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Robert WATSON born Northumberland and Quartermaster of the 'Sirius' of the First Fleet to Australia

I am trying to ascertain who was the mother or Robert Watson's children (Edward, Rebecca and John) who is possibly may have been the Convict Sarah Dorset who arrived in Sydney on the ship'Lady Juliana'

Robert WATSON was born in Northumberland, England about 1766 (First Fleet record), though his birth could have been as early as 1756 (death age record). He was an Able Seaman in the Royal Navy. It is unknown whether he had a wife or family in England.

Robert (c.1777-1819) joined 'Sirius' on 20 December 1786, able seaman aged 20 from Northumberland. Stranded at Norfolk Island after Sirius was wrecked in March 1790, he returned to Port Jackson by 'Supply' in February 1791 and went back to the island by the same ship in March 1791 to become a settler. He received a 60 acre grant in April at Cascade Run and was selling provisions to government by May 1792. Watson left Norfolk Island in March 1793 by 'Kitty', planning to settle some private business at Port Jackson and return to Norfolk Island by the same ship, but in September that year he went on the colonial vessel 'Francis' remaining with her until she was wrecked in 1805. He sold his Norfolk Island land to George Legg (qv) who resold it almost at once to Lieutenant Edward Abbott of the NSW Corps. In October 1816, while harbourmaster, Watson was convicted of stealing a piece of canvas....Superintentdent of the New South Head Lighthouse at Port Jackson, having in the years since 1805 served as dockyard boatswain, senior pilot and harbourmaster. During the evacuation of Norfolk Island early in 1814 Watson piloted 'Kangaroo'. In 1819 he requested leave for health reasons, and died, aged 53 on 1 November at The Rocks, Sydney. He was buried on the 3rd, his death reported in the Hobart Town Gazette".

In 1804 he was promised 50 acres of land by Governor King - apparently the grant was not formalised. Robert was the 1st Lighthouse-Keeper of Macquarie Lighthouse at Watsons Bay, which was first illuminated on 30th November 1818. He died one year after his appointment. Robert was a signal man from 1791 to 1811. In 1800 he was in charge of battery on the east point of the Cove. Observatory Hill in Sydney is in Watson Road.

The Mitchell Library Manuscripts Card Index for Robert WATSON states Robert settled on Norfolk Island on 16 May 1791 and departed 7 Mar 1793. Source : Norfolk Island Victuallers Book. p.169 (Ref A1958) and in Mar 1793 he received permission to visit Port Jackson and sold his land on Norfolk Island in Jun 1793.

WATSON, Robert (1756-1819), harbourmaster, arrived with the First Fleet as quartermaster of H.M.S. Sirius, and was still serving in that capacity when the ship was wrecked at Norfolk Island in 1790. Next year he obtained and cultivated a grant of sixty acres on the island. This farm he sold in 1793 when he became mate of the schooner 'Francis', retaining that post until 1805 when the ship was wrecked of Newcastle. Meanwhile in 1801 Governor King had granted him land at South Head, Sydney, and there he settled, later becoming boatswain of the dockyard. In April 1811 soon after the South Head Road was completed Governor Macquarie visited Watson's Bay, as the site of the grant had come to be called. He followed up the visit by appointing Watson senior pilot and, two years later, harbourmaster. Watson's new stone house with outbuildings and a strong wall was finished about the time of Macquarie's visit and the governor later granted him a free licence to sell spirits there. For his services in piloting the 'Kangaroo' in January-March 1814 during the evacuation of Norfolk Island, he was given a gratituity of 20 pounds by order of the governor. Soon afterwards he resigned post of pilot, but retained the appointments of harbourmaster and boatswain of the dockyard until he was dismissed in November 1816 on a charge of stealing canvas. The offence was not viewed severly for long, for when the South Head Lighthouse was finished Watson was installed as its first superintendent in November 1818, on the same salary that he had received as harbourmaster (50 pounds). At the end of October 1819 he requested temporary leave on account of illness, and died at his house on The Rocks, Sydney, on 1 November. He was buried in the Sandhills Cemetery, from where his remains were removed in 1901 to La Perouse. There appears to be no record of the identity of Watson's wife, but two sons and a daughter where with him in Sydney. In 1929 a stone seat bearing the following inaccurate inscription was erected in Robertson Park, Watson's Bay :
"To commemorate Robert Watson after whom this Bay is named Quartermaster of H.M.S.Sirius 1786-1790 Signal -Man South Head 1791-1811 Pilot and Harbour Master 1811-1816 Superintendent of Macquarie Lighthouse 1818 Died 1st November 1819'.
A memorial seat was placed in his honour in 1929 at the north west end of Robertson Park, Watsons Bay.

