| Name |
Virginia Watson [1, 2] |
| Nickname |
Jennie |
| Birth |
3 Mar 1868 |
Accomack County, Virginia, USA  [3] |
| Gender |
Female |
| Anecdote |
12 Jul 1890 |
Accomack County, Virginia, USA [2] |
- 12 July 1890, Accomack Co, VA - Two Women Fatally Cut and Both Dying! Willett the Butcher in Irons! On Wednesday afternoon this community was startled with the announcement that murder again stalked abroad. This time two victims, both women, living on the road from Locustville to Accomac C. H., were struck down in broad day. The first news came by the messenger for the doctor followed almost immediately by the man, whose butcher knife had drunk deep of the blood of these poor women, coming to deliver himself to the tender justice of Accomac. The man was Thomas Willett, known as 'Gray Goose,' the victims Mahala Watson and her daughter Ginnie Watson. Willett has been long known as a reprobate, and the women of a low order of syrens. For three years Willett and the daughter have lived, with the mother, as man and wife, albeit unblessed by priest or tied by license. For some time the brute in Willett has cropped out in frequent maulings of Ginnie, the last of which was so severe as made her determine to rid herself of him. On Wednesday morning Willett went to Locustville and brought home a package of lard, Willett said 'it was a pound of lard,' Ginnie said, 'it was a lie it wasn't a pound.' Willett replied, 'it's a dammed lie.' They quarrelled on until the mother, to stop it, suggested to Ginnie to go blackberrying. They took their pails and accompanied by Ginnie's sister, a girl of about 14 years and daughter of Mahala, they started for the blackberry fields, leaving Willett behind. He watched their going, located them, saw the way was clear of persons who might interrupt him, slipped into the house, took from the bureau drawer his keen edged butcher knife and placing it in his shirt bosom started on his road to 'cut to kill' as he expressed it. Reaching the spot he went over into the field where Ginnie was -- her mother being yet in the road -- and approaching her asked her to lend him her little knife. She did so. He then asked her if she intended to do anything more for him? 'Go away, Tom,' she replied, 'and let me alone.' He caught her, threw her down, and drawing the murderous butcher knife with rapid strokes plunged it three times into her shrinking body; once two inches below the heart, once in the left side whence protruded the stomach, once in the back just above the right hip clear 'to the hollow.' The mother jumped over the fence, thrust Willett aside, and the girl springing to her feet ran rapidly as her wounds permitted homeward. At once Willett turned like a tiger on the unfortunate mother and drove the bloody knife in her back at almost the same spot as the back wound of Ginnie. As she turned he lightly gashed her on the right cheek, and when she ran shrieking 'yonder comes Mr. Oliver!' ripped her down the back. Her cries caused him to stop. She sped on and with her daughter reached the yard of their home, where exhausted and covered with blood, they fell, tearing from their gashed bodies their clothing as they writhed in agony. A neighbor came, and with the younger daughter and sons managed to get them in the one-room house where this family of seven lived, and sent for the doctor. Meantime Willett turned, carrying with evident satisfaction the dripping knife in his hand toward the Court House. On his way he boasted of his prowess and showed the bloody weapon as proof. For one man to whom he showed the knife he bore bad blood, and as he offered to get over the fence that it might be inspected, he was curtly told it would be best for him to stay where he was. He took the advice and went on to the Court House. The messenger arrived and sent down Dr. J. H. Ayres. On his way the messenger overtook Willett and persuaded him to give the knife to him. He did so, and it was turned over to Constable Gunter, who, on the arrival of Willett confessing and boasting of his horrible work, arrested and turned him over to Jailor Melson. Mr. Melson with characteristic regard for the comfort of such prisoners, speedily put him within the thick walls of the dungeon and ornamented him with bracelets of steel. There he lies waiting the results of his 'cut to kill' as he exultingly called it. Reaching the wounded ones Dr. Ayres sent a messenger for Dr. Scarburgh, and by them necessary surgical care was rendered and the victims made as comfortable as possible. Both the doctors were of opinion that neither of the women could live, as peritonitis would inevitably set in, and both were much weakened from loss of blood, so Attorney for the Commonwealth Fletcher and Justice L. F. J. Wilson near midnight of Wednesday took the dying declaration substantially that written here of Mahala Watson. Her daughter, buoyed by youth and hope, believed she might recover and her declaration was not taken. The scene at the house was horrible. Blood in the yard, blood soaking in the floor, clothing torn and dripping with blood scattered about -- rising above it all the sickening odor of blood -- two women lying on the floor, nearly nude, with their life blood trickling from six ghastly cuts -- the pallid faces, the moans of the stark and bleeding victims, all combined to make a ghastly and terrible picture. This is a most brutal and fiendish affair. The victims, though outlawed by their debased lives, were women, defenseless. A devil's heart conceived and executed the horrid work. Their offences against him were that the one who was his mistress tired of his brutalities; that the other, low sunk as she was, had yet a mother's love to prompt her to rush to save her child. His offence is against humanity and law. As we go to press we learn the older woman is sinking from internal hemorrhage, and the younger has developed peritonitis. It seems to be a mere question of time how long they will live.
