My great great grandfather Robert Watson

[goldenboy]

Robert was born in Falkirk c 1838 son of William and Elizabeth Campbell -- he married Margaret Wallace in 1858 at Falkirk .
I have them on 1871 census where his occupation is given as iron moulder --- then Margaret dies in 1875 her father in law William Watson registers death Robert according to death cert. is still alive .
He is still alive on daughter Isabella's marriage cert. in 1880 but deceased when daughter Catherine gets married in 1905.

Can't find him on any census after 1871 or a death cert.

Any help much appreciated

[speleobat2]

Do you know if Robert had a middle name? Family Search has a Robert S. Watson, b. 1838 and a widower who died over here in Utah in 1904. I haven't found him on the census after 1871 either, but the children seem to be living with various relatives after Margaret dies.

Carol

[goldenboy]

Sorry as far as I know he had no middle name .

I have some information on his family his son Robert was my great grandfather .

golden boy

[trish1]

Saw Carol's post so looked at the US 1900 census. There were 3 Robert Watson's of the right age born in Scotland (well 3 that were transcribed correctly)

The first was Robert S Watson from Utah. He arrived in the US in 1839 & the daughter he was living with was Elizabeth born in the US - so not your man
The second was from Iowa & he immigrated to the US in 1847 so also not yours.

The third is possible. Living in Columbiana County, Ohio, born September 1838, immigrated in 1871, married c. 1875 (not easy to read the wife's name), not naturalised Occupation given as merchant

Trish

Edit - the last Robert is still alive in 1920 - so doesn't fit with the daughter's marriage in 1905

[goldenboy]

Thank you both I should oerhaps have given his date of birth it was 18 November 1838 and he was born in Falkirk Stirlingshire


golden boy

[WilmaM]

What other family did he/they have?
you gave 2 daughters in the original post, but mention a son later.

Details you have of the family in the 1871 or 1861 [address children's ages occupation birth places] may help us track him down.

Have you tried finding all his children's 1881 censuses? the transcribed LDS ones are free to view on Scotlands People, just in case he's with one of them and his been miss-indexed.
Family Search has English 1881 census in case he slipped over the border - an iron moulder could have gone to Sheffield for instance.

When did his father William die? who registered his death? or his mother's?

[speleobat2]

Wilma, I found the following children but haven't had time to follow them:

Isabella 1858
William 1860
Alexander 1862
Campbell 1863
Margaret 1865
Elizabeth 1868
Catherine 1874

Must have missed Robert somewhere. All of these came from Family Search and all were born in Falkirk if I remember correctly.

Carol

[AndrewP]

HI Golden Boy,

Using the free 1881 LDS census on ScotlandsPeople, Campbell Watson, age 18, of Falkirk can be found as nephew in a household in Glasgow headed by Martha McElhinny. Another nephew in that household is John Watson, age 20, of Falkirk. There are other family members there, but not any more Watsons and no more from Falkirk. By definition, the Watsons could be brothers or cousins, and both are shown as unmarried in this transcription.

All the best,

AndrewP

[WilmaM]

A Quick look at the 1881 census shows

Catherine and Isabella seem to be together:
Isabella Robertson Fireman's wife and Sister Catherine Watson at Middle street Falkirk

Elizabeth was a housemaid at Compthall House in Polmont [my husband does the gardening for that big house]
Margaret could be the niece a milliner living with Alex. Cubie in Grahams Road Falkirk

Andrew has tracked down Campbell [that name should make him easy to follow]

The other sons aren't obvious in Scotland, had Robert taken the older William and Alexander away with him?

I would try the 1881 census in England next for them.

[goldenboy]

Thank you all for this info.
Campbell died in 1880 in Grangemouth Isabella,s husband r.e.g. his death .
Alexander died aged 2
thomas was with Isabella in Grangemouth on 1891 census
Catherine married and died in 1905
Robert was born in 1870 married Mary Milligan and died in Edinburgh 1929
Lewis Hay Irving Watson registered William,s death when he died in 18876

golden boy