It is not known whom Robert WATSON married, or if indeed he was married to the mother of his children, however it is possible she was the convict Sarah DORSET who arrived on the 'Lady Juliana' in 1790. Robert was known to have had three children, Edward born about 1789, Rebecca (1791) my direct ancestor who married Robert MURRAY (who possibly arrived in Sydney on 4 Apr 1807 as Seaman on 'Brothers'), and son John.

Robert Watson was Quartermaster and sail maker on HMS Sirius and is reputed to have been one of the first to set foot on Australian soil. He settled on Norfolk Island in 1790 but returned to Sydney Cove in 1793. In 1805, Watson settled on his land grant at South Head of Sydney harbour which became known as Watsons's Bay. He built a storehouse, was made a boatswain of the dockyard and in 1811 was appointed senior pilot and two years later became harbour master.. In 1816 he was dismissed for stealing canvas but appointed superintendant of the south head light house in November 1818. He died on 1 November 1819 possibly survived by two sons and a daughter.

His son Edward WATSON married Elizabeth PAWLEY at St. Phillips on 29 Jun 1811, she being born in the Colony 24/3/1795, and dying in 1836. She was the daughter of John PAWLEY (b. 1779 - Middlesex, Eng) and Hannah MURPHY (b.1769 - Brussells, Belgium). Edward and Elizabeth had one known son, Edward Jnr, born about 1818. Edward WATSON was to die on 19 Feb 1820 (These details obtained from the book, 'First Fleet Familes of Australia'). After Edward's death (Ref: 1820 320 8 and 1820 4772 2B), Elizabeth remarried John MARSHALL in 1822, having one known daughter, Ann b.1822.

Robert Watson's daughter Rebecca was possibly born in Dec 1792 on Norfolk Island, the daughter of Sarah DORSET. Rebecca would undoubtedly have been raised in the shanty towns of The Rocks, as her father Robert was a Signal Man from 1791 to 1811 and in 1800 he was in charge of battery on the east point of the Cove . A few months after her marriage on 17 Aug 1811 her father Robert was appointed Boatswain of the Dock Yard at Sydney and Harbour Master of Port Jackson. It was not until five years after her marriage that he is mentioned on the list of persons to receive grants of land at North Harbour (16 Jan 1816) and two years later on 28 Nov 1818 was appointed Superintendent and Keeper of Light at Macquarie Tower.

The Mitchell Library Manuscripts Card Index for Rebecca DORSET states she was born on Norfolk Island on 23 Dec 1792 and departed Norfolk on 22 Mar 1794. Source : Norfolk Island Victuallers Book. p.77b (Ref A1958).

On 26 Oct 1821 Rebecca and her brother John made the following Petition to the Colonial Secretary for land entitlement at Watsons Bay :
To His Excellency Lachlan Macquarie Esq etc.

The humble petition of John Watson and Rebecca Murray most respectfully showeth :
That your Excellency's humble petitioners are the only children now living of Robert Watson, deceased, late pilot and harbour master of Port Jackson. That about 17 years ago his Excellency, the late Governorn King, bestowed your humble petitioners' late father an allotment of land at South Head for the purpose of building a house thereon which has been done many years since, and your Excellency was pleased some time ago to promise your humble petitioner's father a grant of the said land. Your humble petitioners are therefore emboldened to solicit your Excellency for a grant of the same and humbly trust your Excellency to extend that promise to your humble petitioners and consider them worthy of that indulgence, and your humble petitioners will as in duty bound ever pray.
Sydney 26 October 1821. John Watson (signed). Rebecca Murray (signed)

The following answer was given :
The Surveyor General of Lands is authorised and directed to mark out and locate for John Watson and Rebecca Murray, the petitioners, the allotment of grand occupied and built upon by their later father, providing it does not exceed fifty acres and does not interfere with the any Crown purposes.
L.M. (Lachlan Macquarie) Sydney 30 October 1821

When Rebecca's husband Robert died in 1822 she was pregnant with their daughter Sarah, who was born six weeks later. At the time of her death she was living at Mr. Redman's residence in George Street. The Coroner's Jury gave a verdict of 'suffocation by excessive drinking'. Ironically, the Inquest was held in the local tavern, the afternoon after the discovery of her body. There are two transcriptions from the local papers describing her death (Sydney Gazette 30/9/1826 and Australian 30/9/1826).

SYDNEY GAZETTE: SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 1826
'Thursday last, a Coroner's Inquest was held in George Street on the body of Mrs Murray, widow of a person of that name formerly of Sydney, who was found dead the same morning. It appeared that the deceased was addicted to drinking and had gone to bed the previous night in a violent state of intoxication and Jury accordingly returned a Verdict - Died of suffocation by excessive drinking.'

THE AUSTRALIAN: SATURDAY 30 SEPTEMBER 1826
'A Coroners Inquest was held on Thursday morning last, at the Sign of the Union public house in George Street, before G.M. Slade, Esq. Coroner, on the body of Rebecca Murray. From the evidence adduced before the inquest, it appeared that the deceased was the surviving widow of Mr.Murray, the late pilot master of this Port, who may it be recollected by some was accidentally drowned between two and three years ago. The body of this poor unfortunate woman in this instance, was found in her apartment a lifeless corpse in the course of Wednesday and from the concurrent circumstances was supposed to have come by her death from suffocation, whilst in a state of extreme inebriety. Prior to the death of her husband she was said to be a woman of temperate habits but after his melancholy loss had given herself up to the habits of drinking. The Jury found a verdict that the deceased came by her death from suffocation in liquor.'

Regarding Rebecca WATSON's husband, Robert MURRAY, I have not established whether Robert was born in England or Australia, though he must have had some knowledge of the sea, as he was a Port Jackson Harbour Pilot. This is probably how he met his wife to be, Rebecca WATSON, as her father, Robert WATSON, was also a Harbour Pilot.

Prior to his marriage to Rebecca, Robert fathered a son by a female convict Mary Gough named Robert Gough born 23 Jan 1808, baptised 21 Feb 1808 : father: Robert Murray & mother: Mary Gough. Robert Gough preferred to be called Robert Murray, after his father, rather than his convict mother.

Robert died tragically in the company of two other men on a small boat returning from a local wharf which left the King's Wharf for South Head, the place of their residences. The Captain of the "Midas" who was sailing past the trio witnessed that two of the three were very drunk and they never reached their destination. No bodies were found. The next day two oars were picked up on the beach, as well as part of the boat, and later, one or two hats were found floating. The incident was reported in the Sydney Gazette dated 1st February 1822 and included in part the following transcription :

"and Mr Murray, who for many years bore, in the colonial merchant service, and also under the Government a character irreproachable for assiduity and integrity, leaves a widow (a young woman of the Colony) far advanced in pregnancy, to lament his premature end. We are unwilling for the sake of those relatives that are now disconsolate, to mention anything that would have tendency to give additional pangs to the wounded mind; but, we should fail in the performance of public duty, were we not to say, that such repentedly woeful example loudly enjoin a sufficient of reflection to induce persons to abstain from those vices, that are at once so pernicious and so awfully destructive in their consequences."

It appears that their bodies were never found, as there is no trace of any Burial Records for any of the three that drowned that evening.

