| Description | Contains financial notebook 1754-1881; valuation of land in Seaton Ross 1815, William Watson's scrapbook, with plans, illustrations, newscuttings, relating to Seaton Ross and surrounding areas 1820s-1850s; William Watson's book of penmanship 1824-1852, vestry book of orders 1827-1832, William Watson's book of roads in Seaton Ross 1828, William Watson's book of memorandums 1845-1850s, epitaphs notebooks 1853, burials in Seaton Ross notebook c.1855, and Sarah Jackson's recipe book nd. [c.19th century]. |
| AdminHistory | William Watson was born in Seaton Ross on 17 Mar 1784, the fourth surviving child of John and Sarah Watson. John Watson was a farmer and most of his land formed part of the estate of Constable Maxwells of Everingham, which covered most of Seaton Ross. Until 1838 William Watson was a farmer at Dial Hall, as well as a sun dial maker and land surveyor. He also served as a churchwarden at Seaton Ross. He moved to York and by 1845 was living in Pocklington and practising as a land surveyor. In 1846 he was living in Market Weighton and was still there in 1848, where he was described as a surveyor of roads. By 1851 he had returned to Pocklington. His most important works are the illustrated plans of Market Weighton 1848 and Pocklington 1855. He died on 4 Dec 1857 in Seaton Ross and was buried there. Taken from articles 'The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal' by A Harris, Volume 45, 1973, and 'William Watson of Seaton Ross. East Riding Farmer, land surveyor, map and sundial maker 1784-1857' by Malcolm Young in 'Around the Wolds' issue 102 Jun/Jul 2005 pp.9-11. |