William "Willie" Watson

1874 - 1897  (23 years)

• Name	William "Willie" Watson
  Born	5 Mar 1874	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Gender	Male
  Residence	1881	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1]
  	Presbyterian Canada
  Misfortune	1897	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	suicide hanging
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-106059
  Died	4 May 1897	North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3, 4, 5]
  	Cause: suicide by hanging
  Buried	Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [6]
  Person ID	I106059	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	James Watson,   b. 1818, , Scotland ,   d. 20 May 1894  (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Margaret Buchan,   b. 1830, , Scotland ,   d. 25 Apr 1906, Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 76 years)
  Family ID	F28408	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  WATSON (Galt, Ont.) May 4 - William Watson, a farmer, aged 22, living on the Clyde road, about two miles from here, committed suicide this morning by hanging. For a year past the deceased has suffered intense pain in the head, which almost drove him crazy, and there is no doubt that the rash act was committed while suffering. He was a most exemplary young man and unmarried, living with his widowed mother, whose farm he managed. Hamilton Spectator 5 May 1897 _______________ William Watson Found Dead In the Barn This Morning AWFUL SIGHT MEETS HIS BROTHER Hung Suspended by the Neck from a Beam - Deceased Suffering from Mental Abberation - A Highly Respected Young Man - Cut Off in His Prime, Aged 22 A fearful sight was that which met the eyes of James Watson, Mill Creek, when he entered the barn about six o'clock this morning. There from the topmost beam hung the body of his brother, William. He was terrified by the spectacle, he gave one glance at the suspended form and with all his speed, notified John Bain McKenzie of what he had seen. The neighbors soon arrived and the unfortunate young man was taken down. He was dead. The instrument which had produced death was a chain. The circumstances were only too apparent. Watson had taken his own life. Coroner Radford was sent for. When he reached the scene of the tragedy, the body was no longer suspended in the air. An examination showed that the neck was not broken. the dead man's end being caused by strangulation. The chain was so tight that it caught low on the neck. The windpipe was injured, but, the neck itself was intact. After hearing all that could be told, the coroner did not deem an inquest necessary. The details, as far as can be learned are as follows, Watson got up this morning shortly after five o'clock. Immediately after dressing, he went out to the barn, presumably to attend to the chores. His brother James had his breakfast and then followed. The awful discovery that he made has already been described. What induced the deceased to take this terrible step can only be surmised. It is thought that he was suffering from a temporary mental affection. His actions of the last few days would strengthen that opinion. His mother states that he was in very low spirits on Sunday and yesterday. He did not give the slightest indication that he meditated such an act, as he was afterwards guilty of, and his condition does not appear to have given his friends much anxiety. Some time prior to his demise, he had complained of severe pains in his head. These he attributed to rush of blood to the head, but they were no doubt due to the malady which ultimately deprived him of life. He was well known in town and was frequently seen here. Only yesterday he was in Galt and as far as looks were concerned, did not seem to be unwell. He was the very picture of health, being of stout and robust build. His face was of a ruddy hue and these signs of health were enough to attract attention to him. Personally he was an agreeable young fellow. Those who knew him thought a great deal of him and his friends have the conviction that when he cut the strands than bound him to this life, he was not in his right mind. The family so severely afflicted comprises of James and the sister, the mother, Mrs. James Watson, at home; John, Fergus; Mrs. Hooker, Ayr and Ellen, in Buffalo. The boys worked the farm and industrious and energetic young men everyone found them to be. The blow that has befallen them is one that few are called upon to bear and they will have the heartfelt sympathy of the community in their sorrow. Death, in whatever form it may come, is accompanied by suffering, but it is immeasurably more painful in such an instance as this. The loved ones of him who is gone should remember, however, the state he was in when he anticipated the decree of his maker, a fact that goes far towards assuaging their grief. The mother, Mrs. James Watson, has been a widow for three years. Misfortune has indeed been hers, the death of her husband being followed in such a comparatively short period by the regrettable fate of her son. The funeral will take place from his mother's residence, Mill Creek, at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, to Mount View Cemetery. The Weekly Reformer 6 May 1897 pg 2

  
  

• Sources

  [S205] Census - ON, Waterloo, North Dumfries - 1881, Div. 1 Page 51. [S2858] z Vit - ON - Birth Registration, Birth Certificate 024927 (1874). Name:William Watson Date of Birth:5 Mar 1874 Gender:Male Birth Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Father's name:James Watson Mother's name:Margaret Buchan [S506] News - ON, Wentworth, Hamilton - Hamilton Spectator, 5 May 1897 Obituary of William Watson. [S2491] aaa Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 025203 (1897). Name:Wm Watson Gender:Male Age:22 Birth Date:abt 1875 Birth Place:North Dumfries Death Date:4 May 1897 Death Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Cause of Death:Suoside by Hanging [S2491] aaa Vit - ON - Death Registration, death certificate 025203 (1897). Name:Wm Watson Gender:Male Age:22 Religion:Presbyterian Birth Date:abt 1875 Birth Place:North Dumfries Death Date:4 May 1897 Death Place:Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Cause of Death:Suoside by Hanging [S2697] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Cambridge, Mount View Cemetery Internet Link. [N] Willie/ son of/ James & Margaret/ WATSON/ died/ May 4, 1897/ aged 23 years/ & 2 months

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Mar 1874 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Presbyterian Canada - 1881 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Misfortune - suicide hanging - 1897 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - Cause: suicide by hanging - 4 May 1897 - North Dumfries Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Mount View Cemetery, Cambridge, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth