The Georgian house that stands behind The Plough Inn. Probably built for, or by John Watson sometime before 1853. John was born at Easenhall, Warwickshire in 1794.
John Watsons House, now 5 Station Road.
1841 sees him farming at Grange House Enderby with wife Sarah, also there are Ann Fossell 45, her daughter Sarah 14, his father George 80, William Wright 25, John Molly 18. Presumably the last two are farm workers.
It looks like Sarah died around 1846/7, and on 22nd October 1850 he married Elizabeth Dexter aged 58.
The 1851 census shows him farming 160 acres, and employing 5 labourers at Enderby Grove, Narborough Road (could this be the Grove Farm on the Narborough Road where Sainburys supermarket now stands, part of The
Fosse Park complex?). Also there are wife Elizabeth, nephew Joshua Fossell b.1839, niece Sarah Tracey b.1845, farm servant Thomas Hudson b.1826, dairy maid Ruth James b.1835, agricultural labourer Job Kirkland b.1828, and farm servant Amos Ladkin b.1835. Some confusion here because he notes his birthplace as Willoughby, Warwickshire as opposed to Easehall?
The 1861 census now sees him aged 67 at 5 Station Road, Littlethorpe (the Georgian house behind The Plough), this he had owned, along with 10 acres of grazing land since at least the time of the tithe apportionment in 1853 (see plots 10 & 11 on the tithe map below), did he have it built?. With him are second wife Elizabeth b.1793 in Barrow on Soar, Emma and Thomas Stacey or Tracey, difficult to decipher, aged 9 and 7 respectively. They employ a servant Ann Corbett aged 23 and originally from Thurlaston. Elizabeth dies on 3rd August 1862 .
1871 and John is now a widower employing Rebecca West age 52 as his housekeeper, also there is Rebeccas daughter Lucy age 26 and a Milliner.
John died in December 1876 and was buried on the 23rd of that month. Probate of under 2000 pounds was granted to Joshua Forsel (note the change of spelling from Fossell), worsted spinner, nephew of his first wife Sarah, he received £100, Rebecca West his housekeeper £60, niece Hannah of Foleshill, daughter of brother William £50. Mention of late second wife Elizabeth Ann her nephew Thomas Tracey the younger. All household goods, furniture and residue of estate to John Watson son of my brother Thomas. I give and devise my meadow called the Ratby Meadow situated in the parish of Enderby, now in the occupation of Edward Frost to Joshua Forsel, his heirs and assigns forever. I give and devise all my messuages, lands, tenements, heriditaments and real estate situate at Easenhall to my brother Thomas after his demise to my said nephew John Watson, also my message and tenement with the outbuildings and land situated at Littlethorpe (i.e. 5 Station Road and 10 acres) in my own occupation. My 2 closes, pieces or parcels of land and plantation at Narborough known by the general name of Slade Bridge. land about 8 acres in my own occupation to Joshua Forsel, also the use of 5 closes for the use of nephew John, after his demise to the use of the eldest son and of every other son of said nephew John down the line or daughters, the 5 closes rents and profits to pay my brother William of Foleshill an annuity during his life of £10 8 shillings by weekly payments of 4 shillings each, also to my sister Elizabeth an annuity of £15 12 shillings. The wife of Samuel Troser i give and devise 3 cottages or tenements with the outbuildings and appurtenances situated at Enderby in the occupation of Mary King and others. My 2 cottages, formerly 4 cottages situate at Littlethorpe which i purchased from William Gregory. My close of land between 5 and 6 acres at Cosby which i purchased from the trustees of Samuel Shuttlewood, all other lands and real estate to the use of John Watson his heirs and assigns.
John Watsons Will
Newspaper article re John Watsons Will
Signed X and dated 2nd March 1872, proved at Leicester 2nd March 1877.
Sources:
As with any local history research continues on this and more information will hopefully be added as it is found, so keep checking for the latest updates. In fact if you can add anything to the above please get in touch via the contact form
