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William Watton
Early 1820s - ????
William was Calum's and Jamie's great great great great great grandfather.
Little is currently known of William. There is a possibility that he may be the
son of an Alexander Watton, who died in the barony of Coleraine on Thursday, November 3rd 1859, at Carnglass,
aged 79. This has yet to be proven.
In his son William's wedding entry in the Coleraine register of 1867, William
senior is listed as a weaver. It is assumed that he was from Coleraine in County Derry, Ireland, but that is solely based
on this being the location of his son in 1867. If William junior was still living at home by the time of his wedding, this
would mean that his father was living in the Castletoodry district of the town.
Although the 1841 to 1891 census records for Ireland by and large no longer exist, we are extremely
lucky in that a fragment of the 1831 census for Ireland, covering the Barony of Coleraine does exist, and is held at the Public
Records Office for Northern Ireland, on microfilms MIC/5A/5 and MIC/5A/6. Not only that, but this census actually listed individual
male members of the community, not the norm for the UK census at that time. Having checked the roll at PRONI for Watton members
in Coleraine, Ballysally, Killowen, Ballyrashane and Ballyaughran, and other districts on MIC/5A/6 in February 2006, not a
single member of the Watton family could be found. Due to a lack of time, the other roll has yet to be checked, in particular
for the area of Ballymoney, where it is known that another major grouping of Wattons was based in the second half of
the 19th Century. But it would certainly seem at this stage that our branch of the Wattons did not reach Coleraine until
after 1831.
William married prior to 1846, although his wife's name is not as yet known. One
very strong possibility is that he may be the William Watton whose wife Elizabeth died on March 6th 1859,
at Ballyboggy, as noted in the Coleraine Chronicle on the 26th. This Elizabeth was 47 years of age at death, placing her birth
in approximately 1812. The same William seems to have remarried at Ballyrashane Presbyterian Church on March 1st 1861, to
a Miss Elizabeth Shaw, with both parties originating from Ballyboggie (sic), and married by the Reverend
John Alexander. Again, the event was recorded in the Coleraine Chronicle on the 9th. William is noted here as William, senior
- obviously indicating a William junior!!! This would certainly tie in with what we already know.
Equally of interest is the presence of a spirit dealer called William Watton in Coleraine's Society
Street, as noted in the 1846 Slater's Commercial Directory for Ireland. Could this be the same William Watton later noted
as a weaver?
However, all that is conclusively known for definite is that William and his
wife had at least three children:
CHILDREN of WILLIAM WATTON and (UNKNOWN):
William Watton
b: 1846 approx
William was Calum's and Jamie's great great great great grandfather - see
below.
Sarah Watton
b: 18??
All that is currently known about Sarah is that she was from Coleraine
and that she sadly died of facial cancer, as recalled by her great niece, Georgina Watton.
(Unknown) Watton
b: 18??
This sister of William emigrated at some stage to Canada, and was able to put up her great niece Martha
Watton when she also emigrated to Canada at a later date (again as recalled by Georgina Watton).
Mary Jane Watton - unconfirmed
b: 18??
This Mary Jane Watton was married in Coleraine Civil Registar's Office on Dec 4th 1873 to Isaih
Leighton (Emerald Ancestors website). The fact that William Watton, born 1846, named one of his
daughetrs Mary Jane Watton suggests that this Mary Jane was his sister, but for the moment this fact remains unconfirmed.
William Watton
1846 approx - 1947 approx
William Watton was Calum's and Jamie's great
great great great grandfather.
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| William's signature from September 1868 |
It is known that William was from the town of
Coleraine in County Londonderry, Ireland, from the Castletoodry district in the parish of Killowen. It
is not yet known when he was born, as his wedding certificate entry simply lists him as being of full age. At the time
of his wedding, his wife was listed as 20 years of age, and if he was close to her age, that would place his birth in 1846
approximately. It is believed that William was Church of Ireland by religion.
William married 20 year old servant, Elizabeth (Eliza)
Jane McLaughlin, on December 7th 1867, in the registry office of Coleraine. Eliza was from the same parish, but from the town's
Waterside district. Because Eliza was under the age of 21, she had to obtain a special license for the wedding from the registrar,
William Young. The witnesses to the marriage were William McLaughlin (a relative of Eliza) and Robert Mitchell. At the time
of the wedding, William was working as a labourer.
No sooner had the couple married than they decided
to cross the Irish Sea and make their way to Greenock, in Renfrewshire, Scotland, where William took up work as a railway
labourer. Greenock had one of the highest concentrations of immigrant Irish labour in Scotland at that time, and was
crying out for cheap labour due to the rapid expansion of the Scottish rail network. In September 1868, the couple's first
child, John Watten, was born in the town at their home of 25 Charles Street, but tragedy befell them when
only seven weeks later, John died of bronchitis.
Perhaps traumatised by the death of their first child,
William and his wife did not remain in Scotland long, and by December 21st 1869, they are to be found back in Coleraine,
Co. Londonderry, Ireland, where their second child, Anne, was born. At this stage, William was still a labourer,
and the family were resident in Balinteer, in the Articlave district of the town.
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| Agherton St John the Baptist Church of Ireland |
The family continued to expand with the further addition
of William, Cochrane, Helena and Eliza. By 1877, the family were living
in nearby Portstewart, Co. Londonderry, just a couple of miles from Coleraine. They attended Agherton Church of Ireland, where all the children were subsequently baptised.
It seems that William was a jack of all trades, as
by 1872, he is listed in his son Cochrane's birth entry as a servant, but when Cochrane himself got married in 1900, William
was at this stage listed as a gardener. He would appear to have moved to Belfast in approximately 1898, as the Belfast and
Ulster Street Directories for 1899 and 1900 list him as living at 8 Ilchester Street in the city, with his occupation again
noted as a gardener. In his daughter Eliza's wedding register entry in September 1903, William is further listed as a coachman.
The most curious thing about William is that it appears that he may have changed his suname to
STEEN during his lifetime, and then just prior to his death legally changed it back. The following article in the Belfast
Gazette outlines the latter, dated 25 FEB 1944 (p.3):
TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I, WILLIAM WATTON, now of 18 Joseph Street, in the County of the City of
Belfast, Press Operator, formerly residing at 124 McTier Street, in the said County of the City of Belfast, and
commonly known and called by the name of William Steen, hereby give notice that I intend to resume as from the date hereof
my correct legal name of William Watton, and henceforth upon all occasions and at all times and in all deeds and documents,
writings and correspondenceto sign, use and be called and known by the name of William Watton instead of my present name of
William Steen and that in future my proper address will be William Watton and that of my wife will be Eliza Jane Watton. In
witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed by correct legal name of William Watton this twenty fifth day of January, One thousand
nine hundred and forty-four,
Signed by the said William Watton in presence of:-
Anthony Lunn, Solr.,
137 Victoria Street, Belfast
WILLIAM WATTON
Quite why William went by the name STEEN, and for how long, is a mystery just
now. It may not be him of course, but Watton was not a common name, and there cannot have been too many Eliza Jane's marrioed
to a William Watton! This requires further investigation.
According to William's granddaughter Georgina Watton, William
eventually died at the age of 101, placing this at approximately 1947, give or take a year. It is not yet known whether
there were any further children.
CHILDREN of WILLIAM WATTON and ELIZABETH McLAUGHLIN:
{1} John Watten
b: 27/9/1868 d: 14/11/1868
John was born at 6am on September 27th 1868 at 25 Charles Street, Greenock,
Renfrewshire, Scotland. His father was listed as present at the birth, and he informed the Greenock registrar, Robert A. Baird, on
the following day. John's mother was listed as Elizabeth on the birth entry (GROS:1868/564/03/938).
