By Roberta McGee, (whose husband is nephew of Margaret McGee!)
Bob & Maggie - Cumnock Chronicle 1966
Bob Watson, known in Cumnock as 'Dishy', was born around 1896, whether in England or Stranraer is uncertain, and was descended from a long line of potters and china salesmen who travelled the length and breadth of the country selling their wares. They lived in caravans and were a well respected part of the travelling community.
Bob's grandfather was John Watson who was born about 1815 in Abbey Holme, Cumberland, England and his grandmother was Ann McKenzie who was born about 1818 in Dearham, Cumberland. The 1851 census shows them living 'at camp' in Orton, Cumberland and gives John's occupation as a 'rag gatherer'. Living next door to them are a family of McKenzies who are 'pot dealers', perhaps grandmother Ann's brother and family. By 1861 the family are living in Glasson, Drumburgh, which was a small settlement in Cumberland just inland from the Solway coast and about eight miles from Carlisle. Both John and Ann's occupations are given as 'dealers in potts or potter'. Bob's father Robert is on this census. He is sixteen years old and is also 'a dealer in potts or potter' which meant that they were selling wares from potteries as opposed to making them. Also on this census are Robert's siblings Elizabeth and Anne. The family's location was close to canals and railways which would make it easier for them to pick up and distribute the wares. They were, in fact, the equivalent of modern day commercial travellers. In 1871 the family are still living in Drumburgh and John's occupation is 'horse dealer', while his wife Ann and daughter Elizabeth's occupations are 'hawkers'.
On 2nd March 1871 Robert Watson married Christine Cunningham at Catherdral Lodge, Castle Street, Glasgow in the High Church district. Christina came from a long line of travellers and was born in England in 1851,
Marriage Certificate:
By Declaration in the presence of John Hall, horse dealer, and Jane Cunningham or Hall, his wife, Robert Watson aged 24 years, horse dealer, bachelor, 680 Duke Street, Glasgow. Father: John Watson, horse dealer Mother: Ann Watson ms McKenzie to Christine Cunningham aged 19 years, glass & china hawker, spinster, 580 Duke Street, Glasgow Father: Hamilton Cunningham, glass & china hawker decd Mother: Ann Cunningham ms Brough. (June Cunningham Hall was Christina's sister)
1881 saw Robert and his wife Christina living in a caravan at Stoneykirk, Wigtownshire, Scotland. Both Robert and his wife Christine are described as 'hawkers'. There are five children recorded on the census - John, Isaac, Towson, Annie (who were all born in England) and Hamilton who was 2 months old and born in Stranraer. Robert's parents, John and Ann, are living in Abbey Holme, Wigan, Cumberland.
The 1891 census shows Robert and Christina, whose occupations are described as 'dealers', are now living at 14 Sheuchan Buildings, Leswait, Stranraer, Wigtownshire. Living with them are their children Towson, aged 15 years, who is also a dealer, Annie aged 12 years, Hamilton aged 10 years, Christian aged 4 years, Elizabeth aged 2 years and Maryann aged 2 months.
In 1901 Robert is a horse dealer and living at Marle Street, Kelton, Kirkcudbrightshire, along with his wife Christine and their children Towson aged 24 years who is also a horse dealer, Christian 14 years, Lizzie 13 year, Robert 7 years and Annie 22 years.
In 1918 the family lived at Wood Street, Catrine. Robert's wife (Bob's mother) died there.
Death Certificate:
On 21st October 1918 at Wood Street, Catrine, Christina Watson aged 68 years, married to Robert Watson, dealer Father: Hamilton Cunningham dealer decd. Mother: Nannie Cunningham ms Brough decd. Informant: Mary Watson, daughter.
In 1921 72 years old widower Robert was living in a house at Caponacre, Cumnock. Also living there was his daughter Annie Watson aged 34 years whose job was 'home duties', his daughter Elizabeth Hodgson aged 23 years and her husband 24 years old William Hodgson who was a fishmonger, and Hamilton Watson, Robert's grandson, who was aged 5 years and born in Cumnock.
Bob's father, Robert, died on 18th January 1929 at 89 Townhead Street, Cumnock. His death certificate says he was 78 years old, a general dealer and widower of Christina Cunningham. His parents were John Watson, a general dealer decd and Ann Watson ms McKenzie decd. The informant was his son, Robert Watson.
Bob decided to put his roots down in Cumnock where his sister Annie had a general dealing business and he married Maggie Dempsey McGee in 1932.
Marriage Certificate:
On 17th March 1932 at Howard Street, Glasgow, by Declaration in the presence of Thomas McGee and Samuel Menzies McGee , both residing at 98 Townhead Street, Cumnock, Robert Watson aged 30 years (this is an error should perhaps be 36 years), general dealer, bachelor, 89 Townhead Street, Cumnock Father: Robert Watson, general dealer decd. Mother: Christina Watson ms Cunningham decd. to Margaret Dempsey McGee, aged 24 years, spinster, 98 Townhead Street, Cumnock Father; Thomas McGee, billposter Mother: Elizabeth McGee ms Clawson.
