James WATT III

From Tomerong Past Wiki
James Watt 1860 - 1943

James WATT III (1860-1943) was born at Tomerong (probably Torben Hill) and was the eldest child of James WATT II and Margaret MATHIE I.[1]

At the age of eight, James was a student at Tomerong Public School under the tutelage of Matthew CRAIG when he attended a School picnic at Erowal following the end of year (1868) examinations. The correspondent reported "... Arithmetic, mental and manual, appeared to have been placed on an equal grade with grammar in the scale of study. The solutions by the scholars of questions in mental Arithmetic were for promptitude and accuracy creditable to the teacher and the taught. And, at an elementary school, it must be admitted that these subjects are entitled to prominence in this case assigned to them. Reading writing from diction, and geography came in for a share in the exercises, and were evidently not excluded from the routine of instruction. To pass over without remark industrious merit in a grievous sin of omission. A word spoken in due season has inaugurated a career of excellence for many a youthful student. Without disparagement to the deserts of other scholars, Miss Marian Mathie, Miss Catherine Bryce, Master Alexander BRYCE, Master Patrick Daley, and Master James Watt, distinguished themselves by the readiness and correctness of their replies to the questions propounded."[2]

In 1888, 28 year old James Watt married 17 year old Mary Ann TURNER (1871-1955) at Bolong. Mary was born at Tomerong and, just like James she was one of 12 children. Her parents were Charles TURNER, who had been born near Great Yarmouth in England and arrived in NSW in 1855 aged 14, and Elizabeth BARHAM, the daughter of James BARHAM who had purchased the land on which most of the village of Tomerong is located. The Turners had purchased land south of Torben Hill near, what is now, the Quarry and were near neighbours. [3]

Mary Turner 1871 - 1955

In late 1892 a meeting was held to form a Literary & Debating Society and James was elected to the Speakers Chair. They would meet twice a month, around the full moon, with speeches generally lasting 20 or 10 minutes. Their debates included "Is it desirable to admit coloured labour to the colonies?", "That it is better to have a pretty wife who is a bad housekeeper." The newspaper report stated "The residents are to be complimented for the effort they have made in forming such a society, which undoubtedly will prove a boon to the community at large not only now but in future generations. The talent exists in the district and only requires cultivation." Later meetings debated questions such as "Which is the more conducive to the happiness of mankind, single or married life?", "Which is the most destructive element, Fire of Water?" and popular topics at the time such as female suffrage, free trade versus protection, Federation, the formation of a local Progress Committee and a School of Arts.[4]

Unlike some of his younger brothers James didn't feature prominently as a player in Tomerong's Cricket teams. However he did contribute to executive roles as a Vice-President, President and chairing meetings and fundraising events. He is mentioned between 1896 and 1912 and was the President in 1911-12.[5]

When John James PARNELL died at the age of 90 in 1896 the opportunity arose for purchasing land close to Torben Hill. John was a large landowner and owned Portion 92 which he had Conditionally Purchased in 1862. The 58 acres was located directly north, just across the Huskisson Road, from Torben Hill and the land was transferred to James in 1900. Here they made their home, probably called Rosehill (now Pepper Tree Farm), and they would add to this including Portion 93, an adjoining portion of almost 58 acres, and later most of Portions 10 and 11 totalling almost 225 acres.[6]

James became a Provisional Director of the new Tomerong Creamery in 1895. New laws on dairy farming and technology improvements meant farm based milk, butter and cheese processing would be better done at a purpose built factory. James' brother Alexander WATT would manage the factory.[7]

Like his father James was a regular donor at Union Church meetings. He became a Trustee of the Presbyterian Portion of the Ulladulla Cemetery in 1896, and a Trustee and Sunday School teacher of the Tomerong Union Church where he would fill executive roles on the Committee.[8] He was on the School Board and was also a President of the P&C.[9] James and Mary were actively involved with the Sunday School, attended by their seven children born between the years of 1890 and 1908; Sunday School picnics were often held at their home.[10] James was often called upon to chair community meetings, School Concerts, political meetings, Empire Day celebrations, and social occasions, or to make speeches for those leaving or returning to the district. He was part of the temperance movement and encouraged the restriction of liquor licenses without compensation.[11]