Sadly, John never made it into childhood. Just seven weeks after he was born, he contracted
bronchitis, from which he died at 2.30am on November 14th 1868, at 25 Charles Street, Greenock. His father, who informed the
registrar on the same day, was again listed as a railway labourer, whilst his mother's name was erroneously spelt as Elizabeth
McLachlan (GROS:1868/564/03/747).
{2} Anne Watten
b: 21/12/1869 d: ????
Anne was born in Balinteer in the district of Articlave, Coleraine, Co.
Londonderry, Ireland, on December 21st 1869. Her father, incorrectly spelt as William Watten, informed the registrar
on the 30th (GRONI:Articlave, Coleraine, Bk 2,#326).
{3} William Watton
b: 16/12/1871
William was born in Co. Londonderry, Ireland. It is believed that he may
have died in infancy, as a brother, also called William, was later born in 1883.
{4} Cochrane McLaughlin Watton
b: 13/11/1872 d: 19??
Calum's and Jamie's great great great grandfather - see
below.
{5} Eliza Watton
b: 30/1/1875 d: 1946
Eliza was born in Ballysally, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry,
Ireland, on January 30th 1875. Her father was William Watton, coachman, and her mother Eliza
McLaughlin, who was also the informant to the civil registrar in Coleraine.
At the turn of the 20th century Eliza moved to Scotland, and on September
2nd 1903 married 29 year old Alfred Christie, an ironmonger's assistant, in Victoria Cafe,
Nairn, Nairnshire. Alfred was the son of George Christie, a quarrier, and his wife Ann Airth.
At the time of the wedding, Eliza was living at 3 St Ninian's Road in Nairn, whilst Alfred resided at Burnside Cottage in
nearby Forres. The witnesses to the wedding were Annie Christie and A.H.W.Inuaro (?), with
the minister being the Reverend William Pirie, from Nairn parish. The marriage was registered the following day (GROS:1903/123/00/22).
At the death of their son Alfred in 1911 Eliza and Alfred were listed
as living at 23 Urquhart Street in Forres - the couple in fact stayed their whole lives in Forres.
Alfred predeceased Eliza, who died herself in
her home, Barbies Cottage, Forres, on March 22nd 1946, at 7.35am. The cause of her death was a combination of heart and
gall bladder problems, and was registered at Forres three days later by her son (GROS:1946/137/0/23).
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| Alfred Christie, husband of Eliza Watton |
CHILDREN of ELIZA WATTON and ALFRED CHRISTIE:
Annie Watton Christie
b: 23/11/1903 d: 6/5/1966
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| Alfred, Annie, Alexander and Molly, circa 1910 |
Annie was born on November 23rd 1903 at 10.20pm at 1 Tulloch Park in Forres (GROS: 1903/137/120),
with the birth registered on December 8th.
Annie emigrated to Canada and married Charles Kirk, son
of Charles Kidd and Ethel Kirk, in Toronto. From his granddaughter Angela Kirk's website,
the following info on Charles is recorded:
Charles was born to a young single woman who
worked as a servant. Charles had an older sister Jessie and a younger sister Mildred. He was given to the Barnardos Homes
at age 4. He was admitted January 5, 1914. The notes that were taken during his admittance were obtained from the Barnardos
homes and give a brief desciption of Charles family situation at the time. Charles emigrated from England when he was 11 and
was indentured to an Ontario farmer. A book and movie entitled "Little Immigrants" has been written describing the life of
these children. When Charles was an adult he moved to Toronto where he met and married Annie Christie. Together they raised
three children, and the writer (until age 5) who was their grandaughter until Annie's death.
In Toronto, Eliza settled and raised a family with Charles. She eventually passed away on May 6th 1966 in the city, whilst Charles eventually died in 1987.
CHILDREN of ANNIE WATTON CHRISTIE and CHARLES KIRK:
Gerald Kirk
b: 19??
Gerald was born in Toronto, Canada.
Wallace Kirk
b: 19??
Wallace was born in Toronto, Canada.
Joyce Kirk
b: 19??
Joyce was born in Toronto, Canada. She married Roy Powell
at some stage prior to 1959, and had at least one daughter.
CHILDREN of JOYCE KIRK and ROY POWELL:
Angela M. Kirk
b: 8/9/1959
Angela was born in Toronto and was raised by her grandparents Annie and Charles.
She married someone by the surname of Wiebe, and has three children. She currently lives in Salt Spring Island
in British Columbia, Canada.
Through Angela, much has been discovered on the descendants of Eliza Watton,
and for this I am extremely grateful. Angela can be contacted by e-mail at AngelaMKirk@hotmail.com:
CHILDREN of ANGELA KIRK and (UNKNOWN) WIEBE:
Steven Wiebe
b: 19??
Elizabeth Wiebe
b: 19??
Ben Wiebe
b: 19??
Alexander Airth ('Sandy') Christie
b: 26/12/1905
Alexander was born at 23 Urquhart Street in Forres, on December 26th 1905, at
5.45am (GROS: 1906/137/4), with the birth registered on January 12th 1906.
On July 5th 1940, Alexander married Sheila MacDonald, a "motor
omnibus conductress" living at 17 Caroline Street in Bishopmill, Elgin. Sheila was the daughter of Peter MacDonald, a wood
contractor, and Mary Green. The registrar was William Hustwick, and the witnesses were Alex's brother Wilfred (still resident
at Berbice Cottage) and Sheila's sister Norah MacDonald (GROS: 1940/168/2/526).
Eileen Christie
b: 25/10/1911
Eileen was born at 23 Urquhart Street in Forres, on October 25th 1911 at 1.00am,
with the birth registered on the 30th.
Mary ('Molly') Christie
b: 29/7/1907
Mary was born on July 29th 1907 at 5.30am at 23 Urquhart Street in Forres, with
the birth registered on August 15th 1907.
Winnifred Christie & Wilfred
Christie (twins)
b: 3/2/1914
Winnifred and Wilfred were born on February 3rd 1914 at Berbice Cottage in Forres.
Winnifred arrived fisrt at 4.15am, with her brother arriving at 5.00am (GROS: 1914/137/17&18).
Little is yet known of Winnifred, but the following has been worked out about
her brother. Wilfred was present at his father's
death on October 28th 1939, and informed the registrar on the 30th (GROS: 1939/137/47).
On July 5th 1940, Wilfred was still living at the family home
of Berbice Cottage in Forres, where he witnessed his brother Alexander's marriage to Sheila MacDonald.
In the following year, it was Wilfred's turn, when he married 29 year old
clerkess Katharine Gallon Reid on August 29th, at Airlie Manse in Forres, with the service being Church
of Scotland in nature. Katharine was the daughter of Daniel Reid, a gardener, and Annie McHardy. At this point, Wilfred is
listed as having been an aero engineer, but he was to eventually become a gas fitter.
Wilfred died at 6.00am on March 30th 1969, at Leanchole Hospital in Forres. He
was 55 years of age, and at the time of his death had been resident at 48 MacDonald Drive in the town.
Wilfred's wife Katharine survived for a further 33 years, eventually passing
away in 2002 in Elgin (GROS: 2002/280/49).
Margaret Christie
b: 24/8/1916
Margaret was born on August 24th 1916 at 6pm, at Berbice Cottage in Forres (GROS:
1916/137/66). The birth was registered on September 5th by her father.
Alfred Christie
b: Jan 1910 d:19/4/1911
Alfred died at 7.30pm on April 19th 1911, in infancy, at the age of 15 months.
He had suffered teething convulsions and pneumonia for four days, as certified by Dr John Adam. His father, Alfred,
informed the registrar in Forres the following day (GROS: 1911/137/0/34).
I have recently found a genealogy website created by Annie Watton Christie's
granddaughter, Angie Kirk, and I am currently trying to contact her for more information. Angie's website
is the Kirk Family History page.
