Family and Education

b. c.1617, 2nd s. of Henry Watson (d.1635), tanner, of Burton-upon-Trent by Anne Wardle. educ. Queen’s, Oxf. matric. 10 Apr. 1635, aged 18; G. Inn 1637, called 1645, ancient 1658. m. c.1650, Rebecca, da. of Edward Villiers of Hanbury, Staffs., 2s. (1 d.v.p.) 2da.1

Offices Held

Capt. of horse (parliamentary) c.1643-6.2

J.p. Staffs. 1649-July 1660, 1668-d.; commr. for assessment, Staffs, and Lichfield 1650-2, 1657, Staffs. Jan. 1660, 1661-80, Lichfield Aug. 1660-1, 1673-4, poor prisoners, Staffs, and Lichfield 1653, security, Staffs. 1655-6, sequestrations, Staffs. 1659, militia 1659, Mar. 1660; recorder, Newcastle-under-Lyme Nov. 1660-d.; steward, Lichfield by 1663-d., commr. for recusants, Staffs. 1675; dep. steward, Stafford 1677-d.3

Biography

Watson, a lawyer of humble origin, served in the local parliamentary forces during the Civil War, and married into the county gentry. He was returned for Lichfield in 1659 on the corporation interest, and in 1660 defeated Thomas Minors, who petitioned. Lord Wharton assigned him to the management of Thomas Foley I, but he made no speeches and was appointed to no committees. It was said by the returning officer that ‘Mr Watson had made such a party at the committee for privileges that, though Mr Minors had a thousand witnesses, he should not carry it’. Nevertheless, Watson was unseated on 27 June. He seems to have had no difficulty in making his peace with the restored monarchy, and was not disturbed by the commissioners for corporations. When the Duke of Monmouth was chosen recorder of Stafford in 1677, Watson became his deputy. He was reported dead by 30 June 1683, when he was replaced as steward of Newcastle. He was survived by a son of the same name, but no other member of the family entered Parliament.4

Ref Volumes: 1660-1690

Authors: M. W. Helms / A. M. Mimardière

Notes

• 1. Vis. Staffs. (Wm. Salt. Arch. Soc. v. pt. 2), 299; Staffs. Peds. (Harl. Soc. lxiii), 236.
• 2. Shaw, Staffs. i. 165.
• 3. Staffs. Parl. Hist. (Wm. Salt. Arch. Soc.), ii. 107-8; T. Pape, Restoration Govt. of Newcastle, 29; Thurloe, iii. 423; T. Harwood, Hist. and Antiqs. Lichfield, 438.
• 4. Shaw, i. 12; CJ, viii. 76; CSP Dom. 1677-8, p. 33; Pape, 30.