ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Research of any kind comes in levels of verification and this is particularly true with family history. Ultimately only data that is proved by authentic records such as birth certificates can be fully trusted. Close on this are reputed genealogy sources. Some include direct copies of documents but most have transcripts of them. How accurate and diligent was the transcriber? Then there are copies of newspapers or similar records of the time. These will at least give a reasonably accurate account of the circumstances, but could be biased or ill informed. Similarly, current websites may edit down records to give a concise edition, but perhaps missing out key information. I note the website and printed sources where appropriate.
A great deal was researched on the Watsons by my father and his cousin Alan way back when things were done by physical visits, posted letters (sometimes by mailship) and hand drawn diagrams. I have inherited copious notes from my father (typed up by his secretary or later by others cajoled into the task). And I also have to thank my wife's cousin here in Scotland who did sterling and intensive work on Watsons on his behalf. Their correspondence by email, new then and perplexing to my father, makes very interesting reading.
My mother got some research done on the Wells side by a professional resarcher.
Inbetween this and making sense of them as well as providing much more have been the contributions of cousins and others across South Africa, Zimbabwe, England, Scotland, Canada even New Zealand.
I would like to thank them all.
In order to clarify what is quoted and where quoted sources change, I have used coloured text in most cases rather than quotation marks. My own comments are always in black.
