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Hi all, I have hit a wall and really need help please.

Thomas Watson was born somewhere in England, probably Lancashire, but I can't be sure. His year of birth would have been c.1853 if I go by his marriage cert in 1880 and death cert aged 50 in 1903. However his age is recorded as 43 on the 1891 census making his birth c.1849.
All census returns only record his place of birth as England.
He married in Scotland in 1880, first son James David Watson born in England 1883, then back in Scotland for good in 1885.
His death cert gives his parents as Thomas Watson, blacksmith, and Elizabeth...Finley or Firley of Linley...I can't quit make it out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Kind Regards

Ross

What does his marriage cert say about his parents?

Hi Reggie,

On his marriage cert his parents are Thomas Watson, Blacksmith (deceased) and Elizabeth Linley (deceased). No mention of where they were from.
He was married to Caroline Heenan in Sandbank, Argyll on 06/12/1880 and he was a Corporal of the 74th Highlanders at the time.

for ref

1881 census Scotland

Name: Thomas Watson
Age: 27
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1854
Relationship: Head
Spouse's name : Caroline Watson
Gender: Male
Where born: England
Registration number: 622/1
Registration District: Maryhill
Civil Parish: Maryhill
County: Lanarkshire
Address: Soldier'S Home
Occupation: Soldier'S 74th
ED: 6
Household Schedule Number: 197
Line: 24
Roll: cssct1881_200
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Watson 27
Caroline Watson 24

and 1891


1891 Scotland Census about James Watson
Name: James Watson
Age: 8
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1883
Relationship: Son
Father's Name: Thomas Watson
Mother's Name: Caroline Watson
Gender: Male
Where born: England
Registration number: 647
Registration District: Hamilton
Civil Parish: Hamilton
Town: Hamilton
County: Lanarkshire
Address: Almada Street and Bothwell Road, Burgh of Hamilton
Occupation: Scholar
ED: Hamilton Military Barracks
Household Schedule Number: 1
Line: 3
Roll: CSSCT1891_310
Household Members:
Name Age
Thomas Watson 42
Caroline Watson 33
James Watson 8
Joseph Watson 5
David Watson 3
Bella Watson Under 7 Mos


if this is the right family all children except Bella born in England

Scottish marriage certs usually give the place of marriage of the parents............perhaps his parents didn't actually marry

Hi folks, thanks for the replies.
What I am really struggling to find is Thomas Watson birth cert in England to parents Thomas Watson and Elizabeth Linley/Finley/Firley.

Reggie, It is generally the birth certificates in Scotland that give the marriage particulars of parents and that is why I would like to get a hold of the English certificate. It would also clear up exactly where in England he was from and may lead me to find the rest of the family.

If anyone could point me in the direction of the English birth record I'd be forever in your debt.

Thanks again

Ross

I wonder????

Marriages Jun 1872 (>99%)
Ecclesfield Rachel Stockton 10a 130
Finley Elizabeth Stockton 10a 130
Simpson Richard Cowper Stockton 10a 130
Watson Thomas Stockton 10a 130

Roots @ Stockton - Marriages
Surname First Name Marriage Date
FINLEY ELIZABETH 1872 Details
WATSON THOMAS 1872 Details

there a few births of a Thomas Finley in the NE England area

Hi there,
The Thomas Watson to which you are referring is my great great granddad (His oldest son James, had a son called Willam who is my granddad) I have a small amount of information about him and his immediate relatives. I also have his birth date recorded as c1853 because of his birth certificate. After being in the 74th highlanders he went on to be a brass finisher. His wife Caroline Watson, nee Heenan (daughter of Isabella Jane Leonard and David Heenan) Was a dress maker and born c1857. I found his parents to be Thomas Watson (A blacksmith) and Elizabeth ( read her last name as Linley)

Please feel free to contact me if you would like anymore information or manage to find anything out yourself :)