Directories show that his livestock holdings between 1910 and 1932 peaked in 1932 when he had 5 horses and 160 cattle on 800 acres. He was a JP at least from 1906 and was a Vice President on the Tomerong Fellowship Union.[12]

In 1906 James was appointed as a Preliminary Councillor on the new Clyde Shire Council.[13] James was elected for Tomerong (B Riding) and Cyril BLACKET was elected for St Georges Basin.[14] James was there to welcome the NSW Governor outside the School on his visit on 15 Oct 1908.[15] In 1911 James won the tender for the conveyance of mail by Coach from Tomerong to Huskisson. The service would increase from three to six times a week.[16]

In November of 1911 James, along with other locals, appeared at the NSW Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works concerning the proposed Railway between Bomaderry and Jervis Bay. James stated he held 800 acres and was in to mixed farming, growing potatoes, grain and fruit. The produce was for their own use and local consumption. He dairy farmed and sent the milk and cream to Nowra. He believed the Railway would benefit the district.[17]

Extracts from the Clyde Shire Rate Book for 1913 show James had 507 acres (Portions or part Portions of 5, 10, 11, 12, 92 and 93) and was also occupying (farming) Portions 91, 109 and 120, which had been owned by his father and was now owned by his sister Margaret Morgan. All the land was freehold and no longer Conditional Purchase. The annual rates for all was 641 pound.[18]

James was elected as the Clyde Shire Vice President in the 1914 elections. James would be joined as a Councillor by his brother William WATT II.[19] James' nephew, and William's son, Sidney Alexander WATT was killed at Gallipoli in May 1915 and only three months later, James and Mary's second son, Edward Charles WATT was given a send-off in the village. He would survive the war.[20] James was elected as the Clyde Shire President in 1916, 1917 and in 1928. William would also occupy the same office.[21] Cyril BLACKET, no longer a Councillor was not impressed with the brothers performance stating "...If Councillors accept the honor of the position, they must also accept the responsibility... it has been said that the two brothers are unconsciously biased by their own interests.."[22]

In 1915 James, and his brother Charles WATT I purchased the Tomerong Store from Woodhill & Co.[23] Jame's youngest daughter, Annie Agnes Watt, recalled in 1995 that her father bought the Store for her brothers Horace Murdoch WATT and Edward Charles WATT.[24]

James was supplying the Captains Point with milk in 1916.[25] James and William represented the Clyde Shire Council when they attended the Yass-Canberra-Jervis Bay Railway Conference at Yass in August.[26] Tomerong recieved a war trophy in 1920. It was a heavy machine gun and James and his son, Edward Charlie WATT, were signatories for its receipt.[27] The Shoalhaven Telegraph reported in late 1920 that Councillor James Watt was now in the possession of a motor car.[28]

James was elected as the President of the newly formed Tomerong School Parents & Citizens organisation in 1924 and is listed as Magistrate in 1925, when his brother William WATT II became Clyde Shire President.[29] The long awaited School of Arts was opened in 1926 and James, along with William George LACKERSTEEN and George Walker McGUIRE, became the owners, as Trustees, of the School of Arts land.[30] James, among others, also guaranteed the balance of the funds owing on the construction, would serve in executive roles for the School of Arts, Union Church and Red Cross. He was also a member of the Tomerong Dramatic Company.[31]

After 30 years of service James retired as a Clyde Shire Councillor in 1937. Of 427 meetings held between 1907 to 1937 he had only missed 13 and had been President in 1916, 1917 and 1928. He was presented with an Armchair from the Council Staff.[32] James and Mary's son Horace Murdoch WATT became Clyde Shire President in 1939.[33] In retirement James focussed his attention to the operation and upkeep of the Tomerong Union Church.<ibid TP3469+.</ref>

