Hello Sharilyn, I believe the John Watchman you are looking for is found in the 1850 Census, Baltimore Maryland 15Th Ward, page 17 . Enumerated July 17, 1850. He is listed as aged 60 (w/m) born in England. Value of Real Estate 12,000., Occupation, Engineer. Also living in the household is Sarah Johnson, (w/f) age 59 who was born in Pennsylvania. John Watchman did not die in the explosion of the Steamboat Medora on April 14, 1842. He was the contractor/builder of the engine of the Medora and he survived the accident. The Medora was built by The Baltimore Steam Packet Company and was taking a trial run before turning her over to her new owners (The Virginia and Maryland Steam Navigation Company), when the boiler exploded at Cully's Wharf near Federal Hill in the Baltimore Harbor. I am not sure whether John Watchman worked for The Baltimore Steam Packet Company or whether Mr. Watchman was a subcontractor for The Baltimore Steam Packet Company. I believe the latter. There was an inquest held pertaining to the explosion in which John Watchman was the first sworn to testify. There are quite a few newspaper articles regarding the Medora, in which John Watchman is named throughout, in both The Sun (Baltimore) and also the Baltimore American & Daily Advertiser. Both papers dated from April 15, 1842 through April 22, 1842 give a detailed account of the accident, the inquiry, lists of wounded and dead, and death notices. Copies may be found on microfilm at the Enoch Pratt Free Library, 400 Cathedral Street, Baltimore City, MD. Enoch Pratt also carries the Baltimore City Directories you asked about in your query. Their website is located at: http://www.pratt.lib.md.us/ Good luck with your research, Dee Gabler Pasadena, Maryland <<In a message dated 3/2/02 2:55:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, sharilyn@northcoast.com writes: > Subj:[BALTGEN-L] John WATCHMAN "noted machinist" of Baltimore > Date:3/2/02 2:55:41 PM Eastern Standard Time > From:<A HREF="mailto:sharilyn@northcoast.com">sharilyn@northcoast.com</A> > Reply-to:<A HREF="mailto:BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com">BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com</A> > To:<A HREF="mailto:BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com">BALTGEN-L@rootsweb.com</A> > <<and questions about the "Baltimore Directory" > > > I am new to Baltimore research, and I'd surely appreciate the > help of folks experienced in these things. > > I am researching the surname WATCHMAN, of which there are > precious few. > > In > > Stratton, Harriet Russell's "A Book of > Strattons", The Grafton Press. New York. 1908. > > I found this: > "...At about the same time two other Strattons appeared > in Baltimore, Robert and James, supposed to be cousins of > William. > > In 1802 they were in the grocery business, corner Lancaster and > Market > Streets, Fells Point. Nothing more is known of Robert except > that he died in Baltimore in 1836, leaving about $3,500 worth of > property, > secured by a mortgage on a house and lot in Tenth Street, New > York City. The legatees > and executors of his will were his two friends, **JOHN WATCHMAN > and > John Bratt, two noted machinists of Baltimore.** > > In related entry the book mentions the "Baltimore Directory" of > 1796-1801 in which Strattons appear. I'm wondering if "noted > machinist" John WATCHMAN might also appear in some later issue > off this directory, and how to access such a record. > > Any ideas on how I find out more about this John WATCHMAN of > Baltimore? > > The earliest John Watchman of Baltimore I find is in the 8th > Ward, on the 1820 Federal Census. Perhaps it is this same man. > > Many thanks, > > Sharilyn Whitaker>>