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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => England => Yorkshire (East Riding & York) => Topic started by: RedMystic on Sunday 11 December 11 19:25 GMT (UK)
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Hi Chatters,
This is a branch of family that I've just begun to touch. Yesterday I happened to hear a tiny snippet. It piqued my curiosity about what Robert William Watson did for a living & if anything is known about his business.
The info that slipped out yesterday (from someone who absolutely never shares & closed up tight as a drum soon as the info was accidentally disclosed) is that he owned a chandlery & restaurant in Scarborough about 1910. It apparently had been a two story building before WWI, but something happened during the war (fire?) and it was only one-story after that.
The connection to the sea makes some sense as his father's occupation in 1871 is noted as mariner & by 1881 Robert William Watson is shown as a mariner, with father a mariner & mother a lodging house keeper. I can't read Robert's occupation in 1891 or 1901.
I have a paper tree that someone put together years ago (I don't know who & can't tell how much verification they did). I've followed him through various census up to 1891 & 1901 (where I can't read the occupation).
This is what I have:
Robert William Watson
Birth Mar 1862 Scarborough, Yorkshire, England
Death1938
Father William Watson (1831-)
Mother Margaret A (1833-)
Spouse Ann Elizabeth Ellis (1862-1937)
Children
Elizabeth (1887-)
James William (1888-1975)
Jannie (1891-1983)
Charlotte (1894-1986)
Elsie (1897-1977)
Margaret "Maggie" (1899-1979)
Ellice (1908-)
Can anyone read the occupation shown in 1891 & 1901 and source an occupation for me from the 1911 census?
Also, are there any sources I can turn to for information on a business like this?
Merry Christmas & many thanks in advance for any assistance.
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Did he stay in Scarborough on 1891 1901 census.Cant get a result for him.Do you have the references for 1891 1901 census please.
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Found them in 1901 his occupation fruit salesman living in West Hartlepool Durham
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1891 occupation dock gateman still in West Hartlepool
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Using the free search for 1911 the Robert Watson and family in Scarborough are not the same as the ones you have listed.
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Many thanks Isobelruss. :)
What am I to think now about his occupation? :-\ This isn't sounding like the tidbit of info I heard yesterday, is it? ;D
Now I'm more curious than ever. More sleuthing required, me thinks.
TX again.
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Using the free search for 1911 the Robert Watson and family in Scarborough are not the same as the ones you have listed.
I was beginning to wonder if that's what went astray. TX groom. I'll go back to the census review to see if perhaps I picked up the wrong fellow.
The census I was viewing was for Hartlepool. I assumed that was in the vicinity of Scarborough. Could that be where I made my mistake?
The elderly lady who "shared" the info yesterday definitely said Scarborough.
(Apologies from the colonies for being so dense about the geography.) ;D
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Hi everyone,
I found exactly the same as Isobel. Robert was born in Scarborough, but living in West Hartlepool. On the later census his occupation was Market Gardiner.
The Robert Watson Jan is referring to was living in Scarborough, but born in Cumberland.
Pels.
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This fits too :
Robert William Watson
Birth Mar 1862 Scarborough, Yorkshire, England
Death1938
Death, Dec qtr 1938
Robert W Watson, age 78
West Hartlepool, Co Durham
Pels.
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Hi Pels.
TX for joining in. Issobelruss found a possible match (TX Issobelruss). If I read her PM correctly, Robert may be boarding away from home, working as a market gardener.
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This fits too :
Death, Dec qtr 1938
Robert W Watson, age 78
West Hartlepool, Co Durham
Pels.
Here's the birth to coincide with the death I posted :
Birth, Dec qtr 1860
Robert William Watson
Scarbro, Vol 9d, page 275
Pels.
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So it's starting to look as if the info you were given isn't quite right if he died in West Hartlepool ;D
Just beat me Pels. ;)
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Groom & Isobelruss thanks for finding my Robert. My sincere thanks for that bit of research. I'd definitely not have connected those dots.
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So it's starting to look as if the info you were given isn't quite right if he died in West Hartlepool ;D
Just beat me Pels. ;)
That's family history! It may be that the market garden where he worked was damaged & rebuilt as a single story building rather than a two-story, but it does appear he had nothing to do with a chandlery & restaurant.
Sincere thanks & all the best of the season!
