Hi. Robert William Watson was my gt grandfather. His father of the same name was a wealthy captain of a trader ship going all over the world. He retired at the age of 40 and bought a coal ship outright and traded between Newcastle and London. After this ship had been repaired and was waiting for a certificate to say it was seaworthy the captain set sail unknown to Robert's father - all hands were lost at sea when this ship was wrecked. Captain Watson lost everything as he had to pay compensation to all the crew's families - he could not claim on the insurance as the ship did not have a certificate. Whilst Captain Watson was at sea his wife turned their end house in South Street into a shop and soon she bought adjoining properties and opened more shops. Their son Robert was spoiled and hated boarding school so ran away to sea, he was shipwrecked off the coast of Anticosti, in the St Lawrence River, North America. They did not know they were close to a lighthouse - eventually the keeper found them and they were put on a boat and sailed home. Meanwhile in Scarborough, news had come of the shipwreck and a memorial service was held. Robert did not tell his family he survived and when he saw his mother on Aberdeen Walk in Scarborough she fainted. Robert had one of his mother's shops, a Fish and Game shop. he married Ann Elizabeth Ellis and it was her father James Ellis that owned the ships chandlers at 5-7 Sandside, Scarborough. Robert was a gambler, practical joker - he once fitted all the sheep heads in a row outside a butchers with clay pipes and wire spectacles. He had many ideas above his station. He dressed in the latest fashion and soon spent all his money, selling houses to have a good time. When they lived in West Hartlepool they had a fish and chip shop but Robert did, what he called 'dusting the till', and take money. His wife Ann Elizabeth had a hard time bringing up the 7 children. in 1908 she left him taking the five younger children with her. They were living in Leeds then and she went to live with her sister Ethel Standeven at 11 Sandside Scarborough. James and Elizabeth stayed in Leeds. Elizabeth (Lizzie) was married to John Parnell by this time. Ann said that her son James could stay in the house and have all the furniture. Whilst James was out his father took all the furniture, apparently by handcart in several trips and sold it. Robert returned to West Hartlepool and died aged 76 in 1938 in an old peoples home. James never forgave him and put is father as deceased. whilst he was still alive. on his wedding certificate when he married Georgina. I have a letter Robert sent to Ann saying he was miserable of this kind of life and begging her to take him back, it is signed Bob. His address was 20 Hopps St West Hartlepool. This is all I have, I hope it has filled some gaps.
