Notes for: Nancy Nutter
Some researchers report the parents of Nancy Nutter, the wife of William Watson, as James Nutter (1773-1833) and Julia Ann Davisson (1775-1826), a relationship that is at variance with substantiated facts about her. Nancy Nutter Watson's death record in Doddridge County states that she was born in Barbour Co, (W)VA, the daughter of "A. Nutter." While Barbour County is inconsistent with the reported birthplaces of her siblings (Harrison and Doddridge Counties) and may be incorrect, we do know that her husband William Watson's family had resided for some time in Barbour County, and that her two oldest children were also born in Barbour County. As far as can be determined, James Nutter and Julia Ann Davisson spent their entire lives in Harrison County and had no known Barbour County connections.
Adding to the confusion is the Nutter genealogy compiled by Donald Norman, based on Barr Wilson's work, listing among the children of James Nutter & Julia Ann Davisson, and also among the children of Andrew Nutter & Malinda Willis, a daughter named Nancy who married a William Watson. That there would be two Nancy Nutters who married two William Watsons in that region and time frame seems very unlikely. However, we do know that a Nancy Nutter married a William Watson in Harrison County on Oct 22 1840 (or possibly Mar 4 1841, based on interpretation of the handwritten marriage record; a Marriage Bond was executed in Harrison County on Sep 1 1840 by Nancy Nutter's parents, Anda (sic) & Malinda Nutter, and also signed by her brother Willis Nutter and by Otha G. Watson, half-brother of William M. Watson). There is nothing in the marriage record itself (MR Bk 3, p. 145) reflecting the parentage or exact identity of either person, leaving open the possibility that it was a different Nancy Nutter, a different William Watson, or both. But the family members mentioned in the marriage bond should dispel any doubt.
No other marriage record for William or Nancy was found in Harrison, Doddridge or Barbour Counties. Given all the evidence and circumstances, we conclude that it was this Nancy Nutter, daughter of Andrew Nutter & Malinda Willis, who married William Watson.