Joseph Ralph WATSON

[scotiagirl]

Good morning.  I'm totally new at this but here goes... I am researching my great uncle, JOSEPH RALPH WATSON, born October 23, 1883 in Hull, England.  He was the eldest son of Joseph Watson and Lavinia Sanderson.  He was going by the name of Ralph Beverly Watson when he married Beulah Bahnsen in Ottawa, Canada on January 2, 1915.  I have some information on his service with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during WW1 and his subsequent discharge.  He was living in Vancouver, Canada in 1919 but after that, he seems to have disappeared.  Across page 1 of his military service record, "deceased 17-11-57" is written.  I can't seem to find any documentation corroborating that death date.  I haven't been able to find any death notice for him in Canada and was wondering if he might possibly have returned to England in 1920 or so.  Would anyone have any information about him from 1920 on?  Thanks.

[KGarrad]

Young Joseph was actually born in Kirk Ella - near Hull!

1891 census: Class: RG12; Piece: 3909; Folio: 57; Page: 12
Farmhouse, Low Gardam, Cherry Burton,  Yorkshire

Watson, Joseph  Head  M  33  Farmer  b Kirk Ella
Watson, Lavinia  Wife  F  27  b Hull
Watson, Joseph  Son  M  7  Scholar  b Kirk Ella
Watson, Dorothy E  Daughter  F  2  b Cherry Burton, Gardam
Watson, Cyril D  Son  M  1  b Cheery Burton, Gardam
Ridd, Clara  Servant  F  30  Governess  b Hull
Cooke, Jane  Servant  F  27  House Maid  b Hull
Kell, Mary Servant  F  24  Cook  b Foggathorpe
Kay, Mary  Servant  F  16  Nurse  b Dalton Holme
Crawford, George W  Servant  M  25  Groom  b Swanland


And a birth registration:
December qtr 1883
Sculcoates district    vol 9d, page 145
Watson, Joseph

[KGarrad]

I'm having trouble finding any link of this Joseph Watson to "Ralph"?

1901 census: Class: RG13; Piece: 4453; Folio: 34; Page: 13
Melbourne, Yorkshire (East Riding)

Dales, Arthur C  Head  M  32  Butcher  b Leeds
Dales, Elizabeth C  Wife  F  31  b Cowthorpe
Dales, William R  Son  M  4  b Melbourne
Dales, Arthur C  Son  M  3  b Melbourne
Watson, Joseph M  Servant  Butcher's Assistant  b Cherry Burton


Looking at Outgoing Passenger Lists, there are 2 possibilities:

1912, Joseph R Watson (28) - previous permanent residence Ireland
1910, Joseph Watson (26), Scottish

I can't (as yet) see a suitable crossing to Canada?

[heywood]

Hello and welcome 

1901 Joseph M Watson, Cherry Burton is likely to be the son of William and Ann of Burton Cherry/Cherry Burton.

There is a Ralph Beverley Watson here https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32032/page/8818 and this chap is on London Electoral Registers to 1930
I offer them as they are the only mentions of the name I can see.

Did Ralph and Beulah separate/divorce?
Is there a civilian occupation on his military record?

Heywood

[KGarrad]

1901 Joseph M Watson, Cherry Burton is likely to be the son of William and Ann of Burton Cherry/Cherry Burton.

Ah yes!
Joseph Morley Watson, is with his mother Ann in 1911, and with both parents in 1891.

My mistake!

[heywood]

It is a mistake that has been made in published trees also and there is also this substantial thread http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=533187.0 which I haven't the time to read and absorb fully which also links Joseph M Watson to Joseph Ralph.
I can't see Ralph/Joseph etc in 1901 yet.

I assume Cyril D is Douglas? He is mentioned in the tree as being the contact for Ralph.

Heywood

[heywood]

The London Gazette extract I posted earlier was re a business partnership between Ralph ... And Norman Anderson Peake. There is one such name in Canadian Soldiers WW 1 


Here is another mention of Ralph

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32620/page/1667

[scotiagirl]

I "hope I'm doing this right.  This is my first reply.  Thanks KGarrad for that info.  The birth registration is particularly good.  As to the "Ralph" link, Joseph R Watson first appeared on a "Detroit border crossing and passenger and crew list, 1905-1957" with father Joseph R and brother Douglas.  Then in May 1912, Joseph Ralph Watson, born 1884 in England, is listed in "Border Crossing: From Canada to U.S, 1895-1956".  As to the Joseph M Watson, I thought the handwriting was a little squiggly and maybe the M was an R?  I have a Joseph Watson, age 27, born 1883 travelling Liverpool to Quebec on June 3, 1910 in "Canadian Passenger Lists, 1865-1935".

Thanks also to Heywood for the possible link with Norman Anderson Peake.  I'll definitely check that out.  And very interesting that there is a Ralph Beverly Watson in the London Electoral Registers to 1930.  The story on this side of the pond is that Ralph was a heavy drinker and died around 1920 in Vancouver, Canada.  Beulah apparently went out to visit him in Vancouver around that time and her sister said that shortly after Beulah returned to Ottawa, Ralph died.  I've never been able to find any information on that.  Also according to his attestation papers, his occupation was a salesman when he enlisted. 

Thanks to everybody for all this great information.

[KGarrad]

I've sent a PM to one of the Watson "experts" on that other thread. mentioned by Heywood.
She will be taking a look tomorrow!

Apparently (if we have the right Joseph!) father Joseph eloped to Canada with his wife's nurse?!

It's well worth reading that other thread. Watson family linked to Kirk Ella Farm for many, many years.