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The family of Watson was descended from Sir Lewis Watson (1584 - 1653), son and heir of Sir Edward Watson (died 1616) of Rockingham Castle in Northamptonshire. For his services to king Charles I of England during the English Civil War Sir Lewis was created Baron Rockingham in 1645. His grandson Lewis, the 3rd baron (1655 - 1724), was created earl of Rockingham in 1714, and was succeeded by his grandson Lewis (c. 1709 ? 1745), whose brother Thomas, the 3rd earl, died unmarried in February 1746, when the earldom became extinct.

The barony of Rockingham, however, descended to a cousin, Thomas, father of the prime minister, a grandson of Edward, the 2nd baron (1630 - 1689), who had married Anne, daughter and heiress of Thomas Wentworth, 1st earl of Strafford. The vast estates of the Wentworths had passed to Edward?s son, Thomas, who took the additional name of Wentworth, and then to his son, Thomas Watson Wentworth (c. 1690 - 1750), who was created earl of Melton in 1733 and marquess of Rockingham in 1746.

Original text from http://1911encyclopedia.org

Rockingham is also the name of a number of places:

• Rockingham, Northamptonshire
• Rockingham, North Carolina
• Rockingham, Vermont
• Rockingham County, New Hampshire
• Rockingham County, North Carolina
• Rockingham County, VirginiaRockingham County is a county located in the State of Virginia. As of 2000, the population is 67,725. Its county seat is Harrisonburg 6. Geography According to the U. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,210 km² (853 mi²). 2,204 km² (851 mi²) o
• Rockingham, AustraliaRockingham is a city in Western Australia located 47km south of Perth. It has a population of 80,000 and forms the southernmost border of the Perth metropolitan area. It was first surveyed in 1847, it was gazetted as a town in 1897. In its early days, Roc

and of a motor racing circuit:

• Rockingham Motor SpeedwayRockingham Motor Speedway is a motor racing circuit near Rockingham and Corby in Northamptonshire, England. Opened on May 26, 2001 it is the fastest racing circuit in Europe, and can seat 52,000 people. External links Northamptonshire.