Robert and Rebecca possibly had two children:
i. Robert MURRAY, b. ca 1820, possibly Sydney, NSW. His details are unknown, though there is reference to him and his mother on 8 Sep 1821 in relation to his father being the Port Jackson Harbour Pilot. At this stage it is believed that Robert Jnr was the son of Robert and his first partner Mary GOUGH and this child was raised by his second wife Rebecca.
ii Sarah MURRAY baptised 14 Mar 1822, my direct ancestor married Henry Alexander SMITH, son of George SMITH who arrived in Sydney on 12 Jul 1806 on the ship "Fortune" as a convict and whose mother was Elizabeth ROBINSON (daughter of Edward ROBINSON who arrived in the Colony on 16 Oct 1791 on the ship "Admiral Barrington" as a Convict, and Mary HARRISON who arrived in the Colony on 9 Jul 1791 as a Convict on the ship "Mary Ann".

We know very little of Robert Murray, at the time of his marriage to Rebecca WATSON it states he is a Master Mariner. In the Historical Records of Australia, a Robert Murray Captain of "Eliza" is mentioned. However, extensive details have been researched on the descendants of both his daughter Sarah and her brother Robert MURRAY Jnr. who married Rebecca BENNETT nee MILLER who came free aboard he ship "Janus" in 1820 (daughter of Elizabeth Agnes MILLER who arrived in the Colony as a Convict aboard ship "Janus".

State Records of NSW Colonial Secretary Index, 1788-1825
WATSON, Robert. Boatswain, Pilot and Harbour Master; Superintendent of Macquarie Lighthouse
Came free as Quartermaster of the 'Sirius' in 1788; appointed Boatswain of the Dockyard, Pilot and Harbour Master of Port Jackson in 1811; resigned as Pilot in 1814 and dismissed as Boatswain and Harbour Master in 1816 for stealing canvas; Superintendent of Macquarie (South Head) Lighthouse from November 1818 to October 1819; died 1 November 1819. Watson's Bay, the site of his land grant, was named after him.

1792 Jan 3-1797 May 1
On list of all grants and leases of land registered in the Colonial Secretary's Office (Fiche 3267; 9/2731 pp.2, 24, 74)

1800 - In charge of battery on the east point of the Cove (Reel 6041; 4/1719 p.53)
1810 Apr 6 - Juror at inquest on Henry Giddes (Reel 6021; 4/1819 pp.219-20)

1811 May 30
To assist his son Edward, newly appointed Master of the "Estramina", on his first voyage to Newcastle (Reel 6003; 4/3492 p.13)

1811 Aug 17
Appointed Boatswain of the Dock Yard at Sydney and Harbour Master of Port Jackson (Reel 6038, SZ758 p.225; Reel 6002, 4/3491 p.49)

1812 Apr 18-1814 Aug 6 - His salary as Harbour Master paid from Police Fund (Reel 6038; SZ758 pp.291, 400, 517)

1814 Jan 28
To accompany John Martin on 'Kangaroo' to assist in navigation of Norfolk Island waters for evacuation of the settlement (Reel 6044; 4/1730 p.159)

1814 Jan 28 - To William Hutchinson re despatch of 'Kangaroo' to evacuate Norfolk Island (Reel 6004; 4/3493 pp.24-6)
1814 Apr 30 - Paid from Police Fund for piloting 'Kangaroo' from Norfolk Island (Reel 6038; SZ758 p.488)
1814 Sep 24 - Circular re survey and inventory of sails of 'Estramina' (Reel 6004; 4/3493 p.315)
1814 Oct - Called as witness in the matter of the ship 'Surry'; in the Vice Admiralty Court (Reel 6040; 9/2735 p.31)
1814 Oct 1 - To Joseph Ross re survey of 'Estramina' (Reel 6004; 4/3493 p.326)
1814 Oct 10 - Required to appear as a witness in the Vice Admiralty Court (Reel 6044; 4/1731 p.47)
1814 Oct 11- Testimony in the case brought against the 'Surry' (Reel 6044; 4/1731 pp.67-70)
1814 Dec 10 - Robert Murray appointed Pilot for Port Jackson in place of Watson (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.18)

