The Extinct Watson Baronetcy Of Earnock.

The Watson Baronetcy of Earnock became extinct on the 4th of May 2016 after Sir Julian Frank Somerled Watson the 7th Baronet of Earnock sadly passed away. He succeeded to the title of 7th Baronet of Earnock on the 11th of February this year after his predecessor Sir Simon Conran Hamilton Watson the 6th Baronet of Earnock died. Sir Julian had only served 2 months and 19 days as Baronet and subsequently did not have time to establish his succession! He was a keen equestrian and often visited Hamilton Racecourse to sponsor the Neilsland and Earnock stakes.

Photo taken at Hamilton Racecourse. R.I.P.

The Earnock Baronetcy started with Sir John Watson 1st Baronet of Earnock and was created  c.1895.  Sir Julian 7th Baronet had no children (male heirs) to succeed to the title. Truly the end of an era!  R.I.P.

 

 

Written by

Hamilton Historian

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

 

Ref.www.thepeerage.com. & The Daily Telegraph, 13th May 2016.

Bodysnatchers at Hamilton Old Parish Church.

On a quiet musty Sunday night in March 1823 some men who were out walking their dogs got the fright of their lives when they discovered the cadaver of an elderly woman who had been tied up into a small bundle and hidden in the bushes of the Old Parish Churchyard in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. It was the body of 60 year old Susan Sellie. After examining the churchyard the men noticed two other open graves with the bodies missing! It is presumed that the bodysnatchers intended to return for the third corpse- or that they had given up and abandoned the idea because they had reached their carrying limit!

Artists Sketch of the grave robbing scene.

At a later date a watchman was employed within the churchyard to guard the graves. He was stationed at the Watch-House  next to the gate on Cadzow Lane. The Watch-House is basically  a large Sentry Box with a flat roof and a simple pediment above the door. It is still there to this day but is now used to house bins and a wheelbarrow which is used in the grounds.

The area circled red in the above present day photo shows the “Watch-House” next to the gate at the Cadzow Lane entrance to the Old Parish Churchyard in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

 

 

Written by

Hamilton Historian

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

 

Ref.Scottish Bodysnatchers: A Gazetteer. EBook by Geoff Holder 2013.

Cadzow Oaks.

 

Hamilton Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy  standing next to a Cadzow Oak at the Earthwork Remains,  High Parks,  Chatelherault.

The Ancient Cadzow Oaks are located at the High Parks in Chatelherault. Some of the trees are nearly 800 years old; dating them as far back as when King Robert The Bruce Reigned.

The most beautiful and enchanting examples of the oaks can be seen at the Earthwork remains of a Small Prehistoric Promonotory Fort which is a short distance away from the “Castle In The Wood Of Hamilton” (Cadzow Castle).

The trees in this area are whats left of the most ancient surviving oak woodland in Scotland. Tree ring analysis dates them to the 1460’s which, roughly corresponds with the date that the Deer Park was created. And, this was a decade after the Old Collegiate Church at the Low Parks was formed.

Written by

Hamilton Historian

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

 

Ref. SLC  website.

Dukes Monument.

Hamilton Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy  standing at the Dukes Monument, Chatelherault (Barncluith).

Erected by the people of Hamilton in memory of William 11th Duke of Hamilton in 1863, the year he died. The bronze bust of the Duke which used to sit on the centre plinth in the monument is now on display at the visitor’s centre at Chatelherault.

There are nine steps leading up to the entrance of the monument and it is mainly constructed from red sandstone. On the left of the steps at the bottom is a carved coat of arms for the Hamilton Clan. And, on the right is the Chatelherault Crest. There are also nine pillars made from polished granite that support the roof. The inside underneath part of the roof is constructed from oak which has been stained. It is a paneled design with a centre rose. Behind the monument is a very sharp drop leading down to the Avon Water.

Hamilton  Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy  standing inside the Dukes Monument at Chatelherault (Barncluith).

 

During the same year of 1863 before the Duke died, he commissioned the construction of the “Dukes Bridge” located behind Chatelherault Hunting Lodge (now Visitor’s Centre). The bridge crosses the River Avon and allows access to the Cadzow Castle Ruins, Cadzow Oaks and the Dukes Monument, which is located on the edge of the Barncluith Estate, On the road leading to the entrance to the High Parks Farm. There are some fantastic woodland walks around these areas and you truly experience a real feel of the history around you. The Cadzow Oaks and Earthworks area is enchanting!

