Clan Watson
| Clan Watson | |
|---|---|
| File:WatsonCrest.png | |
| Motto | Insperata Floruit[2] (Unexpectedly Flourishing) |
| Profile | |
| Region | Midlothian |
| District | Corstorphine |
| Clan Watson has no chief, and is an armigerous clan | |
| Historic seat | Saughton House[3][4] |
Clan Watson is a Scottish clan that is recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.[5][6] However, the clan does not currently have a chief recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon and is therefore considered an armigerous clan.
The name Watson is derived from Wat, a diminutive form of the personal name Walter, with the addition of the patronymic suffix " -son". The name Watson is believed to have been introduced to Scotland in the early 11th century, during the reign of Edward the Confessor.[7] However, being wide spread and patronymic, has no single origin.
According to the National Records of Scotland in 2021, Watson is the 19th most common surname in Scotland.[8]
Origins and history
The earliest record of the name 'Watson' in Scotland is a John Watson who held land in Edinburgh in 1392.[9]
The last known Clan Chief recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms was James Watson Esq. of Saughton (1781-1823) who matriculated arms in 1818 and within which was stated as being "Chief of the name in Scotland" and "descended in the direct male line from Richard Watson of Saughton, proprietor of those lands in A.D. 1537".[10][11][12] According to A.S. Cowper, the Watsons of Saughton are believed to have descended from the Watsons of Cranston Riddell in Midlothian.[13]
The father of James Watson Esq. of Saughton, Charles Watson of Saughton was stated as being "Chief of the name in Scotland" within the contemporary publication "Antient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond" written by John Philip Wood and published 10 years before the death of Charles Watson in 1794. To date there is no record of Charles Watson being recognised by The Court of Lord Lyon as being a Clan Chief.[15]
The direct line of James Watson Esq. of Saughton ended when his daughter Helen Watson married Sholto John Douglas, 18th Earl of Morton.[16][17][18][19]
By the 19th Century Watsons were considerable landowners around the Edinburgh and Midlothian area.[20]
Historic seat
The historic seat of Clan Watson is Saughton, Midlothian.
The name 'Saughton' (referred to anciently as 'Salectuna'[21]) most likely comes from the Scots word 'Sauch' which in turn may derive from the Gaelic word 'Saileach' which means willow.[22]
Sauchton first appears in the records with the formation of Holyrood Abbey in 1128, being amongst the lands given by King David I of Scotland to the Abbey as "the town of Sauchton and its several divisions".[23][24]
Robert, Commendator of Holyrood Abbey, granted a charter of feu farm of six oxengates of the town and lands of Saughton, in the Regality of Broughton, in favour of Janet Stenhope relict (widow) of Richard Watson of Saughton, in liferent, and his son James Watson in fee, in the year 1537, having resumed ownership of the lands after the family had been dispossessed of them for a hundred years.[25][26]
Saughton House (Old Saughton House) was located 1 mile South of Corstorphine and was passed down through the descendants of Richard Watson until James Watson (Grandfather of the last known Chief of the Watson Clan) who purchased Cammo House in 1741 for £4252, 10s and changed the name to "New Saughton".[27]
Mr. W. Traquair Dickson, a solicitor, who later owned Old Saughton House stated, "A good many alterations on the house were made, evidently about the end of the seventeenth or early in the eighteenth century. The Watsons of Saughton were then wealthy and prominent people."
In 1918 the house was destroyed by fire[28] and was later demolished to be replaced with a school and today is now a housing estate.[29]
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Old Saughton House 1888
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Old Saughton House following fire in 1918
Notable individuals associated with Clan Watson
James Watson Esq. of Saughton (Chief of the Name in Scotland)
James Watson of Saughton (1781-1823) is the only Watson known to be recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon as 'Chief of the Name in Scotland'. He matriculated arms on 3 June 1818.
