150 Years in Australia
Descendants of Emma Bolger (Watson)

Emma Rumbelow was born on 29th March 1849 at Mildenhall, Suffolk, England and was christened on 13th May 1849. She was a child of five when she accompanied her family to Port Adelaide on the Pestonjee Bomanjee in 1854 and then on to Encounter Bay.

Emma married Thomas George Watson on 24th May 1865 at 20 years of age in the Tabernacle Chapel at Encounter Bay. Thomas was born at Payneham, South Australia on 28th April 1845 and was christened in Holy Trinity Church, North Terrace, Adelaide on 23rd October 1845.

His family operated a hotel in Kensington for five years before moving to a farm at Waitpinga. They then moved to Bald Hills and Yankalilla, where he worked on the farm after leaving school.

The family then moved to Encounter Bay, where he met and married Emma. In 1868, as a married man with a child, he decided that farming was not sufficiently rewarding so he joined the Government Tramway Service at Victor Harbor, where he worked for over thirty years.

He then ran a butcher shop at Strathalbyn, a venture in which it is likely his youngest son, Herbert, joined. Thomas died on 11th February 1914 at 68 years of age. He is buried in the Strathalbyn Cemetery.

Emma and Thomas had nine children; Edith, Thomas, Esther, Henry, Rowland, Percival, Winifred, Herbert and Pearl.

[3] Edith Emma Watson (1st child) was born at Encounter Bay on 18th February 1866 and married William George Nurse on 6th August 1885. At the time of writing no details were known of the family except that Edith died in May 1936 in South Africa, having five children;

[4] Adelaide Bessie Nurse

[4] Cleve Nurse

[4] Thomas Nurse

[4] Ruby Nurse

[4] Winnie Nurse

[3] Thomas George Watson (2nd child) was born at Encounter Bay on 21st November 1869 and married Mary Jane Shail on 28th February 1894. 

Thomas and Mary had four daughters; Marjorie, Edith, Doris, Slyvia and Jean.

[4] Marjorie Elizabeth Watson was born at Strathalbyn on 15th January 1895 and married John Pollok on 8th May 1915. Both Marjorie and John died in 1987. They had one son John.

[5] John Andrew Pollok was born at Adelaide on 26th November 1915 and died on 10th October 1991. John joined the Australian Army on 18th July 1940 and when discharged on 25th January 1964 he held the rank of Major attached to Command and Staff GP. He was awarded the Military Cross during WW2.

[4] Edith Ivy Watson was born at Mount Barker Junction on 17th September 1898 and married Leslie George Booker on 20th October 1922. They had one son, [5] Leslie Harry Booker born on 14th February 1923

[4] Doris Mary Watson was born at Mount Barker Junction on 9th January 1901 and married Robert Jose on 22nd March 1924. Doris died in 1988. They had one son, [5] Cleve Jose born on 17th March 1925

[4] Sylvia Pearl Watson was born at Ambleside SA on the 24th November 1909.

[4] Jean Shail Watson was born at Ambleside on 9th October 1913 and married Reginald Harold Branson on 10th July 1937. Reginald joined the Australian Army on 22nd April 1939 and when discharged was a sapper attached to 18 LH (MG) Regiment.

[3] Esther Mary Ann Watson (3rd child) (Essie) was born at Encounter Bay on 19th February 1872 and married James Stirling Browne on 23rd July 1890. Estella was registered at birth as Esther but was registered as Estella on the birth certificates of her children. 

Estella and James had four children; Margaret, Estelle, James and Winifred.

[4] Marguerite Glass Browne was born at Strathalbyn on 14th August 1891 and died in Western Australia on 1st September 1914.

[4] Estelle Glass Browne was born at Davenport, South Australia, on 21st April 1894.

[4] James Glass Browne was born at Fremantle on 7th May 1896 and married Evelyn Myrtle Davies in 1922.

James enlisted in the Australian Army on 9th November 1940 and when discharged was posted to 5 Garrison Battalion. James died in 1945 and Evelyn in 1974, both at East Guilford, Western Australia.

[4] Winifred Glass Browne was born in 1899.

[3] Henry Malen Watson (4th child), a butcher, was born at Middleton on 18th December 1873 and married Mabel Ellen Cross on 22nd November 1898. 

