William Watt

6 Lower Street
Castle Street, Walmer
Sholden Street, Sholden

 

Occupation: Surgeon

William Watt was one of Deals surgeons. He was Scots by birth but it is uncertain where in Scotland he actually came from as he shared his name with many others who were also born in the same year.

He attended Kings College at Aberdeen University and graduated with an A.M. or Artium Magister which is now commonly known as an M.A. in 1810.  Then in 1813, he gained Membership of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons or M.R.C.S. 

Soon after he moved to Kent as we find him on 20th October 1818, in Wingham marrying Anna Maria Sanky at St. Marys Church. It is not known if he had already set up in practice in Deal by the time they married but in 1819 they were living in Middle Street which is where sadly, Henry, their first child died at just 2 days old.

The site of 6 Lower Street today with Watts Alley to the left

By 1821 they are living at 6 Lower Street as William appears on the cess there. This describes number 6 as a Dwelling House and says that William also had a stable. A horse would have been as much a necessity then for a Doctor as a car is for our Doctors today.

In early 1850 William went into partnership with Alfred Baker Cutfield, a former Naval Surgeon, in 1858 the partnership was dissolved, probably as William retired, and Alfred continued on his own.

Barlett and White is the site of 6 Lower Street today. Interestingly the alley that runs alongside here is called Watts alley. Is there a link or just a coincidence?

Their fourth child, Catherine also died in 1827 at 3 days old. William and Thomas followed their father footsteps and both became doctors or surgeons. Thomas emigrated to Canada and William after a time in Plymouth returned to Deal where he died in 1899. Julia didn’t marry and remained in the Deal area until her death in 1916.

As for William and Anna Maria, they both died in Sholden and are buried together there in St. Nichola’s Churchyard.

St. Nicholas’ Church, Sholden
Name Born Baptised Married Died Buried
William Watt 3 June 1790
Scotland
Unknown Anna Maria Sanky
20 October 1818
St. Mary’s the Virgin Wingham

Born 1787
Eythorne
Buried 3 June 1879 Sholden

20 September 1860 26 September 1860 St. Nicholas’s, Sholden

The Children of William Watt & Anna Maria Sanky 

Name Born Baptised Married Died Buried
Henry 1819
Middle Street
16 July 1819
St. George’s
1819 18 July 1819
St. Leonard’s
William Godfrey 1821
Lower Street
13 April 1821
St. George’s
Unmarried 1899 22 July 1899
Hamilton Road Cemetery
Thomas Halliday 1822
Lower Street
1 November 1822
St. George’s
Millicent Wright
20 December 1881
Toronto, Canada
3 July 1902 Toronto, Canada
Catherine Agnes 1827
Lower Street
21 April 1827
St. Leonard’s
1827 24 April 1827
St. Leonard’s
Julia Frances 1828
Lower Street
5 November 1828
St. George’s
Unmarried 1916
Paddock Lodge, Sholden
6 January 1916,
Hamilton Road Cemetery

Census

Year Address Name Number of Males Number of Females
1801
1811
1821 William Watt 3 3
1831

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1841 Lower Street William Head Surgeon
Anna Wife
Thomas Son Surgeon Apprentice
Julia Daughter
John Bridger Servant
Jane Barwick Servant
Harriet Hyder Servant

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1851 Castle Street,  Walmer William Head G.P. & Magistrate – Surgeon M.R.C.S London & A.M. Aberdeen
Anna Wife
Julia Daughter
Jane Barter Servant
Sarah Sutton Servant

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1861 The Paddock, Sholden Lodge Cottages, Sholden Anna M Head Land Proprietress
Julia F Daughter
Lydia Elgar Servant Cook
Eliza Spinner Servant House Servant

Census

Year Address Name Relationship Occupation
1871 Sholden Street, The Paddock, Sholden Anna Maria Head Landowner
Julia Frances Daughter
Eliza Wyborn Servant Cook
Sarah Ann Bean Servant Housemaid