Wattons in Coleraine Area

[chrispaton]

I have not been on this thread in a good while, but last night I made a DNA connection on my Watton line through MyHeritage, which may be about to break a longstanding brick wall.

I have several previously confirmed DNA connections to my three times great grandfather William Watton, born about 1846 in the barony of Coleraine, and who later married Eliza McLaughlin in Coleraine town in 1876. William was the son of William Watton, weaver, who in turn must have been born in the 1820s, although I suspect from Co. Antrim on the other side of the boundary to Coleraine barony (there are no Wattons in the 1831 census for Co. Londonderry). I had previously considered that this William's father might have been an Alexander Watton, who died in 1859 in Coleraine. If so, Alexander is my 5 times great grandfather, but until now I have been struggling to find proof.

The DNA connection I made last night, and which is also confirmed to my known Watton cousins in Australia and Canada, is for a descendant of an Agnes Watton, born about 1826, who married Henry Boyd in Glasgow in 1854. Her daughter's birth record in 1855 confirms Agnes was from Co. Antrim, and the Glasgow death record for Agnes from 1916 confirms her parents to be Alexander Watton (occupation blank) and Ann Murchy, both deceased. We share just 16.7cM. It seems very likely that Agnes and my four times great grandfather William (the weaver) were siblings, which I am now working to try to substantiate.

I have some additional details on the children of this Alexander:

James Watton b. abt 1819 died 19 JAN 1864 Tradeston, Glasgow - married to Elizabeth Wallace. parents noted as Alexander Wattan (sic), farmer, and Ann Murphy, both deceased.

Ann Watton, d.o. Alexander Watton, labourer, md Daniel Mooney at Ballyrashane 29 NOV 1847.

Jane Watton, d.o. Alexander Watton, labourer, md John McIlwaine at Ballyrashane 10 JUL 1849. She was resident at Carnglass, Ballyrashane.

Robert Watton, s.o. Alexander Watton, weaver, md Elizabeth Blair at Terrace Row (3rd Coleraine) 14 DEC 1855. He was resident at Carnglass.

Griffiths Valuation noted only one Alexander Watton in Ireland, resident at Lisnisk townland in Ballyrashane. It's possible this was Alexander senior (and published after he died), or a son of the same name.

If anyone else has a connection to Alexander I would be interested to hear from you – and if you have DNA tested, I'd be interested to see if we match also (I have results hosted on Ancestry, MyHeritage and GEDMatch).

Thanks

Chris

[aghadowey]

Can't see this mentioned yet but have you checked both Dr. Mullin's book Families of Ballyrashane and his notes (Coleraine Library)?

[chrispaton]

I haven't, but I am now on it, thanks!   

Chris

[chrispaton]

I now have the Families of Ballyrashane, and it lists one family of Wattons, that of Robert Watton, who married Elizabeth (Betty) Blair in 1855. I've confirmed he is a brother to Agnes Watton. Next stop is to get to Coleraine Library at some point to chase up the notes. The book notes Robert as being of 'Mooryet', although his marriage record shows him as resident at Carnglas.

For anyone else looking into this line, it notes Robert's family as follows (no dates are given):

1. Robert, unm, lived on home farm.
2. Annie, lived with Robert.
3. Joseph, went to Canada.
4. James, went to Canada
5. Alexander, married Sarah Taggart, seven kids (Robert, Alexander, John, Thomas, David, William Rankin, Annie, Norman Blair)
6. Thomas, died in Belfast.

Thanks again to Aghadowey - hasn't quite resolved the query yet, but has greatly expanded the field of play!

Chris

[aghadowey]

I suspect Coleraine Library will have Dr. Mullin's notes in storage so perhaps best to ask ahead unless you live locally and can pop in to inquire.
When the notes were originally donated to the Irish Room they were in cabinets near front entrance where one signed in and as a condition of access to the notes there was a separate sign-in book (sign-in on left of entrance then a doorway into offices- notes were in file boxes just to right of this office doorway).

[chrispaton]

Thanks again. I live in Scotland now, so it may be a while before I can visit, but it is on my to do list!

Chris

[chrispaton]

A quick follow up. On MyHeritage, I have now made another Watton DNA match, this time to a great grandson of Robert Watton of Mooryet, as mentioned in Families of Ballyrashane. My DNA match is in his mid-70s and still farms in the area. Thanks to this and other DNA matches, it's now looking almost certain that my ancestor William Watton, my four times great grandfather, was Robert's brother, and that Robert's father, Alexander Watton of Ballyrashane is my 5 x great grandfather. My William would also appear to be the weaver of that name who died at Ballylough, Bushmills, on 21 AUG 1902.

[Kiltaglassan]

Hi Chris,
There appears to be a mistake in the last sentence.

My William would also appear to be the weaver of that name who died at Ballylough, Bushmills, on 21 AUG 1902.

William Watton who lived at Ballylough, Bushmills was 92, a weaver and died in 1905.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1905/05596/4572873.pdf

The man who died on 21st August 1902 was 41, a gardener and lived at Hartwell Street, Belfast.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1902/05689/4603449.pdf

KG

[chrispaton]

Sorry yes, 1905, not 1902. The other gent is my three times great grandfather, his son.

Chris