Transcript from the "Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland" (Vol. 2, Folio 178, 1818):-
James Watson of Saughton in the County of Edinburgh Esquire, Chief of the Name in Scotland, Eldest Son and Heir of Charles Watson of Saughton deceased, of Lady Margaret Carnegie daughter of George Earl of Northesk which Charles Watson was only surviving son and Heir of James Watson of Saughton deceased by Lady Helen Hope daughter of Charles Earl of Hopetoun, which James Watson was descended in the direct male line from Richard Watson of Saughton Proprietor of those Lands A.D. 1537 – Bears Argent an Oak tree proper surmounted of a Fess azure; Crest Two hands holding the trunk of one Oak Tree sprouting out fresh branches the hands issuing out of Clouds all proper. Motto Insperata Floruit. Supporters, Two Griffins proper, each Gorged with a Ducal Coronet Or. Matriculated 3 June 1818 [30]
When James applied for supporters to his arms he drew his descent not only from the Cranstoun line but also from the Royal House of Stewart as his Grandmother, Lady Helen Hope, and his mother, Lady Margaret Carnegie, had lines of ancestry from James II, King of Scotland.[31]
Major-General David Watson
Major-general David Watson (1704–1761)[32] was a Scottish Officer of the British Army, serving in the Royal Engineers. He was the son of Robert Watson of Muirhouse, descendants of the ancient family of Saughton[33]. David fought in multiple battles during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Jacobite Rising, including the Battle of Culloden. However is most noted for his contributions to the first Ordinance Surveys of Great Britain[34][35][36].
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Col. David Watson by Paul Sandby (c. 1750)
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General David Watson by Andrea Soldi
Charles Hope Watson (1786-1836) was the son of Charles Watson Esq. of Saughton, and younger brother of the last known Chief of Clan Watson, James Watson Esq. of Saughton. He is listed within The Trafalgar Roll[37], having served as an 18 year old Midshipman aboard HMS Defence during the Battle of Trafalgar under the command of Capt. George Johnstone Hope.[38] Charles also served upon frigate HMS Unité as a Lieutenant, under the command of Captain Patrick Campbell during the capture of three Italian brigs in the Adriatic in 1808, and upon promotion to the rank of Captain in the Royal Navy captained both HMS Arachne, an 18 gun Cruiser, and HMS_Talbot_(1824) a 28-gun, Atholl-class frigate.[39]
David Watson (Writer to Her Majesty's Signet)
David Watson of Saughton (1637-1685) was admitted to The Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet on 1st June 1655, having been apprenticed to Harry Osburn, and served as Treasurer of the society between 1662-1682.[40]
He was also the first known member of the Watsons of Saughton to matriculate arms with the Court of the Lord Lyon. Recorded as:-
Mr David Watson of Saughtoun within the Shiresdome of Edinburgh Bears argent one Oak-tree growing out of a mount base proper, surmounted of a fess azur. Above the shield one helmet befitting his degree mantled gules doubled argent, Next is placed on one torse for his crest two hands mooting up the trunk of one Oak sprouting out branches. The motto in one Escroll Insperata floruit. Matriculated the 18th of June 1673.[41]
Clan Watson Tartan
Designed in 1932 by Rev Mhuir Watson, minister at Glamis Church.[42] Ancient and Weathered versions of the tartan are sometimes available from tartan suppliers.
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Watson Modern. Designed by Rev. Mhuir Watson in 1937
The Watson Mazer
The Watson Mazer[43] is the earliest in the sequence of Scottish standing mazers, featuring the coat of arms of David Watson of Saughton. Chemical analysis places it in the early 16th century.[44] It is constructed of a maplewood bowl with a silver-gilt band, resting on a silver stem and an inscribed trumpet-shaped foot.
On the foot of mazer is the inscription "TYNE GEIR TYNE LITIL TYNE HONOVR TYNE MUCKIL TYNE HART TYNE AL" which translates to "Lost wealth lost little, lost honour lost much, lost heart lost all".
The Watson Mazer is on display as part of the Silver Treasury, level 5 of the Scotland Galleries in Edinburgh.
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The earliest in a series of Scottish Standing Mazers from the early 16th Century.
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Engraved centre with the arms and initials of David Watson of Saughton.
