Alexander Watkins
Alexander was born on April 5th 1802 at St Nicholas, Aberdeen, the eldest son of James and Jean. He was married twice, firstly on 5th May 1843 to Mary Gray, by whom he had three sons:
- Alexander Gray, born 5th August 1844 and died 5th February 1872
- Frederic Holland Gray, born 4th February 1846 and died 22nd February 1881
- Edward William Gray, born 17th March 1848 and died December 1890
These photographs are unidentified, but possibly are two of the sons of Alexander and Mary.
After Mary's death Alexander married her sister Jessie, on the 20th August
1849. They had ten children, only five of whom grew to adulthood:
- James Stevenson Gray, born 17th October 1849 and died 31st March 1850.
- Thomas Gray, born 26th November 1850 and died 5th December 1850.
- Daughter, born and died 31st July 1851.
- Henry Gray, born 4th October 1852 and died 6th November 1852.
- George Edwards Gray, born 2nd November 1853 and died 24th August 1913.
- Charles Gray, born 5th October 1855 and died 10th September 1895 in New Zealand.
- Jessie Gray, born 3rd June 1857 and died 18th June 1893 in New Zealand.
- Arthur Gray, born 15th April 1859 and died August 5th 1935 in New Zealand.
- Christina Gray, born 20th July 1860 and died April 14th 1927 in New Zealand.
- Son, born and died 15th December 1865.
Alexander is known to have had a daughter, Isabella, presumed to be illegitimate, whose burial aged five on September 24th 1846 was recorded in the Old Machar parish register. He was also the father of John Alexander Watkins, who was born around 1844-46, and whose mother is unknown.
Alexander was a highly successful linen manufacturer. Originally a manager at Broadford Works in Maberly Street (which continued to operate as Richards Ltd until 2004), he formed his own business, Watkins & Co., when he bought Sutherland's Wool Factory at Canal Road, Old Aberdeen. After he retired two of his sons, Frederic and Edward, ran a woollen factory, F.H.G.Watkins & Company, at the Canal Road works from 1864 until August 1868, when they were declared bankrupt.
In 1853 Alexander built a new home for his family at Primrosehill in Old Aberdeen but this house was sold in 1866 (probably because of the financial difficulties of F.H.G.Watkins & Company). Alexander's last home was Rose Cottage in Orchard Lane, which in Post Office directories for the period 1869 to 1871 was shown as the residence of John A. Watkins, flesher (i.e. butcher) of 107 George Street.
Alexander died on March 10th 1873 at Rose Cottage, and was buried in St Peter's Cemetery. After his death his widow, Jessie, and all his surviving children except George left Aberdeen. Primrosehill still stands and is now a community centre for nursery children and after school activities.
Primrosehill in Old Aberdeen, photographed in June 2000