Near Thomson in McDuffie County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

John Smith Watson Homeplace

Photographed by David Seibert, December 8, 2012

1. John Smith Watson Homeplace Marker

Inscription. This house stood on the site of the large brick house to your right, from 1885 to 1935, when it was moved to this location. John S. Watson (1833-1895) was the great grandfather of John, James, & Bob Wilson. In 1864, after being wounded fighting General Sherman, he was brought home from Macon by his wife and a son. The father of seven children, he is buried next to one of his sons-U.S. Senator Thomas E. Watson, who was the father of Rural Free Delivery-in the City Cemetery on Lumpkin Street in Thomson. Others are buried in the family cemetery to your right. There are currently six homes of John S. Watson descendants here on the John S. Watson Homeplace.

Burned August 5, 1998

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is August 5, 1998.

Location. 33° 27.3′ N, 82° 28.067′ W. Marker is near Thomson, Georgia, in McDuffie County. It can be reached from Augusta Road (U.S. 78) 0.1 miles east of Thomson Bypass (Georgia Route 17). The marker is flat in the ground in the yard where the house stood, approximately 50 yards from

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the highway, so almost impossible to see from the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Thomson GA 30824, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Piedmont

and in Greater Augusta.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Birthplace of George McDuffie (approx. 1.6 miles away); Blind Willie McTell (approx. 2.1 miles away); Women of the Sixties Confederate Monument (approx. 2.1 miles away); Usry House (approx. 2.3 miles away); Woodman of the World Supreme Sacrifice Monument (approx. 2.3 miles away); McDuffie County (approx. 2.3 miles away); Nancy Hart Highway (approx. 2.3 miles away); VFW Post 6672 KIA Monument (approx. 2.3 miles away).

Photographed by David Seibert, December 8, 2012

2. John Smith Watson Homeplace Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Thomson.

More about this marker. The family was very gracious in permitting me to photograph the marker, but please remember this is private property.

Also see . . . Pine Top Farm. National register of Historic Places nomination (PDF) and photographs (separate PDF) submitted for the farmstead, which was listed in 1996. (National Park Service) (Submitted on June 29, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by David Seibert, December 8, 2012

3. John Smith Watson Homeplace Marker

Farm buildings on the property are in the background

Photographed by David Seibert, December 8, 2012

4. John Smith Watson Homeplace Marker

One of the houses on the property is in the background

Supplemental markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 9, 2023

5. Supplemental markers

The homestead, also known as Pine Top Farm, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It is also recognized as a Georgia "century farm", meaning it has been owned and operated by the same family for more than 100 years.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 8, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 726 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 8, 2017, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 5. submitted on June 29, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.