Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

Lilian Verelst Watt (x267)

1878 –03/02/1938

Wife of a colonial administrator

Relatives

James Watt C.M.G. — husband

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x267 Lilian Verelst Watt (née Hodgson) (1878-1938)

Lilian was born in 1878 in Godalming to Marie Blanche (née Verelst) and Revd. James Thomas Hodgson. Her paternal grandfather was Provost of Eton College and that year her father published a memoir of his father in two volumes “including numerous letter from Lord and Lady Byron.”

On 7 September 1880 The Epsom Journal reported: “We regret to record the death of the Rev. James T Hodgon, one of the best known of the assistant masters of Charterhouse, which took place on Friday morning at Brighton, from an attack of brain fever. The deceased leaves a widow and five children to mourn his loss.”

(Charterhouse School was founded in 1611 and moved to Godalming in 1872.)

In 1881 Lilian was living with her widowed mother (an annuitant ie pensioner), two older sisters and younger brother  at 8, Chichester Place, Brighton. They employed a live-in general servant.

Lilian married colonial administrator James Watt on 25 September 1913 at Holy Trinity, Brompton, Kensington. Her address at the time was Knightsbridge Mansions.

John A was born in 1917 in London followed by Cecily V, born 3 July 1919. Cecily was baptised at St Barnabas, Hove. The family address at the time was Deanery Gate, Rochester, Kent.

In June 1921 Lilian was visiting her mother at Deanery Gate in the precincts of Rochester Cathedral.

When Lilian died at 39, Royal Avenue, London SW3 on 3 February 1938 her home address was “Whiteleaf”, Montague Road, Berkhamsted.

John died in 1945 and is buried with her.

James Watt C.M.G.

25/12/1870 –05/04/1945

A colonial administrator who worked in Benin and NIgeria

Relatives

Lilian Verelst Watt (x267) — wife

• Melanie Hilton

Plot x267 James Watt C.M.G. (1870-1945)

James was born 25 December 1870, probably in Scotland. His father James Watt, gentleman.

James became a colonial administrator in Nigeria and eventually Senior Resident. He was awarded the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. Membership is granted to those who “hold high and confidential offices within Her Majesty’s colonial possessions, and in reward for services rendered to the Crown in relation to the foreign affairs of the Empire”.

James was active in Benin, after a period of bloody turmoil when a British diplomatic team was killed. In 1897 the British Punitive Expedition subjugated Benin with great force, bringing the kingdom into Nigeria and removing many of the Benin bronzes now in European collections. The first Governor’s Lodge still stands in Benin City. It was erected in 1898 and James, the then British Colonial Administrator of Benin, resided there. There is still a James Watt Road in Benin City.

Watt Market (Urua Awat) is a multipurpose marketplace located in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Established in 1901, it is the largest market in the state and a significant centre of commerce and cultural exchange in the region. James, then British District Commissioner, played a key role in establishing a modern facility in this ancient trading place.

James married Lilian Verelst Hodgson on 25 September 1913 at Holy Trinity, Brompton, Kensington. His address at the time was Crawford Villas, Dumfries,

John A was born in 1917 in London, followed by Cecily V born 3 July 1919 and baptised St Barnabas, Hove. The family address at the time was Deanery Gate, Rochester, Kent.

Lilian died in 1938 and the 1939 Register records James living at “Whiteleaf”, Montague Road, Berkhamsted with Cecily (she married in 1941).

James died 5 April 1945.