James Watt died at Tomerong in 1943 aged 83, survived by his wife and seven children. He had been an elder of the Presbyterian Church for about 40 years and a past committee member of the Shoalhaven Agricultural and Horticultural Association.[34] Mary died in Bomaderry at Horace's house in 1955 aged 84.[35]

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Notes and References

  1. ↑ Tomerong Genealogical Database R87
  2. ↑ SN 9 Jan 1869 TP56.
  3. ↑ Tomerong Genealogical Database R88. LTO TP5893. James's younger brother Andrew WATT married Mary's sister Jane TURNER in 1895.
  4. ↑ ST 30 Nov 1892 TP66+. Note- With some reports and records it is not always clear which James Watt is being referred to; James WATT III or his father James WATT II. Whilst some reports included Jnr or Snr, in this case we have made an educated guess that it is James Watt the younger i.e. the 32 year old and not his 56 year old father.
  5. ↑ A History of Tomerong Cricket, Alan Clark 2017 TP5403. Shoalhaven Cricket Research, Alan Clark TP6064.
  6. ↑ LTO TP5893. ST 18 Oct 1899 TP6217. As the land was a Conditional Purchase Portion 92 may have been transferred to James earlier than 1900.
  7. ↑ From Bullocks to Bypass : a local history of the NSW south coast village of Tomerong. M. Blair, Tomerong, N.S.W. TP5125.
  8. ↑ Church Centenary Booklet 1977 TP352. Sunday School Manuscript TP2719.
  9. ↑ GG 1 Dec 1896 TP5929. School Visitors Book 1904-7, 1924 TP5038. Broughton Creek Mail 23 Jul 1903 TP6219.
  10. ↑ SN 13 Oct 1937 TP1110.
  11. ↑ ST 2 Nov 1904 TP1423+.
  12. ↑ Sands Directories Various Years TP6053+. NAA PO Petition TP2705. ST 14 Feb 1906 TP1765.
  13. ↑ ST 23 May 1906 TP1725.
  14. ↑ CSM 13 Nov 1906 TP1999.
  15. ↑ Photo TP2107
  16. ↑ ST 1 Feb 1911 TP1844.
  17. ↑ NSW Gov, Https://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au TP6208.
  18. ↑ CSM Rate Books B Riding TP2293.
  19. ↑ CSM 13 Feb 1914 TP2173. SN 26 Jun 1915 TP4781.
  20. ↑ ST 11 Aug 1915 TP721+.
  21. ↑ CSM 4 Feb 1916 TP2188. ibid TP5125.
  22. ↑ NL 13 & 27 Oct 1916 TP5857.
  23. ↑ ibid TP5125+. Sands Directories TP6056+.
  24. ↑ Annie Watt 17 Nov 1995 TP2912.
  25. ↑ NL 21 Apr 1916 TP5985.
  26. ↑ CSM 14 Aug 1916 TP2193, 777+.
  27. ↑ AWM Allotment Form TP3305.
  28. ↑ ST 22Dec 1920 TP4937.
  29. ↑ P&C TP290. Moore's Almanac TP3320. ST 23 Dec 1925 TP833.
  30. ↑ LTO Title Deed TP4546.
  31. ↑ ST 20 Oct 1926 TP368. NL 17 Apr 1931 TP5300. SN 22 Oct 1927 TP3996+. Church Minutes 1938 TP3469+. Red Cross Register 1935 TP403.
  32. ↑ SN 17 Nov 1937 TP3009.
  33. ↑ ibid TP5125+. SN 18 Oct 1939 TP1187+.
  34. ↑ SN 22 Dec 1943 TP577.
  35. ↑ SNN 19 Apr 1955 TP1528.

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Links

  1. Tomerong Local History Web Page- tomeronghistory.com
  2. Tomerong Past Facebook Album- Tomerong Past Facebook This site may provide more information relative to this family. Check the 'Families' and 'Monuments' albums and those institutions that the family contributed to e.g. 'School', 'Sawmills', 'Clyde Shire' etcetera.
  3. James Watt on Wikitree- James Watt Wikitree
  4. Mary Turner on Wikitree- Mary Turner Wikitree
  5. WATT Family Links to this family's biographies.
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