Descendants of Thomas WATSON
Notes
James was a Spirit Merchant when he married Davina Isabella Burt in Renfrewshire in 1876. He and Davina had a daughter Jane Jack Watson in 1878 at Watson's land Cambusnethan Lanarkshire. When their seconds child, Jane, was born James was described as a Coal Miner.
In 1886 James Watson and his wife Davina, and their two children moved to Joadja Creek in the southern highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
They departed England on the "Lusitania" on 13 May 1886. Just after arriving in Sydney on 1 July 1886 James obtained a free railway pass to Joadja Creek. The entry reads:
Jas Watson, aged 32, married from Scotland on 5 July 1886 to Joadja Creek, wife, 2 Chn, read & write, 4 days in col, per "Lusitania".The "Lusitania" of Liverpool arrived in Sydney from London on 1 July 1886. The passenger list is not in good condition and children are not well recorded. A Mr Watson and J Watson are both recorded. The Mr Watson could be Mrs Watson.
James' brother Alexander was already in Australia having arrived in 1879. His presence in Australia is also evidenced from the "missing friends" notice placed in a Queensland newspaper by 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."James and Davina then had two more daughters while at Joadja Creek: Bethia in 1889 and Isabella in 1893.
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 oil 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 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 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.
In the 1887-88 Electoral Roll for Camden-Police District of Berrima a James Watson is listed as a resident of Joadja. He continues to be listed each year until 1899-90. In the 1890-91 Electoral Roll for Camden-Police District of Berrima there were two James Watsons listed as a residents of Joadja. It is apparent that one of these James was a Brusher and the other a miner. In the 1894-95 Electoral Roll for Bowral - Mittagong Division only James Watson the Brusher was a resident of Joadja. This same James Watson the Brusher was present through to the 1899-1900 Electoral Rolls for Bowral - Mittagong as a resident at Joadja.
A Brusher was a Coal miner who repaired mine passage roofs and sides.
In the 1930 Electoral roll for NSW, Parramatta ,Smithfield, James Watson was shown at Jersey Road Wentworthville as a farmer.
In the 1936 Electoral roll for NSW, Robertson ,Smithfield, James Watson was shown at 98 Jersey Road Wentworthville as a farmer, also lived Isabella Wright, home duties, and Charles William Wright, poultry farmer, his daughter and son-in-law.
Death: NSW BDM 25953/1938 WATSON JAMES father- WILLIAM Mother -JANET PARRAMATTA
Rookwood Cemetery Transcription:
Death 19 Jul 1920, aged 66, Our mother wife of James Watson.
Presbyterian 6D Part 5 Row 49 Number 11058.Death: NSW BDM 15137/1920 WATSON DAVINA F ANDREW JANE PARRAMATTA
Birth: NSW BDM 18021/1893 WATSON ISABELLA JAMES DAVINA I JOADJA CREEK
In the 1936 Electoral roll for NSW, Robertson ,Smithfield, James Watson was shown at 98 Jersey Road Wentworthville as a farmer, also lived Isabella Wright, home duties, and Charles William Wright, poultry farmer, his daughter and son-in-law.
Death: NSW BDM 44786/1973 WRIGHT ISABELLA JAMES DAVINA ST LEONARDS
The death notice for this death reads:
Sydney Morning Herald Tuesday 20 March 1973
WRIGHT, Isabella - March 17, 1973 at hospital - wife of Charles W Wright.
Possible Death: NSW BDM 29480/1970 WATSON WILLIAM AGED 73 YRS DIED PENRITH PENRITH
Nan was married in India.
Marriage: 1917 CAMPBELL COLIN WATSON JEAN CAMBUSNETHAN /LANARK 628/00 0044
53. Captain William David WATSON
Captain William Watson, aged 28, from Colinton Edinburgh, the son of David King Watson (King) was killed on 20 November 1972 by a booby trap bomb in a derelict farmhouse near Cullyhanna, Armagh Northern Ireland with one of his men C/Sgt Struthers. He was in B Coy. of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. William(Bill)'s second daughter Sarah was born just weeks after his death. He had also served in Aden and Borneo.
