George Watson

  Noted events in his life were:

• note. Kevin Parkes notes:
George WATSON, b. 28 June 1788 in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Scotland, d. 24 Jan 1864 in Clear Creek, Peel (near Bathurst) NSW Aus., buried 26 Jan 1864 in Clear Creek, Peel (near Bathurst) NSW Aus. There is also a Charles Watson named as father of the children in the orphanage & they may even be the same person. Both have children to a Janet & all four children addmitted to the orphanage school in 1828, children being Margaret, George, William & Janet. Have now seen the original paperwork & it is obvious that the name 'Chas'was entered incorrectly after the event by a different hand. The papers have positively identified all four children to be the children of George & Janet Watson.
George Watson found on the convict indents, arriving on the ship 'Neptune 1' in 1820 under the name of COOPER George Watson. Obviously his occupation was mistaken for his surname. George was convicted at the Aberdeen (Scotland) Court of Justiciary on 28th Sept. 1819 for 'picking pockets' & given a 14 year sentence. On the indents his description was given as 5' 9" tall, black hair, dark eyes & dark ruddy complexion. On his 'Certificate fo freedom' his description varied slightly - 5' 9 1/4" tall, brown to grey hair, brown eyes, sallow & pock pitted complexion, he had also lost several upper front teeth & the top of his middle finger of left hand.
The following information was extrected from tthe Colonial Secretaries Index 1788-1825 & also matches the reference to Janet, his wife.
WATSON, George, per 'Neptune'
1824 Jul 2, On list of prisoners assigned (Fiche2391; 4/4570D p.134). (He was assigned to his wife who was living in Phillip Street, Sydney).
George found on the 1828 cebcus as working on the 'Iron Gang 5' at Baulkham Hills NSW. This corresponds with the information son the letters to the Collonial Secretary after the death of his wife Janet in 1828.
George was granted a Certificate of Freedom 2 April 1835 (#35/265) in NSW. He married Janet WRIGHT, married 9 July 1814 in St.Nicholas Presbyterian Church Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Scotland.

George married Janet Wright, daughter of George Wright and Isobel Kynoch, on 9 Jul 1814 in St Nicholas Presbyterian, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Scotland. (Janet Wright was born in 1789 in Aberdeenshire Scotland, died on 21 Feb 1828 in 22 Phillip St, Sydney, NSW Australia and was buried on 23 Feb 1828 in Sandhills Cemetery, Devonshire St, Sydney, NSW Australia AKA New Sydney Burial Ground.)