watson/strachan Peterhead

[tinker2]

I.m looking for information on my great grandfather Alexander Watson possibly born in or around Peterhead in 1830. May have Strachan in family somewhere.

He moved to England and lived in Hackney and died in 1904. I cannot find any leads although I had a promising one when I found an ad placed in the Buchan Observer looking for ancestors of a Tom Watson who moved to London and started (or worked for) an envelope manufacturing company in Swan Lane. My great grandfather had such a company in the same location.

I would be grateful for any help. I'm in Canada so it's difficult to do any research in person.

Thanks!
Margaret

[MonicaL]

Hi Margaret

Welcome to RootsChat 

Have you considered getting Alexander and Letitia Simpson's marriage cert.? This would include details on his father (name and occupation) which would make it easier for you to find him and family in the earlier censuses.

The refs. for the marriage: 1865 4th Qrt  Sleaford   Vol. 7a Page 863

Monica 

[tinker2]

Hi Monica, thanks for your reply. I had considered getting the marriage cert. but hadn't got around to it! I have just ordered it online and maybe I will have more information to go on. I wish he had at least once put where he was from in Scotland on one of the many censuses I have found him in!
How did you know about the marriage to Letitia?
Thanks again.
Margaret

[MonicaL]

I looked him up in the censuses 

Ordering the marriage is cert. is the only way really to make sure you are following through the right line. There are a number of Alexander Watson's born in his age range in Aberdeenshire.  There is one main family from Logie Buchan I saw which is a possibility for him, father Thomas and mother Catherine, with some sons that I think (!) I can see in London in later years.

Let us know once you have the details from the marriage cert.

Monica 

[tinker2]

Hi Monica, I've got the wedding certificate which shows that Alexander's father was indeed Thomas, occupation Farmer. Unfortunately it still doesn't give his place of birth in Scotland.  I have attached the classified ad from the Buchanan newspaper in case anyone has any ideas or leads as to who placed the ad. I think I will get his death certificate and perhaps that will give his actual place of birth.

Thanks for your help.
Regards,
Margaret

quote author=MonicaLesl link=topic=331683.msg2118867#msg2118867 date=1223107641]
I looked him up in the censuses 

Ordering the marriage is cert. is the only way really to make sure you are following through the right line. There are a number of Alexander Watson's born in his age range in Aberdeenshire.  There is one main family from Logie Buchan I saw which is a possibility for him, father Thomas and mother Catherine, with some sons that I think (!) I can see in London in later years.

Let us know once you have the details from the marriage cert.

Monica 

[flst]

Just a suggestion,why do n't you contact the Buchan Advertiser & let them know your story?I'm sure they'd do an article in the paper!If you no longer have their contact details,let me know & I'll get them for you.Regards,
flst

[MonicaL]

Hi Margaret

Looking at the classified entry on Buchan Advertiser, the person who placed it looks to be searching for ancestors/family of a Thomas Watson son of Alexander (the one you are researching by the sounds of it). There is a Thomas, son, born c. 1880 showing at home with Alexander and Letitia in the 1881 census. There is also a possible marriage, going by the name of the wife showing in the classified notice:

4th Qrt 1908:
WATSON    Thomas     Islington Vol.  1, page 537
SELLERS    Margaret Mabel    Islington Vol.  1, page 537

The death cert for Alexander is unlikely to show his place of birth, not information that was included on death certificates unfortunately. Best route remains at this stage the early censuses and also following up on flst's suggestion of contacting the Buchan Advertiser for further info on who placed the story.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

Hi Margaret

Now back home and able to check the census indexes 

This is the main family that I thought likely from the 1841 census, with father Thomas and mother Christian (not Catherine as I showed earlier). Christian fits better also for Alexander given the name of one of his early born daughters. Everyone below showing as born in the county:

Thomas Watson 50, farmer
Christian Watson 46
William Watson 23
Thos Watson 21
Jame Watson 19
George Watson 16
Alexander Watson 10
Charles Watson 6
John Kidd 38, millwright

Address: Greenward, Lonmay Aberdeenshire

I'm going to post below some other census entries which I think may connect to this family in 1841 - no proof, just gut feel going by the census entries.

Monica 

[MonicaL]

Working through with this family, I found this entry in 1851:

James Watson 28, Watch J Clock Maker, b. Logie Buchan
Elizabeth A Watson 28
Elizabeth A Watson 7
Ann K Watson    4
Margaret G Watson 2
Christian C Watson    1

Address: 14 Dee Street, Old Marchar, Aberdeenshire

Which I then wondered if the James above could be connected to this entry in Fulham London in 1891:

James Watson 68, watchmaker jeweler, b. Scotland
Helen M Cormack 33, wife, b. Scotland
Douglass I Watson 19, son, Scotland
George Watson 62, clerk, widower, brother, b. Scotland
Catherine J Wood 17, servant, b. Scotland

Monica