What did Robert William Watson do for a living?

[RedMystic]

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.

[Isobelruss]

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.

[Isobelruss]

Found them in 1901 his occupation fruit salesman living in  West Hartlepool Durham

[Isobelruss]

1891 occupation dock gateman still in West Hartlepool

[groom]

Using the free search for 1911 the Robert Watson and family in Scarborough are not the same as the ones you have listed.

[RedMystic]

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?  

Now I'm more curious than ever. More sleuthing required, me thinks.

TX again.

[RedMystic]

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.)

[Pels.]

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.

[Pels.]

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.