|
| Anecdote |
26 Nov 1890 [4] |
- An article in the Norfolk Virginian, 26 Nov 1890 - Thomas Willett alias "Grey-Goose," the half-witted white man who murderously attacked his mistress and her mother during a jealous fit some months ago, was tried yesterday under the first indictment, which was for the stabbing of the young girl (his concubine), Bettie Archer. Great difficulty was found in procuring a jury, which being obtained, the trial was proceeded with. The evidence showed that Willett had deserted his family and lived with the girl and her mother, Mahaly Watson, for a number of years, and that during that time frequent quarrels took place between them which ultimately resulted in an open rupture, when they parted. The climax was reached when Willett came to the home on the day of the tragedy, and failing to cement a peace, followed the two women down the road, near their home, about two and a half miles from Onley station, where he, broaching the matter again, met with a stinging rebuff, which so enraged him that, drawing a large dirk from his breast, he ferociously rushed upon the Archer girl, slashing her right and left, inflicting terrible wounds in the back, on the face, and almost completely disembowelling her, after which her mother, interfering, he attacked her in the same way. Then leaving the two women for dead he went to Accomac Court-house and gave himself up to the authorities. The jury found a verdict of guilty, (as he plead, the defense being insanity), and fixed his sentence at six years in the penitentiary. He was defended by Hon. J. W. G. Blackstone. His trial on the second indictment will follow. It is alleged that Willett is a son of the notorious "Jim" Ames, the terror of Accomac, in by-gone days, who is said to have stabbed two women under identical circumstances and in the same way.
|
| Anecdote |
29 Nov 1890 [5] |
- Thomas Willet, on trial at the present term of county court, for cutting Virginia Watson and Mahala Watson, her mother, some months ago, with intent to kill, was found guilty of both indictments, with verdicts of six and two years in the penitentiary respectively.
|
| Census with mother |
7 Jun 1900 |
Lee District, Accomack County, Virginia, USA [1] |
- HH#101 was headed by Mahala Watson, a 52-year-old female. Listed with him were the following Watsons: Virginia (Chesser), a 34-year-old daughter; John H, a 30-year-old son; Thomas I, a 27-year-old son; Jesse W, a 25-year-old son; Peter W, a 23-year-old son; Lina, a 19-year-old daughter; and John, a 1-year-old son. Also listed was: James A Chesser, a 28-year-old son-in-law (husband? of Virginia).
|
| Census with brother |
1910 |
Lee District, Accomack County, Virginia, USA [6] |
- HH#188 was headed by Peter Watson, a 33-year-old farmer. Listed with him were the following Watsons: Sallie, a 19-year-old wife; Heley, a 63-year-old mother; Lina, a 29-year-old sister; William, a 11-year-old nephew; and Albert, an 9-year-old nephew. Also listed were: James Chesser, a 39-year-old brother-in-law; and Jennie Chesser, a 41-year-old sister.
