Two people in the same area????

[ScouseBoy]

Or the organist?

[StevieSteve]

Outside my scope of experience, but I believe that there is a worshipful company of lightermen - I wonder if they hold any records relating to Charles

The recommended starting point for watermen is at Guildhall Library / LMA

We suggest that readers begin by searching the apprentice binding books 1688-1908
(CLC/L/WA/C/020/MS06289) and the apprentice affidavit books 1759-1897
(CLC/L/WA/C/026/MS06291), which together will tell you the name of the
apprentice, the date and place of his baptism, the date his apprenticeship begins, the
name of his master and the date he became a free waterman.

These lead to a search through a boxful of baptism certificates which should at least pin down Charles for definite

With regards to pensions and widow assistance, the research guide states

You may find records of the end of an individual’s career as the Company provided
pensions to Company members and their wives. There are account books of
pensioners receiving money from the Company 1794-1928
(CLC/L/WA/G/004/MS06400) and records of payments made to those resident in the
Company almshouses in Penge 1841-1859 (CLC/L/WA/G/023/MS06602).

but I've not used these

[Spidermonkey]

Martha's age suggests the possibility of an earlier family...?

25 May 1808 Christchurch
Martha Ward MORGAN  of this Parish, spinster
Charles WATSON  of this Parish bachelor
witnesses  J  KNIGHT,  Elizabeth REEVE

Does this mean Christchurch, Dorset, or somewhere else?  I ask because on Find My Past, they seem to have a transcription of the lightermen binding records, and there is one for a Charles Watson (bound date 1784, if that is any indication of age) from Christchurch.

There are other Charles Watsons in this register, but this one leapt out because of the Christchurch connection.  As StevieSteve details, the records at the Guildhall Library should provide more clarity.

[Ruskie]

This site is very good for Watermen/Lightermen:
http://www.parishregister.com/

There is a cost involved.

[rosie99]

Martha's age suggests the possibility of an earlier family...?

25 May 1808 Christchurch
Martha Ward MORGAN  of this Parish, spinster
Charles WATSON  of this Parish bachelor
witnesses  J  KNIGHT,  Elizabeth REEVE

Baptism for a Martha Ward Morgan - St Clement Danes, Middlesex 1 Nov 1781 parents Thomas & Martha

[Spidermonkey]

Hello

I have a challenge.  Martha Ward married Charles Watson around 1811 in the Holborn area of London........ they lived in Fetter Lane.
 snip
Any idea how I can decide which is my Martha.  She says she is 59 in the 1841 census and I have found a Martha Ward Watson (which appears to be how she is known as all baptisms of children refer to her as Martha Ward) death 17 April 1842 aged 61.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated.

Teresa

The burial record for Martha Ward Watson gives her address as Fetter Lane, as does the 1841 census.  They both tally with a birth c. 1782, which then also tallies with the baptism and marriage that Rosie and Wivenhoe found.

[LizzieL]

Does this mean Christchurch, Dorset, or somewhere else?  I ask because on Find My Past, they seem to have a transcription of the lightermen binding records, and there is one for a Charles Watson (bound date 1784, if that is any indication of age) from Christchurch.

There are other Charles Watsons in this register, but this one leapt out because of the Christchurch connection.  As StevieSteve details, the records at the Guildhall Library should provide more clarity.

I think Christchurch in London, it comes up on London marriages on Ancestry.
There are two records for Charles Watson with the same binding date in 1784, one says reassignment. One is to master also called Charles Watson and one to a different master. This would imply that the first master had possibly died part way through the apprenticeship. The 1770 baptism mentioned earlier was to parent Charles and Elizabeth Watson. There are several other children bapt to same couple in Holborn, but doesn't give Charles snr's occupation on any records.

[MaureeninNY]

The marriage was Christ Church Newgate Street .

  I cheated and looked for the vicar who married them.

Maureen

[Spidermonkey]

The marriage was Christ Church Newgate Street .

  I cheated and looked for the vicar who married them.

Maureen

  That's not cheating - that's researching!!!