Bob's sister Annie died on 20th January 1944 at Ayr Hospital.
Obituary - Cumnock Chronicle 1944
Miss Annie Watson - who for 30 years has been well-known as she travelled up and down the countryside with her dish cart. The eldest daughter of the late Robert Watson, horse dealer, she had been in failing health for some time, never having completely recovered from an accident in which she was involved ten years ago with the horse and lorry. (They referred to the cart as a lorry)
After Annie died her business was continued by her brother Bob in Cumnock. Bob became affectionately known to the townspeople as 'Dishy'.
Bob was a handsome man who cut a fine figure with his long leather waistcoat, soft hat and gold fillings in his teeth. His horse and 'lorry' would navigate the streets of the town at a gentle trot with Bob ringing his bell to let the folks know that he was there and they would come rushing out with their rags to exchange them for a cup, saucer , plate or milk jug. He would stop for a cup of tea at 13 Michie Street, Cumnock, where his brother-in-law Sam McGee lived and the horse would have a well-earned rest and chomp on a bag of 'chop'. Maggie's mother, Elizabeth (Betty) Clawson McGee, a native of Carrickfergus, and her father Thomas, at one time lived upstairs from their son Sam, at No. 15, but after Thomas died in 1937 Betty moved to Townhead Street.
Bob led a healthy, active life. He was well known around the horse fairs of Wigtownshire where his father had been a successful horse dealer. Bob also played football for Townhead Thistle and the Glaisnock Lads and he loved visiting the local picture house. He'd be there about four times a week - at every change of film. He was alto a regular visitor to trotting meetings around the country.
Bob and Maggie lived at 87/89 Townhead Street in Cumnock. Bob rented land and sheds in the yard opposite his house, behind the thatched cottages, No. 116 Townhead Street, where Townhead Pit used to be. He also kept his horse there in the yard. I lived in Herdston Place and the quickest way to get from Herdston Place to Townhead Street was across that yard. How I dreaded it. I would stop when I crossed the metal bridge and wait until the horse was looking in the opposite direction, then run like the wind until I reached Townhead Street. Ironically, even if the poor horse had wanted to chase me it couldn't. It was hobbled, so its movements were restricted.
Bob and Maggie led busy, interesting lives. They were staunch members of the Baptist Church and they frequently had extended members of both their families living with them. Maggie opened a little shop in one room of their house and her daughter Christine, with her husband Jack Lowther, had a fish and chip shop there at one time also.
They had three children, Christine, Robert and Elizabeth who emigrated to Australia, Canada and New Zealand respectively. Maggie had cared for her mother Betty for many years. Betty was a strong, good-looking woman, She had come to Cumnock in 1902 and was a staunch member of the local Baptist Church. She was also closely connected with the Ladies' Orange Lodge. When she died in 1965 at the grand old age of 93 years, incidentally being the oldest woman in the Burgh at the time, Bob and Maggie decided to sell up and retire. Unlike most older couples, instead of enjoying a quiet, peaceful retirement, they decided to spread their wings and visit their children, and in the Spring of 1966, they left on the S.S.'Carinthia' from Greenock bound for Montreal to visit their son Robert in Canada. They then planned, after a year or so, to visit their daughters in Australia and New Zealand. Quite an undertaking for a couple in their late years. They would miss Cumnock but family was important and they longed to see their children again. Bob hadn't seen his sister Mary, who was also his daughter Christine's mother-in-law, in sixteen years and he looked forward to meeting up with her in Christchurch, New Zealand. Mary, who had been widowed in 1948, died in 1979 in New Zealand.
Cumnock Chronicle - Oldest residents in Cumnock - Betty McGee 2nd from left
Their son Robert had emigrated from Cumnock to Canada in the 1950s where he married Anne Williamson who was from a very old Scottish travelling family. They had a good life there as travellers but sadly both have now passed away. Christine married her cousin Jack Lowther whose family had emigrated to New Zealand from Cumnock. Jack was born in New Zealand but came back to Cumnock where he met Christine. He and Christine were married in 1950 in Glasgow. They lived in Cumnock for a while then went back to New Zealand and Australia. Elizabeth married Ian Woodley and she lives in New Zealand.
Bob and Maggie did return to Scotland in the 1970s for a visit after their trip. When they were here we drove them to the Stranraer area so that Uncle Bob could reminisce. The highlight of that visit was when he spotted an old Romany type caravan in someone's front garden and his eyes lit up. "I used to live in one like that", he said.
They returned to their daughter Elizabeth's in New Zealand to spend the remainder of their lives. They were well looked after and had a good life and were both in their nineties when they died there.
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