______________________
{6} William Thomas Watton
b: 6/6/1877 d: Jun-Sep 1879
William Thomas was born on June 6th 1877 at Portstewart, Agherton, Coleraine,
to William Watton, coachman, and Eliza McLaughlin, who was also the informant. William died in infancy in Coleraine
in the third quarter of 1879, aged just 2 (LDS Irish indices).
A William Thomas Watton was also born in Coleraine in the third quarter of 1891,
and appears to have married in Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, in the first quarter of 1921. Whether this is a coincidental naming
of a child is as yet unclear.
{7} Lena Watton
b: 21/7/1879
Lena was born in Portstewart, Agherton, in Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, Ireland
on July 21st 1879. Her father was William Watton, coachman, and her mother noted as Eliza McLoughlin. Eliza was also the informant
(IFHF).
In the 1901 census, as Helena she was recorded as staying with
her brother Cochrane Watton at 54 Groomsport Street, Belfast.
In the census, Lena is described as being a member of the Church of Ireland,
able to read and write, and as working in a factory. Her age was incorrectly listed as 20.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, 30 year old Lena is found at 72 Newington
Avenue in the Duncairn electoral ward of the parish of Shankill, and working as a domestic servant for 31 year old foreman
stonecutter Robert Howard and his wife Sarah, and their five children. She is mistakenly listed as having been born in Belfast,
and is described as an Episcopalian (Church of Ireland).
On March 27th 1919, Lena married James Murray at the Mariners
Church of Ireland, Shankill, Belfast. From a conversation with her niece, Margaret Payne (nee Watton),
it is known that Murray was a Scotsman from the Seaforth Highlanders. It is also believed that Lena had at
least one son.
Nothing further is as yet known of Lena.
CHILDREN of LENA WATTON and (UNKNOWN) MURRAY:
(Unknown) Murray
b: 19??
{8} Mary Jane Watton
b: 14/11/1881
Mary Jane was baptised in Agherton Parish Church, Coleraine, County Londonderry.
In 1912, Mary Jane signed the Declaration of Loyalty to the British Crown in Megain Lecture Hall,
in the Pottinger district of east Belfast. At the time, Mary was resident at 44 Chadolly Street (also resident at this address
were a Susan Bulla and an Annie Wightman.)
Mary Jane may have married Hugh Moore on March 19th 1913 at Saint Anne's Church of
Ireland, Shankill, Belfast, as recorded in the index on the Emerald Ancestors website, but for the moment it remains unconfirmed
as to whether this is our Mary Jane.
{9} William Reid Watton
b: 20/12/1883
William was born on December 12th 1883 and then baptised in Agherton Parish Church,
Coleraine, County Londonderry.
In his youth, William moved to England to become an apprentice jockey at Marshs,
Newmarket, whilst the future King Edward VII was still just the Prince of Wales. From a letter written by William
in 1897, at Newmarket, it is known that he won his first Derby by riding a horse called "Perinnions". It is also known that
William used to exercise horses, and that he was known to famous jockeys such as Steve Donahue, Todd Sloan and Fred Archer.
William returned to Ireland shortly after and was refused leave to return to
England by his parents, for reasons unknown. He recalled in 1898 going to see a play in the Old Royal Victoria Theatre on
Arthur Street, Castle Lane, Belfast, entitled "The Diver's Luck" (first published on 17 Sept 1888 in Dublin), about the sinking
of the Great Eastern Steamship, at that time in Belfast.
William also noted that an attempt had been made to poison a group of Enniskillen
Dragoons stationed in Percy Street, Belfast. Riots broke out between Protestant and Catholic gangs in the aftermath.
He also recalled the presence of the old sailing ships in Belfast, and recalled
being told of the ship "Knockommnis" which had sunk at Black Rock, Portstewart in December 1883, the year of his birth.
In 1909, William married Ballymoney girl Maggie McCollum (13/6/1887
- 8/7/1975).
In the 1911 census, William and Maggie were located at 17 Haldane Street in the Shankill ward and
parish of Belfast. William was the head of the household, aged 25, a rivetter who could read and write, born in County Derry,
and Church of Ireland by religion. Maggie was 23 and from County Antrim. Also present were their one year old son William,
from County Antrim, and three members of Maggie's family - Martha McCullam, listed as a 39 year old mother-in-law,
a spinner in a mill, and able to read and write, and two children listed as step-cildren, being 7 year old James McCullam,
and 5 year old Josie McCullam, both scholars, born in County Antrim, and unable to read and write.
William took up work as young man at the Harland and Wolfe shipyard, and worked
on the Titanic with his brother Cochrane, though unlike Cochrane, who was a painter, William worked
as a riveter. The ship launched in 1912, and William must have been devastated to learn of the ship's fate upon her maiden
voyage to New York.
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| William's signature in 1912 |
On September 28th 1912, aka "Ulster Day", both William and Maggie pledged
their loyalty to the British Crown. William signed the Ulster Covenant at York Street Lecture Hall, whilst Maggie
signed the Declaration of Loyalty at York Street Presbyterian Church.
At the time of the event, both William and Maggie were living at 4 Ambrose Street in east Belfast.
The purpose of the Covenant and Declaration was to show unionist contempt for the Liberal idea of a Home Rule government which
would potentially weaken the position of the Protestant Ascendancy. Protestants were the minority religious grouping
in Ireland, although by far the majority in the province of Ulster. Their fear was of a self governing country with Roman
Catholicism imposed as the state religion - "Home Rule is Rome Rule" was the slogan. Little did William and Maggie realise
that their loyalty to the Crown and nationalist opposition to remaining in the United Kingdom would lead to the island of
Ireland being torn apart by partition some ten years later...
William's daughter Margaret recalls about her father that he couldn't hold his drink if his life
depended on it, with one bottle of Guinness able to put him out! And William's
grandson Trevor Rowan also recalls how his grandfather was was nicknamed "Wee Willy Watton" as he was only 5'3", although
very strong, and that he was a dead ringer for the cartoon character Popeye, who also smoked a pipe!
William eventually died on June 6th 1972, in Belfast. In his later years
he looked after a river for the council at Sunnyhill, near Cavehill in the city. after he passed away, his widow Maggie
survived for three more years, eventually passing away herself in Belfast on July 8th 1975.
CHILDREN of WILLIAM WATTON and MAGGIE McCOLLUM:
(1) William Reid Watton
b: 29/6/1909
William married Louisa and had two sons. The couple later
divorced, and it is not yet known with whom the children went, although it was most likely Louisa.
William remarried to Hannah Caughey on April 1st, 1929,
at St. Stephen's Church, Belfast. Hannah had previously had a son, Jimmy, by a local youth who
had succumbed to cancer before they where able to marry. William appears to have taken Jimmy in for a while, and the couple
went on to have their own daughter, Margaret, known colloquially as Peggy.
The marriage was not to last however, the couple having separated by 1936. Hannah
struck up a relationship with a gentleman called Francis Walker, and in 1936 had her first child with him,
Robert Walker. She then went on to have a further twelve children with Francis - these were Edward
and Elizabeth (1937); Jane (1939); Alice (1940); Sarah (1942);
Daniel and Dennis (1945); Alan (1948); Roy (1949); Gordon
and Geoffrey (1951), and Annie (1955). Hannah eventually married Francis Walker on July
24th 1981 at Stranraer Registry Office in Scotland.
She eventually passed away in Belfast on January 6th 1997.
[Many thanks to Annie Walker's daughter Tracy Davidson, nee
Tully, for providing the above information in December 2005.]
It is not yet known what became of William, or when he died.
CHILDREN of WILLIAM WATTON and LOUISA (UNKNOWN):
(Unknown) Watton
b: 19??
(Unknown) Watton
b: 19??
CHILDREN of WILLIAM WATTON and HANNAH CAUGHEY:
Margaret (Peggy) Watton
b: 18/6/1930
Margaret married Robert Owen on October 6th 1951, and
went on to have two children with him.
