The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-11-08
A CORNER IN ANCESTORS
THE WATSON FAMILY
By FRANCES CowLEs.

The earliest settler of the name Wat Ion in America was probably Robert Watson, who was living in Plymouth, Mass, in 1923. One of the most noted of the descendants of this Puritan father was Elkanah Watson, famous patriot and supporter of the colonial cause at the time of the revolution. Another early emigrant of the name was John Watson. who was living in Hartford, Conn. as early as 1644. His wife was Peggy Smith, whom he met on the journey out from England, and whom. so the story goes, he rescued from drowning when she fell overheard on the long journey from England Ja- cob Watson, another settler of the name. came to America in the British army under General Wolfe, and was present at the siege of Quebec in 1T5a. After the fighting was over, Jacob set tied in Connecticut. Nathan Watson was born in Wales in 1729. and settled in New Hampshire in 1752.
 The New York branch of the family was founded by Francis Watson, who was born in 1794. He came from his kcmc in Yorkshire, Eng, in 1920. and settled in Clinton, N. '. This family is distinctly related to the English poet William Watson. and the coat of arms here inustrated lis that of the York shire Watsons. They are described; Ar gent on chevron azure between three martlets sable as many crescents or The crest is a griffin's head erect ar gent ducally gorced or. The motto IS AIea Gloria Fides.
 Answers to Correspondents
 To H. c. E.. who asks for information regarding the origin of the bloomcr family:
 The Bloomer family of America seems to be of English origin. The Enghsh surname Boomer is said to be deriVeo from term in iron manufacture. 1he refining house is. called "bloomery' and an iron refiner Is therefore bloomer. If this be correct the name Bloomer is one of the occupation names.
 The name Bloomer does not appear among the lists of the early settieis ; of New England, nor of the southern colonies However, in lb65 tnefe is record that one John scott or o'a uhe l. l.. L. had dispute with man or the name of Boomer and in 1872, Robert fBloorner bought land in Rye, N. l., from Philip Cabin In 1793, Robert Bioomer removed to New Rochelle. His desccno- ants are to be found in various parts of New York state. l shall pc very glad to forward any communicauons regarding the Bloomer tanhiiy 'o 'Ni correspondent.
 To I. IL C., who asks for informa- ton about the name Combs. This cor respondent writes that "Professor Er- nest Weekley, University college Not- tingham, Eng, thinks that the name Nf = lence in many parts of Hhslaho. iie gives a number of forms of It, among the following Combs, CoombS, Compe, Lacombe, De La Combe. and the hRe He says the name is common espe- cially in southeastern Englanu, ahu that it is common in France In piaee names and also surnames. nave ai ways thought the name purely frencn and that if 1t is common in England that it was through Norman England.
 According to Mark Antony Lower. an authority on name origins the haihes Combe and Combes and their kihareo forms are derived from saxon woru comb the Celtic equivalent of which IS cum meaning hollow in hill. ahs name was sometimes written: Al conn or at Cumb showing very clearly oha' 1t was. .ori ginally q place name. fiaces so-called arc found in Sussex OeNon Somerset and other English countles.
 sfind that the coat of arms for the 1srelish family .s Ermine three lions passant in pale. guIes. Crest; an arm in armor.
 On the continent the name Comoes ii not infrequent. There are di5tinguisheo families of the name In Franche Comte Janguedoc and Geneva, and Family ol the name of Des Combes in Lausanne see no reason to believe that the Eng' fish family of the naN1e brought th' name from the continent as the worC applied to places was usual Tn EnGlah' before the Norman conquest.
 To C. A G. who asks for 1nforma' tion concerning the Garside 1am'iy ol England:
 The Garside family Is small but an eient English family The coat ol arms is as follows: Argent galley her sails furled. sable, flags gules betwees three crosses crosslet litche' of the last The crest is. two dagser' in saltire proper.
 To Mrs. c. w, who asks for infor' nation about the Axtell family. Tn small American family or the hah' Axtell was founded by Thomas AK tell. son of William Axtel. Ihomas was born in England about lols. Hi' home in England was Berrhamsteau where his son. Henry, was born Tn losl The next year Thomas. with his lnIan' son. came to this country and settled 1T Sudbury, Mass. Descendants oI tness men settled in New Jersey ana otne' middle states in colonial times
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