Author Topic: "Joining the Watts"  (Read 3910 times)

Offline DrT33th

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"Joining the Watts"
« on: Sunday 16 April 17 05:25 BST (UK) »
I have been tracing my Scottish Ancestry   ...but have hit a brick wall, and am hopeful of help.

My GG father, William Watt [1843-1886], was a seamen and then a ship's master in Montrose. He lived/died at 22 North Street.

[He was married to Jane Robertson[1848-1886]]

William Watt's father (according to both his wedding [to Jane in 1873 in Montrose] and death certs (I can't find a birth cert for William Watt) is John Watt, a master baker in Montrose, married to a Sarah Lillie (or Lily).   

That is where it falls apart.

The 1846 and 1847 almanacs for Montrose both list John Watt as a baker (at Murray Street). 

However...  He does not appear in either the 1841 or 1851 census

...and I cannot find any birth, marriage or death certs for either John Watt or Sarah Lillie (Lily).  (Indeed I cannot find a "Lillie" or "Lily" listed anywhere in the region.  ??? )

..and I cannot find the birth certificate for William Watt anywhere.  ???

I am open to good ideas. ::)


Offline Kay99

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #1 on: Sunday 16 April 17 06:39 BST (UK) »
Welcome to RootsChat  :)

I wonder if this family is worth looking into despite mothers name -1851 Living at 14, Murray Street, Montrose, Forfarshire  :-\

Isabella Watt Head Widow    32 Baker Mistress Employing 3 Men    
Sarah Jane Watt 14 House Servant    
Ellen    Watt    11
William Watt  8    
Mary    Watt  7    
John    Watt    4  Montrose, Forfarshire
Edward Watt 3  Montrose, Forfarshire
Henry Mitchell    Servant     19 Baker Journeyman    England    
James Ryrie    Servant    19 Baker Journeyman    Fettercairn, Kincardineshire
James Davison    Servant    16 Baker Apprentice    Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire

Looks like a large bakery

Kay

Added - Scotlands People free index has a death of a John Watt age 39  on 5/10/1849 in Montrose??
In 1861 census both Isabella, Helen and Mary are listed as born in England??
   

Offline DrT33th

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #2 on: Sunday 16 April 17 08:03 BST (UK) »
Hi Kay...

Now that is fascinating....

Capt. William Watt had 4 children... Mary, William, John (My Grandfather) & Edward (ties up!) ..and a sister called Mary!

There is a maid in the house called Sarah Watt.

I winder if he John Watt married twice... once in England to Sarah Lillie and then latterly to Isabella?

Wow...

Thank you so much.

I will let you now how I get on...

[I live in Melbourne Australia BTW...hence the "late night/early morning posts]

Offline Kay99

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #3 on: Sunday 16 April 17 08:15 BST (UK) »
I also wondered about Isabella being a second wife

I did find a Master's Certificates
William Watt Age:    28
Birth Place:    Montrose, Forfar
Issue Date:    23 Feb 1871
Issue Port:    Montrose
Certificate Number:    3308

Address listed as 18 Murray St Montrose


Offline Forfarian

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #4 on: Sunday 16 April 17 08:56 BST (UK) »
Looks as if that is the family of John Watt and Isabella Robinson - John b 4 July 1846 and Edward b 2 April 1849 (age a year out).

I see from the 1851 census (transcription at www.freecen.org.uk - you need to check with the original at Scotland's People) that all the older children were born in Felton, Northumberland - only the last two in Montrose - but have failed so far to find any of them in Northumberland in the 1841 census. Nor can I find a marriage to see if Isabella was a second wife and the older children had a different mother. Nor do any of the births seem to have been registered in Northumberland, and there are no matching baptisms in the IGI at FamilySearch.

Isabella and Edward were still living together in 1861 and 1871, and Isabella died in 1875, but you probably know that already. Edward is probably the one who married Jemima Irvine in Montrose in 1872, but he didn't die in Scotland and I have not found him in a later census in England, so he may have emigrated.

I also looked at the Montrose MI book, but there doesn't appear to be a stone with John Watt on it.

If I were you I would look for marriages or deaths of Sarah Jane, Ellen (don't forget to look for her as Hel(l)en, El(l)e(a)nor and Nellie too!) and Mary to see who is named as their mother.
Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Kay99

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #5 on: Sunday 16 April 17 09:09 BST (UK) »
I wonder if this is the family in 1841 Living at Longframlington, Felton, Rothbury, Northumberland

John    Walts  30
Sarah Walt 30    
Ann    Walt    6     
Sarah Walt 4    
Ellenor Walt 2    

No occupation listed and all but Ellenor born Scotland

Added - The GRO index has the death of a Sarah Watt age 32
GRO Ref 1843  June Quarter in ROTHBURY UNION  Vol 25  Page 279

Offline Forfarian

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #6 on: Sunday 16 April 17 09:24 BST (UK) »
That does look right, Kay. Good find.
Never trust anything you find online (especially submitted trees and transcriptions on Ancestry, MyHeritage, FindMyPast and other commercial web sites) unless it's an image of an original document - and even then be wary because errors can and do occur.

Offline Kay99

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #7 on: Sunday 16 April 17 09:26 BST (UK) »
That does look right, Kay. Good find.

All due to you finding Felton  :)

Offline Kay99

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Re: "Joining the Watts"
« Reply #8 on: Sunday 16 April 17 10:23 BST (UK) »
There is this death that may be of interest
   
SARAH  Watt age        32      
GRO 1843 June Qtr ROTHBURY UNION  Vol 25  Page 279