1815 Jan 28-1817 Apr 30
His salary as Harbour Master paid from Police Fund (Reel 6038; SZ759 pp.34, 95, 124, 155, 180, 201, 240, 348)

1815 Apr 7 - Re appointment to survey damaged rigging on 'Estramina' (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.13)
1815 Jun 3,9 - Re appointment to committee to survey bread on 'Emu' (Reel 6004; 4/3494 pp.86-8)
1815 Aug 16 - Re Committee of Survey on damage to 'Estramina' (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.143)
1815 Aug 24 - To Cossar and Ross re survey and inventory of Government Sail Room (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.149)
1815 Aug 24 - Re weekly returns of stores and expenditure (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.148)
1815 Oct 23 - Re windsails per "Emu" (Reel 6004; 4/3494 pp.239-41)
1815 Dec 28 - Re committee to survey provisions and sails of 'Emu' (Reel 6004; 4/3494 pp.295-6)

1816 Jan 1
On list of persons holding civil and military employments in New South Wales & its dependencies; as Harbour Master (Reel 6045; 4/1734 p.10)

1816 Jan 16 - On list of persons to receive grants of land in 1816; at North Harbour (Fiche 3266; 9/2652 p.28)
1816 Feb 6 - Re committee to survey cable and fore topsail of 'Lady Nelson' (Reel 6004; 4/3494 p.343)
1816 Feb 12 - Re survey of provisions and stores on 'Kangaroo' (Reel 6004; 4/3494 pp.356-7)
1816 Feb 13 - Survey and report on provisions on 'Kangaroo' (Reel 6045; 4/1734 pp.32-3)

1816 Jul 16, Aug 15
Re his suspension as Boatswain & Harbour Master as criminal charges had been laid against him for embezzlement of Government stores; his duties to be handed over to William Cosar, Master Builder (Reel 6005; 4/3495 pp.33, 34, 101)
(He was given a 3 yer jail sentence but granted an Absolute Pardon by Governor Macquarie less than two weeks later because of his 'former good character'.

1816 Oct 7 - Request by W H Hovell for position of Harbour Master to succeed Robert Watson (Reel 6045; 4/1735 p.153)
1818 Nov 28 - Appointed Superintendent and Keeper of Light at Macquarie Tower (Reel 6038; SZ759 p.524)

1819 Jun 10, Aug 24
Salary as Superintendent, Macquarie Tower paid from the Police Fund (Reel 6038; SZ1044 pp.59, 89)

1819 Oct 28
Unable through indisposition to fulfil his responsibilities as Superintendent of Macquarie Tower and requesting that Mr Murray, Pilot, be allowed to do so (Reel 6020; 2/8130 p.407)

1819 Nov 12 -
Henry Cote appointed to succeed Watson as Keeper of Lighthouse, Macquarie Tower (Reel 6038; SZ1044 p.118)

1821 Oct 26-
Memorial of his children, John Watson and Rebecca Murray, for land at South Head (Fiche 3040; 4/1827 No.145)

WATSON, John. Born in the Colony; son of Robert Watson, former Pilot and Harbour Master; former seaman
1821 Oct 26 Memorial for land at South Head (Fiche 3040; 4/1827 No.145)
1824 Jun 8 Memorial for land at Broken Bay (Fiche 3116; 4/1840A No.1032 pp.155-8)
1824 Jun 23 On list of lands granted and reserved by Sir Thomas Brisbane (Fiche 3269; 9/2740 p.31)

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'The Founders of Australia' a Biographical Dictionary of the First Fleet written by Mollie GILLEN. ; F.J.Bayldon, 'History of the pilotage service of Port Jackson' JRAHS, 20 (1934); Sydney Gazette 5 Oct, 2 Nov 1816, 6 Nov 1819; J.Watson to G.Frankland, Feb 1830 (ML); L.Macquarie to D.Wentworth 4 Nov 1811, 18 Apr 1814 (RAHS Lib, Sydney). E.J. LEA-SCARLETT; Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol.2 (1788-1850) Page 575 (Editor Douglas PIKE). Please Rate this Article

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