The birth of James Watson was registered thus:

Glasgow April 1853 Watson – Peter Watson, Salesman & Mary Ogilvie a Law. Son, James, b. 10th April, Wit. Robert Wood & Robert Neilson

James lost both his parents early in life, probably between 1853 and 1855, and certainly by 1860. At the time of the 1861 census, James Watson, 7, scholar, born Glasgow, was living in the household of his uncle and aunt, John and Elizabeth Riddell, in the Village of Chapelton, Western Division, Lanarkshire.

James Watson, a shoemaker (journeyman), bachelor, aged 22, married Jeanie Marshall, aged 23, on 16^th July 1875 at Chapelton in the Parish of Glassford After Banns according to the Forms of the Established Church of Scotland. He was usually resident in Chapelton. The Register was signed by John McGarvie, Minister of Chapelton, and by Gavin Marshall and Robert Riddell, witnesses.

James Watson acted as informant on his son Peter Watson’s birth certificate in 1881 and was designated as an agricultural labourer.

James Watson was designated as a road surveyor when his son Peter married Helen McColl in 1921.

James Watson acted as informant on the 1926 death certificate of his wife, Jean Watson MS Marshall. On this occasion he was designated as a road surveyor.

James Watson, road surveyor, widower of Jean Marshall, died on 26^th September 1929 at 0^h 30^m am, at 26, Kirkland Park Avenue, Strathaven. His age was entered as 76. The causes of death were certified as senility and cerebral thrombosis, from which he had been suffering for three days. The informant on the same day at Strathaven was the deceased’s son, Peter Watson, of 2, Kirkland Park Avenue, Strathaven, entered as present.

James Watson was recalled as an agricultural labourer (deceased) on the 1963 death certificate of his son, Peter Watson.

Brother & Sisters

James Watson had one known brother and two known sisters, all older.

Robert was born in Glasgow:

Glasgow December 1846 Peter Watson, Toll Collector & Mary Ogilvie, a Law Son, Robert, bo: 1st December, Wit. Robert Steel & James Adair

Janet’s birth and baptism were recorded in the Cumbernauld Parish Register, in an entry dated 9^th December 1848:

Watson Peter & Mary Ogilvie, London st, had a child born & baptised 11th Feby named Janet

Mary was born in Glasgow:

Glasgow March 1851 Peter Watson, Salesman & Mary Ogilvie, a Law. Dau. Mary, bo: 4th March, Wit. Robert Thomson & William Wilson

Robert, Janet and Mary all appear living in the family home in the 1851 census.

Mary Watson died on 19^th March 1860 at 11^h 25^m am, at Chapelton, aged 9. The cause of death was certified as phthisis. Her burial place was certified by John Riddell, undertaker, as the Burial Ground of Chapelton. The informant on 23^rd March 1860 at Westquarter was her uncle-in-law, also John Riddell, of Chapelton, entered as present.

Robert Watson, nephew, 14, tailor’s apprentice, born Glasgow, was also living in the Riddell household in 1861.

What became of Janet is presently unknown.

Paternal grandfather of Helen Kyle Watson