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Hi everyone,
I found exactly the same as Isobel. Robert was born in Scarborough, but living in West Hartlepool. On the later census his occupation was Market Gardiner.
Pels.
Groom & Isobelruss think this is my Robert. My sincere thanks for that bit of research. I'd definitely not have connected those dots.
That would fit with this Robert who is still in Hartlepool
I think we all agreed. :) :)
Pels.
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Hi. Robert William Watson was my gt grandfather. His father of the same name was a wealthy captain of a trader ship going all over the world. He retired at the age of 40 and bought a coal ship outright and traded between Newcastle and London. After this ship had been repaired and was waiting for a certificate to say it was seaworthy the captain set sail unknown to Robert's father - all hands were lost at sea when this ship was wrecked. Captain Watson lost everything as he had to pay compensation to all the crew's families - he could not claim on the insurance as the ship did not have a certificate. Whilst Captain Watson was at sea his wife turned their end house in South Street into a shop and soon she bought adjoining properties and opened more shops. Their son Robert was spoiled and hated boarding school so ran away to sea, he was shipwrecked off the coast of Anticosti, in the St Lawrence River, North America. They did not know they were close to a lighthouse - eventually the keeper found them and they were put on a boat and sailed home. Meanwhile in Scarborough, news had come of the shipwreck and a memorial service was held. Robert did not tell his family he survived and when he saw his mother on Aberdeen Walk in Scarborough she fainted. Robert had one of his mother's shops, a Fish and Game shop. he married Ann Elizabeth Ellis and it was her father James Ellis that owned the ships chandlers at 5-7 Sandside, Scarborough. Robert was a gambler, practical joker - he once fitted all the sheep heads in a row outside a butchers with clay pipes and wire spectacles. He had many ideas above his station. He dressed in the latest fashion and soon spent all his money, selling houses to have a good time. When they lived in West Hartlepool they had a fish and chip shop but Robert did, what he called 'dusting the till', and take money. His wife Ann Elizabeth had a hard time bringing up the 7 children. in 1908 she left him taking the five younger children with her. They were living in Leeds then and she went to live with her sister Ethel Standeven at 11 Sandside Scarborough. James and Elizabeth stayed in Leeds. Elizabeth (Lizzie) was married to John Parnell by this time. Ann said that her son James could stay in the house and have all the furniture. Whilst James was out his father took all the furniture, apparently by handcart in several trips and sold it. Robert returned to West Hartlepool and died aged 76 in 1938 in an old peoples home. James never forgave him and put is father as deceased. whilst he was still alive. on his wedding certificate when he married Georgina. I have a letter Robert sent to Ann saying he was miserable of this kind of life and begging her to take him back, it is signed Bob. His address was 20 Hopps St West Hartlepool. This is all I have, I hope it has filled some gaps.
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Good morning greenamber
Robert William Watson was also my husband's great grandfather. :) It's wonderful to meet you.
Thank you very much for filling in the story. The elderly woman who let the information slip a few years ago was my mother-in-law. She passed away in 2019 at the age of 94. She did not like to share family history, saying it was akin to "getting undressed in public".
I appreciate that you have shared so generously. :)
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What a great result for you RedMystic...That's the power of Rootschat ;D
So pleased for you.
Carol
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Isn't that the truth Treetotal? I'm delighted!
There are so many leads to work with. I can't wait to try to find some old news clippings about the Watsons now that I have a bit more information about them so don't head off on the wrong track.
My m-i-l's mother would have been the eldest of the 5 children Ann took to her sister's home when she left her husband.
Thaks again greenamber. It's a red-letter day!
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greenamber, Am I following the correct Captain William Watson (father of Robert William Watson b1862) when I see Captain Watson, by 1882, as the superintendent of the Cunnard Line?
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Hi We have emailed many times about the tree but we lost touch. I think I sent you pictures of the family. I believe we met over the stories about Lizzie Watson. Elsie, my grandmother was also one of the young children who moved with her mum Ann to 11 Sandside to live with Ethel. I can send you a copy of the letter Robert sent to Ann if you wish. I will look for your email address. I am not sure if you have the right captain as he was also called Robert William. The only mention I have is that he captained trade ships.
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Thank you greenamber
I have received an email that I suspect is from you. It has been years since we corresponded and I didn't connect your RootsChat name to you. It's lovely to reconnect after so long. I'll respond to your email in the morning. :)
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Hi, It was me, it will be good to catch up again.