Margaret remarried on April 10th 1982 in Toronto, Canada, to Sidney
Arthur Young.
Margaret has since passed away, after having suffered for some time with motor neurone disease.
The date of her death is not yet known.
CHILDREN of MARGARET WATTON and ROBERT OWEN:
Linda Owen
b: 19??
(Unknown) Owen
b: 19??
(2) David Leslie
Ogilvie Watton
b: 5/5/1911 d: 22/10/1938
David died in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
(3) Margaret Watton
b: 6/2/1914
Margaret was born in Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, on February 6th
1914. To her father, she was fondly known as "the little spitfire"!!!
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| The little Spitfire! Margaret celebrating her 92nd birthday. |
As a young girl, Margaret grew up in Belfast, living on the Limestone
Road. When her schooling finished in 1928, she took up work at the York Street Flax Spinning Company, taking up a job
in its handkerchief department at the age of 14 years and two months. Whilst here she worked for a Mr. Ellisar, who she
describes as someone that she did not like, he being "too dour"!
Whilst in the hanky department, a French designer in the company, called
Mr Prangue, asked if she would like to work in the design department as a perforator, a chance which she jumped at. To do
the work, she had to learn how to work all the different colour cards for the linen.
Margaret remained with the flax company until the factory was bombed
during the Second World War. After this, she took up work in one of Belfast's munitions factories up the Falls Road, which
even in the Forties she described as not somewhere for a Protestant girl to happily work in, recalling that there
were troubles as bad there at that point as there were to be later in the post civil marches period of the late sixties.
She recalls that before taking the munitions job she had to be examined by a doctor, who told her that with the
muscles she had, she was just right for the job!!!
Margaret remaned in the munitions factory until the end of the war, making
six pounder and seventeen pounder shells, under the watchful eye of manager Mr Norther, who was an Englishman. There were
three shifts in the job, 12.00pm to 6.00am, 6.00am to 2.00pm and 2.00pm to 10.00pm, and Margaret worked in each shift at various
stages.
During the war, Maragret remembers how her family were blitzed on the Antrim
Road, and had to relocate to Watt Street.
Margaret went on to marry Robert McCue and had two children.
She later remarried to Fred Payne.
For her ninetieth birthday, Margaret travelled to stay with her daughter
Lorraine in Canada. Her last visit to Northern Ireland was when her brother Billy passed away.
Margaret currently lives in Cheshire, a font of information in her nineties,
and we are extremely grateful for the conversatiopns we have had about her family and that of Calum's and Jamie's great
great great grandfather Cochrane Watton, who was Margaret's uncle!
CHILDREN of MARGARET WATTON and ROBERT McCUE:
Lorraine McCue
b: 19??
Lorraine used to work in a bank. Not much is known about Lorraine,
although it is known that she lost a baby at some point in the past.
Lorraine now lives in Toronto, Canada. In February 2004 she had her mother
Margaret staying with her to celebrate her ninetieth birthday, and in September 2005 her cousin Trevor and his family also
visited her.
Robert William Ernest McCue
b: 1954
When Robert was born, he was eleven pounds in weight!
Robert is married to Jane and has two children. The
couple having met at a motor company caleld Atley's where Robert apparently got on extrmely well with Jane's father.
Today, Robert makes surgical instruments in Buckinghamshire, a career
he took up after studying blood cancers as part of his degree. Robert's wife Jane is a cancer doctor at a London hospital,
and regularly travels to lecture on leukaemia.
CHILDREN of ROBERT McCUE and JANE
(UNKNOWN):
James McCue
b: 1993
James lives in Buckinghamshire, England.
Pippa McCue
b: 1996
Pippa lives in Buckinghamshire, England.
(4) George Watton
b: 25/1/1916 d: 11/3/1916
George was born in Belfast on January 25th 1916, but died in infancy just
two months later.
(5) Georgina Watton
b: 9/2/1917
Georgina was born in Belfast.
Georgina went on to marry Belfast man Leonard Higginbotham,
son of Robert Higginbotham, on May 7th 1937.
The couple emigrated to Penrith, New South Wales, Australia, prior to 1951.
Georgina still lives in New South Wales today, with her family.
CHILDREN of GEORGINA WATTON and LEONARD HIGGINBOTHAM:
Sylvia Joan Higginbotham
b: 8/6/1940
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| Sylvia and partner Brian, 2001 |
Sylvia was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on June 8th 1940.
Sylvia married Douglas Daniel George Thurston (b: 9/11/1936)
on November 5th 1960. The couple had one son, Bradley.
Sylvia now has a partner called Brian, an Englishman with a
home in France who resides in Queensland.
Sylvia still lives in Australia.
CHILDREN of SYLVIA HIGGINBOTHAM and DOUGLAS THURSTON:
Bradley Douglas Thurston
b: 3/3/1967
Bradley married Louise Bleeker (b:16/9/1966) on October 18th
1991. The couple have one son, Jacob.
CHILDREN of BRADLEY THURSTON and LOUISE BLEEKER:
Jacob James Thurston
b: 1/5/1999
Leonara Anne Higginbotham
b: 28/8/1943
Anne was born in Belfast on August 28th 1943.
On July 16th 1960, after emigrating to Australia as a child, Anne married John
Albert Dallimore (b:20/10/1941). The couple had two children, before dvorcing prior to 1972. John eventually died on
September 9th 1991.
Anne remarried on June 23rd 1972 to Raymond John Dooris (b:
25/8/1940), but eventually divorced prior to Raymond's death in 1992.
Anne still lives in New South Wales, now the grandmother of three children and
great granny to another, and she recently made contact with us through the Genes Reunited website. Thanks
for all your help Anne!
CHILDREN of ANNE
HIGGINBOTHAM and JOHN DALLIMORE:
Joanne Lenore Dallimore
b: 19/2/1961
|
|
| Joanne and Marty at cousin Darren and Nicole's wedding. |
Joanne was born in Penrith, New South Wales, on February 19th 1961.
On July 28th 1990, Joanne married Martin Patrick Foster (b:3/12/1965),
more colloquially known as Marty.
The couple have two children, and continue to live in Australia.
CHILDREN of JOANNE DALLIMORE and MARTIN FOSTER:
Patrick James Foster
b: 14/12/1990
Patrick was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, on December
14th 1990.
Patrick still resides in Australia, his grandmother's darling grandson!
Siobhan Beth Foster
b: 14/1/1994
Siobhan was born in Blacktown, New South Wales, Australia, on January 14th 1994.
Siobhan still resides in Australia, and in 2001 was a flower girl at the wedding
of her first cousin once removed, Darren, to his fiancee Nicole.
Colin John James Dallimore
b: 3/7/1962
Colin was born on July 3rd 1962 in Penrith, New South Wales, Australia.
Colin married Janice Faye Crossingham (b: 21/12/1964)
on May 15th 1983. As well as Janice's son Shawn Richard Crossingham (b: 2/7/1981), from a prior relationship,
the couple also had a child of their own, Craig, before divorcing.
CHILDREN of COLIN DALLIMORE and JANICE CROSSINGHAM:
Craig Colin Dallimore
b: 12/11/1983
Craig was born in Lismore, Australia, and is the father of a son, Jimmie.
CHILD of CRAIG DALLIMORE and (UNKNOWN):
Jimmie Ray Flood
b: 25/11/2001
Linda Ann Higginbotham
b: 8/12/1944
Linda was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on December 8th 1944.
Before 1951, Linda emigrated with her parents to Penrith, New South Wales,
Australia.
Linda married William Henry Brinckley on May 18th 1963.
The couple had two children, before divorcing.
Linda still lives in Australia.
CHILDREN of LINDA HIGGINBOTHAM and WILLIAM
BRINCKLEY:
Brett James Brinckley
b: 25/10/1963
Brett was born on October 25th 1963 in Penrith, Australia.
