Missing sailor

Gordyw · Post by **Gordyw** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 7:03 pm

Hello Everybody,I have a death cert for George Watson who died in 1886 and on it his father is also George Watson:occupation -sailor.How do I even start to find out what ship he was on or whether he was a fisherman.I have him on the 1841 census for Alloa but as a labourer.I've been told through family sources that there were watsons in the fishing industry in Anstruther and their names are in the fisheries museum but I dont have that connection yet.Any ideas on how to progress please Anyone.Gordon

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 3:17 am

Hello Gordon,

Do you have the 1851 census for the family? Was his wife then a widow? If so, were there any children born after 1841 that would narrow down the possible years of George Senior’s death. How old was he in 1841?

Is there any information as to occupation in the OPRs in respect of George Senior’s marriage or birth of his children? Is there any information about the occupation of the father on any marriages of his children or on deaths of other children after 1855?

Who was the informant at the death and is it likely they would have had first hand knowledge of the grandfathers occupation i.e. would they have been old enough when grandfather was alive to know.

If you haven’t clarified the above it may be a bit premature to be chasing a sailor especially when there appears to be conflicting information.

All the best,
Alan

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 10:27 am

Have you looked George senior's death entry to see what occupation is given?

If I have the correct family George senior's occupation was given as ag lab in 1841 and weaver in 1851. I notice he was born at sea - maybe it was his father who was the sailor and whoever registered George junior's death got it wrong.

Actually if you google where he was born - this infocomes up!

Regards,
Annette

Gordyw · Post by **Gordyw** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:10 am

Hello,thanks to all who have replied,I tried to get the 1851 census for Alloa on SP but it said there was no image available.The only info I have at present is that George senior was 45yrs old at the time of the 1841 census and was father to 4 children,William 13,Archibald 11,George 7 and John 2.They stayed in the Old Bridge area of Alloa,I havent any info as yet on the sons other than George junior.I did try and trace George seniors birth to around 1805-1806,the only one that came up was to a John Watson and Jean Leslie in Larbert ,I'm not sure this is the right one though.
Gordon

Gordyw · Post by **Gordyw** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:15 am

sorry made mistake on George seniors birth,it should be 1795-6,oops

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 11:37 am

Gordyw wrote:sorry made mistake on George seniors birth,it should be 1795-6,oops

Here they are from Ancestry in 1851 -

Name: George Gordon Watson
Age: 55
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1796
Relationship: Head
Gender: Male
Where born: Off Cape St Vincent, At Sea
Parish Number: 465
Civil Parish: Alloa
Town: Alloa
County: Clackmannanshire
Address: Bridge Street

Household Members:
Name Age
George Gordon Watson 55
George Watson 14
John Watson 11
Margaret Campbell 35
Ann Waker 9 Mo

There is a death at SP in 1857 of a George Watson at Alloa. Age is a couple of years out but close enough to chance a look.

Regards,
Annette

Gordyw · Post by **Gordyw** » Sun Apr 05, 2009 5:50 pm

Hi Annette,thanks for taking the time to research this.I know that George junior was married in 1857 and there is no mention of George senior being deceased on the marriage cert.I'm unfamiliar with the females you found so I'll need to have a look at this.If he was born at sea would mean they travelled together as a family if he was serving on a ship.Regards Gordon