Descendants of Thomas WATSON
Notes
William Watson was born in 1831. His father also William Watson, an Estate Dealer, died when William very young. His mother Mary Linsday remarried when William was 4 years old. William's mother and her new family initially lived in Kirknowe but had moved to Shotts by 1851. In the 1841 census, William aged 9, and his mother, Janet, most likely very pregnant with her first son to John McArthur, were shown living with William's grandparents, the Lindsays, at Kirknowe. In the 1851 census William is still with his grandmother Mary Lindsay in Kirknowe. At that time he was a coal miner. Living in the next home probably the groom's cottage, was Janet Gibb, recently widowed, with some of her sons. William aged about 21 married Janet Gibb (ne Jack) then aged 36 in about 1852.
William became a grocer and then a spirit and wine merchant. He also had substantial property of at least 33 acres as listed in the 1881 census.
William Watson and Janet had two sons James (b1853) and Alexander (b1857). Janet died in 1872 at Watsons Land, Cambusnethan.
William, a widower, aged 54 then married Agnes Craig (b1867) aged 18 in 1885. Agnes was the family maid. William and Agnes then had William (Bill) b1885, Janet Lindsay (Jenny) b1888, Agnes G (Nan) b1890, Mary (Polly) b1892, Jean (Jeanie) b1894, John L C b1897, Isabella Craig (Tibby) b1900 and David King (King) b1903.
William died a wealthy man on 22 October 1910. His estate was valued at 132,664 pounds.
The sons from William's first marriage went to Australia in 1879 and 1886. It is possible that William's second marriage to the maid, who was younger than these two sons may have been a factor in them leaving.
See also the Watson Family story.
It is presumed from William Watson's (b1831) death certificate in 1910 where it lists Janet Jack or Gibb as William's first wife and from the 1861 Census that Janet Jack (b 1821) firstly married Mr Gibb and had three sons George (b 1847), Walter (b 1849) and William (b 1851).
In the 1851 census William is a lodger with his grandmother Mary Lindsay in Kirknowe. Living in the next home was Janet Gibb, recently widowed, with some of her sons. William aged about 21 must have married Janet Gibb (ne Jack) then aged 36 in about 1852.
Janet aged 36 then married William Watson aged 21 in about 1852 and had James (b 1853) and Alexander (b 1857).
William aged 54 then married Agnes Craig (b 1867) aged 18 in 1885 and had William (b 1886), Janet Lindsay (b 1888) and Agnes G (b 1890).
The two sons from the first marriage of William Watson(b.1831) migrated to Australia.
Alexander Watson left the UK on Thursday 12 June 1879 on the ship "La Hogue" and arrived in Sydney on 16 September 1879 on an assisted passage. State Records film [2490] records that Alexander Watson, aged 22, a labourer from Lanark, father William of Lanark was living, but his mother was not living, a Presbyterian, could read and write, and had no relative in the Colony, was in good bodily health and had no complaints about his treatment during the voyage.
Alexander's presence in Australia is also evidenced from the "missing friends" notice placed in a Queensland newspaper by his brother James Watson.
Taken from "The Queenslander", Brisbane, Saturday, June 1, 1889
MISSING FRIENDS
"Should this meet the eye of Alexander WATSON, born Cambusnethan, Scotland, please communicate with your brother James WATSON Joadja Creek, N.S. WALES. Any information regarding him will be thankfully received. Last heard of at Angelila Creek about two years ago."In the book by Leonie Knapman, "Joadja Creek, The shale oil town and its people 1870-1911", the author lists all known residents of Joadja Creek and the following Watsons are listed:
James Watson (Brusher)
James Watson (Miner)
Davina I Watson
Bethia Watson b6.4.1889
Isabella Watson b11.6.1893
Alexander Watson
Ann WatsonIt is possible that the listed Alexander was James' brother. The Ann could have been his wife.
It would appear that Alexander may have come to Australia ahead of James and his family. This is consistent with Alexander not being found in the Scottish 1881 Census of Cambusnethan while James and his family were present.
Joadja Creek is located 31 km north-west of Mittagong, and 138 km south-west of Sydney, in an isolated valley. The village of Joadja was established by the Australian Kerosene Oil and Mineral Company in the late 1870s to facilitate the exploitation of the vast shale deposits in the valley walls. The origins and meaning of the town's name are uncertain, though 'valley of plenty' has been suggested.
Joadja's population passed 400 in 1879, well in excess of other Southern Highlands towns. A post office opened in 1878. There was soon a theatre, a store, a butcher, a bakery and a school of arts. Joadja was also one of the first towns in the colony of New South Wales to be connected to the outside world by telephone. The miners were largely experienced men from Scotland, perhaps enticed by the Scottish mine manager. The miners were housed in cottages made of local bricks. In 1881 about three quarters of the miners were Scottish.