Scott James Brinckley
b: 15/4/1968
Scott was born in Penrith, Australia, on April 15th 1968.
He lives in Australia today with his partner, Lexie Cross.
Patricia Sandra Higginbotham
b: 4/12/1951
Patricia was born in Penrith, New South Wales, on December 4th 1951.
Patricia married Gregory Kane on February 9th 1970,
and the couple had one son, Jurek, before divorcing.
Patricia later remarried to Geoffrey Edwin Page on October
25th 1980, and the couple have two children, Darren and Machelle.
Patricia still lives in Australia.
CHILDREN of PATRICIA HIGGINBOTHAM and GREGORY
KANE:
Jurek Sebastian Kane
b: 4/1/1972
Jurek was born at Penrith, New South Wales, Australia on Januray 4th
1972.
Jurek still lives in Australia.
CHILDREN of PATRICIA HIGGINBOTHAM and GEOFFREY
PAGE:
Darren Geoffrey Page
b: 31/10/1970
|
|
| Darren and Nicole at their wedding in 2001 |
Darren was born on Halloween 1970.
In 2001, Darren married Nicole in Australia.
The couple currently still live in Australia.
Machelle Page
b: 23/11/1972
Machelle was born in Australia on November 23rd 1972.
Machelle is believed to still live in Australia.
(6) Ruth Watton
b: 9/12/1918 d: approx 2003
Ruth was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on December 9th 1918.
Ruth married Thomas Rowan (b:19/12/1918) and the couple
went on to have three children. In 1952 the family briefly emigrated to Canada, but returned to Belfast some four years later,
taking up residence in a council house in the city shortly after their return.
Ruth sadly passed away about two years ago at the age of 82, the cause
being cancer, a real shock to her son Trevor who described her as being "strong and healthy with hardly a wrinkle" right up
to her last days.
CHILDREN of RUTH WATTON and TREVOR
ROWAN:
June Rowan
b: 19??
June married William Whitestall on March 30th 1963,
and had two children.
CHILDREN of JUNE ROWAN and WILLIAM WHITESTALL:
Michelle Whitestall
b: 6/5/1965
Michelle was born on May 6th 1965 and is now married to a gent called
Colin.
Stephen Whitestall
b: 1/1/1967
Stephen was born on January 1st 1967.
Trevor Rowan
b: 1946
Trevor was born in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
|
|
| Trevor cycling uphill in North Wales! |
As a young boy, Trevor emigrated with his
family in 1952 to Canada, but after four years the family returned to Belfast, and soon after set up in a council
house.
After leaving school in Belfast at the age of 15, Trevor
took up a five year apprenticeship in England as a toolmaker in a car factory. He married at the age of 20, but divorced
five years later.
Trevor then left his factory to eventually
take a degree in Applied Psychology, followed by a Masters Degrees in Management and Education, and became a college
lecturer, and then manager, leading to a role of Principal Education advisor. Since 1992 he has been self employed as a consultant
/ researcher / inspector of education and training, which he says takes him about a bit!
Trevor met current partner Jeannie in 1972,
and has three children with her, all of whom he describes as being artistic like their mother, also an artist.
Since 1982, Trevor and Jeannie today have been living in a large
victorian house with a large garden and land overlooking sea and mountains at Snowdonia National Park.
CHILDREN of TREVOR ROWAN and JEAN (UNKNOWN):
Brydie Rowan
b: 1977
Brydie lives in Brighton, England.
Carys Rowan
b: 1979
Karis lives in Brighton, England.
Laurie Rowan
b: Mar 1985
Laurie lives in Brighton, England.
David Rowan
b: 19??
David married Linda on December 11th 1977 and the couple
have two children.
CHILDREN of DAVID ROWAN and LINDA (UNKNOWN):
Kelly Rowan
b: Apr 1987
(Unknown) Rowan
b: 19??
(7) George Lindsay Watton
b: 21/6/1921
George was born in Belfast on June 21st 1921.
George left Northern Ireland when he took up work as a mechanic with
the Royal Navy, and was based for a time in Helensburgh, Scotland.
George then left to join up with the Fire Brigade in Essex, working at
the Southend-on-Sea depot for twenty six and a half years, before retiring.
As a youngster, George remembers Calum's and Jamie's great great great
grandfather, Cochrane Watton, describing him as being of medium build, maybe five foot eight inches in height.
George married Rita Pereux and has two children. The
couple still live in Southen-on-Sea, and despite having been away from Northern Ireland for over half a century, he still
has his Belfast accent!
Thanks to George for the phone conversation we had in
February 2005.
CHILDREN of GEORGE WATTON and RITA PEREUX:
Christine Watton
b: 1958
According to her aunt Margaret Payne (nee Watton), Christine
is an excellent ballroom dancer!
Christine was previously married to a Canadian gentleman, name unknown to us, with whom she
had two sons when she lived with him in Canada.
Christine is currently working as a legal secretary in London, England.
On March 14th 2005, Christine is to remarry in a service to be held in Jamaica.
CHILDREN of CHRISTINE WATTON and (UNKNOWN):
(Unknown)
b: 19??
(Unknown)
b: 19??
Michael Watton
b: 1962
Michael married Julie in 1989, and the couple have three
daughters, although their names are as yet unknown.
Michael, like his father before him, now works for the Fire Department
in Southend-on-Sea, England.
CHILDREN of MICHAEL WATTON and JULIE (UNKNOWN):
(Unknown) Watton
b: 19??
(8) Martha
Watton
b: 14/11/1923
Martha was named after her maternal grandmother.
Martha married Herbert Andrews (b:Dec 1918), a Dutch
shipwright who ended up as a station master in Toronto, canada.
The couple had one daughter, and Martha still resides in Canada
today.
CHILDREN of MARTHA WATTON and HERBERT ANDREWS:
Gloria Watton
b: 19??
Gloria married Daniel Mulloy and had one son in Canada.
CHILDREN of GLORIA WATTON and DANIEL MULLOY:
Conor Molloy
b: 13/8/182
Conor was born on August 13th 1982 in Ontario, Canada.
(9) Mary
Watton
b: 17/2/1927 d: 17/2/1927
Mary was stillborn.
{10} Sarah Robinson Watton
b: 1/2/1885
Sarah was born on February 1st 1885 at
Portstewart, Agherton, Colreaine, to William Watton, coachman, and Eliza McLaughlin. She was baptised in Agherton Parish Church,
Coleraine, County Londonderry. Her father was the informant to the Coleraine registrar.
{11} Edith Watton
b: 28/5/1887
Edith was born on May 28th 1887 at Portstewart, Agherton, in the
parish of Coleraine, County Londonderry. Her father William was noted as a coachman, and her mother as Eliza Jane McLaughlin.
She was baptised in Agherton Parish Church, Coleraine, County Londonderry (IFHF/Emerald Ancestors).
In 1912, an Edith Watton signed the Declaration of Loyalty to the British Crown at Westbourne Presbyterian Church, and
was listed as residing at 137 Dee Street, in the Pottinger district of east Belfast. Also listed as living at 137 Dee
Street were a James Watton, a John Watton and a Roseanne Isabella Watton.
However, this is not the same Edith, as the 1911 census for 40 Dee Street shows that she was just 18, and the son of James
and Roseanne Isabella.
{12} Unknown Watton
b: 29/4/1889
This son of William Watton, coachman, and Eliza McLaughlin, his mother, was born at Portstewart, Agherton, on April 29th
1889. At the time his birth was registered, he had not been christened, and it is not known whether the child had died prior
to being named, or just not named. His father was the informant to the Coleraine registrar.
