Watson, brother of
Joshua Watson, was curate to
Jonathan Boucher, a friend of his father, at
Epsom. From 1799 he was
vicar, and then
rector, of
Hackney, at that time east of London proper. Appointed Archdeacon of St Albans in 1816, he held onto the rectorship of Hackney.
Henry Handley Norris was Watson's curate, and brother-in-law, and held a post at South Hackney from 1809. The Watson brothers and Norris became the core members of the "Hackney Phalanx", with shared orthodox
Anglican beliefs and family ties.[1][2]
Watson married Caroline Powell, sister of the elder Baden Powell (13 Dec 1725 - 31 Jan 1810),[5] the merchant;[6] Powell's daughter Henrietta married
Henry Handley Norris. Powell's other sister Susanna (24 Nov 1765 - 20 Jan 1846)[5] married Thomas Sikes ( - 14 Dec 1834),[5][6] vicar of
Guilsborough, and Watson's friend from the
University of Oxford. Joshua Watson married Mary Sikes, sister of Thomas Sikes. The younger
Baden Powell (22 Aug 1796 - 11 Jun 1860)[5] was therefore nephew to John James Watson.[7][8]