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Scotland (Counties as in 1851-1901) => Scotland => Lanarkshire => Topic started by: Peggy13 on Thursday 22 July 21 18:55 BST (UK)
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James Watterson, Private 42nd Foot, son of Leonard Watterson and Jane McLaren, married Ann Nelson Jan 29, 1869 in Glasgow. They had a daughter Helen Elizabeth Oct 14, 1870 in Glasgow. On the 1871 census, Ann, a staymaker says she is married though James is not with her. Her daughter Helen aka Ellen is with her, also her nephew Thomas Nielson/Nelson age 8. In 1881, Ann says she is a widow, and is still living with Ellen and nephew Thomas. I have never found the death of James. In 1890, Ellen/Helen dies, and she says her father James, soldier, is deceased. Witness is her cousin Thomas.
I have never found the birth of James either, abt 1838 in Scotland, likely Glasgow, or his brother David abt 1836, brother William abt 1841 or his younger brother Leonard 1851-1853. David and James are on the 1851 census, but William presumably died, and Leonard born after 1851 census.
Did James really die or did he abandon the family?
Thanks for any help.
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If he was a serving soldier, this could possibly be his death.
I know spelling of his name is slightly different, but would be worth a look
WATERSTON
JAMES
37
1876
020/MR 114
Marine Return
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That James Waterston death is not military - it's a death at sea ("Marine Return" is the clue). He was master of the ship Perthshire.
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Thank you capricorn and ShaunJ. I had looked at that record before and the age is exactly right to be James Watterson. But it says he was a master mariner which is not a soldier. Also says he was accidently shot (writing is faded but pretty sure that is what it says). There is also an mark beside his name and when I look at the bottom of the page that mark means he died at Montreal - I wonder if they mean Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Also says he was from Ardrossan and I don't think my James was from there. I am uncertain about this death but the time frame is correct.
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That James Waterston death is not military - it's a death at sea ("Marine Return" is the clue). He was master of the ship Perthshire.
Ah Ok, thankyou for enlightening me
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James Watterson's army records seem not to have survived. He doesn't appear in the 1871 army index, and I can't see him on the 1871 census. The 42nd was based in Aldershot at that time.
There is a soldier named James Watterson in Edinburgh in the 1871 census, born circa 1839 in England, but I think that he was in the 90th regiment.
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There was another brother, Edward, who died age 4, in 1846, Glasgow. There are no church records for the births of any of the children. Both parents were from Ireland. The eldest son, John, was born in Belfast. Died 1897, Calton, MMN McLaren
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A Leonard Waterson married a Jane McLernon, Armagh, 1830. Could be them?
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L94F-MCTX?cc=3460239&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AWG7Y-DHN2
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On Findmypast, there are records for a James Waterson, born 1838, enlisted 1860, Newry, Co Down.
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Father Leonard, remarried to a Rachel Martin in Ireland, 1860. He is listed as a widower & she a widow. Her maiden name was Watterson, daughter of a John Watterson.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1860/09594/5479233.pdf
They are in Glasgow on the 1861 census with Lenney, age 8 & William, age 3. Leonard is a furniture salesman. He is 50 & she is 30.
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Rachael died, age 38, Glasgow, 1869.
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I believe they had a son, Richard, who died, age 14, in Calton, 1878.
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Could be wrong but it looks as though, Leonard went back to Ireland & married again in 1869 to a spinster, Jane Blair. He is a widower & same father as previous marriage, Leonard, but occup'n Weaver this time. Please correct me if I am wrong with this.
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1869/11427/8197530.pdf
Leonard does not appear in any further Glasgow census until his death in Calton, 1886, possibly at his son, John's.
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Thank you everyone for all this expert help. I am not familiar with military personnel and records. You are right ShaunJ, he is not on the 1871 census with his wife Ann and daughter Ellen although Ann says married whereas in 1881 she says widow.
Kloumann, I wonder if it could be our James who enlisted in Co. Down in 1860. Age is right but there are a million James Wattersons. thanks for sending this.
I believe Leonard and Jane McLernon who married 1830 in Ireland are the same couple as Leonard and Jane McLaren in Scotland. It all fits. They apparently had a daughter Mary in Ireland in 1830 but I don't find Mary ever again.She is not on the 1841 census. And yes they did have a son John abt 1833 as per the 1841 census and John died in 1897 as per my research. I wonder if William born abt 1841 and died before 1851 is the same son as Edward who died in Glasgow in 1846 age 4.
As for marriages, this is what I have found. Married Jane McLaren 1830 and she died Feb 29, 1856. Leonard is on the 1841 census in Gorbals with wife Jean, John, age 8, David age 4, James 2 and William age 1 mo. Leonard, cotton weaver, is on the 1851 census with Jane, and sons John age 16, born Ireland, David 13, born Scotland and James age 10 born Scotland. No son William who may be Edward. Leonard, salesman, remarried July 21, 1856 to Jane Beattie who died Sept 19, 1859, her husband salesman. They had sons William in 1857 who died 1887 and Joseph Sept 8, 1859 in Glasgow, 10 days before mother's death, and I have not found Joseph again. Leonard, furniture salesman, remarried to Rachel Watterson Nov 3, 1860 in Ireland. On the 1861 census, Rachel and Leonard have sons Leonard age 8, who must belong to Jane McLaren, and William age 3 who would be the William born 1857 to Jane Beattie. Leonard and Rachel had Mary Ann 1861, her father lemonade salesman, Mary Ann not found again and Richard 1863, can't read father's occupation and Richard died 1878. Rachel died May 4, 1869. I suppose Leonard, weaver, could have whipped back to Ireland and married Jane Blair in Aug 1869 although I did not have her on my list. He doesn't wait long between marriages. Wonder when Jane Blair died. I don't have Leonard on 1871 census in Scotland. When Leonard, cotton weaver, died in 1886 at his son John's, there are three wives listed which are Mary Rae, 1st, Rachel Watterson 2nd and Jane Robertson 3rd. Note that John's own mother Jane McLaren is not listed. I could never find Mary Rae. Don't know anything about Jane Robertson, and wonder about reliability of wives' names but Rachel Watterson is correct.
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Forgot to mention that a Leonard Watterson, lemonade dealer, had a son George May 26, 1860 in Glasgow with Jane Ferguson but it appears that they did not marry. Makes me wonder if that is why his wife Jane Beattie committed suicide in Sept 1859.