ELLA MAUD WATSON (nee Newman)
South Africa
Maud was my paternal grandmother. She had married Alexander Richards Watson and they had five sons, one of whom was my father. You can find quite a lot about their life in East London, both ups and downs, under WATSON, ALEXANDER RICHARDS.
Back to my father's notes:
Ella Maud Newman (our Mother) was born at “Kirkella” 48 St. Peters Road on 28th May 1886. She was the second daughter and third child of Angus William Newman (our Grandfather).
Angus William Newman married Ida Emily Miller, daughter of Joseph Miller who had the farm Woodlands. It is through this side of the family that we are connected to the Millers of 1820 Settler stock who I discuss under MILLERS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
A. W. Newman took the whole family to England, presumably to settle indefinitely, but a slump in diamond shares induced him back to South Africa. Funny how even diamond share values can influence my DNA.
A. W. Newman recovered his business and built a large double storied house in St Peters Road.
It was from here that Helen (Aunt Nellie) was married to Reginald Tucker (Uncle Rex) on 28th September, 1909, in the presence of their parents, sister Maud and Fiance, Alex Watson, Put and Clarissa and others.
From this house too Maud and Alex were married in the Congregational Church by Re. Martin Dower on 20th May, 1911. (More on this under Alexander Richards Watson. You may notice a reference to a wedding gift being from the Ladies Hockey Club of which the bride was captain).
Life seemed to swing from idyllic to very unstable with A. W. Watson's businesses swinging from successful to failure and back. A. W. Watson died in July 1934. Maud somehow coped with bringing up 5 sons and did so admirably. You can find some of the situation described under WATSON, ALEXANDER RICHARDS. He had made some investments. I have copies of the certificates for the transfer of shares to her. This must have given her something to start with at this point although it was insufficient and life was to be difficult. The transfer certificates are for 5 batches of 100 shares each from gold mining and an industrial coporation.
She had five sons : Scott, Jack, Dennis, Brian and Graham. Each of them is covered under their own sections.
Maud with her sons Dennis, Scott, Jack, Brian and Graham
The family moved house several times - influenced by their changing fortunes, particularly once Alexander died. Seaview Terrace and St Peters Road for instance.
Maud on the steps of 4 Seaview Terrace, East London, overlooking the sea.
I got to know her well as “Granny” (my maternal grandmother being “Nana”). When I was growing up she had spent some time in Northern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) on the farm before I was born, but I remember her telling me of that. She had helped in the trading store and had picked up some unusual skills. One was creating headdresses for the black clergy-evidently tall like a pontiff's. She made us mouse paperweights from felt around lead fishing sinkers and knitted small gollywogs (before this label became too sensitive). Another skill was to darn woollen socks. I have a large tiger cowrie shell that she used to hold the inner shape while doing this. I think it came from a beach near Beira.
Some of her sons went off to serve in WWII. I have some of the correspondence between them, mainly between my father and her and will cover that separately under WATSONS AT WAR.
Maud's letters
I have many letters from Brian to his mother during the war, but few from her to him duing the same period. Some correspondence can be seen under WATSON BRIAN AT WAR.
What follows though is from Maud to Brian after the war. She is staying with her son Jack in Northern Rhodesia, where he was farming, and writing from Gwelo.
Maud to Brian and Pam from Gwelo – year not provided, but is 1951. There are a few lines where she refers to Jack getting off to sleep, but appears to mean Jack's son, Ian. There are also a few words that I have had to guess and are shown as (?).
Gando (?)
Gwelo
Sunday evening may 6th
My dearest Pam & Brian,
I am down at Jack's tonight- He took Hildegard into the Home at 4 this morning – nice and early. I mean as to time, because she thought her day was the 15th- . So far nothing has happened – Jack was in this afternoon & she wasn't going to wait much longer. The funny part about it is that they were all at a Party last night - & they came home at ¼ to one after telling me they were not going to stay late , but apparently it turned into a Dance & D & Edna came in at 5:30am. Some Party! It was the jack Humphreys House warming. They are the people who bought Mrs Plumbers other farm & she wouldn't sell them them the house – Of course Ian was up with me – they took him with John (?) again this morning – he just sleep in his Carry Cot. And how is Jeremy liking his home? How time flies 2 weeks already – I do hope everything is going smoothly, & the feeding becoming easier – there is so often a struggle at first - & it needs lots of patience – which I am sure you have, Pam. I wonder if you have sold your house yet, & have you decided how you are travelling down, will your Furniture go by road? I have heard people say lately, that it is so much more satisfactory that way - & not much more expensive. Have you heard of any houses in E. L. In Graham's last letter he said I have just written to Brian ' re housing', but that doesn't tell me much. They seem to have settled down very comfortably. He said the Black Marble Clock was ticking merrily on the mantelpiece – it was a wedding present of Daddy's father. I am not going to post this tomorrow, but will wait for the news & add it in the evening – I expect Scott & Olive are home today – I hope they enjoyed their stay in Joburg - & were quite comfortable in their Hotel – I also had a very cheerful letter from Aunty Nell – very thrilled at your news – apparently she is much better, & is still playig a bit of Canasta I suppose Ken is home again – he is a very fortunate young man, & must be very able – I will write to all the Companies of my Shares, Brian & as you suggest give my Rhodesian address – it is silly having them all round the Country – Millstein & Samson are the Jews who have taken over George Parkes Business. George Parkes was one of the oldest Stock Brokers but apparently his son was able to carry on. Jack apologises for not sending a Telegram for me when he heard the good news – He sent me one in Salisbury, & can't understand how he forgot to send the other, as I had asked him to. I expect he was very busy & perhaps not feeling quite alright after his day off.
Now I must say good-night, am feeling a bit tired after my disturbed night – Jack slept most of the morning, but I couldn't manage that – I am missing his Mummy & needed a little entertaining – He is very good about going to sleep – generally talks to himself for quite a time before going off -
I hope Grannie, Grandpa Wells are very well – have they definitely decided to go to E. L. too.
With much love my dears, & a big kiss for Jeremy – Hoping you are both keeping very well, & all your plans will work out suitably -
Your very affectionately
Mother
Well the news is that Hildegard had a son at noon today – lbs 15oz. All over in ¼ of an hour. Hildegard is very well, & Jack says the baby is just like Ian. They both wanted another boy.
That last paragraph was a last moment update postscript. The baby was Phillip who was born in Gwelo on the 7th May 1951.
The reference to Graham mentioning housing in East London is that he and Elise were already living there, in Stirling. Brian and Pam had decided to move back from Johannesburg and were to find a flat near the Orient Beach before they found the house at 10 Tait Road. It is eerie reading about myself at 2 weeks old - as I write this my new grandson is just over 2 weeks old.
In Maud's younger days she seems to have been very stylish - even in East London and even on picnics in the bush. Every opportunity was taken to look her best. Photos show her and her sister Clarissa dressed to the nines.
I am not sure if both of these bags were hers, but suspect they were. How do you like the one made out of a fine chain-mail?
