Thomas Watson (abt. 1841 - abt. 1927)

Born about 22 Nov 1841 in Peebles, Peeblesshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Marion (Paton) Watson — married 1873 in Greymouth, West Coast, New Zealand

Descendants

Died about 27 Jul 1927 at about age 85 in Reefton, West Coast, New Zealand

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Biography

Thomas was born in 1841 to Thomas Watson and Isabella Richardson. He was baptised in Peebles on 22 November 1841.^[1][2] At age 9 he was living with his brother, sister-in-law, and nephew, in Cupar, Fife.^[3]

In 1861 he was back in Peebles with his family, working as a Joiner with his father.^[4] In 1863 he emigrated to Australia,^[2] then, he left for New Zealand in 1864. He founded the Wealth of Nations Quartz Mining Company and married Marion Patton in 1873. ^[5]

Mine Manager, Crushington. Mr. Watson [...], and after visiting Ballarat, came to New Zealand in 1864, and followed up several gold “rushes.” He went from Otago to Havelock and thence to Auckland, which he left in 1865. Mr. Watson then went to the West Coast and was in the Grey district for about four years, during which he became interested in an alluvial claim at Antonio's Flat, where he erected water power winding machinery. In 1870 he accepted an appointment from a Greymouth company to proceed to Murray Creek, on the Inangahua, to superintend the erection of a stamp mill, which was the first crushing plant erected in the Reefton district. On the completion of the work, Mr. Watson, together with three others, went prospecting and found what afterwards proved to be a valuable quartz lode. A lease of the ground having been procured, the property was placed under a company, and named the Wealth of Nations Quartz Mining Company. Mr. Watson retained his interest in the company, and was again appointed to superintend the erection of crushing machinery, water-races, and other works in connection with the mine. Subsequently, in 1873, he accepted the appointment of mine and battery manager, for the new owners.^[2]

He passed away in 1927. He was buried 27 July in the Reefton Cemetery, noted in his burial records as a Wesleyan.^[6][7]

Sources

1. ↑ "Church of Scotland: Old Parish Registers - Births and baptisms" database, National Records of Scotland, ScotlandsPeople (accessed 13 Dec 2023), Thomas Watson, parents: Thomas Watson and Isabella Richardson FR1856 (FR1856), 22 Nov 1841, Peeble; citing Parish Number 768, Reference Number: 10 188
   • "Scotland, Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XTBJ-N2G : accessed 15 Jan 2013), Thomas Watson, 22 Nov 1841; citing reference 2:18864P8, FHL microfilm 1067921.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Section: Crushington. Page 263. [Portrait photo included.] The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, Christchurch. License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1851 Scotland Census [database on-line]: Ancestry uk Record 1076 #1111717. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. Reels 1-217. Parish: Cupar; ED: 4; Page: 56; Line: 6; Roll: CSSCT1851_86. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
4. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1861 Scotland Census [database on-line]: Ancestry uk Record 1080 #485234. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. Reels 1-150. Parish: Peebles; ED: 1; Page: 12; Line: 8; Roll: CSSCT1861_138. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.
5. ↑ Marriage: "New Zealand, Marriage Index, 1840-1937," database, Ancestry Record 8950 #1337572 (accessed 18 January 2024), Thomas Watson marriage to Mary Ann Patton in 1873 in New Zealand; citing Original data New Zealand Marriage Index, 1840-1950. Microfiche.
6. ↑ Plot Record Details: 014088 WATSON THOMAS. Buller District Council. Last accessed 13 Dec 2023.
7. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images, memorial page for Thomas Watson (22 Nov 1841–27 Jul 1927), Find A Grave: Memorial #166352423 (accessed 13 December 2023), citing Reefton Cemetery, Reefton, Buller District, West Coast, New Zealand; Maintained by Cyndi (contributor 47314338). [Has a photo of the headstone].

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