John Watson (1844 - 1921)

Born 19 Aug 1844 in Hillhead, Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Husband of Grace Reid — married 11 Jul 1876 in Gilmilscroft Cottage, Sorn

Descendants

Died 31 May 1921 at age 76 in Greenholm, 12 Japan Road, Chadwick Heath, Essex

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Biography

Name

Name: John /Watson/^[1][2]

Birth

Birth:

Date: 19 AUG 1844

Place: Hillhead, Mauchline (Old Parish Record)

Source: Footnote: Sorn Parish Record

Note: Sorn Parish Record

Birth:

Date: 1840

Place: Ayrshire, Scotland^[3][4]

Christening

Christening:

Date: 01 SEP 1844

Death

Death:

Date: 1917

Place: 12 Japan Road, Greenholm, Essex

Source:

Note: Japan Road Greenholm

Residence

Residence:

Date: 1844

Place: Hillhead, Mauchline as a child

Residence:

Date: 1851

Place: Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland^[5]

Residence:

Date: 1861

Place: Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland^[6]

Residence:

Date: 1851

Place: Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland^[7]

Residence:

Place: South Yell, shetland

Source:

Note: Yell

Residence:

Place: 12 Japan Road, Greenholm, Essex

Source:

Note: Japan Road Greenholm

Education

Education: M.A. (including astronomy)

Place: University of Glasgow

Source:

Note: Glasgow

Education: Bachelor of divinity

Place: Edinburgh University

Source:

Note: Edinburgh

Occupation

Occupation: Minister^[8]

Occupation:

Date: BET 1876 AND 1914

Place: Minister in South Yell, Shetland

Title

Title: Rev.

Note

Note: Accomplished amateur astronomer, highly skilled Violin maker

Marriage

Husband: Hugh Watson

Wife: Jane Drummond

Child: John Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: William Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Mary Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Margaret Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Hugh Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: James Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Robert Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Jane Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Agnes Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Andrew Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Isabella Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Alexander Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Child: Elizabeth Watson

Relationship to Father: Natural

Relationship to Mother: Natural

Marriage:

Date: 19 NOV 1841

Place: Mauchline, Ayrshire, Scotland^[9]

Source:

Note: End Marriage: Watson Drummond marriage also Craigie

Notes

Page 12 THE SHETLAND TIMES, FRIDAY, 30TH JULY, 1976

THE MUSICAL MINISTER

The Rev. John Watson did not share the disapproval of some of his colleagues when it came to fiddle music. This article recalls the Yell minister of 100 years ago.

There was a time when the parish minister was regarded as a bit of a killjoy and there were many tales of Shetland ministers forbidding the playing the fiddle. Some even ordered the destruction of such instruments in their parishes. An exception was the rev. John Watson, MA, BD, minister of South Yell, who was inducted there 100 years ago last month and served the parish until 1914.

The Rev. Douglas Beck* of Dunfermline, another former minister of Yell, has contributed this appreciation of John Watson on the occasion of his centenary.

John Watson was regarded as an ideal parish minister. In addition to his qualifications for the work of a minister, Mr Watson had some medical, veterinary, and legal knowledge, which were valuable assets in Shetland at that time. Parishioners came to the manse at Burravoe, and always were given, freely, necessary advice and help. Travelling was very difficult then and friends provided Mr Watson with a pony and trap. A stable was erected outside the churchyard at Hamnavoe and a shelter for the pony during services. The manse was about two miles from the church.

The Parish Church of South Yell at Hamnavoe was erected in 1838, and in course of time underwent many alterations and renovation, and in 1900 a new bell inscribed with the name John Watson was hung in the belfry.

Mr Watson was married to Grace Reid, and they had five children, all born, we presume at Burravoe - Hamilton ("Polly"), born 28th August 1877; Hugh, born 14th February 1879; Jane Drummond, born 8th August 1880; William Reid, born 28th September 1882; and Robert John, born 16th January 1885. Mr Watson was born at Mauchline, Ayrshire, on 19th August 1844, and died at Chadwick Heath, Essex, on 31st May 1921. Little is known about the family, except about Jane Drummond, who emigrated to Australia, and called her home "Da Peerie Noost". In a letter she recalled the happy days spent at Burravoe Manse.

During Mr Watson's ministry other denominations were active in South Yell, the Free Church of Scotland in West Yell, the Methodist Church in Burravoe, and the Episcopalians, also in Burravoe. The last named were being organised largely through the efforts of John R. McQueen, who had purchased the Burravoe Estate, and came to reside in the Manor House at Burravoe.

