Last updated 12/29/99
Louis Watso & Katherine Tahamont
Louis Watso was born about 1874 and descends from an Abenaki War Chief. He married Katherine Tahamont on 20-Jan-1893. Katherine was born 5-Jan-1878 at Odanak or upstate NY. Louis died in 1959 and Katherine died 18-May-1943. Both are buried in Claremont NH, where they spent much of their lives. This couple had three daughters that grew to adulthood;
- Jessie born 25-Feb-1897 at Odanak, married Mr. Barton
- Eva born 7-Jun-1899 at Odanak, married Mr. Perry
- Mable born about 1900, Married Mr. Turner
The following material was shared with us by Donna Lee, the granddaughter of Mable Watso and great granddaughter of Louis & Katherine.
Louis & Katherine had a basket shop at Blodgett Landing on Lake Sunapee. Louis made full size birch bark canoes and replicas to sell to the tourists. Katherine was a basketmaker.
"Louis also used to make snowshoes so we could get to the cottage in the winter. Years ago Blodgett Landing was only a summer place and not plowed in the winter so if you wanted to get in, you would have to snowshoe in. Louis would then go out on the lake and shovel off a place for us to skate."
"My mother remembers her grandparents (Louis & Catherine) speaking Indian to each other and their children. She remembers it as a beautiful language but at 75 years old has forgotten it now. She says Catherine was a wonderful and talented woman and Louis a very soft spoken man. They were always very happy to have their family around."
"Louis made quite a point of insisting that he was an Indian in the 1920 census when they wanted to put him down as white. Oral history is that most Indians were put down as whites and that only a handful refused that 'honor'"
The family still has some baskets made by Katherine, but are not aware of any full size canoes surviving. If anyone has any information on items made by Louis or Katherine - Ne-Do-Ba and Donna would love to hear from you!
Watso Family Photo
The dress and headdress worn by Katherine in this photo is still in the possession of the family. It is made of deerskin. Her headdress was been restored at some time in the past. It currently has turkey feathers tied on with red sting. Donna has a picture of her grandmother, Mable, sitting in a canoe wearing the same dress.
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