John WATTS of Somerton 1765

[Andy Watts]

Hello; I'm trying to find out about my 4th Great Grandfather John Watts who was probably born in Somerton, Somerset in 1765. I have traced his son, also John Watts (B 1785 D 1840) who married Jane Pitney (B 1787) in Somerton on 6 July 1809.

I will be grateful if anyone can help me please.

Thanks,
Andy

[trish1120]

Hi Andy,
Welcome to Rootshcat.
Have you tried FreeREG?
Lots of Somerton, Watts info on there.
www.freereg.org.uk

Trish

[trish1120]

BAPTISMS, St Michael, Somerton to JOHN/JANE Watts;

JAMES 16 May 1810
EDITH 30 May 1812
JOHN 25 May 1814
ANN 08 May 1816
JANE 24 September 1817
ELIZABETH 01 July 1821
ELIZABETH 22 September 1822
MARY 01 April 1828
Most of these have Abode Somerton and Fathers Occp Carpenter

Witnesses to John/Janes 1809 Marriage were Mary PITTNEY and Thomas HOWE

BURIAL;
John WATTS, 10 May 1834, St Michael, Somerton, age 67 (born c 1767)
Possibly Johns Father.

Do you have Johns 1840 Death Cert to confirm his age?
I cant find one born c 1785, Somerton, with a Father John.

1841 Census in Somerton we have;
Jane WATTS, 55, no occp shown
Edith, 25
Jane, 20
Elizabeth, 15
Mary, 10
All born in County
HO107/957/7/Somerton
(just posting as no Trees seem to have this but you might)

Trish

[trish1120]

JOHN/JANE Watts were Witnesses to JAMES Watts Marriage in Somerton,
13 Oct 1836 to Ann WHEELER

I'm sorry but I cant find John 1767ish's Christening.
Although there is one 1769 to ISRAEL/MARY
I cant find John c 1785's either?

[Andy Watts]

Dear Trish,

Many thanks indeed for your quick response. I'll look into what you have said.

I am most grateful to you.

Best wishes,
Andy

[Liz in France]

Hi Andy,

Your guestimate for John Watts birth as 1765 might be a bit late if his son John was born 1785 so I will check the parish records for an entry a bit earlier than that. 

As Trish says, there is the baptism in 1769 of John Watts, son of Israel and Mary.  I wondered if he might have been baptised as a child rather than a baby thus making him older  until I found an earlier baptism for John , son of Irael and Mary baptised 4th April 1756 but who was buried 9 Jun 1766, this would eliminate a birth prior to 1766.   This is  most likely the John Watts that died 1834. 

John Watts born c 1785 I cannot find either and I cannot find the burial in Somerton for the one that died 1840.  FreeBMD shows one in Bath area and one in Yeovil for that year.  Do you know which one it is?

I'm afraid that all this information is inconclusive especially as John Watts is fairly common name to follow up.

If you think that Israel and Mary Brown are the parents of your John Watts, then they married  16 Apr 1755 in Somerton.

Elizabeth

[Ebenhaezer]

Andy and co
I am also researching the Watts family in Somerton and have found the parish and Church records useful. My line goes back to Israel Watts (senior) in 1760's
Are you Andy in NZ, my nephew?