Peter Miller Watson

1. "James Watson (d. 1808) of Crantit, Orkney, was factor for the estates of Lord Dundas. He married Christian Robertson (1780-1842) whose family (Robertsons of Kiltearn) had many connections with Demerara. Four of their five sons - Harry (Henry) Robertson Watson (1801-36), Andrew Watson (1803-37), William Robertson Watson and Peter Miller Watson (1805-69) - went out the Demerara, where the two older brothers died. The fifth brother, James [b1809], became a lawyer in London."

2. Peter Miller Watson was born in Kiltearn, 16/06/1805 and died in Surrey, 22/04/1869.

3. Peter's father James Watson died in 1808 and on 26/07/1811 his mother remarried, to Thomas Stuart Traill of Turlot. Their eldest child and Peter's half-sister Ann (1812-1873) married George Parker (1806-1860, q.v.), a partner in the West Indian trading company Sandbach, Tinne & Co. (q.v.).

4. "Peter Miller Watson returned to Britain and bought a property in Weylea, near Guildford, where he died in 1869. He left £35,000, mostly to his illegimate son, Andrew [1856-1921], and to provide for his illegitimate daughter, Annetta, both children of Hannah Rose in Georgetown, Demerara. His son Andrew is widely considered to be the world's first black association footballer to play at international level and was capped three times for Scotland between 1881 and 1882." Note that the marriage certificate of Andrew Watson to Jessie Nimmo Armour states that his parents were married: his father is listed as Peter Miller Watson, sugar planter (deceased) and his mother as Anna Watson m[aiden] s[urname] Rose (deceased). However, in her will of 1873 Peter's half-sister Ann Parker nee Traill described Andrew and Annetta as "my brother Peter's natural children", indicating she did not believe their parents were married.

5. "The will of Peter Miller Watson formerly of Demerara in the Colony of British Guiana but late of Weylea in the Parish of Worplesdon in the County of Surrey Esquire deceased who died 22 April 1869 at 2 Chandos-street Cavendish-square in the County of Middlesex was proved at the Principal Registry by the oaths of Robert Omond of Edinburgh in North Britain Esquire M.D. William Wightman of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster Gentleman and Francis Whitaker of 12 Lincoln’s-Inn-fields in the County of Middlesex aforesaid Gentleman the Executors. Effects under £35,000."

1. David Alston's website, 'Slaves and Highlanders', http://www.spanglefish.com/slavesandhighlanders/index.asp?pageid=325719 [accessed 18/10/2013].

2. The genealogies of the families of Douglas of Mulderg and Robertson of Kindeace (Dingwall, A.M. Ross & Co., 1895), p. 23, available via Open Library at http://archive.org/stream/genealogyoffamil00doug#page/24/mode/2up [accessed 18/10/2013].

3. Ibid., pp. 23-24. Brenda M. White, ‘Traill, Thomas Stewart (1781–1862)’ ODNB. Associated manuscripts: National Library of Scotland GB233/MS.19329-19336, Papers of Thomas Stuart Traill; Liverpool Record Office, 920 PAR/22 Parker Family Papers which includes letters between Thomas Stuart Trail, Christian Robertson and their children.

4. Email from David Alston, 14/10/2013, sourced to the will of Peter Miller Watson, Principal Probate Registry, proved 30 April 1869 and Wikipedia entry for Andrew Watson (footballer). Marriage of Andrew Watson, GROS 1877 644/13 100. Will of Ann Parker nee Traill, GROS SC6/46/9 Ayr.

5. National Probate Calendar 1869.

We are grateful to David Alston for his assistance in compiling this entry.