Yes, they are connected to the Rowe and Watson families.

My ggg-grandfather Wilson J. Kierce had a son named Berrien (Berry) Kierce. His wife was Malinda Jane Rowe. She was the daughter of Rev. Jesse Mercer Rowe and Margaret Jane Oates. Berrien and Malinda's oldest daughter Mary Frances Kierce married James Lemuel Watson Sr. December 31, 1885. Mary and James Watson had six children, the youngest being James Lemuel Waton Jr. born June 14, 1901.

Berrien and Malinda also had a daughter named Martha Ella Kierce born around 1872 and married Thaddeus Warsaw Morgan on January 27, 1888 and had 8 children.

Berrien Kierce deserted his family for unknown reasons before the birth of his 3rd child Cora Della Kierce who was born September 24, 1873.

His wife Malinda Jane went to live with her parents in Coffee County, Alabama. The children were reared as members of the Rowe family.

Berry Kierce is found living with his parents in the 1880 census. In the 1900 Census Berry Kierce is found living with his brother Daniel Kierce in Mitchell County, Georgia. Rev. Berrien Kierce was also a baptist preacher as was his father Wilson and his brothers George Kierce and Henry Kierce, my gg-grandfather.

1880 Census Covington County, Alabama Page 341D

Wilson Kierce Age 70 Working in Grist Mill SC

Mary Kierce Age 56 AL

B. A. Kierce Age 39 Son GA

1880 Census Victoria, Coffee County, Alabama

Jessee M. ROWE Self M Male W 55 GA Farmer --- ---

Margrett ROWE Wife M Female W 50 SC Keeping House --- ---

Samuel ROWE Son S Male W 22 AL At School GA SC

Joseph A. ROWE Son S Male W 20 AL At Home GA SC

Ephram D. ROWE Son S Male W 18 AL Home GA SC

Charles Lee ROWE Son S Male W 16 AL Home GA SC

Margrett ROWE Dau S Female W 12 AL Home GA SC

Malinda KIERCE Dau W Female W 31 AL Keeping House GA SC

Francis KIERCE GDau S Female W 12 GA At Home GA AL

Martha E. KIERCE GDau S Female W 9 GA At Home GA AL

Cora Delle KIERCE GDau S Female W 7 GA At Home GA AL

The other connection I have to the Watson family is through Berrien Kierce's brother Rev. George W. Kierce. George W. Kierce was married to Mary Savell November 10, 1860. Their oldest daughter was Mary J. "Mollie" Kierce born around 1861 or 1862. She married James Michael Watson around 1880. His parents were W. Watson and Elizabeth Watson. I do not know if they were related to James Lemuel Watson or not. James and Mary Watson had 5 daughters, Minnie, Anna, Daisy, Mary and Ada. On May 5, 1889 Mary "Mollie" Waston died leaving her husband to care for their children who were all under the age of 10. On December 25, 1892 James Watson died, leaving their 5 children orphans. The children went to live with their grandfather George W. Kierce and his 2nd wife Theodica Terry Kierce. His first wife had died back in 1887. They cared for the girls for several more months until George Kierce and his wife could no longer take care of them due to his ailing health. He had been wounded in the Civil War and taken prisoner at the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863. In 1893 he brought the girls to the newly formed orphanage in Evergreen, Alabama.

There is some information on Rev. George W. Kierce and the Watson girls on the Alabama Baptist Children's Home website. http://www.abchome.org/annualoffer_1.html

Poor in health, the Rev. George W. Kierce turned to Alabama Baptist Children's Homes, operating as the Louise Short Baptist Widows & Orphans Home, in 1893 to care for his five young granddaughters. The girls' parents had died a few years earlier, according to written accounts.

Kierce was confident that he could trust the Children's Homes to not only provide a long-term home for Minnie Lee, Daisy Herbert, Anna Pearl, Ada Bell, and Mary Ellen, but to also nurture them into responsible adults.

Father John Stewart, who had co-founded the ministry two years before their arrival, encouraged Rev. Kierce's involvement in the granddaughters' growth. Rev. Kierce came to Evergreen for visits several times and was often allowed to take the girls to his home for short stays.

"One of them died at the Home . . . The other four were reared and educated and became church members and well qualified to enter upon life's labors," Rev. Kierce wrote. "One was taught music, one elocution, another shorthand and typewriting, and the other engaged in the millinery business. Three of them have married good men, and the other one is doing well."

I also have a photo of the Watson girls that lived at the orphanage. Their photo is also on the website.