James Watson b. 1777 Scottish Borders - Who are his parents?

[iregurl]

The occupation of Surgeon is listed on his death certificate according to FindMyPast. 

(then 2 initials which I can't decipher)

It looks like L. M. to me... maybe Local Malitia??

[Neale1961]

WATSON   JAMES   -----      M   16/12/1838   792/    70 540   Jedburgh.

It is a transcription error. It is NOT surgeon. It is Serjent Major.
Yes possibly L M “?something militia”
Always best to look at the original.

[Neale1961]

List of their children
James Watson
1802–1804
James Rutherford Watson
1804–1851
Margaret Watson
1806–
William Watson
1809–1881
Andrew Watson
1813–1867
Adam Watson
1816–1884
Richard L Watson
1818–
Alexander Watson

There appear to be some questions around births / deaths and names of children. Have you checked all this on Scotlands People?  https://www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk/search-our-records

•   James Watson b.1802 Cupar; d 1851 according to grave inscription.
•   John Rutherford Watson b. 1804 Kelso; d. 1851? Where is Burial record?
•   Margaret Watson b. 1806 Kelso; died age 2 according to grave inscription.
•   William Watson b.1809  Kelso; d 1881 Jedburgh
•   Andrew Watson b.1813 Kelso; d. 1867 Jedburgh (On his birth his father is named as Sergeant of Roxburgh Militia.)
•   Adam Watson b. 1816-1884  - No OPR of birth. Adam who died in 1884 was 34 years old – he is the son of Andrew Watson and Helen Wark
•   Richard L Watson b 1818 – No OPR of birth Where does this name come from?
•   Alexander Watson - No OPR of birth. Where does this name come from?
•   Un-named Watson Child died in Jedburgh 15/03/1828

[Neale1961]

The Watson sons – both James 1802-1851 and Andrew 1813-1867 were Handloom Woollen Weavers
William 1809-1881 was a Founder / Iron moulder.

I think the surname Rutherford might be significant to the Watson family, and worth investigating. There was a son John Rutherford Watson born 1804; and the oldest son James Watson who married Ann Baird in 1832, named their first daughter Rutherford b.1835.

So far I have not found a plausible connection for Watson and Rutherford – but hopefully someone else may see something I am missing. Of course the name may come through the Duncan side of the family. You would need to explore those names a bit more.

Incidentally, you may find this link useful   
https://www.scan.org.uk/researchrtools/lieutenancy.htm
I have not looked in detail, but a quick look under Kelso comes up with #125 ‘William Watson – wright – with Neil & brother”, and also #123 Robert Watson.

[iregurl]

I went back to my notes and found that Anne Duncan sometimes went by Agnes Duncan when the family lived in Kelso.  This is the name she used on her daughter Margaret's birth record in 1806.  The daughter that's listed on the grave marker in Jedburgh Abbey Cemetary.  It's the name used on the birth records for:

John Rutherford Watson and Margaret Watson.

P.S.  There is no marriage record for a James Watson and Agnes Duncan in Scotland between 1780 and 1820.

[Neale1961]

P.S.  There is no marriage record for a James Watson and Agnes Duncan in Scotland between 1780 and 1820.

This is the OPR marriage record for James Watson and Anne (Agnes) Duncan

WATSON   JAMES   ANNE DUNCAN/FR800 (FR800)   
13/04/1800   420/    30 167   Cupar
On this marriage record James is described as “Sergt of Cupar Volunteers”

[Neale1961]

This is the OPR of Anne Duncan’s birth / baptism, and then follows her siblings births

DUNCAN   ANNE           ANDREW DUNCAN/ANN SIVIS   F   
09/12/1773   420/    20 268   Cupar

DUNCAN   JAMES          ANDREW DUNCAN/ANN CAVES   M   
21/07/1771   420/    20 246   Cupar

DUNCAN   MARY          ANDREW DUNCAN/ANNE SEVES   F   
31/12/1775   420/    20 280   Cupar

DUNCAN   GEORGE          ANDREW DUNCAN/ANNE CIVES FR720 (FR720)   M   
01/11/1778   420/    30 10   Cupar

[iregurl]

P.S.  There is no marriage record for a James Watson and Agnes Duncan in Scotland between 1780 and 1820.

This is the OPR marriage record for James Watson and Anne (Agnes) Duncan

WATSON   JAMES   ANNE DUNCAN/FR800 (FR800)   
13/04/1800   420/    30 167   Cupar
On this marriage record James is described as “Sergt of Cupar Volunteers”

Yes, that's the marriage I have listed in my original post.  My point is that she went by both names on the birth records of their children and it wasn't a different couple who were the parents.


But getting back to the point of this topic.... Is there any way to verify where James Watson b. 1774 or 1777 was born and who his parent's are?

Thanks!

[Forfarian]

My point is that she went by both names on the birth records of their children

The names Agnes and Ann(e) are quite often interchanged.

My hypothesis is that when this occurs, the person in question was generally known as Nancy, which is a diminutive of both Ann(e) and Agnes. The clerk, hearing that the mother was Nancy Duncan, made an assumption about her formal given name being Ann(e) or being Agnes and wrote it down accordingly.