Cochrane McLaughlin Watton
13/11/1872 -
1932 approx
Cochrane was Calum's and Jamie's great
great great grandfather.
|
|
| Cochrane's signature in 1912 |
Cochrane was born in Ballysally, Coleraine, County
Londonderry, Ireland on November 13th 1872, in the parish of Ballyaghran (GRO Dublin:1872/16/486).
Cochrane married Elizabeth Holmes, from County Donegal, on April 16th 1900, and in this
record his surname is mis-transcribed as 'Wadden' (GRO Dublin: Belfast/1/299 - 2nd quarter). At the time of his
marriage he was living at 6 Glenduce Street, Belfast - it is not known if his whole family was there, or whether he had
moved there himself from Coleraine. He was a painter at this point, and it is most probably that he had just moved to Belfast
to find work, as his fiancee Elizabeth was registered as living in the Rosemount estate of Derry at the time they married.
The wedding took place in the Church of Ireland Mariners Chapel, Belfast, by the Reverend John F. McLat (?). The witnesses
were James Shaw and May Wilson.
The couple settled in their new home at 54 Groomsport
Street, Cliftonville, Belfast, where they are found in the 1901 census (GRO Belfast: 1901/354/1/67). From this we learn
that Cochrane was still a house painter, born in County Londonderry, that his religion was Church of Ireland, and
that he could read and write. In the same census return we also learn that Cochrane's sister Helena was also present
on census night, that she was 20 years old, unmarried, and that she worked in a factory.
Between 1901 and 1904 there is no information as to what Cochrane got up to, but it is safe to assume
that he stayed in Belfast, as in 1904 and 1905, according to the Belfast Street Directories of the early 20th century, he
and his family were living at 62 Bright Street in the city, with Cochrane described as a painter. There is no listing
for the family in the city directories between 1906 and 1912, although in 1907 a James Watton, painter, is
noted at 16 Riga Street - this is either a mistaken entry for Cochrane, or perhaps another member of the family, such as a
sibling (In 1919, a 36 year James Watton from Bright Street was shown as having served with the RAF on a list for the Congregation
of Megain Memorial, as noted at Eddie's News Extracts). Cochrane certainly was living there however, as on February 13th 1906 his baby daughter Ethel died of
bronchitis in the property. By May 15th 1907 the family had relocted to 2 Springmount Street in Belfast, where their daughter
Kathleen was born, and by December th 1908 they were at 61 Foyle Street, where Kathleen tragically died of
bronchitis.
|
|
| The Titanic nearing completion in Belfast docks, February 1912 |
In December 2002, Cochrane's great granddaughter Sammy
Jones made contact (she is Calum's second cousin twice removed). Sammy has been able to tell us that Cochrane also
worked as a painter at Harland and Wolff, and that he was one of the painters on the ill fated Titanic. It seems likely that
Cochrane was a decorator for the ship's luxurious interior. From Cochrane's niece, Margaret Payne, nee
Watton, we also learn that Cochrane was able to get a job for his brother William on the
new luxury liner as well, working as a rivetter on her. No doubt the two Watton brothers stood with some pride at dock
no. 401 in Belfast on May 31st 1911 to watch the great ship launch - they must have been equally shocked to learn shortly
after that she had sunk on her maiden voyage from Southampton.
Margaret Payne recalls that Cochrane was in the Salvation Army, and that he was a member of their brass
band. She would often visit his house on a Sunday and would be delighted to get a penny or a halfpenny from him as a treat.
She recalls that after the Titanic job, Cochrane left Harland and Wolfe and set up his own painting and decorating company,
employing his brother William Watton and a lad called Billy Smyth, who would eventually become Cochrane's son-in-law, and later Calum's and Jamie's great great grandfather.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Cochrane was recorded at 11 Barrow Street in the Clifton ward of the
parish of Shankill as a 37 year old painter, born in Coleraine, County Derry, and married for eleven years. He and Lizzie
had had five children, though two had died in infancy. His religion was listed as Salvation Army, and he was able to both
read and write.
In 1912, Cochrane signed the Ulster Covenant at St. Mary's Institute in the Clifton district of north
Belfast. At the time he was noted as living at 11 Barrow Street (also resident at this address was a Lizzie Mallon).
In 1913, the directories list Cochrane again, still a painter, and still living at 11 Barrow Street
in Belfast. In the following year he is found at 12 Benwell Street in the city.
Between 1914 and 1932 (with the exception of 1923), Cochrane is listed every year as residing at 35
Barrow Street in Belfast. On each listing he is decsribed as a painter. We can therefore assume that Cochrane died at some
point after 1931 (the directories were about a year out of date when they finally went to print).
Another of Cochrane's nephews, George Watton,
also remembers meeting Cochrane on one occasion in the Old Park Road, with George about seven years old at the time, placing
this at about 1927. According to George, Cochrane was about five foot eight inches tall, and of medium build.
CHILDREN of COCHRANE WATTON
and ELIZABETH HOLMES:
Annie Evelyn Leslie Watton
b: 11/5/1901 d: 7/10/1981
Calum's and Jamie's great great grandmother - see
below.
Sarah Strane Beckwith Watton
b: 15/3/1903 d: 31/10/1989
|
|
| Passport photograph of Sarah Higginson, nee Watton |
Sarah's existence was discovered in Dec 2002 through a message posted on the
Ancestry.com message board by her granddaughter, Sammy Jones.
Sarah was born on March 15th 1903 at 41 Avon Street in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Present
at the birth was Maria Patience of 18 Medway Street, Belfast, which, if she is listed, presumably means that Cochrane was
not present.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Sarah was noted as an eight year old scholar who was
born in Belfast and who was unable to read. She was Salvation Army by way of religion.
After her schooling, Sarah went on to work in one of the cotton mills as a rover,
an operator of a machine which prepared carded fibre into rolls.
It seems that before Sarah married, she had two children born out of wedlock in the
city, a boy in the late twenties called Cochrane, and a girl in the early thirties called Violet.
By 1941, Sarah had settled at 21 Ballynure Street in the city. She married on February
1st 1941 to widower Frank Rupert Higginson, who was a military policeman, the wedding taking place in
the splendour of St. Anne's Cathedral just north of Royal Avenue in the city.
|
|
| Sarah Meads, formerly Higginson, nee Watton |
Frank and Sarah went to live in Scotland, presumably as the result of a change of posting
for Frank, and in March 1942 their first child, Frank Edward Higginson, was born in Perth, Perthshire. The
family were living at Waterside Cottages in the Almondbank part of the town. But the family were soon moved again as by 1945, in
May, their second child Laura Higginson was born in Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire, England.
In the late 40's or early 50's, Sarah and Frank divorced. Sarah remarried in the Seventies to George
Meads in Long Eaton, and the couple lived at 1 Southfields Bungalows, where Sarah eventually passed away on Halloween
1989. She is buried in Long Eaton cemetery alongside her husband George, and their gravestone reads:
Cherished memories
of a dear wife and mother
SARAH MEADS
1903 - 1989
God bless
Also husband George
1905 - 1996
CHILDREN of SARAH WATTON and TOM (UNKNOWN):
Cochrane McLaughlin Watton
b: 2/11/1929 d: Apr 2007
Cochrane was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 2nd 1929.
Cochrane married Yorkshire woman Yvonne Hargreaves (born
1935 in Wakefield), and had a daughter, Linda, born 1954 in Nottingham.
According to his granddaughter Laura Higginson, Cochrane emigrated
to Canada at some stage in the 1960s after the end of his first marriage.
Another granddaughter, Angela Widdowson, recalls that her grandfather was
disillusioned with living in England, and that he in fact moved to London, Ontario, where he eventually passed away in April
2007.
Children of COCHRANE WATTON and YVONNE HARGREAVES:
Linda Watton
b: 4/11/1954
Linda was born in Nottingham and married Barrie Widdowson
there on April 6th 1974.
The couple have two children.
