Duncan Watson was born on 11 January 1873 in Eastwood, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the tenth of the eleven children of Joseph Watson (1831-1905) and Margaret Paton Watson née Connell (1833-1919). His ten siblings were: Joseph Watson (1858-1920); Charles Connell Watson (b.1859); Thomas Watson (b.1861); William C. Watson (b.1861); Janet Cousar Watson (b.1864); Jessie Watson (b.1865); James Watson (b.1867); Mary Todd Watson (b.1869); Hugh Connell Watson (b.1871) and Margaret Paton Connell Watson (1876-1952).
In the 1881 census he is shown aged 8 years and a scholar living at Auld House Cottage, Eastwood, Renfrewshire, with his parents and five siblings: Charles Connell Watson - an engine fitter; Thomas Watson - a formally potato merchant servant; William Watson - a forester; Mary Todd Watson - a scholar and Margaret Paton Connell Watson - a scholar. His father was described as a potato merchant.
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 18 years and an engineer living in Auldhouse Cottage, Thornliebank Road, Eastwood, with his parents and five of his siblings: Thomas Watson - a potato salesman; William Watson - a cattle dealer; Jessie Watson; James Watson - formally an engineer and Margaret Paton Connell Watson. His father continued to be shown as a potato merchant.
In 1899 he became an Associate Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (A.M.I.E.E.) giving his address as 100 Charing Cross Road, London WC, becoming a Member of the Institute of Electrical Engineers (M.I.E.E.) in 1908.
On 9 October 1900 he married Ella Mary Orchard (1875-1946) at St Andrew's Church, Greyhound Road, West Kensington, London, where in the marriage register he is described as aged 27 years, a bachelor and an electrical engineer, residing at 1 Normand Gardens, Greyhound Road, West Kensington, whose father was listed as a grain merchant, whilst his wife was shown as aged 24 years and a spinster living at 29 Gunterstone Road, West Kensington, the daughter of William Edward Orchard, a gentleman.
He and his wife had six children: Joseph Connell Watson (1901-1966); Phyllis Mary Watson (1903-1907); Duncan McVicar Watson (1906-1907); Ella Mildred Watson (1908-1970); Douglas Ian Watson (1912-1933) and Joan Watson (1915-1996).
He was shown in the 1901 census as aged 28 years and an electrical engineering contractor, living at 3 Chepstow Place, Kensington, with his wife, together with a female domestic servant.
On 10 March 1903 he was initiated as a freemason in the Urban Lodge No.1196 that met at Freemasons' Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC and in the United Grand Lodge of England's register he was shown as aged 30 years, an engineer and residing at 100 Charing Cross Road, London, WC.
On 19 February 1919 he departed from Liverpool, Lancashire, as a 1st class passenger aboard the S.S. Lapland of the White Star Line, bound for New York, USA.
He served as and was on 17 February 1927 by HM The King at Buckingham Palace.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is shown as an electrical engineer and company director living in Scamells Corner, Red Lane, Dorking, Surrey, with his wife together with a cook, a personal maid, a parlourmaid and a housemaid.
His death, aged 86 years, was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1959 in the Surrey South Eastern Registration District. Probate records confirm his address to have been Scammells Corner, near Blackbrook, Dorking, Surrey and that he died on 27 September 1957 and when probate was granted on 29 October 1959 to Lloyds Bank Ltd his effects totalled £1,414,116-3s-3d. The on 3 November 1959 that the net value of his estate was £1,374,463, but that estate duty took £935,343 leaving only £439,120 for his beneficiaries.
He is shown as 'ALDERMAN DUNCAN WATSON J.P. M.I.E.E. MAYOR' on the opening memorial stone on Westminster Council House, Marylebone Road, London, NW1.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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