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England (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Yorkshire (East Riding & York) => England => Yorkshire (East Riding & York) Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Mickleover on Thursday 07 April 16 09:17 BST (UK)
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Hi,
I'm trying to discover more about a Todd Watson for a lady in Australia.
Would be interested to find any information about him in the Masonic membership registers for the Mariners Lodge at Selby around 1801.
I understand that one of the members was a Todd Watson and should like any details together with any other Watsons who might also have been members at that time.
Although we know much of his later life, we have yet to find a baptism for Todd, who was born c.1780. As 'Todd' is an unusual name for that time it may have been a nickname given to him when young. Hopefully his father may also have been a member of the lodge.
Thanks in anticipation.
Ian
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All it gives is his name, Todd Watson, age 21, occupation Clerk and date made a Mason 18 March 1801.
I can't see any other Watsons in the same Lodge from that area.
Jebber
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Jebber,
Many thanks for the prompt response and the information.
Regards,
Ian
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Hi,
I'm trying to discover more about a Todd Watson ...
Although we know much of his later life, we have yet to find a baptism for Todd, who was born c.1780. As 'Todd' is an unusual name for that time it may have been a nickname given to him when young. Hopefully his father may also have been a member of the lodge.
Thanks in anticipation.
Ian
Hello Ian
Both 'Watson' and 'Todd' were two family surnames at Selby, in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
Brief info about the Todd of Selby family after 1839 in the Todd Family of Selby, papers 1839 to ... and their connection locations here -
http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=748511.0
Done an electronic search of the Selby Abbey Parish Church (Pdf) Transcriptions (Selby Parish Registers from earliest up to 1812) and "Todd Watson" is a 'no show', so he is either from a Dissenting (Non-conformist) family or elsewhere.
Have you checked for a Todd = Watson marriage anywhere? Or
Watson = Todd marriage, to see if it might reveal a location, where a possible "Todd Watson" baptism might be found?
Occasionally, when the male forename is also a surname, the boy takes his forename, from his mother's surname (or his father's, mother side).
I have this Selby, no baptism problem (circa 1785 to 1787), with my 4 x Gt. Grandfather George Hood who first appears in the Selby Land Tax of 1812, married Selby in 1815 aged 28 yrs and died Selby 18 Sep 1845 aged 60 years, all before the 1851 Census and was called "George Hood" and "George hood of Selby", but absolutely no Selby Parish Church baptism and no Selby Parish Abbey Church burial either.
Not been yet, but, apparently some Mariner (Masters of Vessels) records are at the Archives at Hull University and the History Centre, but the History Centre did not reply and apparently only search for a fee, charged by the half hour.
Some Selby Mariners had links to London, operating from, or via Hull and via other Yorkshire places, to harbours and ports all along the North Sea coast (formerly called The German Ocean/Sea) English East Coast; also to Scotland; Liverpool and trading elsewhere in the whole World.
Regards Mark
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Hi Ian,
there is a marriage at St Michael's New Malton between Todd Watson & Lucinda Pratt by Licence 14 June 1802.
Don't know if this is the person you want.
gogogadgetlegs
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Thanks for the information.
Yes, that marriage is correct. What we don't know is where Todd was born or any members of his family.
Lucinda was the daughter of a druggist and the sister of a surgeon. Todd was a freemason and also joined the Lit & Phil in Newcastle. His father was also a friend of P.W. Watson (no relation) the famous botanist when he was a merchant and banker in Hull. So his family appears to have been relatively high status. All the more surprising that he was found guilty of embezzelment and sentenced to transportation for14 years in 1815.
Ian
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Hi Ian,
there is a marriage at St Michael's New Malton between Todd Watson & Lucinda Pratt by Licence 14 June 1802.
Don't know if this is the person you want.
gogogadgetlegs
Thanks for the information.
Yes, that marriage is correct. What we don't know is where Todd was born or any members of his family.
Lucinda was the daughter of a druggist and the sister of a surgeon. Todd was a freemason and also joined the Lit & Phil in Newcastle. His father was also a friend of P.W. Watson (no relation) the famous botanist when he was a merchant and banker in Hull. So his family appears to have been relatively high status. All the more surprising that he was found guilty of embezzelment and sentenced to transportation for14 years in 1815.
Ian
Hello Mickleover
I presume you have seen the following reference to a Will and got a scan of the Will Bundle, to see if it might help with the wider family, if still no Baptism?
Hull Packet, 18th June 1805 (newspaper)
The Creditors of FRANCIS PRATT, late of New Malton, Druggist, deceased, are desired to send in an account of their respective claims to the Executors, JOHN PRATT, or TODD WATSON of Malton aforesaid :
...
Malton, June 12th, 1805.
The next advertisement starts ...
JANE PRATT, WIDOW of the late FRANCIS PRATT, of NEW MALTON, ...
Although a PRATT Will, Todd Watson was an Executor.
I keep searching for and buying numerous Wills for myself (many not online), because I have no proven parentage for my ancestor, whose 1815 signature appears top left (if anyone spots it take a note please of the document reference / page and let me know? )
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Durham County Advertiser, 13th January 1816 (case mentioned)
There is also a Todd Watson apprehended in Sunderland in December 1815, taken into custody charged with defrauding his employers. Todd Watson was later prosecuted for fraud and sentenced to 14 years transportation.
At the General Quarter Sessions of the Peace, held for Newcastle.
Todd Watson late Cashier and Book-keeper to the proprietors of the Lemington Iron Works, at their warehouse in Newcastle, was found guilty of embezzling large sums of money, the property of his employers, and sentenced to be transported beyond the seas for the term of 14 years; next case
Usually QS records survive, but whether a Birthplace and his age was mentioned is anyone's guess?
ADDED
He had tried to shoot himself when found out and admitted to defrauding about £100 a year, totalling over £1,000 and had worked at the company for 9 years (in 1814). He admitted to living beyond his means.
He was caught and his scam uncovered when his company issued him a cheque for £350, but Watson only entered £250 on the Ledger. Then Watson made false additions to make the books balance.
He escaped wearing a Woman's Dress and the Newcastle Town Clerk, put out an Order for his arrest.
Witness evidence against Watson was from both his own employer the Tyne Iron Works and also the bank his employer used, the Bank of, Sir M. W. Ridley, Bart. & Co.
The Order for his arrest said TODD WATSON is a native of Malton, in Yorkshire, or its neighbourhood and was accompanied by his Wife in his escape. Looks to read 35 years old (print poor). The Order also said he had a wound to his temple and the Company offered £50 Reward leading to his capture.
So he was either married or living as if married and if she could bear children, some children about?
Mark
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Mark,
Thanks for that.
The reason I started researching Todd is that one of his descendants in Australia appeared as my only Watson Y-DNA match. As their test was only for 12 markers it's inconclusive but I thought I'd help their family research. I've asked them to upgrade their test but nothing has happened so I'm reluctant to do more at there may be no connection.
I have all the newspaper reports of Todd and the Pratt announcements but haven't bought the Pratt will as I think it unlikely to mention any details of Todd's family. When Todd's eldest daughter was baptised in Newcastle, the notes stated his home parish as Selby. I bought a CD of Selby baptisms but there's nothing for Todd. Interestingly when his first child was baptised, Todd was recorded as Jordan. So perhaps he was really called John Todd and his name was misheard by the recorder. Todd is an unusual name and it's likely that it was his mother's maiden name. Coincidentally the man who pushed through his masonic membership in Selby, John Coulman, married a Mary Todd.
Perhaps we will discover something from the Land Tax records.
Regards,
Ian