Thomas (Tomás) Watson was the son of James (Santiago) Watson and Marianna Escamilla. He was born on June 13 or 14, 1834.
In 1855, he married María Luísa Moreno, a native of Equador, who was born on August 19, 1841.
They had at least one child, Adeline Watson (May 22, 1860-?), who married Fred Porter Nason (1840?-?), a native of New Hampshire, who settled in Corral de Tierra in 1880.
Thomas Watson worked as a cattle buyer and operated a butcher business and a dairy ranch. In the 1860s he acquired land in the Corral de Tierra area, where he was a prominent resident for many years.
Watson Creek, which runs through Corral de Tierra and joins San Benancio Creek at the junction of Highway 68 and San Benancio Road was named for Thomas Watson.
Watson was Sheriff of Monterey County for four consecutive terms, 1863-1871. He was one of the incorporators of the Monterey & Salinas Valley Railroad, served for many years as school trustee, and donated land for the school in Corral de Tierra.
Thomas died on August 30, 1910 and María died on August 16, 1921.
Source:
- Clark, Donald T., Monterey County Place Names (Kestrel Press, Carmel Valley, 1991).