 

 

Written by

Hamilton Historian

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

 

Ref. SLC  Website.

 

 

Sir John Watson 2nd Baronet of Earnock Grave/Memorial.

Sir John Watson 2nd Bt of Earnock’s Grave/Monument At

Hamilton’s Bent Cemetery, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

Sir John Watson 2nd Bt of Earnock was just 43 years old when he died and is buried at the Bent Cemetery in Hamilton, Lanarkshire. He was employed by John Watson Limited. The company was founded by his father Sir John Watson 1st Bt of Earnock to manage the collieries he owned as well as other business ventures. The 2nd Bt eventually became the manager of the company. He was also actively involved with the Lanarkshire Yeomanry Regiment (sort of Home Guard) based in Lanark.

He lived at Eddlehurst which later became known as Laighstonehall House, it was located just off Mill Road, Hamilton, Lanarkshire (now the Mill Park Housing Estate.)

Hamilton Historian  Terence (Terry) Murphy 

Standing At The 2nd Baronet’s Grave In The Bent Cemetery, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

 

The inscription on the memorial reads as follows;

Sacred To The Memory Of

Sir John Watson

2nd Baronet Of Earnock

Born August 31st  1860

Died September 13th  1903

And To Edith Jane His Wife

Who Died 22nd March  1920

And Is Buried At Danbury Essex.

The 2nd Bt’s Wife’s Grave/Monument ; Edith Jane (Nott) Located At St Johns Church, Danbury, Essex.

Also buried at the 2nd Bt’s Grave is Ian Greville who was his infant son and lived for only 21 days. Born July 29th and Died August 19th  1894.

Sir John Watson 3rd Baronet of Earnock  was the 2nd Baronet’s second son. He was killed in action during the 1st World war, aged just 20 years old and is buried at the Pozieres Cemetery in France. He served as 2nd Lieutenant for the 16th (The Queens) Lancers.  Born February 24th  1898 and Died  March 23rd  1918.

Pastel Drawing Of Sir John Watson 3rd Bt Of Earnock.

Sir Derrick William Inglefield Inglefield-Watson 4th Baronet of Earnock was the 3rd son of the 2nd Baronet (Sir John Watson). He was also involved in the family business. He resided at the Earnock Mansion House until he married Margaret (Peggy) Aikmen during 1926 and then moved to Kent to live at a house called “Burrswood”.

Sir Derrick William Inglefield Inglefield-Watson 4th Baronet of Earnock.

Written by

Hamilton Historian

Terence (Terry) Murphy.

 

Ref.  The information in this history note was provided by the late Sir Simon Conran Hamilton Watson 6th Bt of Earnock. Sir Simon Bt also provided me with the photos! Other information was obtained via The  John Watson Journals.

 

Sir John Watson 1st Baronet of Earnock Grave/Monument.

The grave and monument to Sir John Watson 1st Bt of Earnock is located at the top section of Glasgow’s Necropolis. He was a very successful Coalmaster in Hamilton (Central Lanarkshire). Given the Baronet’s wealth and status at the time of his death the monument is actually quite modest and small in comparison to the other memorials and tombs of the era in the burial ground. The grave contains the following interments;

John Watson Jnr (Sir John Watson Bt’s infant son), The boy only lived for one day.

Agnes, His 6 year old Daughter.

John, His 7 year old son.

Agnes Simpson, His first wife, who was 49 years old.

And Himself, aged 79 when he died.

 

Hamilton  Historian   Terence (Terry) Murphy

Standing Next To Sir John Watson 1st Bt Of Earnock  Memorial/Grave

Glasgow Necropolis.

 

The monument’s inscription reads as follows;

 

John Watson Jnr

1860

In Memory Of

His Infant Son

Born 7th Oct. 1850.  Died 8th Oct. 1850.

Agnes His Daughter,

Born 9th Dec. 1849.  Died 23rd may. 1856.

John His Son,

Born 19th Jan. 1853.  Died 19th march. 1860.

Agnes Simpson,

Wife of John Watson.

(Formerly John Watson Jnr)

Born 20th May 1828.  Died 1st April  1878.

Sir John Watson.

1st Baronet of Earnock,

(Formerly John Watson Jnr.)

Born 9th July 1819.  Died 26th Sept.  1898.

 

 

Sir John Watson 1st Bt of Earnock.

 

Written By

Hamilton Historian

Terence  ( Terry )  Murphy