroopsF
Branch of service:Army
Enlistment/Muster:
TypeDatePlaceAccepted/RejectedAgeStatusReason
Enlistment1864-05-14Quincy, ILaccepted45Unknown
Muster In1864-07-08Quincy, IL
Muster Out1865-05-18City Point, VADischarged for Disability
Residence at enlistment:
Rank In:Private
Rank Out:Private
Highest rank achieved:Private
Pensions:
Person 1Person 2NumberRelation Type
Watson, MattisonWatson, Mattison706864.0application-invalid
Watson, Mattisonnoneapplication-minor
Watson, Mattisonnoneapplication-parent
Watson, MattisonWatson, Susan722028.0application-widow
Watson, MattisonWatson, Mattison562446.0certificate-invalid
Watson, MattisonWatson, Susan864814.0certificate-widow
Birth date:1819
Birth date certainty:About
Birth place:Albemarle County, VA
Death date:1900-06-04
Death place:Lincoln County, MO
Causes of death:
Occupations:Farmer
Relationships:
Person 1Relation TypePerson 2
Watson, Mattisonparent ofWatson, Matthew
Watson, Mattisonparent ofWatson, Isabella
Watson, Mattisonparent ofWatson, Philip
Watson, Mattisonparent ofWatson, Lucy
Watson, Mattisonparent ofWatson, Mary
Watson, Mattisonparent ofWatson, Lucilla
Watson, Susanwife ofWatson, Mattison
Watson, Malviniawife ofWatson, Mattison
SOURCES

Compiled Service Records for Madison (Mattison) Watson, RG94, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), Washington, D.C.; Pension Records for Madison Watson, RG15, NARA, Washington, D.C.; United States Federal Census Records, 1870, 1880, 1900, accessed through Ancestry.com; Frederick A. Dyer, A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion, vol. 3 (Des Moines, IA: Dyer Publishing Company, 1908).