WATSON INDEX ENTRIES JULY 2005

[Stanley]

WATSON INDEX ENTRIES AS OF 10 July 2005

1593
Roger Watson of Thorlby, Skipton married Ellen Ellis of Barnoldswick at either Barnoldswick or Skipton.

1594
Christopher Watson of Marton married Agnes Wilson of Thornton in Craven at either Marton or Thornton church.

1661
Winnard in ‘History of the Baptist Church in Barnoldswick’ mentions that in an indenture of 1661 for ‘certain property consisting of a messuage, barn, croft, and garden’ which had been held in trust by three members of the church named as Christopher Edmondson, Henry Higgins and Matthew Watson was conveyed to John Taylor, another church member.

1712
From the inventory of John Dugdell[sic] a small yeoman farmer address unknown. Francis Watson was one of the appraisers.

1741
Thomas Watson mentioned as a freeholder and elector of Barnoldswick.

1753/1760
Thomas Watson paid land tax in Barnoldswick. 1753, 5/1. 1756, 10/4. 1757 and 1760, 10/2.

1834
Pigot’s directory for 1834 records James Watson as grocer and draper of Barnoldswick. He was also noted as being a brazier, ironmonger, plumber and glazier.

1851
Census records John Watson of Coates, 57, Roller coverer.

1851
Census records William Watson of Jepp Hill, 34, mule spinner. Mary, W, 34, PLW. Isabella, D, 11, scholar and Hannah, 9, scholar.

1859
Francis Watson noted as an elector of Barnoldswick.

1859
William Watson recorded as elector of Barnoldswick.

1861
Census records Robert Watson of Greenfield mill, Colne as a manufacturer of worsted and cotton employing 60 hands.

1861
Census records William Watson of Church Street, 27 years, engine tenter. Sarah M, W, 26, servant. Annie E, D, 1 year.

C1870
In Craven Herald of 30/12/1932 there was a biography of William Windle [b. 03/01/1825] He said that ‘in his later years’ he had 16 looms in Clough Shed at Barlick and Francis Watson had 16 as well. WW tackled for both of them.

1871
Census records Edward Watson as living in Wellhouse Square, aged 24, ‘engine driver in cotton factory. [Almost certainly Wellhouse] Born at Stock near Bracewell.

1885
Craven Herald of 24/05/1935 reported that in 1885, Mr Gill bought a plot of land in Ireland Meadows and erected Grove Shed for 600 looms with a two storey warehouse and preparation space. The first tenants were James Clegg and Henry Parkinson from Nelson with 300 looms. The other half of the shed was taken by a new partnership; James S Watson, Charles W Bailey and William N Berry with 300 looms. Mr James S Watson had been weaving manager at Sough Bridge Mill. About ten years later this partnership moved into the new Spring Mill on Stoneybank built by John Bailey to hold 600 looms but capable of extension.

1887
Barrett records John Watson as being a grocer at 14 Walmsgate. Same entry in 1896 Barrett.

1887
Barrett records William Watson as living on Albion Terrace.

1888
In an Order of Trial of Action in the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division on 05/06/1888. Action between Elizabeth Bracewell, widow of William Metcalfe Bracewell and the executors of William (Billycock) Bracewell’s will oral evidence was given by Matthew Watson. [This Matthew Watson seems to have been an auctioneer of Burnley]

1890
CHSC minute books for 14/11/1890 report that Edward Watson was appointed engineer at the new Calf Hall Shed at a wage of 28/- per week.

1890
CHSC minutes for 30/04/1890 record that George Watson [George Henry?] be engaged as a labourer to help Shepherd at Wellhouse at a wage of 23/- a week.

1894
CHSC minutes for 20/06/1894. Secretary asked to write to Edward Watson ‘in a friendly manner’ to ask him when he thought he would be fit to return to work as engineer at Calf Hall Shed. He had been away from his work since Easter.

1896
Barrett reports Mrs Mary Watson as a grocer in Kelbrook.

1896
Barrett notes Edmondson Watson as living at Glen View, occupation twister.

1898
CHSC minutes of 21/09/1898 report that George Henry Watson had been appointed oiler at Wellhouse Mill. 01/03/1899; wage advanced to 22/- a week. 15/03/1899. Wage to be advanced to 23/- a week starting 01/06/1899.

1899 and 1901
James Watson of Barnoldswick mentioned as qualifying as a director in CHSC minutes.

C1900
See LTP, 78/AH/01, page 8 for Fred Inman talking about Charlie Watson who was a joiner in Earby and did all the woodwork for the new CofE church built in 1906.

1902
Barrett directory notes J & H Watson as being pork butchers at 15 Church Street Barnoldswick and also as grocers at 28 Mosley Street.

1904
Craven Herald report of 24/05/1935 reported that when Bracewell Brothers ceased trading in 1903 there was a stoppage lasting several months and then Albion Shed started under new conditions. The loom space was allocated to three firms; A J Birley with 396 looms; J S Watson with 396 looms and Nutter and Turner with 264 looms.

C1910
LTP; 82/HD/01. Page 7. Harold Duxbury talks about going to school at Bracewell when he lived at Carr’s House. This was in what is now the institute and opposite the church. There were about 30 pupils and they were taught by Mrs Watson who lived in the top house of the long row of houses on the east side of Park Road in Barnoldswick. Harold said her husband was Walter Watson and she walked to Bracewell and back each day at great speed.

1911
See LTP; 79/AG/11, page 1. Newton Pickles says that George Henry Watson was the first engineer at Westfield Shed when it opened in 1911.

1912
Manchester Royal Exchange directory records J S Watson as manufacturers at Albion Shed, Earby with 400 looms. The Manchester man was Stanley Watson and in Barrett for 1902 he was reported as being a mill manager living at 22 Skipton Road.

