Dear Mark, Unfortunately I do not know much about my London Watson's ancestors however here is what is known: My gt. uncle was Robert James Watson, born 7th. February 1876 Highgate, Middlesex (i.e. London) He was always interested in the military and joined the Volunteers (reservists, for home defence only) in 1895: 2nd. Middlesex Volunteer Artillery. As the Boer War went on longer than expected he volunteered to go out to South Africa but had to join another unit to be able to travel abroard, the rather flamboyant and upmarket City of London Imperial Volunteers in 1900, which gave him the Freedom of the City. He was in their Mounted Infantry. After several months in South Africa chasing Boers he had to return home with enteric fever. By the time he had recovered the C.I.V. no longer existed so he joined the 24 Batt. Imperial Yeomanry - the Metrolpolitan Mounted Rifles (now known as the Westminster Dragoons and recently active in the Gulf), and went back to S.A. in 1901 where he remained to the end of the Boer War. After that he moved to India (Calcutta) where he joined the 2nd. Battalion (Presidency) Calcutta Volunteer Rifles and where he married an Amy Jewel. Not much known of this family. He also rose high in the Indian Civil Service. Around 1918 while on 1 year military leave he was for a time vice-consul in San Francisco (would like to find out more about that) and also applied to the U.S. War Dept. (Washington) for temporary military attachment, and for which I have his C.V. which makes for interesting reading. He returned to India about March 1919 living in Calcutta still in the Civil Service but later manager of Grand Hotel there. He and his wife were also somehow involved in the Remington typewriter company and also importing American cars (Cryslers I think) to India. They eventually retired back to the UK Merseyside around 1930s. His (still) unconfirmed parents where George Watson b. abt. 1852 Barking, Hartfordshire, and his wife Jane Ambrose Cory b. abt. 1855 in Islington, Middlesex. 1881 census living at 14 Cumberland St. Islington. If you have not already used them, two excellent sites for London family research are: London-L@rootsweb.com and Middlesex_County_UK-L@rootsweb.com and there are plenty of Watsons there, but be warned: expect a mass of messages. You might also try: clro@corpoflondon.gov.uk City archives, Corporation of London, includes records and datat of City based troops Manuscripts.Guildhall@corpoflondon.gov.uk Good hunting, Chris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Watson" <watsonresearch@hotmail.com> To: "Chris Woods" <chris.woods@eidosnet.co.uk> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 3:26 PM Subject: Spam Alert: Re: [WATSON] Manchester England > My ancestor John WATSON (1728-1810) was said to have come from London about > 1750. His wife's name was Margaret, and they are found in Albemarle Co., VA > by 1777 (likely earlier). Sons names: John, Joseph, Jesse, Evan and David; > Dau's Mary, Judith, Anne, Elizabeth. > > Any leads on the other side of the pond? > > Mark Watson > California >