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Pioneer - WATSON, Henry, Sr.
Biographical Sketches of
Early Settlers of Wellington County
Information from: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario.
Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906
|
WATSON, Henry, Sr.
(d.), b. London, Eng., 1782; d. Guelph Tp., 1837. He m. Elizabeth
Colledge. She was b. near Newcastle, Eng., 1791; d. Guelph Tp., 1832. The late
Henry Watson , Sr., early went to sea, and followed it for over twenty years.
He commanded a whaling vessel , and also commanded "True Love," a "Letter of
Marque" vessel, and assisted in conveying the Danish fleet into the River
Thames after the Battle of Trafalgar. He with his family came to Canada with
considerable means in 1831, and purchased lots 5 and 6, con. 9, Guelph Tp., and
here settled, building a very fine log house. They were the first family to
settle on the "Nichol road," as it was afterwards called, when cut out. His
wife d. the following year, and he only lived until 1837. Issue: Dr. Samuel,
remained in England; Mrs. John Harland, Mrs. Edward Harland, Henry, Jr.; Capt.
Edwin, Charles, James d. in Australia; Thomas, and Alfred, Sr.
Henry , Jr. , whose portrait appears on another page of this work, was b. In 1818, m. Cecilia Richardson. He was only thirteen years of age when the family came to Guelph Tp. His mother d. the following year, and owing to his father’s illness, the full charge of the farm fell on his shoulders at the age of sixteen years; and at his father’s death three years later he had the care of the family also. Capt. Edwin was living with friends in the Orkney Islands when the family came to Canada, and remained and was educated there coming to Canada the year of his father’s death. Both he and Henry Jr. , volunteered at the time of the Rebellion of 1837-8, and were at the siege of Navy Island. Henry, Jr., was a long time in the militia, holding a Lieut. and Captain’s Commission, signed by Sir Edmund Walker Head in 1857-8. Henry, Jr., and Charles cleared the farm, and later the family receiving a legacy from the estate of their uncle, the late Dr. Samuel Watson of Cottingham, Eng., the former was enabled to purchase the interest of the others in the Guelph Tp. farm (also named Cottingham), where he has since resided. He was a pioneer breeder of thoroughbred Shorthorns, and acquired a wide reputation in this line. His name can be found in the very early herd books. "Cottingham" is one of the most attractive farms in Guelph Tp. It is situated on an elevation which commands a view of Guelph City, and the spacious farm house is approached from the road by a drive way skirted by maples, the highly cultivated fields gradually sloping off in each direction. Here may be found Henry Watson, Jr., and his life partner passing the sunset of their respected lives, both of them hale and hearty. They are practically retired, Mr. Watson having turned over the management of his farm to his nephew and adopted son, John R. Watson, who with his family resides there. He is s man of wide reading as well as possessing a large fund of practical knowledge. He is a dignified man, but has a rare personality, and the faculty of making himself entertaining to either the young of the old. Mr. and Mrs. Watson’s refined tastes are exemplified by there flower garden and other evidences of refinement to be seen about "Cottingham." Of the other members of Henry, Sr.’s family, Captain Edwin was a vessel owner at Windsor , and lived and d. there. Charles b. Eng., 1821, m. Mary Bilby. Issue: Henry S., Edwin, Jr., Charles, Jr., William, John, Alfred, Jr., Ernest,, Mrs. Joseph D. Day, Mrs. Thomas Dow, and Mrs. McIntyre. Thomas, b. Eng,. m. Mary Richardson, set. in Manitoba. Issue: Henry, James, Robert, Alfred, Jr., and John R. The three former are farmers in Man., while John R. manages "Cottingham" in Guelph Tp. He m.. Elinor Nelles, dau. of John A. Nelles, of Guelph City. Issue: Henry N., and Charles N. Alfred, Sr., m. Mary Day. He was a carriage mfg. in Guelph many years. From: Historical Atlas of the County of Wellington, Ontario. Toronto: Historical Atlas Publishing Co., 1906 |
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