James Watney - Family Life

Family Life

On 15 October 1829, at St. Saviour's Church, Southwark (now Southwark Cathedral), James Watney married Rebecca Spurrell, elder daughter of the brewer and hop merchant James Spurrell, of Park Street, Southwark, who was employed by Barclay & Perkins's Anchor Brewery, Southwark.

They had nine children. All five daughters remained unmarried. Of the four sons, one (Frederick) died young, aged 8 in 1846. The other three were:

• James Watney (1832–1886) of Beddington, Surrey, and Thorney House, Palace Gate, Kensington, was Conservative MP for East Surrey from 1871–1885 and Master of the Mercers' Company in 1879. He also played cricket for Surrey (1851) and Middlesex (1851–1852). Married Blanche Maria Georgiana Burrell in 1856.

• Norman Watney (1834–1911) of Valance, Westerham, Kent, was educated at Harrow. He was a Justice of the Peace and a Deputy Lieutenant for Kent, and also served as Master of the Mercers' Company in 1880. He married Matilda Jane Robinson on 26 April 1866 at Clitheroe, Lancashire. He built Valence, Westerham (now a school) in 1885 and was the father of missionary Constance Watney.

• Herbert Watney (1843–1932) of Buckhold, Pangbourne, Berkshire (now St. Andrew's School), was educated at Rugby and St. John's College, Cambridge. He was Senior Assistant Physician at St. George's Hospital, London and Master of the Mercers' Company in 1915. He married Sarah Louisa Rainsford on 22 January 1873 at All Saints Church, Wandsworth, Surrey.

The east window in Emmanuel Church, Croydon was given by his son Norman in 1899 to the Glory of God and in loving memory of his parents James and Rebecca Watney. It was destroyed by enemy action in 1944 and replaced in 1954.

He was also uncle to John Watney who was secretary to the Mercers Company for many years.