Watson, Wingfield

Wingfield Watson was born in 1828 in Ireland. He was a loyal disciple of James Jesse Strang, who started the Church of Jesus Christ (Strangites). In 1848 Watson migrated to America. In St. Louis (Mo.) he read and was moved profoundly by Mormon books. As a result, he was later baptized into the faith and moved to Beaver Island (Mich.) to live among Strangite Mormons. When Strang was murdered in 1856, Watson fled with his wife and family to Chicago (Ill.). The Watsons later moved to Boyne City (Mich.), where Wingfield lived until 1891. In Boyne City he preached, wrote, debated, and campaigned for his faith. He wrote, published, and republished Strangite pamphlets and beliefs. Watson was ordained presiding high priest by Lorenzo D. Hickey in 1897. He married Jane Thompson and had at least three children. Watson died on Oct. 29, 1922 in Wis. (For further information see the finding aid.).

From the description of Collection, 1868,1982. (Clarke Historical Library). WorldCat record id: 41321294

Wingfield Watson (1828-1922) follower of James J. Strang, faithful Strangite leader, son of Thomas Wingfield and Eliza Leviston. Married Jane Thompson, wrote many pamphlets and articles defending James J. Strang and the Strangites.

Wingfield Watson was born in Ireland on April 22, 1828, to Thomas Wingfield and Eliza Leviston. He came to the United States in 1848, traveling from Liverpool to New Orleans, and then up the Mississippi River to St. Louis. There he went to work in the coal pits and first learned of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also called LDS or Mormon Church). He read Parley P. Pratt’s Voice of Warning to All Nations which had a great influence on him.

Watson then moved to Wisconsin where he took a job working in the lead mines. While there, he married a widow, Jane Thompson, whom he had come to know during his time working in the coal pits. Watson was then able to read the Book of Mormon for the first time. He felt the “spirit of the gathering” and desired to go to Salt Lake City. He traveled back to St. Louis to seek out a Mormon elder. He found one and was baptized into the Church.

His new friends advised him that he should return to Wisconsin. During the river trip on his way back, he met Samuel Shaw, an elder from James J. Strang’s colony on Beaver Island. Shaw and his wife were going to Nauvoo to visit relatives and Watson decided to stop with them and see the city. Watson was saddened at what remained of the city of Nauvoo and his desire to be with the Mormons greatly increased. He asked Shaw if he could return with him to Beaver Island because the trip there was much shorter than the one to Salt Lake City. Shaw agreed to take him and they set off once more, traveling by boat to La Salle, Illinois, then by canal to Chicago, and finally arriving at Beaver Island on June 23 1852. Watson was warmly received by the people of the colony and immediately began to like the community. He decided to stay there and work, instead of continuing on to Salt Lake.

On June 18, 1856, James J. Strang was attacked by Thomas Bedford and Alexander Wentworth. Watson had been keeping an Apostolic record for Strang and attended him until he died. (A copy of the Apostolic record can be found in the Lee Library. Refer to bibliographical sketch.) The Strang colony soon disintegrated and Watson left for Chicago. From Chicago he went on to Grant County, in southwestern Wisconsin. After several years, Watson was persuaded by Lorenzo Dow Hickey (one of Strangs’ apostles) to move further north to Black River Falls, Wisconsin, where other refugees from Beaver Island had settled. This area had been the site of a Mormon lumbering operation in the early 1840's.

After six years, Hickey asked Watson to move once again to northern Michigan. Watson agreed and ended up buying a farm near Boyne City, where he stayed until 1891. While in Boyne City, he embarked upon his career as a leader of the Strangite faith; he preached, wrote letters, and published pamphlets. His pamphleteering helped preserve the identity of the Strangite Church.

From 1862 to 1883, he wrote letters to the Saints’ Herald defending Strang’s calling. Two of these letters were reprinted by Watson in his first pamphlet, The Necessity of Baptism ; and of Having Authority from God to Preach the Gospel (1877). It was during this time that Watson was given a large collection of early Strangite publications. Watson then embarked on a program of reprinting early Strangite works, such as, The Prophetic Controversy, A Letter from James J. Strang to Mrs. Corey . Watson also published his own works, including thirteen numbered pamphlets bearing the title Prophetic Controversy, the last of which was issued in 1918.

In 1891, Watson debated Willard Blair of the RLDS Church. The debate was published in book form as The Watson Blair Debate Which Took Place at East Jordan, Michigan, Commencing Oct. 22 and Ending Oct. 26, 1891. Watson then converted Edward T. Couch to the Strangite faith, who would publish seven pamphlets defending the faith.

In 1891, Watson left Michigan to live at Spring Prairie, Wisconsin, just north of Voree. In 1897, he was ordained as Presiding High Priest of the Strangite Church by Lorenzo Dow Hickey. Ten years later, he moved just west of Burlington at Voree.

Wingfield Watson died on October 29, 1922. He left his property in trust, to await the day when a new prophet would appear to continue James J. Strang’s work.

From the guide to the Wingfield Watson papers, 1860-1922, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)

Wingfield Watson (1828-1922) was influential member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Strangite).

Wingfield Watson was born April 28, 1828 in Ireland. He immigrated to the United States in 1848 and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1852. Shortly thereafter, Watson became a follower of James J. Strang and moved to his headquarters at Beaver Island, Michigan. After witnessing Strang's death in 1856, Watson sought to carry on the legacy of Strangite movement by preserving and publishing historical documents and pamphlets. In 1897 Lorenzo D. Hickey, one of the last remaining Strangite apostles, ordained Watson the presiding High Priest over the Strangite church, a position he held until his death on October 29, 1922.

Grace B. Lewis (born approximately 1860) was the daughter of influential Strangite, Wingfield Watson. She married Charles G. Lewis, an active member and local leader in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (RLDS Church), who served as the president of the Northern Michigan District and later as president of the Boyne City Branch of the RLDS Church. They eventually settled in Lamoni, Iowa.

From the guide to the Wingfield Watson letter to Grace B. Lewis, 1906, (L. Tom Perry Special Collections)