I first learned the name of my great-grandmother, Mary Ellen Watson (1855-1899), from a family tree drawn by my mother, Virginia Brown Murray. She wrote “Watson” in parentheses, with a question mark above. She also wrote “Pembroke” below her name, perhaps as a reference to where Mary was born.
The Parish Register for St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ogdensburg, New York records the marriage of Mary Watson and my great-grandfather, Patrick Brown (1839-1901), on 7 August 1884. Mary was about 29 and Patrick was about 45.
Mary Watson was a Protestant and a dispensation was granted to allow, Patrick, a Catholic, to marry Mary in the Catholic Church. The dispensation is noted in the parish register by the priest who performed the marriage. (I note that the priest recorded the letter “S” prior to Mary’s name. I’m not certain what that means.)