Samuel Watt

Merchant in Jamaica of Irish origin.

1. Uncle of John Watt and brother of James Watt of Ramelton, County Donegal, Ireland. In partnership with William Cramsie and James McDowell. Returned to Ireland in 1825 and died in 1826.

2. Boxed tomb in Tullyaughnish Church, Ramelton: 'Underneath, in the grave of his relations the Longs of Aughnish is deposited the body of Samuel Watt, son of James Watt of Claragh who died 20th February 1826. Florinda Watt, eldest daughter of the above named James Watt died 23rd July 1862 aged 89 years. Anne Scott died 8th May 1873 aged 69 years. James Watt of Claragh, eldest son of A. A. Watt of Derry and grandson of the above named James Watt died 22nd January 1862 aged 47 years. "In the midst of life we are in death." Mary Watt of Claragh, wife of the above named James Watt died 24th November 1868 aged 48 years. Their grandson James Watt died 7th May 1893 aged 4 years. Their son James Watt died 7th August 1920 aged 63 years. His son David Montgomery Watt died 12 September 1923 aged 33 years...'

The career of Samuel Watt is summarised in Nini Rodgers, Ireland, Slavery and Anti-Slavery: 1612-1865 pp. 83-91.

1. Email from Jennifer McLaren 26/01/2017 sourced to Watt family correspondence, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, MIC135. Detail about John Watt's arrival in Jamaica in letter dated 21 May 1816 from Samuel Watt, Kingston, to James Watt, Ramelton. Detail about transfer of Samuel Watt's slaveholding to John Watt in letter dated 3 December 1827 from John Watt, Kingston to James Watt, Ramelton.

2. 'Tullyaughnish Graveyard, Ramelton, Co Donegal', http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donegal/tullyaughnishGY.htm [accessed 09/02/2017].

We are grateful to Jennifer McLaren for her assistance with compiling this entry.