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Watt, James, (1698-1782), Merchant

This page summarises records created by this Person

The summary includes a brief description of the collection(s) (usually including the covering dates of the collection), the name of the archive where they are held, and reference information to help you find the collection.

Surname: Watt
Forenames: James
Gender: Male
Date: 1698-1782
History: James Watt of Greenock was occupied as a merchant, a builder, a ship's chandler and a shipwright and had an interest in the American shipping trade. He also served as a member of Greenock Town Council for over 20 years.
Places:
  • Cartsdyke, Renfrewshire
  • Greenock, Renfrewshire
Biography: ODNB link for Watt, James (1698-1782) Merchant
Genealogy: James Watt of Greenock was the second son of Thomas Watt and the father of James Watt, the engineer and inventor. He was apprenticed to a builder and shipwright in Cartsdyke (Renfrewshire) and moved to Greenock about 1729 when he married Agnes Muirhead, the daughter of Robert Muirhead, a Glasgow merchant. The couple had three children: James, the engineer; John, who entered the shipping business and was drowned at sea in the Bahamas in 1763; and Jean (d. 1771), who married John Cochrane, schoolmaster of Inverkip.
Name authority reference: GB/NNAF/P153709 (Former ISAAR ref: GB/NNAF/P39637 )
Collections
Number Description Held by Reference Further information
1
1724-1787: accounts, corresp and business papers
Birmingham: Archives, Heritage and Photography Service
MS 3219/3
NRA 22549 Watt

See Annual Report 1994-95