Children of LINDA WATTON and BARRIE WIDDOWSON:
Angela Widdowson
b. 25/3/1977
Angela was born in Derby, Derbyshire, England in 1977 and married Robert Gray on August 30th 1997.
The couple have three girls, and are currently expecting their fourth.
Children of ANGELA WIDDOWSON and ROBERT GRAY:
Nadine Gray
b. 1999
Kirsty Gray
b. 2002
Jessica Gray
b. 2004
John Widdowson
b. 2/2/1980
John was born in Nottingham in 1980. With his partner Zoe Burkey
he has a daughter.
Child of JOHN WIDDOWSON and ZOE BURKEY:
Evie Widdowson
b. 19/5/2007
Violet Watton
b: 28/2/1937
Violet was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on February 28th 1937.
Violet later married to Eddie Riley in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, and still
resides in the area today.
CHILDREN of VIOLET WATTON and EDDIE RILEY:
Christopher Riley
b: 1955
Christopher was born in Long Eaton, England, in 1955.
Stephen Riley
b: 1957
Stephen was born in Long Eaton, England, in 1957.
Amanda Riley
b: 1965
Amanda was born in Long Eaton, England, in 1965.
CHILDREN of SARAH WATTON and FRANK RUPERT HIGGINSON:
Frank Edward Higginson
b: 1/3/1942
Frank was born at 5.30am on March 1st 1942 in Perth, Scotland. At the age of
14 or 15 he joined the Grenadier Guards as a drummer, spending part of his service at Buckingham Palace.
In January 1962, Frank married Betty Vivien Clarke in Lincoln
Registry Office. Both had been working at St. Johns Hospital as ward orderlies, and were living in a caravan. The couples
first two children, Samantha and Susan, were born between 1963 and 1965, after which
the family moved to 276 Derby Road in Sandiacre, Nottinghamshire, where two more children duly appeared, Sean
and Scott. Tragically, in 1975 Sarah also gave birth to twins, Stewart and Sharon,
but they lived for only a few hours. They were buried in Long Eaton cemetery.
CHILDREN of FRANK HIGGINSON and BETTY CLARKE:
Samantha Helen Higginson
b: 17/9/1963
Samantha was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, on September 17th
1963.
Samantha initially married Robert Murdoch, with whom
she had two children, Jennifer and David. She later remarried to Tony Jones,
with whom she has a further son, Timothy, and the family currently live in Derbyshire.
Many thanks to Samantha, who contacted us in December 2002 and
provided all the above info on Sarah Watton and her descendants. Sarah can be contacted by e-mail at mail@home1709.fsnet.co.uk
CHILDREN of SAMANTHA
HIGGINSON and ROBERT MURDOCH:
Jennifer Francis Murdoch
b: 30/12/1982
Jennifer lives in Derbyshire, and with partner Robert Jarvis,
has recently given birth to her first daughter, Chloe Sky Jarvis.
David Murdoch
b: 23/9/1984
David currently lives in Derbyshire.
CHILDREN of SAMANTHA
HIGGINSON and TONY JONES:
Timothy Godfrey Jones
b: 1991
Timothy is currently living at home with his parents in Derbyshire.
Susan Donna Higginson
b: 3/6/1965
Susan was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, on June 3rd 1965.
Scott Frank Higginson
b: 1/3/1967
Sean Edward Higginson
b: 23/12/1968
Stewart and Sharon Higginson (twins)
b: Feb 1970 d: Feb 1970
Tragically, the twins survived only a few hours after birth. They are
buried in Long Eaton Cemetery in Derbyshire.
Laura Weymouth Higginson
b: 14/5/1945
Laura was born in Brooke Street, Long Easton, on May 14th 1945. She attended
Sawley infants and juniors schools and Wilsthorpe Secondary School.
At the age of 17, Laura joined the British Army and worked in stores
at Chilwell Depot, and from there went on to catering. In May 1966 she married Kam Tong Leung in Ilkeston,
England, and the couple went on to have four children, Ting, Choi, Sharon
and Sarah. The couple later divorced.
Laura remarried to David Hill in Ilkestone, and
had four further children, Sharon, Sarah, Vincent and Martin.
Again the marriage was not to last, and the couple divorced.
On September 1st 2000 Laura married for a third time to Brian Fleming, in
Derby, Derbyshire, England.
CHILDREN of LAURA HIGGINSON and KAM TONG
LEUNG:
Ting Leung
b: 8/3/1966
Ting was born in Sawley, Nottinghamshire, on March 8th 1966.
Ting took up work as a carpenter and later married to Samantha Inman (b.1966). The
couple have two children.
CHILDREN of TING LEUNG and SAMANTHA INMAN:
Jamie Inman
b: 1984
Jamie was born in Long Eaton, England, in 1984.
Tarnya Inman
b: 1985
Tarnya was born in Long Eaton, England, in 1985.
Choi Ling Leung
b: 31/2/1967
Choi was born in Sawley, Nottinghamshire, England.
Choi married Robert Carlise (b.1967) and the couple currently have four
children.
CHILDREN of CHOI LEUNG and ROBERT CARLISE:
Sophie Marie Carlise
b: 13/7/1989
Sophie was born in Nottinghamshire, England on July 13th 1989.
Channon Rae Carlise
b: 20/7/1993
Channon was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England on July 20th 1993.
Francine May Carlise
b: 20/1/1999
Francine was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England on January 20th 1999.
Robert James Edward Carlise
b: 6/9/2005
Robert was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England on September 6th 2005.
Sharon Violet Leung
b: 23/10/1970
Sharon was born on October 23rd in sawley, Nottinghamshire, England.
Sharon is currently married to Stuart Tucker (b.1966).
CHILDREN of SHARON LEUNG and STUART TUCKER:
Laura Tucker
b: 1990 approx
Laura was born in Long Eaton, England, in 1990.
Leanne Tucker
b: 1991 approx
Leanne was born in Long Eaton, England, in approximately 1991.
Shaun Tucker
b: 1992 approx
Shaun was born in Long Eaton, England, in approximately 1992.
Jason Tucker
b: 1993 approx
Jason was born in Long Eaton, England, in approximately 1993.
Sarah Jane Leung
b: 27/1/1973
Sarah was born in Bangor, North Wales, on January 27th 1973.
Sarah is married to Peter Jeremy Gouldthorpe(b.1969), and the couple have
two children.
CHILDREN of SARAH LEUNG and PETER GOULDTHORPE:
Jordan Leigh Leung
b: 21/03/1994
Jordan was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, on March 20th 1994.
Kameron Ting Leung-Goldthorpe
b: 24/4/2002
Kameron was born on April 24th 2002 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England.
CHILDREN of LAURA HIGGINSON and DAVID HILL:
Vincent Hill
b: Oct 1975
Sarah Hill
b: Jan 1977
Martin Hill
b: 1978
Ethel Watton
b: 15/12/1905 d: 13/2/1906
Ethel was born at 14 Riga Street in Belfast, on December 15th 1905. Her father informed the Belfast
registrar on January 3rd 1906 (Belfast Urban 3, book 122, #354).
Ethel tragically died just a few weeks later, on February 13th 1906, the cause being bronchtitis. At the time of her
death she was listed as having been resident at 16 Riga Street. She was buried in the City Cemetery, at a cost of 7s 6d, and
her religion was stated to have been Church of Ireland. (Source IFHF: Antrim deaths).
Kathleen Wade Watton
b: 15/5/1907 d: 7/12/1908
Kathleen was born on May 15th 1907 at 2 Springmount Street in Belfast. The informant to the Belfast
registrar on June 10th was Sarah Wade, from 30 Ballywatt Street, who was present at the birth (Belfast Urban
3, book 126, #391).