They had seven children; Horace, Roy, Harold, Vera, Lance, Coralie and Jack.

[4] Horace Henry Watson was born at Strathalbyn on 6th June 1899 and married Glynda Helen Bolger, his 2nd cousin, on 6th February 1925. They divorced and Horace married Elizabeth May Salisbury on 2nd December 1936. 

Horace and Elizabeth had two daughters; Elizabeth and Anne.

[5] Elizabeth Helen Rose Watson was born at Adelaide on 8th June 1936 and married Peter Leonard Beaumont on 27th August 1955.  They had six children.

[5] Anne Coralie Watson was born on 23rd June 1937 and married Douglas Lance Wendelborn on 12th October 1957. They had five children.

[4] Roy Thomas James Watson was born at Strathalbyn S.A. on 19th September 1900 and married Hilda Mary Woolcock on 28th February 1922. 

Roy and Hilda had five children; Hilda, William, Lillian, Thomas and Beryl.

[5] Hilda Mabel Watson was born in 1922 and married Edward Harley Woolcock. 

Hilda and Edward had five children.

[5] William Roy Watson was born at Murray Bridge on 20th May 1924 and married Doreen Margaret Cox in 1944. William enlisted in the RAAF on 17th November 1942 and when discharged on 23rd April 1946 was a leading aircraftsman attached to 9 Transport and Movement Office.  They had three children

[5] Lillian Mary Watson was born in 1925 and married Douglas Maxwell Scott. Douglas enlisted in the Australian Army on 1st January 1943 and when discharged on 29th March 1946 was attached to 61 Australian Infantry Battalion. 

They had four children.

[5] Thomas Malin Watson was born in 1927 and married Mary Jane Hay in 1957.

[5] Beryl Pamela Watson was born in 1928 and married Norman Perry Smith in 1949. They had two children. Norman died in 1967 and Beryl later married Geoffrey Hamilton Tregoning.

[4] Harold Mervyn Watson was born at Strathalbyn S.A. on 3rd August 1903 and married Margaret Ann Kowald in 1939. Harold enlisted in the Australian Army on 23rd October 1939 and when discharged on 12th October 1942, he held the rank of Lance Sergeant posted to 2/1 Field Regiment.

[4] Vera Mabel Watson was born at Strathalbyn SA on 29th April 1905 and married Victor Gaskell on 25th February 1922. Victor enlisted in the Volunteer Defence Corps but the date is not recorded. He was discharged on 24th June 1944. Vera and Victor had three children;

{5} Dorothy, Bruce and Victor Watson.

[4] Lance Norman Watson was born at Strathalbyn S.A. on 28th September 1906 and married Vera Alice Aworth on 30th October 1926. Lance joined the Australian Army on 21st June 1941 and when discharged was posted to 2/43 Australian Infantry Battalion. Lance and Vera died at Strathalbyn, Vera on 17th March 1989 and Lance on 11th July 1991.

Lance and Vera had three children; [5] Doreen, Bryan and Allan Watson.

4] Coralie Nita Watson was born in Strathalbyn on 4th October 1909 and married Norman Stanley Lovell on 21st September 1925. Norman enlisted in the Australian Army on 11th December 1940 and when discharged on 8th February 1945 held the rank of Staff Sergeant posted to 32 C HOSP. 

They had two children; Glen and Pat.

[5] Glen Lovell was born at Henly Beach South on 4th March 1926.

[5] Patricia Lovell at North Adelaide on 7th October 1927.

[4] Jack Malen Watson was born at Strathalbyn SA on 19th February 1912 and enlisted in the RAAF on 9th July 1940. When discharged on 6th December 1945 he held the rank of Sergeant posted to 201 Flight. Jack married Elsie and died prior to 19th April 1991.

[3] Rowland James Watson (5th child) was born at Middleton on 11th May 1876 and married Alice Ada Humphrey on 16th March 1897. 

Rowland and Alice had three children; Eric, Ada and Cyril.

[4] Eric Rowland Watson was born at Strathalbyn on 20th November 1897 and married Gladys Mary Fieldhouse on 6th August 1921. Eric and Gladys had two children; [5] Gwendolin and Douglas Watson.