The Scottish birthplaces named in the Joadja Creek records are widespread.
In the 1881-1882 Electoral Roll for Camden-Police District of Berrima in NSW, an Alexander Watson is listed as a resident of Joadja. He was not present in the 1883-4 Roll but in the 1886-87 Electoral Roll for Camden-Police District of Berrima an Alexander Watson is listed as a resident of Burradoo - Tanks. Barradoo was the railway station for the Bowral also in the Mittagong area. The Tanks was most likely railway watering stop. It is possible that Alexander was then working for the railways.
The NSW Railway Employees records show:
WATSON Alexander F, Position- Engineer, date of position 12/12/1884, Page 233 SR Item [R297]The reference to Angelila Creek in the Missing Friends message should have read Angellala Creek. Angellala Creek is about 66kms east of Charleville and 706kms west of Roma in South Western Queensland. The town of Angellala was named after the nearby creek. At the time that Alexander Watson was at Angellala Creek, in about 1887, construction had commenced on a rail bridge to cross the creek with a very substantial bridge to enable the train line to be extended west from Roma to Charleville. Angellala was also a watering stop for locomotives, with the water tank situated at the Charleville end of the yard.
William Jack Watson served in the Army, in the 1st/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders. He became a 2nd Lieutenant on 1 Feb 1911, a Lieutenant on 17 May 1913 and a Captain on 26 September 1914. William's younger brother John was also in the 1st/5th Battalion Gordon Highlanders.
According to John's obituary in 1917, Captain William Watson, was stationed at Ripon when John was killed in 1917.
Janet used to be called Jenny. When she was married she lived at Kirknowe House Cambusnethan.
She died on 20 September 1971 and left an estate valued at 44,543 pounds.
Cambusnethan
A village and a parish in the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire". The village, now incorporated in WISHAW police burgh, stands 1 mile WSW of Newmains station and 1-1/2 miles NE of Wishaw station; contains a Masonic hall, the parish church, a Free church and a public school; and has fairs of the second Thursday of May and the fourth Thursday of October.The parish contains also the towns and villages of Wishaw, Newmains, Overtown, Coltness Iron-works, Clydesdale-Rows, Chapel, Stane, Morningside, Waterloo, Bonkle, and part of Shotts Iron-works.
The tract along the Clyde is low and level, consisting of beautiful fertile haughs, and sinking to less than 100 feet above sea-level; the surface thence has a general eastward rise, attaining 950 feet on Auchterhead Muir. The central parts, though naturally rich in aspect, are disfigured by mining operations, mineral works, and coal traffic.
Death: Scotland 1971 SCOTT JANET LINDSAY WATSON F 83 CAMBUSLANG GLASGOW/LANARK 627/00 0193
28. Lieutenant John Lawrence Craig WATSON
Lieut. John L C Watson of the Gordons, second son of Mrs Watson, Kirknowe House, Cambusnethan, was educated at Dollar Academy. Generally speaking he was the first lad of his year in all outdoor sports. He captained the Cadet Corps and was captain of the Rugby XV in 1914-15, playing in the three quarter line. He received his commission in the Army in February 1915. After a course of training he went to France. Two months later he was invalidated home suffering from trench fever. Having recovered, he rejoined his regiment and returned to France towards the end of 1916. It is understood that the battalion to which he belonged had seen some very heavy fighting. He was killed in action in 1917. Lieut. Watson was extremely popular with his brother officers and also with the men who served under him, and in civil life he was not only a very popular lad, but of a most lovable disposition. He was 20 in February 1917. His elder brother, Captain William Watson was station at Ripon when John was killed.
He never married.
From the War Graves commission:
WATSON, JOHN LAWRENCE CRAIG Rank: Lieutenant Date of Death: 09/04/1917 Age when killed: 20, Regiment: Gordon Highlanders Nationality: United Kingdom Grave location: Bay 8 ARRAS MEMORIAL France.
Birth: Scotlandspeople.gov.uk 1900 WATSON ISABELLA CRAIG F CAMBUSNETHAN LANARK 628/00 0882
Isabella (Tibby) held the women’s' altitude record for flying in 1931.
Isabella Young, held both a St. John Ambulance and Red Cross first aid certificates). Prior to her marriage at Christ Church Cathedral, Mexico City, in April 1934, Mrs. Young was well known in flying circles, being granted the 10,000th aviators certificate of the Royal Aero Club of Great Britain. She also held the altitude record for light aeroplanes of the Scottish Flying Club.
During the war Mrs. Young was a F.A.N.Y./M.T.C. ambulance driver attached to the American Ambulance G.B., and gave much of her spare time to Civil Defence, Bournemouth.
She was elected to the Civil Defence Social Club, but it was the more serious side of Civil Defence in which she was interested.