1915
CHSC minute books, 01/12/1915 report that George Henry Watson had been offered the job of engineer at Wellhouse at 50/- a week but had refused terms. CHSC minutes of 03/12/1915 report that he had been offered 50/- a week for six months and then a rise to 55/- if the directors agreed. He took the job.

1916
CHSC minutes for 22/03/1916. George Henry Watson, engineer at Wellhouse, chided for raising the firebeater’s wage by 3/- a week.

1917
CHSC minute books for 05/09/1917 record that George Henry Watson, engineer at Wellhouse be paid 5/- a week increase; 50/- to be paid weekly and £3-5-0 by cheque once a quarter.

C1920
See LTP; 78/AG/09, page 14. Fred Inman says that Spring Mill was more or less privately owned and that Watson Bailey and Charles Watson were the main shareholders but didn’t work in the mill.

1923
CHSC minute books; 23/05/1923. Report that Albert Hoggarth, engineer at Butts had handed in his notice to finish on June 1st. Charles Watson, son of George Henry Watson, engineer at Wellhouse Mill, was appointed engineer and his father agreed to take responsibility for his son’s conduct. CHSC minutes for 01/08/1923 reports that Butts engine broke down during the meeting. George Henry sent to Butts and Charlie took over Wellhouse engine. CHSC minutes for 17/09/1924 report that Charlie had ordered new flywheel bearings without consulting the directors. CHSC minutes for 24/12/1924 report that Charlie Watson was asking for one weeks pay in lieu of notice. He had been sacked and H Brown and Pickles were running the engine. At the same meeting the appointment of William Watson of 57 Halifax Road Rochdale was approved as engineer at Wellhouse at a wage of £4-5-0 a week.

1926
See LTP; 78/AG/01, page 12 for Newton Pickles saying that Billy Watson, engineer at Wellhouse, teaching him about steam engines. NP used to start the engine every morning after the breakfast break on his way to school at the age of ten. [I seem to remember Newton telling me that Billy was no relation to the Watson that he succeeded at Wellhouse. I have an idea that Billy came from Rochdale as an experienced engineer, see 1923 entry for Charlie Watson]

1928
George Henry Watson was engineer at Butts in about 1928 and his son Frank fired for him. NP remembers because he helped GHW to replace the packing in the LP cover.

1929
C Herald of 18/01/1929. Report of the death of Harry Watson aged 65 of 6 West Avenue having died at home on Friday 17th January. He was a well-known local cricketer and played when the field was at Grimestopes on Gisburn Road. He had been employed as a cloth-looker at Procter’s Westfield Shed until he retired due to ill health.

1930
Craven Herald report dated 24/01/1930 on the death of William Wilkinson notes that amongst the mourners at the funeral in Earby were ‘P Watson’ and A Watson’.

C1930
George Henry Watson left Butts to go as engineer at Bridge Mills at Nelson and his son Frank went with him. Later, GHW came back to run Brook Shed at Earby which he did until he died. Frank took aver the engine. Later Frank gave up the job and went back to Nelson. [N Pickles verbal evidence]

1931/1937
Frank Watson member of BUDC. In the 1931 notice of election Frank Watson is described as a Loomer of Rose Bank, Manchester Road.

1932
See LTP; 78/AG/01, page 13. Newton Pickles tells of how at the age of 16 he ran Wellhouse Engine for six weeks with 2,300 looms on because Billy Watson was off work because his wife had died in childbirth.

1940
CHSC minutes 29/08/1940. Report that William Watson had left his post at Wellhouse and that Tom Marshall had taken over as engineer. NP told me that Billy went back to Rochdale.

C.1950
Billy Watson was engineer at Wellhouse. See LTP 79/AG/14. Page 11 for Newton Pickles account of heating at Wellhouse.

1952
Watson A and Co Ltd. Noted as tenants at Brook Shed Earby in M/c Royal Exchange Directory.

C1952
LTP; 78/AH/15, page 3. Fred Inman talks about the speed the industry contracted at about this time. He mentions James Watson closing, they had 200 looms at Brook Shed. In 78/AH/09, page 1 Fred mentions James Watson being in Albion Shed but they moved to Brook Shed in the big shake-out following the collapse of the Nutter interests in Earby in 1932.

SCG/10 July 2005

[CaroleT]

Thanks for putting this index up again, Stanley. I have these Watson facts:-

Feb 9th 1817 Baptism in Barnoldswick parish (Ghyll church?) Turner Watson, son of John Walter or Water by Alice Watson, Gill.
Dec 17th 1826 " " " " " " Margaret Watson, day of Robert Nutter & Margaret Watson of Gill House - illegitimate.
March 28th 1830 " " " " " " Thomas, illegitimate son of Robert Browne, weaver, Nuttercote and Ellen Watson, Gill House, spinster.

Turner and Thomas ended up in Marsden and Burnley, boatman & house-painter respectively. As far as I know Turner had no children, but Thomas had at least 15. I know nothing about Margaret.

Carole

[priesamp]

My husband is descended from Roger Watson of Thorlby, Skipton. I'm interested that you have a marriage for him in 1593. I found this in the Barnoldswick register, but it did not identify Roger as coming from Thorlby. What is the source of this information? The baptisms for Roger Watson's children in Skipton begin in 1603.

[Big Kev]

Not sure of Stanley's source but the information is also available here
https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/YKS/Y ... vers1593-4

[Stanley]

Sorry, too long ago for me to remember the source.

[priesamp]

Many thanks. I don't know where the couple were having children between their marriage in Barnoldswick in 1593 and the first Skipton baptism in 1603,

Fay