|
| Census with brother |
1920 |
Lee District, Accomack County, Virginia, USA [7] |
- HH#173 was headed by Peter Watson, a 42-year-old farmer. Listed with him were the following Watsons: Sallie, a 29-year-old wife; Mahaley, a 69-year-old mother; Lina, a 40-year-old sister; Albert Lee, an 18-year-old nephew and John W, a 20-year-old brother. Also listed were: James Chesser, a 47-year-old brother-in-law; and Jennie Chesser, a 51-year-old sister.
|
| Census with brother |
1930 |
Lee District, Accomack County, Virginia, USA [8] |
- HH#474 was headed by Peter Watson, a 52-year-old farmer. Listed with him were the following Watsons: Sallie, a 39-year-old wife; Albert, a 29-year-old nephew and Estelle, a 10-year-old niece. Also listed were: James Chesser, a 62-year-old brother-in-law; and Jennie Chesser, a 59-year-old sister.
|
| Census with brother |
1940 |
Lee District, Accomack County, Virginia, USA [9] |
- HH#12 was headed by Peter L Watson, a 62-year-old farmer. Listed with him were the following Watsons: Sallie, a 59-year-old wife; Albert, a 39-year-old nephew and Estelle, a 20-year-old niece. Also listed were: James Chesser, a 68-year-old brother-in-law; and Jennie Chesser, a 70-year-old sister.
|
| Marr Name |
Virginia 'Ginnie' Chesser |
| Record ID |
97344 |
| Death |
28 Mar 1941 [3, 10] |
- She was shown as Jennie Chesser, born on 3 Mar 1868 in Accomack County, Virginia and died on 28 Mar 1941 in Onancock, Accomack, Virginia due to Chronic Myocarditis and probable Carcinoma of Liver. Her parents were shown as James Watson and Mahalie Watson. Her husband was shown as James Chesser.
|
| Burial |
30 Mar 1941 |
Onancock Cemetery, Onancock, Accomack County, Virginia, USA [11] |
- Her burial date was shown in her death certificate.
|
 Siblings |
4 brothers and 1 sister |
| | 1. Virginia Watson, b. 3 Mar 1868, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 28 Mar 1941 (Age 73 years)
╚═James Albert Chesser, b. 20 Mar 1871, Hallwood, Accomack, Virginia, USA d. 13 Jul 1948, Onley, Accomack, Virginia, USA (Age 77 years), m. Bef 1900, Accomack County, Virginia, USA
| | | 2. John H. Watson, b. Jan 1870, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Yes, date unknown
╚═Margaret Hester Budd, b. Abt 1889, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Aft 1940 (Age > 52 years), m. 10 Sep 1903, Accomack County, Virginia, USA
| | | 3. James Thomas 'Tom' Watson, b. 21 Jul 1873, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 2 May 1959, Salisbury, Wicomico Co, Maryland (Age 85 years)
╚═Olivia Estelle Budd, b. 16 Jan 1880, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 11 Feb 1923, Accomack County, Virginia, USA (Age 43 years), m. 29 Nov 1903, Accomack County, Virginia, USA
| | | 4. Jesse W. Watson, b. 7 Sep 1874, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 1954 (Age 79 years)
╚═Mary Virginia Budd, b. 1888, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 1954 (Age 66 years), m. 2 Sep 1901, Accomack County, Virginia, USA
| | | 5. Angeline 'Lina' Watson, b. Abt 1877, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Aft 1948 (Age > 72 years)
╚═Sherman T. Hurley, b. 1865, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 1945 (Age 80 years), m. Abt 1925
| | | 6. Peter Laban (of James) Watson, b. 10 Jun 1877, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 31 Dec 1957 (Age 80 years)
╚═Sallie Gardner, b. 22 Nov 1890, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. 14 Dec 1974 (Age 84 years), m. 25 Dec 1907, Onancock, Accomack Co, Virginia
|
|
Origins |
|
| Patriarch & Matriarch |
John Watson, b. Abt 1760, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Yes, date unknown (2 x Great Grandfather)  Rachel Phillips, b. Abt 1812, Accomack County, Virginia, USA d. Yes, date unknown (Grandmother) |
| Person ID |
I97344 |
MilesFiles23 |
| Last Modified |
1 Apr 2024 |
1868 - 1941 (73 years)
: Address
: Location
: City/Town
: County/Shire
: State/Province
: Country
: Not Set
