Margaret (Stuart) Watson (1787 - 1859)

Born 11 Sep 1787 in Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland

Ancestors

Wife of William Watson — married before 1812 in Scotland, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 17 Dec 1859 at age 72 in Gordon, Berwickshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Problems/Questions Profile manager: F Gordon [send private message]

Biography

Peggy Stewart, also known as Margaret Stuart, was born on 11 September 1787 and baptised on 4 October 1787 at Linton, Roxburghshire, Scotland, the daughter of Andrew Stuart and Christian Grossart.^[1]

She had two known siblings who were also baptised in the parish of Linton:

1. Robert Stewart baptised 4 February 1790 in Linton, Roxburghshire,^[2] and
2. Christian Steward baptised 14 April 1793 in Linton, Roxburghshire.^[3]

Peggy probably married William Watson before 1812, as evidenced by census records and birth and baptism records for their 10 children:

1. Alexander Watson born 28 February 1812 at Lightfield, Earlston, Berwickshire,^[4]
2. Andrew Watson, born or baptised on 25 March 1815 at Earlston,^[5]
3. William Watson possibly born about 1816 or 1818/1819 at Eckford, Roxburghshire,
4. Catherine Watson (1817–1883) baptised on 25 February 1817 at Earlston,^[6]
5. Isabella Watson (1820–1891) born about 1820 at Earlston,
6. Margaret Watson (1821–1862) born about 1821 at Earlston,
7. Robert Watson (1823–1859) baptised on 5 May 1823 at Earlston,^[7]
8. Agnes Watson (1827–1868) baptised on 29 June 1827 at Earlston,^[8]
9. Stewart Watson (1829–1898) born 10 September 1829 at Earlston, and
10. John Watson (1832–1915) born 13 August 1832 at Earlston.

In the 1841 census Peggy was living at Lightfield, Earlston, Berwickshire, with husband William, who was a farmer, and Peggy's father Andrew Stuart. Like most of their neighbours Peggy's father and children William and Isabella were agricultural labourers, probably working on William's farm, but perhaps able to bring in extra income by doing seasonal work on neighbouring farms. Children Agnes, Stewart and John were all 14 or younger, and possibly still at school.^[9]

Andrew Stewart - M - 80 - Agricultural Labourer - born out of County

William Watson - M - 50 - Farmer - born Berwickshire

Margaret Watson - F - 50 - - - born out of County

William Watson - M - 25 - Agricultural Labourer - born out of County

Isabella Watson - F - 20 - Agricultural Female Labourer - born Berwickshire

Agnes Watson - F - 14 - - - born Berwickshire

Stewart Watson - F - 11 - - - born Berwickshire

John Watson - M - 9 - - - born Berwickshire^[10]

In the 1851 census Peggy, aged 60, and William remained at Lightfield, Earlston, with only their youngest son, John, aged 20, still at home.^[11]

Peggy died on on the morning of 17 December 1859, aged 72, in the village of Gordon. Her death was reported by her son Alexander and she was buried in the parish churchyard.^[12]

Peggy's son John emigrated to Canada and daughter Agnes emigrated to the US. Her son Robert had predeceased her earlier in 1859, but the rest of her children seem to have married and worked in Berwickshire and Roxburghshire. Husband William remained in Gordon until his death a few years later.

Research Notes

• The 1841 FreeCen census transcription mistakenly has daughter Stewart labelled male. The original census clearly has her age in the female column and William's will lists her as one of his daughters, including her husband's name.
• The list of Peggy's children is based on baptismal records from Scotlands People, the 1841 census of members of the household and the list of heirs in her husband's will (see his profile).

Sources

1. ↑ Scotlands People: STEWART PEGGY ANDREW STEWART/CHRISTIAN CROSER FR48 (FR48) F 04/10/1787 796/ 10 43 Linton
2. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms" National Records of Scotland ScotlandsPeople (accessed 17 July 2023), STEWART, ROBERT, ANDREW STEWART/CHRISTIAN CROSER, M, 28/02/1790, citing reference number 10/44, Linton.
3. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms" National Records of Scotland ScotlandsPeople (accessed 17 July 2023), STEWARD, CHRISTIAN, ANDREW STEWARD/CHRISTIAN CROSER, F, 14/04/1793, citing : reference number 10/48, Linton.
4. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 736; Ref: 10/187
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 February 2024)
   Surname: WATSON; Forename: ALEXANDER; Parents/Other details: WILLIAM WATSON/; Gender: M; Birth Date: 28/02/1812; Parish: Earlston.
5. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 736; Ref: 10/189
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 February 2024)
   Surname: WATSON; Forename: ANDREW; Parents/Other details: WILLIAM WATSON/; Gender: M; Birth Date: 25/03/1815; Parish: Earlston.
6. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 736; Ref: 10/190; Frame: 201
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 February 2024)
   Surname: WATSON; Forename: CATHERINE; Parents/Other details: WILLIAM WATSON/MARGARET STEWART FR201 (FR201); Gender: F; Birth Date: 25/02/1817; Parish: Earlston.
7. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 736; Ref: 20/14; Frame: 242
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 February 2024)
   Surname: WATSON; Forename: ROBERT; Parents/Other details: WILLIAM WATSON/MARGARET STEWART FR242 (FR242); Gender: M; Birth Date: 05/05/1823; Parish: Earlston.
8. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and Baptisms"
   National Records of Scotland, Parish Number: 736; Ref: 20/35; Frame: 253
   ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 February 2024)
   Surname: WATSON; Forename: AGNES; Parents/Other details: WILLIAM WATSON/MARGARET STEWART FR253 (FR253); Gender: F; Birth Date: 29/06/1827; Parish: Earlston.
9. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1841" National Records of Scotland ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 July 2023), WATSON, MARGARET, 1841, F, 50, citing reference number 736/ 3/ 9, Earlston, Berwick.
10. ↑ "Scottish General Register Office: 1841 Census Returns database, FreeCEN (https://www.freecen.org.uk/search_records/5a1428daf4040b9d6e13ea19 : viewed 17 Jul 2023), Margaret WATSON in household of Andrew STEWART, Lightfield, Berwickshire, Scotland; from 1841 "England, Scotland and Wales census," database and images; citing The National Archives HO 107/736, Folio 0, Page 10, Schedule , The National Archives, Kew, Surrey.
11. ↑ "Scotland Census, 1851" National Records of Scotland ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 July 2023), WATSON, MARGARET, 1851, F, 60, citing reference number 736/ 2/ 14, Earlston, Berwick.
12. ↑ "Statutory Register of Deaths" National Records of Scotland ScotlandsPeople (accessed 16 July 2023), WATSON or STEWART, MARGARET, 72, GROSERTH, F, 1859, citing reference number 742/16, Gordon.