Trafford

Born in West Butterwick, Lincolnshire the birth registered during the June
quarter 1876 in the Gainsborough R.D. - ref: 7a/740, the son of Arthur &
Mary Elizabeth Watson (nee Fowler).

1881 Census - Holly House, Burringham, Lincolnshire.    Grandson - aged: 5
- Scholar - born: West Butterwick, Lincolnshire.   Head of household -
William Fowler - Married - aged: 58 - occ: Farmer - born: West Butterwick,
Lincolnshire.    Also - Mary Fowler - Wife - aged: 56 - born: Burringham,
Lincolnshire.  Plus 3 aunts/uncles and 1 domestic servant.

His parents were residing at Trevethan Terrace, Falmouth Municipal Borough,
Cornwall.    Head of household - Arthur Watson - Married - aged: 30 - occ:
Ironmongers Assistant - born: Halifax, Yorkshire.    Also -Mary Elizabeth
Watson - Wife - aged: 31 - born: Butterwick, Lincolnshire.   Plus  2 elder
and 1 younger siblings, all born in Yorkshire.

His father died a month or two after the 1881 census - aged: 30.

1891 Census - Holly House, Main Street, Burringham, Yaddlethorpe,
Lincolnshire.    Grandson - aged: 15 - born: West Butterwick, Lincolnshire.
   Head of household - William Fowler - Married - aged: 68 - occ: Farmer of
100 Acres, employing 2 Labourers - born: West Butterwick, Lincolnshire.   
Also - Mary Fowler - Wife - aged: 65 - born: Burringham, Lincolnshire. 
Also his widowed mother - Mary Elizabeth Watson - aged: 41 - born: West
Butterwick, Lincolnshire.   Plus an aunt and 2 farm servants.

1901 Census - 44 Cable Street, Lancaster Town, Lancashire.    Boarder -
Unmarried - aged: 24 - occ: Clerk - born: Butterwick West, Lincolnshire.

Married - Fanny Johnson at St, Mary's P.C. Lancaster during the September
quarter 1903 in the Lancaster R.D. - ref: 8e/1414.  Their first child, a
daughter, was born 2 years later; Mary Letitia was named after her paternal
[Maryl and maternal [Letitial grandmothers. There were three other
children, Lewis, Caroline and Mabel, born over the next four years.

1911 Census - 52 Bridge Road, Lancaster, Lancashire.   Head - Married -
aged: 34 - occ: Commercial Clerk - born: West Butterwick, Lincolnshire.
Also Fanny Watson - Wife - aged: 33 - born: Barbon, Westmoreland.    Plus -
3 daughters and 1 son.

At some point in the next couple of years, most likely for reasons of
Joseph's work, the family moved to the Sale area. Here they settled at
"Afvanley". Hollins Grove, Ashton-upon-Mersey.   They were living here when
war broke out. Joseph, although 38 at the time and with four young
children, nonetheless enlisted in due course, at Chester. Originally posted
to France with the King's Regiment, after being wounded, he transferred to
the Labour Corps.  They were very busy building shelters and particularly
laying passable roadways across the wet and boggy countryside; without
these it would be impossible for field guns, resupply wagons and rations to
get forward to support the frontline troops. It was not a job without its
dangers.  Joseph was killed in action in Belgium on the 13th of July 1917,
killed by a shell.

During the Third Battle of Ypres

M.I. - "Abide with me".

MIC - Victory & BWM - no other details.

Resided at "Alvenly", Hollins Grove, Ashton upon Mersey.   It is believed
that his children attended All Saints School, Ashton upon Mersey.