Person:Watson Clare (1)

Watson Clare was baptised on 3rd February 1732 at Asgarby near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, son of Solomon and Elizabeth Clare. Watson's mother was buried on the same day he was baptised, suggesting she may have died giving birth to him or shortly afterwards.

On 2nd December 1755, aged 23, Watson married Frances Preston, who was from the neighbouring parish of Kirkby la Thorpe, where they married. After their marriage they moved initially to the nearby village of Howell, having two children baptised there in 1757 and 1758.

Some time between 1758 and 1759 they moved some 26 miles south-east to the small town of Long Sutton (also known as Sutton St Mary at the time), where they had another two children baptised in 1759 and 1761, although one died young.

They moved again some time between 1761 and 1765, moving another nine miles further south to the town of Wisbech in Cambridgeshire. At Wisbech they went on to have another five children baptised between 1765 and 1773, although again it would appear that some died young.

Frances has yet to be traced after the baptism of their youngest child in 1773.

Watson lived to be 88 years old. He died at the workhouse in Wisbech, being buried on 15th September 1820.

1. ↑ Church of England. Parish Church of Asgarby (near Sleaford, Lincolnshire). Parish registers, 1676-1837. (Lincoln, England: Lincoln Archives Office, 1991).

   Watson the son of Solomon Clare & Elizabeth his late wife was baptiz[e]d February the 3d 1731 [i.e. 3 Feb 1731/2]
   Elizabeth Clare was buryed Feb[ruary] 3d 1731

2. ↑ Cambridgeshire Burials (Cambridgeshire Family History Society).

   bur. 15 Sep 1820, St Peter, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire: Watson Clare of Work House, aged 92 [1727/8]