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Research in Other Countries => Canada => Canada Lookup Request => Topic started by: stuizzy on Sunday 28 October 07 13:57 GMT (UK)
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I am trying to tie up all my Watters and Bow families in Stirlingshire. They seem to intermarry, and reuse the same names, so it's very confusing!
Anyway, while Googling, I found on the Veteran Affairs, Canada website, mention of a Private James Bow Watters, killed in France on 27th September, 1918. His date of birth was Oct 25, 1889 in Canada.
What I want to know is, who were his parents? I have an Alexander Bow Watters who, according to his father's will, emigrated to the US around the 1850s, so perhaps there's a link there.
There has to be some sort of connection. It's too much of a coincidence to have both Bow and Watters in a name.
Thanks
Isobel
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According to his attestation papers......James Bow Watters was born in Edinburgh and lived in British Columbia, Canada.
His next of kin is a George Watters, his brother.
Will send you a PM.
Indi
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Thank you so much Indi. The papers showed that he was the son of my g.g.grandmother's mother. At least all the names and dates fit in!
Isobel
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There is a marriage July 3, 1906 in Atlin, British Columbia ( Where James was & was, and where he signed up)) for a Charles Stuart Gairns to Christina Bow Watters... found here in B.C. Vitals stats
http://search.bcarchives.gov.bc.ca/sn-5790C4E/gbsearch/Births
Here are images of the attestation papers for other researchers
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc017/660627a.gif
http://data2.archives.ca/cef/gpc017/660627b.gif
Yukon Infantry Roll of Honour
http://www.geocities.com/hambattcef/YIC.html
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Do you also have this George Bow Watters, killed in ww2, R.A.F.?
http://www.actuaries.org.uk/files/pdf/library/JIA-071/0333-0339.pdf
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Now that is really interesting. Thank you.
I think that brother George was still in Edinburgh, but there was a sister, Christina Bow Watters, born in Sep 1874. It must be her.
None of this actually joins together all my Bows and Watters, but it really opens up a new avenue. I wonder how many of them went over to Canada? I see a whole new sidetrack in my future :)
Isobel
PS Just saw your next post. Yes. Thank you. I had seen that. I haven't figured out where he fit in either. There's also an Ebenezer Bow Watters that I found - a master mariner, who died in the 1960s I think (I haven't got my notes at the moment). I need to look more into him as his name is a trifecta!! My g.g.g.grandfather was Ebenezer Watters, son of Thomas Watters and Christian Bow! This reusing of names is both a blessing and a curse :D
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You can search 1901, 1906 (partial) & 1911 census records at www.automatedgenealogy.com
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Thanks. I'll take a look.
Isobel
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The 1906 is for Prairie Provinces only
Here is Christina & Husband in 1911, Atlin....She and husband came over in 1906. They have 2 children....
http://automatedgenealogy.com/census11/Test16.jsp?id=17368
I looked for both George and James yesterday and they must be very mistranscribed..
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Yes. I took a look as well.
I think that George may well have still been in Scotland. James' attestation papers refer to brother George being in Edinburgh. I suppose that it's possible that James may not have been in Canada by 1911. Perhaps he wasn't getting anywhere in Scotland so went out to join his sister and her husband.
All these names and dates are tying together I think, so that I know where this branch fits in now. There's all sorts of other loose ends to fix now. :)
Thanks again
Isobel
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Yes, forgive me, I changed my posting when I read that George was still in Scotland, just as you posted your reply as well... but still had it in my head. I wonder why he didn't put his sister, who lived in the area... as next of kin?
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Just found your posts. Christina Watters (married Charles Gairns) was my grandfather's sister. My grandfather was John Leed Watters (all the siblings had either Bow or Leed in their names). The Gairns still live in BC but I have not heard from them for a few years. My mother was Sheila - only daughter of John Watters. Her cousin was Charles Gairns. The George Watters killed in WW2 (on the return from the Dam Busters Raid) was also her cousin. From my grandfather's siblings only Christina came to Canada(as far as I know). Ebenezer Bow Watters was a Merchant Marine Captain - DSC in WW1 - my great uncle - I met him in Edinburgh about a year before his death. John had two other sisters, Ella (one daughter- Mary), and Alexandra who was a nursing sister and ?matron of a hospital in London. There was a another brother killed in WW1. My mother had other notes - if I find them I will post them.