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Hi mckha489,

                           Confirmed no occupation! He was born 14th May 1656 son of John Watson and
 Ann nee Dethick ( The Dethick family were prominent in the College of Arms in Royal Times)

                          James and the other children were said to be born in the Herald's Office, and baptised at St Benet Paul's Wharf, which is just across the road from the Herald's College

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Watson_(officer_of_arms)

Regards

Hi Phil,

             As you posted your Jarrett query some time ago, I presume that you have all the answers by now?
                Jane Watson the daughter of William Watson of Bengeworth Worcestershire d.1683 was the wife of William Jarrett d.1681.
                           They were the Parents of William Jarrett of London a merchant.

I am a descendent of this Watson family.

Regards

Barry

I had a reference to one of my family, James Watson on a pedigree. All it said was 'beyond the sea', so I didn't pursue my search.

Then I found two Wills of a James Watson, which I was sure was my man, from the people mentioned in both Wills. The first was in London, naming him a Mariner, prior to a voyage on the ship Prudent Mary, with the East India Company. The Second Will from Madras.
Although I have returned to my search from time to time, I have had no luck finding information about my relation James Watson.

So, I settled, to reading about Samuel Lake, the Captain of the ship Prudence Mary, and his time in India.

I came across the Diary of William Hedges who was the agent in Bengal [Later Sir William] On page 90, it seems that the Prudent Mary has just arrived in India, with Letters from the Hon. Company, which Mr Hedges is quoting.

Then, I notice a reference on this same page, to a Mr James Watson! [This James Watson was not mentioned in Mr Wm Hedges diary prior to this page 90!]

The reference reads-'Ordered that Mr James Watson be sent to Cassumbazar [Cassimbazar?] according to Ye Honourable Company's Orders.'
It seemed that this man was a writer/administrator for the company

This James Watson (above) is subsequently mentioned 15 times, pages 90 to 130 in the diary!

Was it possible that this is my James Watson??? If so, why would he have referred to himself as a Mariner on his first Will prior to his voyage?

What bad luck for me, if the ship from England, the Prudence Mary, had a James Watson, a Mariner on board, plus also another James Watson a Servant of the East India Company?

My family member, James Watson, was the son of John Watson, a Notary Public, Registrar of the Court of Chivalry and onetime Bluemantle Pursuivant at the College of Arms, during the Cromwell Commonwealth period,....so he would be reasonable educated, to be a Writer for the East India Company.
I suppose that finding a humble mariner named in the Company's Records would be rare!

So, does anyone know of any other historic documentation, which will 'burst my bubble', by identifying the other James Watson, a servant of the Company mentioned on page 90? of Sir William Hedges book?

Thanks for your reply mckha489,

                            Yes, I think the two document about Peruke maker are too late.
However, you are right about the other reference you give to 1680.

~~~~~~~~-----------
   
Copy of Court Roll of George, Lord Chandos.

Reference:

ACC/0250/33

Description:

Presentment that Michael Webb, citizen and mercer of London, surrendered two customary tenements in Great Hillingdon and Little Hillingdon to the use of John Watson of Great Hillingdon esquire and John Watson of St. Benets Pauls Wharf, gentleman.

Date:15 Dec., 1648

Held by:
London Metropolitan Archives: City of London, not available at The National Archives

I am trying to discover if John Watson of Great Hillingdon is related to John Watson of St Benet Paul's Wharf London.

On a brief visit to London (I live in Yorkshire) I visited the London Metropolitan Archives. There I found a document mentioning the above two Johns in a legal document referring to Hillingdon.
I wondered if they were related, because it looked like the word 'cousins' was written on the
outside (?)

The Hillingdon John is referred to as, of the 'Temple & Great Hillingdon', so I think he was a lawyer.

The other John, of St Benet Paul's Wharf, was also a Lawyer and Notary Public. During the Cromwell Commonwealth, although he was a Royalist, he was appointed as Bluemantle at the Heralds College
of Arms.

Although I have a large Watson pedigree (mainly from Worcestershire) which includes Bluemantle John Watson of St Benet Paul's Wharf London, I cannot connect the other John Watson to the family?