On the evidence of the 1851 census, Peter Watson was born c. 1817 in East Kilbride.

By December 1846, Peter Watson had married Mary Ogilvie. When his son Robert arrived in that year, he was a toll collector in Glasgow. When daughter Janet was born in 1848, Peter and Mary were in London Street, Cumbernauld. When daughter Mary was born in March 1851, Peter was a salesman in Glasgow.

At the time of the 1851 census, Peter was living in Hamilton Hill, Glasgow, on ‘Canal Co.’s Land’. He was 33 years of age and a ‘retailer of grain’. His place of birth was entered as ‘Lanark Kilbride’. Living with him were his wife Mary, 29, ‘domestic affairs’, born ‘Renfrew Paisley’; son Robert, aged 4, born Glasgow, and daughters Janet, 2, born ‘Dumbarton Cumbernauld’, and Mary, one month, born Glasgow.

Peter was again designated as a salesman when his son James was born in 1853.

Peter Watson probably died between 1853 and 1855. He was entered as deceased when his daughter, Mary, died in 1860.

Peter Watson was recalled as a ‘van driver in connection with Post Office (deceased)’ when his son James married Jeanie Marshall in 1875.

Forebears

Parents

On the combined evidence of the 1861 census and his 1868 death certificate, Robert Watson was born c. 1778 in East Kilbride.

At the time of the 1861 census, Robert Watson was living in the household of his son-in-law, John Riddell, in the Village of Chapeltown, Western Division, Lanarkshire. He was entered as a widower, aged 82, ‘Was a Thatcher’, born Lanarkshire, East Kilbride.

Robert Watson, agricultural labourer, widower of Mary Steven, died on 30^th May 1868 at 4^h 45^m am, at Chapelton. He was entered as 90 years of age. The cause of death was entered as old age; there was no medical attendant. The informant on 2^nd June 1868 at West Quarter was John Riddell, the deceased’s son-in-law, entered as present.

When their daughter Elizabeth died in 1897, they were recalled as Robert Watson, agricultural labourer, and Mary Watson MS Steven, both deceased.

Grandparents

‘James Watson and Margaret Whyte parishoners’ were proclaimed in order to marriage on 31^st July, 7^th and 14^th August 1763 in East Kilbride.

Robert Watson’s parents were entered on his 1868 death certificate as James Watson, cadger (i.e. peddlar), and Margaret Watson MS White, both deceased.

Sister

Peter Watson had at least one older sister, Elizabeth. On the combined evidence of the 1861 census and her 1897 death certificate, she was born c. 1813 in East Kilbride.

The marriage of Elizabeth Watson and John Riddell was recorded in the Glassford Parish Register on 14^th November 1847:

John Riddell in this Parish and Elizabeth Watson in the Parish of East Kilbride three days

It was also recorded in the East Kilbride Parish Register on the same date:

John Riddell in the Parish of Glassford and Elizabeth Watson in this Parish – 3 days.

At the time of the 1861 census, John Riddell, 47, teacher, elementary, born Glasford, was living in the Village of Chapelton, Western Division, in premises having two rooms with one or more windows. Living with him were his wife, Elizabeth, also 47, born East Kilbride; sons John, 12, and Robert, 7, both scholars and born in Glasford; father-in-law Robert Watson, widower, 82, ‘Was a Thatcher’, born East Kilbride, and nephews Robert and James Watson. Robert was 14, ‘Tailor’s App.’, and James was 7, scholar, both born Glasgow. In the very next entry are sisters Elizabeth and Mary Riddell, 44 and 40 respectively, both unmarried, staymakers, born Glasgow. It may be surmised that these are John’s younger sisters.

Elizabeth Riddell, widow of John Riddell, teacher, died on 21^st April 1897 at five in the morning, at Chapelton. Her age was entered as 83. The causes of death were certified as old age & debility, influenza, from which she had been suffering for ten days, and bronchial catarrh. The informant on the same day at West Quarter was John Riddell, her son.

Paternal / paternal great-grandfather of Helen Kyle Watson