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Beginners => Family History Beginners Board => Topic started by: Arlobeast on Wednesday 23 May 18 14:22 BST (UK)
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I am looking for information on James Watt aka James Sheriff Watt aka James Sheriff Watson.
James Sheriff Watt Watson
1828–1902
b. 13 Sept 1828 • Auchmedden, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
d. 18 Jan 1902 • Saugus, Essex County, Massachusetts, United States of America
Headstone reads James Sheriff Watson/ Auchmedden Scotland/ 13 Sept 1828/dies 18 Jan 1902
married Mary Jane Henderson from Durham England. They had a bunch of kids. Show on English census 1851/1861 under the name of Watt
Family lore:
1. Either him or his father changed the last name from Watt to Watson after escaping prison.
2. There is a relation to James Watt the improver of the steam engine.
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Hello & welcome.
Can you tell us where in England they were living ?
Are you looking to confirm or otherwise the family folklore ?
OK I can see they are in Sunderland. She's Margaret not Mary.
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Welcome to rootschat
Just posting the marriage registration for information for anyone trying to help
June qtr 1848
Margaret Jane Henderson
James Sherriff Watt
Sunderland 24 315
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1861 for James S & Margaret J Watt at Bishopwearmouth
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M764-SKS
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Can't see a birth registration based on date given.
The marriage cert. is required.
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Children born after 1861 Sunderland
Emily Sept qtr 1863
Edward June qtr 1865
Surname changes between these births and the 1870 census for Massachusetts
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MD3L-57M
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James went bankrupt in 1865, might be related to his decision to move to the US?
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/22968/page/2542/data.pdf
It looks like he might have remarried to an Elizabeth Hutchings in 1891 - he is listed as 65, from Scotland, parents William and Mary, it was his second marriage. His wife was a 60-year old spinster from Boston: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N448-9YF
His death record has parents as William Watson and Mary Stuart:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NWXF-FKM
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Those are good finds.
There's a William Watt Marrying a Mary Stewart 1811 Tyrie Aberdeen which is about 8 miles
from Auchmedden.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XTTS-YTG
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Thank you everyone. This is all so incredible. As far as the lore, I would love to confirm! My mom said she actually saw a letter many many years ago stating our relation to James Watt (steam engine) but it has long been lost or thrown away.