Clan Watson Society
The Clan Watson Society, founded in 2004 by Shane Watson, states that their mission is "to create a clan society that is the familial home for Watsons the world over" and welcoming "not just those that were born or married into the Watson family, but also anyone with an interest in the history of the Watson name and its variants and in today’s global Watson community".[45]
Notes and references
- ↑ Watson Clan Members Crest
- ↑ A system of heraldry, speculative and practical, with the true art of blazon, according to the most approved heralds in Europe by Alexander Nisbet (Published 1816) p.22 - OCLC 181837040
- ↑ Canmore - National Record of the Historic Environment
- ↑ House and Heritage 'Saughton House'
- ↑ Register of the Lyon Court (Vol. 2, Folio 178, 1818) - Available via ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk
- ↑ Council of Scottish Clans & Associations
- ↑ House of Names
- ↑ National Records of Scotland 'Most Common Surnames'
- ↑ Scottish History of the Watson Family 'Flowers of the Forest'
- ↑ Register of the Lyon Court (Vol. 2, Folio 178, 1818) - Available via ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk
- ↑ The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club. -- Vol. 1-35 (1908-1985) p.194 OCLC 887931989
- ↑ Stirnet "Watsons of Saughton"
- ↑ "Watsons of Saughton Tombstone - South Aisle" by A.S. Cowper. (Published 1984) - OCLC 314891867
- ↑ ArtUk.org
- ↑ Antient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond by John Philip Wood (Published 1794) p.63 - OCLC 953326100
- ↑ The Heraldry of the Douglases by Johnston, G. Harvey (Published 1907) p.80 - OCLC 5165924
- ↑ Armorial families; a directory of gentlemen of coat-armour by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (Published 1970) p.560 ISBN 0804807213 9780804807210
- ↑ "History of the Chief of Clan Watson". Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
- ↑ A Midlothian Village - Manuscript by G. Upton Selway (dated 1890) p.39
- ↑ Scottish rural society in the sixteenth century by Sanderson, Margaret H. B (Published 1982) p.143 - IBSN: 0859760278 9780859760270
- ↑ The Scottish Historical Review Vol. XIV, No. 56 (Published 1917) p.312
- ↑ History of Saughton Park
- ↑ The Scottish Historical Review Vol. XIV, No. 56 (Published 1917) p.312
- ↑ The Lands and Manor House of Gorgie
- ↑ The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club Vol. 3 (Published 1910) p.194 OCLC 781145345
- ↑ A Midlothian Village - Manuscript by G. Upton Selway dated 1890 (Page 38)
- ↑ Memoirs of the life of Sir John Clerk of Penicuik Publications of the Scottish Historical Society - Volume XIII (Published 1892) p.274 OCLC 41962846
- ↑ The Daily Record, 2 February 1918
- ↑ [https://houseandheritage.org/2018/02/02/saughton-house/ HouseandHeritage.org - Saughton House
- ↑ Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland" (Vol. 2, Folio 178, 1818)
- ↑ "Watsons of Saughton Tombstone - South Aisle" by A.S. Cowper. Published 1984. OCLC 314891867
- ↑ Biography of Major-General David Watson from Insperata Floruit Newsletter (Published 2022)
- ↑ Ancient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond by John Philip Wood (Published 1794) p.27 OCLC 953326100
- ↑ Baigent, Elizabeth (2008). "Watson, David (1713?–1761), military surveyor and engineer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/28834. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
- ↑ Watson, David (1713?–1761), military surveyor and engineer Hewitt, Rachel (2010). Map of a Nation: A Biography of the Ordnance Survey. London: Granta Books ISBN: 1847084524, 9781847084521
- ↑ Ordnace Survey - Map Makers to Britain Since 1791 By Tim Owen and Elaine Pilbeam (Published 1992) ISBN 0319004988
- ↑ The Trafalgar Roll p.173
- ↑ The National Archives "Trafalgar Ancestors" Catalogue reference: ADM 36/15942
- ↑ Royal Naval Biography of Charles Hope Watson Esq.
- ↑ A History of the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet (Published 1890) - OCLC 5043324
- ↑ Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland
- ↑ The Scottish Register of Tartans
- ↑ The Watson Mazer on Insperata Floruit
- ↑ Chemical analysis of the Cadboll Cup and the Watson Mazer by Hugh McKerrell (Published 1971)
- ↑ Clan Watson Mission and Values
External links
This article "Clan Watson" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Clan Watson. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
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