Was there a Edgar J Watson?

Answer 1

There is actually a historic marker at the old Watson home at Chatham Bend. The cistern is still there and at one time there were parts of the old piers and chimney of the old house. The sign, as i recall, says "The Watson Place."

Im planning a trip to Everglades City, and was planning on some paddling. I came across this reference for a campsite on Rabbit KeyRabbit Key holds a distinctive place in the history of the Ten Thousand Islands as the spot where the frightened citizens of Chokoloskee buried the bullet-ridden remains of Edgar J. Watson, the losing party in the infamous showdown near Smallwood's Store in October of 1910. His body was later exhumed and moved to the cemetery at Ft. Myers.

He was a real plantation owner in the South Florida Everglades. It is rumored that he killed many people (including his workers) and outlaw Belle Starr. Much seems to be story, legend, and myth.Edgar Artemas Watson was the son of Elijah Daniel Watson, who was born Clouds Creek, SC in 1834 died in Columbia SC in 1895 and Ellen Catherine Addison, born Edgefield Courthouse, SC in 1832 and who died in Fort White, FL 1910.

His name was somehow changed to Edgar Jack Watson. Some believed it was after the so called murder of Belle Starr, the famous woman outlaw, which a "Jack Watson" was supposed to have shot. Edgar was supposed to be in that area and during his years back in Florida he never answered those charges. (Genealogy Trails Note: An individual by the name of Edgar A. Watson who had rented a house in Texas from Belle Starr, was arrested for her murder, but he was acquitted. At the time he came to Texas, he was wanted by Florida authorities for murder and Belle Starr had apparently threatened to turn in Edgar Watson to the authorities. She was later ambushed by an unknown individual(s) and shot more than 60 times. Circumstantial physical evidence against Edgar Watson included footprints, which were his size, leading from the murder scene to within 100 yards of his home.)

In the years that Edgar Watson lived in Columbia County, Monroe and Lee Counties of Florida, the rumors said he was responsible for lots of killings. As far as the records show he was supposed to have killed Belle Starr, Quinn Bass, Sam Tolen (his brother-in-law), Mike Tolen, a man named Tucker and his wife or nephew, Hannah Smith, several unknown Negroes, Old man Waller, Dutchy Melvin and a Leslie Cox. However, there was no evidence to link him with any of these murders. In 1910 Watson was shot by a crowd of angry neigbors in Chokoloskee, Florida after a hurricane when stories flared up on some of the killings in the Everglades area and Ten Thousand Islands of Monroe and Lee County, FL.

Many truths and untruths have been published about Edgar Watson, in all he seems to have been a sucessful farmer and a betwitching person. He was known to have a quick temper and a reputation for getting even. His features were red curly hair and very blue eyes. About six foot tall, ruddy complexion and small feet and hands for such a tall and large man. ( My husbaand and I knew his great-grandson and he had those same "very blue eyes , but dark curly hair.) Edgar J. Watson

born 11 Nov 1853 ( or 7 Nov., 1855 ?) at Cloud's Creek, SC

d. 24 Oct 1910 ,at Chokoloskee, FL

bur. Ft. Myers Cemetery B6 L8

(Edgar was ambushed by frightened townspeople).

Also, a link to his "grave" pic, oddly..

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6110