Watson

(submitted by Arnold Watson)

William Watson (1832–1937) was the son of William Watson and Alison Blaiknie of Fifeshire, Scotland. He was the oldest son in a family of five boys and four girls. He came to Canada in 1853 on a sailing vessel that took seven weeks to cross the ocean. William left Scotland because he was making only ten pounds per year working as a ploughman on a farm, eating oatmeal, milk and sometimes boiled potatoes and he thought Canada couldn’t be any worse. After landing in New York, he made his way to Sarnia. Then he walked a distance of thirty miles to the home of his uncle George Watson, living on Lot 27, Con. 1 SER, Warwick Twp.

In 1860 William Watson married Elizabeth Wallace, daughter of John and Jane (Scott) Wallace. William and Elizabeth lived on Lot 27, Con. 1 NER. They had seven children: John (1860–1941), William (1862–1935), Anne Jane (1864–1892), Alison (Ella, 1866–1955), Elizabeth (Lizzie, 1868–1954), Robert Wallace (1872–1960), and James Alexander Scott (1877–1958).

Robert Wallace Watson married Hester Mahala Burden (–1946), the sister of Clara Ethel Burden who married his brother James Alexander Scott Watson. They had two daughters, Annie Harkness (1910–) and Myrta Frances (1912–). Myrta married Donald MacGregor Ross of Warwick and they had one son Donald Bruce (1945–).

James Alexander Scott Watson married Clara Ethel Burden (1888–1984) in 1912. James had bought the property they lived on — Lot 28, Con. 1 NER, Warwick Twp. (8840 Egremont Rd.) — in 1898. James used standard bred horses on his farm. He never drove a car, although he did drive tractor. James and Clara had one son, Arnold Scott (1921–), who was born in the house on Lot 28, Con. 1 NER, the house he currently lives in.

Arnold attended SS#10 until age 14. He did not like school so he quit and has farmed ever since. His house is on the highest spot in Warwick Twp., on about the location where “Warwick Castle” stood. While digging in his yard he has found pieces of old crockery at that location. Arnold remembers getting hydro to the house in 1947; he dug the holes for the hydro poles.

Arnold married Genevra (Nevie) Myrtle McDonald (1919–2004) in 1953. That was the year there were four other weddings in his neighbourhood — Russ Parker’s, Sherman Williams’, Carl Bryson’s and Bill Bryson’s. Arnold lives on the home farm, Lot 28, Con. 1 NER in 2008.

Arnold and Nevie had two children, James David (1954–) and Anna Genevra (1957–). Anna married Donald Wayne Wright. They live in North Bay, Ont., and have two sons, Scott Alton and Adam Wayne. James married Gwendolyn Mary Wyatt (1958–). They lived on Lot 29, Con. 1 NER (8934 Egremont Rd.). Gwen and Jim’s son William James (1983–) continues farming on Lots 28 and 29 Con. 1 NER.

Ellie, Lizzie and Bill Watson. Courtesy L Hall.

Chapter 24 of 25 - Watson Family

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