Mr McQueen had been educated for Holy Orders in the Church of England, but owing to ill-health he gave up the idea of ordination with priesthood. He had been a friend of Walter Pater, the writer, and had obtained his degree at Balliol College, Oxford, at the time of Dr Scott and Dean Liddell, who became famous as compilers of their great Greek Lexicon, or Dictionary. Mr McQueens fine qualifications and talents were not wasted. He was licensed to read the Anglican Services, and he preached with acceptance. He also organised a Sunday School, and trained a choir to sing hymns and chants. In time the beautiful little Episcopal Church of St. Colman's was erected at Burravoe, and is still used for services.

South Yell was fortunate in having men like John Watson and John McQueen, who did so much to promote Christ's cause and kingdom there.

A MAKER OF FIDDLES

We remember Mr Watson for another reason. In spite of his busy life as a Parish Minister, he could relax and pursue his hobby as an expert fiddle maker - a rather unusual hobby for a minister of the gospel. There is the case of the minister, in a certain parish, who gave orders that his parishioners must smash their sinful fiddles. In another parish, a deputation of elders arrived at the manse to interview their minister, because there was a strong rumour that he was dishonouring his profession by playing the fiddle. The minister didn't deny the rumour, he produced a fiddle and began to play a classical piece so beautifully that the worthy men were won over by the heavenly music.

" MUCH ADDICTED"

John Watson, the minister of South Yell must have delighted his parishioners with his hobby, because so many of them like other Shetlanders, were "much addicted to fiddling" This observation was made by Laurence Williamson of Mid Yell, who was a contemporary of Mr Watson's. The late Peter Jamieson, in his fine book "Letters on Shetland" bore witness to this addiction, as he devoted several pages to fiddles and fiddle making, fiddlers and fiddle tunes. The modern group, originally named "The Forty Fiddlers" led by Mr Tom Anderson,** is maintaining and contributing to the long tradition. At least one member of the group, Mr Frank Robertson, possesses fiddles made by Mr Watson, and plays them regularly. One wonders how many of them are still in existence, perhaps at the "sheek o' the shimley" in some croft house, ready to be taken down and played in the unique Shetland style.

When I was minister of South Yell, I found that the older parishioners referred to "Mr Watson's time" as a golden age in the annals of the parish of South Yell. Despite the changes that have taken place his memory will be kept alive as long as Hamnavoe Kirk bell is rung to call the congregation to worship and when his fiddles are played in the home or in a gathering of Shetland folks to put a lilt in the heart and a "yuke" in the feet as Herbert Wisman said, when adjudicating during a Shetland Musical and Drama Festival.

*

23.11.91 Was minister of St. Ninians Church Dunfermline. He is still alive in Rosyth, retired after a big operation 20 years ago. His wife comes from Shetland so he was probably there when he was young.

*

23.11.91 James's? Mum thinks Tom Anderson died recently (There was a TV program about him recently). Aly Bain is a current fiddler, famous in the media, who was possibly taught by Tom Anderson. (A famous teacher of Shetland fiddlers - a distinctive style in itself)

------------------------------------------------------

Shetland Times - 22nd July 1876

At Gilmilnscroft Cottage , Sorn, Ayrshire on the 11th July, by the Rev. John Rankine, Minister of Sorn assisted by Rev. Samual Niven, Free Chursh Minister, Bannockburn, the Rev. John Watson M.A., B.D. South Yell, Shetland to Grace, youngest daughter of William Reid, factor.

Sources

1. ↑ Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1841 Birth place: Galston, Ayrshire Residence date: 1851 Residence place: Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1076::2573546
2. ↑ Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861scotland&h=1865755&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1845 Birth place: Mauchline, Ayrshire Residence date: 1861 Residence place: Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1080::1865755
3. ↑ Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1851scotland&h=2573546&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1841 Birth place: Galston, Ayrshire Residence date: 1851 Residence place: Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1076::2573546
4. ↑ Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861scotland&h=1865755&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1845 Birth place: Mauchline, Ayrshire Residence date: 1861 Residence place: Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1080::1865755
5. ↑ Source: #S-1877048378 Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1851scotland&h=2573546&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1841 Birth place: Galston, Ayrshire Residence date: 1851 Residence place: Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1076::2573546
6. ↑ Source: #S-1877048289 Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1861scotland&h=1865755&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1845 Birth place: Mauchline, Ayrshire Residence date: 1861 Residence place: Sorn, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1080::1865755
7. ↑ Source: #S-1877048378 Note: http://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=1851scotland&h=2573546&ti=5538&indiv=try&gss=pt Note: Data: Text: Birth date: abt 1841 Birth place: Galston, Ayrshire Residence date: 1851 Residence place: Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland APID: 1,1076::2573546
8. ↑ Source: #S-1877608040
9. ↑ Source: #S-1877608054

• Title: 1861 Scotland Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. Reels 1-150. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.Original data: Scotland. 1861 Scotland Census. Reels 1-150. Genera
• Title: 1851 Scotland Census Author: Ancestry.com Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.Original data - Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. Reels 1-217. General Register Office for Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland.Original data: Scotland. 1851 Scotland Census. Reels 1-217. Genera