Kathleen tragically died in infancy on December 7th 1908, the cause being bronchitis. At the time
of death she was noted as residing at 61 Foyle Street, Belfast. She was subsequently buried in the City Cemetery, the burial
fee being 7s and 6d, and her religion was noted as Church of Ireland (Source IFHF: Antrim deaths).
Alice Beatrice Evangelina Booth Watton
b: 8/7/1909 d: 19??
|
|
| Beattie Watton in Belfast, at some point in the 1950s |
Alice was known more colloquially as Beattie throughout her
life. She was born on July 8th 1909 at 11 Barrow Street, Belfast. The informant to the registrar on the 24th was Isabella
Cuthbert, who had to sign her name to the book with an X, being unable to write (Belfast Urban 3, book 32, #304).
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Beatrice was noted as a year old, born in
Belfast and Salvation Army by way of religion.
Beattie married in Belfast, but after quite a long marriage she divorced her
first husband. She then moved to England, settling in Wigan, and she remarried to someone, it is believed, with the surname
of Jones.
Beatrice was visited at her home in Hindley Green, Wigan, England, by Calum's
grandmother Charlotte in approximately 1966, when she was about eleven years old. Charlotte's brother Michael, and her mother
Martha were over from Ireland on a visit, and Charlotte remembers jumping up and down on Beattie's bed as a game with Michael
- Michael accidentally knocked her off and gave her a black eye when she hit the bed on falling down!
William Atkinson Watton
b: 19/6/1913
William was born at 12 Benwell Street on June 19th 1913. His mother informed the Belfast registrar
on July 10th (Belfast Urban 3, book 143, #230).
Annie Evelyn Leslie Watton
11/5/1901 - 7/10/1981
Annie was Calum's and Jamie's great great
grandmother.
Annie's mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)
profile has been established following analysis of her great grandson Christopher's DNA in 2007. This form of DNA was passed
to her from her mother Elizabeth Holmes etc, and further back along the maternal line. Her haplogroup was H, meaning that
her maternal ancestors eventually went as far back as an ancestor that the boffins in white coats have named Helena.
The sample of DNA was matched against the Cambridge Reference Sequence by the Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation, and
the following differences (mutations) to the sequence were noted:
HVR1: 16519C HVR2: 263G HVR3: 315.1C
If anybody has the same mtDNA mutations as Annie, it will be
extremely likely that they shared a common maternal ancestor somewhere in the last 500 years. Annie's mtDNA profile was shared
by her children, and her brothers and sisters. The children of her sisters also carried this same DNA profile, though
not those of her brothers, as men cannot pass on mtDNA to their children (it is inherited from the mother only).
Annie was born at home on Groomsport Street in
Belfast in 1901, about a month after the census was taken for the city. By the following year the family were no longer registered
on that street, and it is not yet known where they moved to, although it was still in Belfast.
In the 1911 census for Belfast, Annie was noted as a ten year old scholar from
the city, who could not read, and who was Salvation Army by way of religion.
Annie attended school in Belfast, and upon completing her studies took up work
at one of Belfast's many linen mills, it is believed at Edenderry Mill off the Crumlin Road. It is not known what her role
was there, although her granddaughter Charlotte recalls that she had to wear wellies all day because the floor was so wet.
This would indicate that she worked at the spinning frames, so she was either a spinner or a doffer, replacing the empty bobbins
with full ones, known as 'doffs'.
In 1920, Annie's family were certainly
living at 35 Barrow Street in Belfast. It is assumed that Annie met her future husband William McKeever Smyth whilst living on this street - she lived at number 35, he was at number 23.
Annie married William on December 24th 1920 (GRO Dublin:
Belfast /1/ 295/#49 - 4th qtr 1920). The wedding took place at St. Anne's parish church in Belfast, after the proclamation
of banns. The minister officiating was Reverend A. George Johnston, whilst the witnesses were Archie Mullen and Mary Bill. Annie
is described on the wedding entry as working in a mill. She was in fact a wet spinner at Edenderry Linen Mills in the city.
She was also quite a religious woman, being a member of the Salvation Army, in which she was a songster.
The couple moved to 25 Liffey Street in
1927, where they stayed for 17 years. Whilst here, the couple ran a grocery
business from the front room of their house. William used to order up all the produce (vegetables and the like) and used to
make deliveries of these throughout the Old Park area of Belfast using a horse and cart. William's main job though was working
as a house painter and interior decorator, whilst Annie looked after the day to day running of the shop.
In 1945 or 1946 the family moved to 32 Roe Street, where
Annie lived until the time of her death in 1981. She occasionally made visits to her children in Belfast and nearby
Carrickfergus. According to Calum's grandmother Charlotte, Annie would "have made two stones fight", and being the kind of
woman that you always had to make sure your house was tidy for, before she visited. Cherie also remembers that despite being
a bit of a dragon, Annie was a very beautiful woman as a young lady, and that a portrait of her used to hang on the wall of
her house. Upon her death, it is believed that either one of her daughters Lesley or Evelyn obtained
this picture - if either of you ever get to read this, I would love to see the portrait!
Annie and William had eight
children, but in addition to this Annie miscarried a further eight times, making a total of sixteen pregnancies. She died in 1981 and was buried in Carnmoney's Church of the
Holy Evangelist's cemetery.
The following notices were recorded in the Belfast Telegraph upon her
death:
Wednesday,
October 7th 1981
SMYTH, Annie Evelyn - Oct 7, 1981 at hospital, dearly loved widow of William, 32 Roe Street.
House private. Funeral arrangements later. Deeply regretted.
Thursday, October 8th 1981
SMYTH, Annie - October
7th 1981 (suddenly) at hospital, beloved wife of the late William McKeever Smyth, 32 Roe Street. Funeral from her home, tomorrow
(Friday) at 2pm to Carnmoney Cemetery.
There were also
notices from daughter Eveline, granddaughter Christine, daughter Margaret,
son Bill and granddaughter Janice.
CHILDREN of ANNIE EVELYN LESLIE WATTON and
WILLIAM McKEEVER SMYTH:
Martha Jane Elisabeth
Watton Smyth
b: 4/3/1922 d:
Calum's and Jamie's great grandmother
- see Smyth page.
Thomas McKeever Smyth
b: 19??
Thomas married Margaret Brown and had
eight children - Jacqueline (b:1946), Linda (b: 1955), Nigel, Glen, Joyce, Steve, Darren and Graham. All have subsequently
married and had kids themselves.
William Smyth
b: 1924
William married Betty McKie and was a member of the RAF. The couple have two daughters,
Annie and Janet, and three grandchildren.
Margaret Smyth
b:
19??
Margaret married Benny Lynch and had
a son called Bernard.
Evelyn Smyth
b: 19??
Evelyn married Gerry Marshall and had three children, Shirley, Karen and Gerald.
Beatrice Smyth
b: 19?? d: 1997 (approx)
Beattie married James Cahoon and had two daughters, Christine and Phyliss. Christine
married Alan Haskins and had a child, although no more is known than that.
Sadie Smyth
b: 19??
Sadie married on three occasions. The first gent was called Cyril, surname unknown,
the second had the surname Owens and the third Williams. From the three marriages there
are three children - Maureen and Steven (Owens or Williams), and Lesley Smyth.
Lesley married twice, the first time to an unknown gent, and the second to Thomas Morgan. Tommy and Lesley
have three children, Thomas, Zoe and Andrea, who live in Carrickfergus.
Christopher Smyth
b: 19??
Christopher married a woman called Christine and had a daughter called Christine.
Connecting to Calum and Jamie
Annie Eveline Leslie Watton married William
McKeever Smyth between 1918 and 1922
Daughter, Martha Jane Elisabeth Watton Smyth, married Ernest Graham in 1943
Daughter,
Charlotte Harper Graham, married Colin Paton in 1969
Son, Christopher Mark Paton, married Claire Patricia Giles in
2000
Sons, Calum Graham Paton and Jamie Christopher Paton
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