Catalogue description Papers of John Watson of Loveday St., W. Bromwich (d. 1876) and his executors and trustees

Most of the papers in this collection arrived in three bundles, wrapped in brown paper. Owing to the miscellaneous nature of the contents of each bundle all three were split for listing purposes. The original division was as follows:

Bundle 1. 1/2/1/1-22; 1/2/2/1-22; 1/2/3/1-16; 1/3/3; 1/3/5; 1/5/3; 3/17; 4/2-5, 9, 13, 17; 5/5; 7/1, 5.

Bundle 2. 1/3/1, 2, 4; 1/4/1-6; 1/5/4-7; 3/15; 4/1, 7, 8, 10-12, 14-16; 5/1-4, 6, 7; 6/1-3; 7/2, 3, 6.

Bundle 3. 1/5/1, 2; 2/1, 3; 3/1, 3-14, 16.

Items not mentioned above arrived loose.

Watson, John of West Bromwich fl 1819-1876, publican

• West Bromwich, Staffordshire

During his lifetime John Watson was a publican, keeping the King and Constitution in Loveday St., W. Bromwich, a tobacco dealer, a collector of property tax and a property owner.

He owned property in three areas - W. Bromwich, Fradley nr Lichfield and Boscomore nr Penkridge, all in Staffs. The first consisted of, at various times, a house in Beale St. (no. 21), 2 in Bratt St., 1 in Cronehills, 7 in Dartmouth St., 7 in Duke St. (inc. nos. 6-16 even), 3 in Gregory St. (nos. 5-9 odd), 3 in Loveday St. plus the King and Constitution p.h. (nos. 9, 11, 21, 33), 2 at Mayers Green (nos. 23, 25), 9 in Messenger Lane (inc. nos. 1, 5-11 odd), 7 in Walsall St. (inc. nos. 79, 81, 82, 83). The Fradley property was partly freehold, partly copyhold of the manor of Alrewas. The Boscomore property consisted of 5 cottages.

John Watson acted as executor and trustee under the will of John Hopkins of Charlemont, W. Bromwich, who died 28 Dec. 1846. These duties were taken over by his own executors on his death.

Watson died 1 March 1876. The main bulk of his property was left in trust for his nephew John Watson junr on reaching the age of 21. This occurred in 1891. The three executors and trustees were Thomas Martin, Edward Maud and William Watson. Because no provision was made in the will for the maintenance of John junr before he reached the age of 21, a case was brought in Chancery for the use of part of the income of the property for this purpose.

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