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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Suffolk => Topic started by: rogden on Thursday 12 August 10 21:56 BST (UK)
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I recently visited Lowestoft and Southwold and found literature referring to fishermen by their nicknames. Some of these nicknames referred to my Southwold WATSON fishermen ancestors. I was able to relate a couple of nicknames to their given names but not for all.
Does anybody know the given names of Fortie WATSON, Bushy WATSON and Flakey WATSON? All were fishermen in Southwold about 1900.
Roger
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Hi Roger & welcome to RC!!
I have not yer found anything on your nicknames but his article has some interesting facts init about fishermens nicknames in Filey..
http://www.scarboroughsmaritimeheritage.org.uk/afileynicknames.php
Diddy ;D
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have just found this about southwold sailors reading room and it might be worth contacting them:
What I can say without fear of contradiction is that the old reading room is packed with a huge variety of treasures, including photos, models and other memorabilia of the local fishermen, sailors and coastguards of years gone by.
Often generations of brothers, fathers, sons and cousins worked at these trades at the same time, and because they so often bore the same name they were often given colourful nicknames – I particularly like the name of one bearded old salt whose photo appears on the Reading Room’s walls. He must have gloried in his handle of ‘Crikey’ Rogers!
source: http://intheboatshed.net/2010/04/21/southwolds-sailors-reading-room/
you can email them via the site,
Diddy
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The Sailors Museum is well worth a visit if you are ever in Southwold Diddy :D
The group behind the Southwold Museum and Historical Society are dedicated and hardworking.
They came to our Societies' Day in March to give a talk, very interesting. They might be able to help too.
http://www.southwoldmuseum.org/
There is a 'contact' link at the bottom of the Home Page.
Nick names were so common a while back in Suffolk, but they are now dying out. One that I love is Shumpty Thorpe (from Framlingham).
Pat ...
(Suffolk Local History Council)
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Hi Pat, we were in suffolk last year for 2 weeks hols & visit hubbies ancient relatives!! it will have to wat now til next time....
Diddy :'(
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I recently visited Lowestoft and Southwold and found literature referring to fishermen by their nicknames. Some of these nicknames referred to my Southwold WATSON fishermen ancestors. I was able to relate a couple of nicknames to their given names but not for all.
Does anybody know the given names of Fortie WATSON, Bushy WATSON and Flakey WATSON? All were fishermen in Southwold about 1900.
Roger
Just seen this today (june 4 2019).
My great Aunt was Married to an Arthur Pearce Watson who was a Longshore fisherman in Southwold. His Father was William Henry Watson who I think was born in Blyth or is it Blything. GA lived in Southwold and had at least 5 children. Their son AS Watson who I believe was always known as Sid is on the war memorial (died 1941) there and theres an S watson on it too .
My great Aunt was called Amelia Scott.
I saw a photo of Bushy in the sailors reading room the day before yesterday (I thought it said Brushy)
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Hello Elf
I never did find the given names of the Watsons who I listed in 2010. 'Brushy' was the nickname of both Sam Watson and his son Ernie and 'Dumblediddy' was the nickname of John (Jack) Watson. But I still don't know the given names of Bushy, Dobby, Forty and Flaky.
The S Watson on the war memorial is my grandmother's brother Sidney who died in WW1.
Roger
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Hi Rogden sorry not to have got back to this before now.
Arthur was Forty. Sid was his son Arthur Sidney who went down with his ship. I believe it was HMS Barnham. I've got a photo of him somewhere from just before the tragedy.
So we are likely related as Fortys wife was my Great Auntie Florence Scott
My Cousin Anne has written a book about the Scotts circus. Its called In search of Scotts and Circus and mentions Arthur and Florence amongst others.
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I dont have your Sidney on my tree as obviously my watsons were connected through marriage so we may not be cousins now I think about it.
Our Sid died in WW2 1941.