Tidwell revisited

[McCastle]

Susan,

I believe you have made a reasonable case based on John Stanton's research, and there is a good chance that your work is correct.

That said, I tend to believe that Sarah Slater may have been an alias, not that I'm right about any of this, I am simply offering a different opinion on the subject.

The third description, given by Thomas A. Jones, was of his assistant Mary Augusta Watson, and is nearly identical to those given by George Atzerodt and David Barry.
https://watson1693.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/21/

A few days before Augustus Howell was arrested at Surrattsville MD., John Surratt received a letter from R.G. Watson, who asked Surratt to come to New York for " important business." Surratt did not go to the meeting. Was this just another case of Surratt creating an alibi? Did Roderick Watson's sister, ask him to send the letter to Surratt? read Surratt's letter below; see Dhu Watson/James O. Hall
https://watson1693.wordpress.com/page/2/

Mary "Sarah" Augusta Watson ( Tennyson Family records) would have been well known in the area of Port Tobacco, The Watson family was living at nearby Pope's Creek for generations until the house was supposedly burned by Union soldiers. They were also neighbors of Thomas A. Jones.
see photos of Watson House; https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=5938

George Atzerodt seemed to know more about Sarah Slater than the others, which made me consider that Mary Watson may have met Atzerodt at the carriage shop in Port Tobacco. There is some speculation that this carriage shop was owned by Robert Carvell, which means absolutely nothing, except that Mary Augusta Watson later became Mrs. John Carvell, (Carville).

While I'm not quite sure about the connection between Robert and Dr. John Carvell, I can say for sure that Mary Watson's beau was living in New Brunswick Canada. If she was Sarah Slater, this would have been her opportunity to "apply to the French Consulate" in case of any trouble. As for her speaking French, the primary languages spoken in New Brunswick are French and English. Carvell, New Brunswick, lies just across the U.S./ Canadian boarder.

Blockade runner, Dr. John Carvell and Mary Watson were married in 1867.

The use of an alias is nothing new when it comes to the conspirators. Lewis Powell was alias Payne, Booth was Boyd, Surratt was Sturdy, Sherman and probably a half dozen others. Even Herold, I think may have used the name Henson at Dr, Mudd's house. When John Surratt was finally captured in 1867 he was using the alias John Watson, the very name of Mary Watson's deceased uncle, John J. Watson. Curiously, a Captain Perry, who was seen bringing Confederate mail and hiding in the woods behind Dr. Mudd;s house may have 'borrowed" the name of Mary Watson's mother, Ann Perry...who knows.

Probably isn't them, but one line of Carvells that I started following goes back to their ancestral land, and has an interesting name in it for sure. According to family records, Mary Watson was Mary "Sarah" Augusta Watson. If Slater was an alias, I wonder if the name came from Dr. John Carvell's side of the family. While I find it interesting, this is basically just guesswork.

Thomas Carvell, Circa 1802 - 1886
Thomas Carvell was born circa 1802, at birth place, to William Carvell and Sarah Carvell (born Slater).
William was born on October 7 1775, in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England.
Sarah was born circa 1768, in Barkby, Leicestershire, England.
Thomas was baptized on month day 1803, at baptism place.
He had 3 siblings: John Carvell and 2 other siblings.
Thomas married Elizabeth Carvell.
Elizabeth was born circa 1802, in Barkby, Leicestershire, England.
They had 3 children: Thomas Carvell and 2 other children.