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Henry and Betty WATSON at Cop Row 1841, 51.

My 3-gt-grandparents, I have masses of material

Rex

[b]Henry Watson gravestone[b]

The gravestone for Henry Watson (my 3 gt-granfather) has recently been added to the pictures on the site.
http://www.briercliffesociety.co.uk/Gra ... atson1.htm
It is however now illegible, but wasn't 40 years ago ! It read as follows.

Henry Watson of Burnley who died Oct 5 1877 aged 81 years

Also Henry the beloved husband of Margaret Watson who died Sept 4th 1899 in his 73rd year

Margaret the beloved wife of the above who departed this life Feb 13th 1911 aged 79 years

Also John Thomas Watson who died Aug 4th (^) aged 7 weeks

Also Richard (Frede)rick son of the above and beloved husband of Catherine Watson of Burnley who died Jan 15th 1917 aged 46 years
grandson of Henry Watson 1st East Lancs ^^^ in action July 21st 19^^ ^^ years

Also Lance Cpl Har^^ Watson MGC dearly beloved son of the above
(Fr)ederick Watson who died of wounds as ^^^ ^^^ war at Neuville sur l'Estcourt

Mary ^^^ aged 22 years

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Detail on the last two men here a bit confused !

I published an article in the Lancs FHHS Journal about 1990 on Henry the elder. This was reprinted a few years later in 'Retrospect', the Journal of the Burnley Local History Society, and included a composite photo (originally made by my father) of 6 generations from 'old Henry' down.

Old Henry had an eventful life, surviving 3 wives (how you can admire a man like that....). More recently I have discovered that he fathered an illegitimate child at the age of c.17, and that his obituary in the Burnley paper noted he had been a Chartist in his younger days !

Henry died 1899 is described as a gentleman in his will. He owned property on Oxford Rd in Burnley. The grave stone was put up by his side of the family. I descend from this Henry's brother Richard, publican at the Craven Heifer on Cop Row in the 1870s.

Over the years I've had hardly any contact with other descendents of Henry : if anyone out there fits in, please do get in touch, I have a greta deal on this family.

Rex Watson

Just reviving this one....

My WATSONs lived at Southfield in the 18th century : does this ring bells with anyone ? They are quite a complicated clan, but I think I have the main lines sorted out.

Anyone intersted in a general way in Southfield ? It's interesting in the 18th c as the home of the SAGARS, with their Methodist involvement, and also of the STUTTARDS, notably John the first Baptist pastor at Colne.

Rex

On the gravestone, the grandson of Henry WATSON is James, died 21 July 1917. See Burnley Roll of Honour website.

See that site also for Harry, Machine Gun Corps.

Rex