DINAH WATSON (Nee Richards)
Plymouth
Dinah (Di) Richards married James Watson Watson on the 6th May 1869 in St Andrews Church, Plymouth, Rev. F Courtney, Incimbert of Charles Chapel (now St Lukes Church) immediately after his return form his four year trip to South America. Dinah was born in London on the 14th December 1834. She was the daughter of a doctor from North London. (St Andrews Church is in the Royal Parade, Plymouth, PL1 2AD).
I have the address of James as 25 Seaton Avenue, Plymouth, but do not know if they were here when they got married. You will see two other addresses below for when their children were born. [ My father's notes actually refer to Smeaton Avenue, but this appears to be an error. The name of Smeaton though is well known in Plymouth regards for instance, the lightnouse].
They had 5 children.
- Dinah Kedslie Watson was born 1st March 1870 in No. 1 North Devon Place, Plymouth. [See notes below]. Christened on 10th June 1870 at St Andrews by the Rev, S, Thelwell. Married William Roskelm Parsons R. N. in Plymouth 4th September 1894, later Rear-Admiral during World War One. She died on the 7th July 1943.
- ----
- Talbot Scott Watson was born 1st April 1871 at 41 Hill Park Crescent, in Plymouth and christened on 4th August 1871 at St Andrews by Rev H. C. Phelps. He married Alice Jardine at St James, Moss Side, Manchester on the 23rd February 1899.
- Alan J Watson b 2nd December 1905. (I think this is my father's "cousin", a retired bachelor surgeon when I met him; living in Leamington Spa).
- Peggy Margaret Watson b 14th January 1910
- Alexander Richards Watson was born on the 30th January at 41 Hill Park Crescent in Plymouth and christened on 5th March 1873 at St Andrews by the Rev W. Watkins. He married Ella Maud Newman in East London, South Africa on the 20th May 1911. For the following children see the details under the specific sections.
- Jack Montague Watson
- Reginald Scott Watson
- George Dennison Watson
- Brian Watson Watson (my father)
- Edward Graham Watson
- Colin Peeke Watson was born on the 3rd June 1875 at Hill Park Crescent in Plymouth and christened at St Andrews by Rev. P. Scott. He married Grace Bundett at St Augustines Church in Edgbaston, Birmingham on the 5th November 1903.
- Joan Watson b on the 16th February 1905 in Birmingham
- Guy Watson b in Birmingham. Married Gleadowe Stanyon
- Harry Arnaud Watson was born on the 31st March 1877 at 41 Hill Park Crescent in Plymouth and christened in 1877 at St Andrews by Rev Denovan. He married Married Gladys Sealy at St Cyprians in Durban, South Africa on the 11th July 1906 (Elsewhwere shown as 1907. She died in March 1923. He died in Emsworth in1961.
- Patricia Watson b in Durban, South Africa on the 20th December 1908.
- Anthony James Watson b in Durban, South Africa on the 8th January 1910. M Barbara Mitchell Cuckfield in October 1951. He died in London in April 1970. They had two children.
- Evelyn Di Watson b Porthcurma, Cornwall on the 16th August 191?. Married Nigel Hope Emsworth in 1935. He died on active service in 194?. She remarried William Bryant.
- Bridget
- Alison Emsworth b March 194?
Of her children, I can only find the origins of some of their middle names.
Kedslie - her Polish grandmother's maiden name.
Scott - a long line of Scotts in the family.
Richards - Dinah's maiden name.
Dinah died on the 23rd February 1913,aged 78 and was buried in St Baurdeux Cemetry, Plymouth. (This is how it is spelt in my inherited notes. It appears to actually be St Budeaux, a town north of Plymouth. which has two cemetries). I have a photocopied photo of a grave annotated as " IN MEMORY OF AGNES, WIDOW OF ALEX SCOTT WATSON OF EDINBURGH WHO DIED AT PLYMOUTH ? SEPTEMBER 1877 AGED 70 YEARS. ALSO DI, BELOVED WIFE OF J.W.WATSON R.N. WHO DIED 23RD FEBRUARY 1913 AGED 78 YEARS". It appears to be a pale granite stone with a flower bed in front. (The one behind it has a low iron railing. A cross is nearby).
It is her maiden name "Richards" which came down to her son, my great grandfather, Alexander Richards Watson. (See WATSON ALEXANDER RICHARDS).
We visited Plymouth in 2019 and found the Seaton Avenue and Hill Park Crescent addresses. North Devon Place eluded us. It cannot be found on Google. If this address is correct, it may have been lost during realignment of the main roads. (There is a Devon Terrace in the same district).
St Andrews Church stands on the Royal Parade. More properly called The Minster Church of St Andrew. It has ancient origins with its present shape c 1370 - 1486 and the tower 1481. Significant 19th C work although what you see today is extensive rebuild fter WWII damage. Our family would have known it well before the war.
25 Seaton Avenue, Plymouth, PL4 6QJ .
41 Hill Park Crescent, Plymouth, PL4 8JP - black door.
Minster Church of St Andrews, Royal Parade.
