. Historic Virginia homes and churches . In 1845 Doctor George Watson, a distinguished i^hy-sician of Richmond, inherited Ionia. He long made it hissummer home, and at his death bequeathed it to his daugh-ter, Mrs. Robert S. Archer, also of Richmond, who stillowns it. BRACKETTS Not far from Ionia is Bracketts, whose name camefrom an early owner of the land who, having built a smallhouse there, sold his holdings to Major James Watson, ofIonia. Major Watson gave Bracketts to his son, MajorDavid Watson, about 1800. The latter greatly enlarged RICHMOND AND THE I PPKR JAMES 211 and improved the hou
. Historic Virginia homes and churches . In 1845 Doctor George Watson, a distinguished i^hy-sician of Richmond, inherited Ionia. He long made it hissummer home, and at his death bequeathed it to his daugh-ter, Mrs. Robert S. Archer, also of Richmond, who stillowns it. BRACKETTS Not far from Ionia is Bracketts, whose name camefrom an early owner of the land who, having built a smallhouse there, sold his holdings to Major James Watson, ofIonia. Major Watson gave Bracketts to his son, MajorDavid Watson, about 1800. The latter greatly enlarged RICHMOND AND THE I PPKR JAMES 211 and improved the house, for years making liis home \\ats(tii was a person ol note: a man of lettersand very public spirited. He represented Louisa Countyin tlie Lei^islature and was an early memher of the l?oardof Nisitors of the Iniversity of \ir^inia. it is said thathe walked with Jefferson, Madison and Monroe at the headof a proeession at the openin<f of the university. His nameappears amon^jf those of the \isitors siiied to the. HKA( KEITS, LOIISA COINTV minutes of their meetings between the names of Jeffersonand Madison. David Watson married Sally, daughter of GarrettMinor, a person so capable as to warrant her descriptionas a Napoleon of a woman. She reared at Erackettsnot only a large family of her own but also many orphansof her connection. Braeketts passed from David and Sally Watson totheir son Thomas, who was not unlike his father in hisliterary taste. He, too, made additions to the house, and,marrying his cousin Klizabeth Morris, of Sylvania. hada number of children. At his tleath, however, there wasbut a single surviving son, and as he lost his only child,this branch of the house of Watson is destined to becomeextinct. 212 MKGINIA HOMES AND CHURCHES III the \Var between the States scions of this race cov-ered tlieir name with ^lory. David Watson was a majorof artilierv in the Confederate Army, and received a deathwonnd in the Battle of Spottsylvania Court House. The]Ma,
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