[4] Ada May Watson was born at Wirrega, South Australia, on 15th September 1901. She married Edmund Baggs in 1948 and died in 1968.

[4] Cyril James Watson was born in Strathalbyn SA on 22nd April 1909 and married Emily Veronica Williamson on 16th July 1927. 

Cyril and Emily had six children; Betty, Brian, Lorraine, Barbara, Bruce and Jennifer.

[5] Elizabeth Evelyn Watson (Betty) was born at Rose Park on 24th December 1927 and married Richard George Downing in 1948. They had four children.

[5] Brian James Watson was born on 29th July 1929 and married Velma Mae Dyson on 6th February 1954. Brian and Velma had two children.

[5] Lorraine Joyce Watson was born on 5th June 1933 and married Brian David Harris on 24th March 1951. They had two children.

[5] Barbara Mae Watson was born on 3rd November 1934 and married James Edward Weeks on 19th July 1957. They had one daughter. Barbara and James were divorced in 1966 and she married Douglas Clifford Flanagan on 11th June 1967. He had two children from a previous marriage who Barbara raised as her own.

[5] Bruce Rowland Watson was born on 20th December 1941 and married Jyll Karen Bulau on 7th March 1970. They had two daughters.

[5] Jennifer Anne Watson was born on 28th January 1956 and married Gary Charles Easther on 1st November 1975. They had three children.

[3] Percival Cain Jelliff Rumbelow Watson (6th child) was born at Middleton on 25th September 1878 and married Helena Mary Dorma on 29th October 1902. At the time of his marriage, Percival was listed as a labourer of North Adelaide. Percival and Helena had six children; Lorna, Estella, Gordon, Gwendoline and Ruby and Alan.

[4] Lorna Amelia Watson was born at Strathalbyn on 20th February 1904 and died in Adelaide on 16th July 1964.

[4] Estella Mavis Watson was born at Strathalbyn on 22nd February 1905 and married John Andrew Chambers on 20th May 1926. 

They had two children; Keith and Alan.

[5] Keith Chambers married Nancy

[5] Alan John Chambers married Betty.

[4] Gordon Bowles Watson was born at Prospect on 2nd September 1911 and married Sarah Blanche Penfold on 9th October 1930. We are not aware of children from this marriage but he married Gwen in about 1945, and they had four children.

[5] Janet Watson who married James and had two children.

[5] Elaine Watson who married Anthony and had two children.

[5] Shirley Watson who married William and had two children.

[5] David Watson.

[4] Gwendoline Dorothy Watson was born at Prospect on 25th July 1913 and married William James Bloomfield on 29th July 1932.

[4] Ruby Merle Watson was born in Prospect 19 April 1915 and married Alfred Edward Burdett on 3rd August 1935. Alfred joined the Australian Army on 17th December 1941 and when discharged was attached to 6 Army Troop Coy Reg. Ruby and Alfred had three children; Margaret, Barbara and Dorothy.

[5] Margaret Watson was born 16th April 1937

[5] Barbara born on the 1st March 1941 married Terrence Hansen, followed by Robert Wormald.

[5] Dorothy Watson born 23rd November 1943 married Maxwell Wormald and had three children.

[4] Alan Thomas Watson was born at Prospect on 30th April 1920.

[3] Winifred Elizabeth Alice Watson (7th child) was born at Strathalbyn on 1st October 1881 and married Frank Hopkins on 12th December 1897.

Winifred and Frank had five children; Clarence, Thomas, Winifred, Donald and Laurence.

[4] Clarence Roy Hopkins was born at Strathalbyn on 18th May 1898 and married Gwendoline Oehme on 28th March 1925, having a son David.

[5] David Louie Hopkins, whom married Myrtle Selma Zilm and had two children.

[4] Thomas Frank Hopkins was born at Strathalbyn on 13th March 1902 and married Effie Margaret Baldwin on 28th March 1929, having a daughter.

[5] June Margaret Hopkins, who was a doctor’s receptionist, was born at Wallaroo on 27th February 1930 and married William Marshall Arnold on 15th September 1951. They had three children.

[4] Winifred Pearl Hopkins was born on 14th June 1911 and married Reginald Hall on 28th March 1931. Reg enlisted in the Australian Army on 31st December 1941 and when discharged was a signalman attached to 4 Lines of Communication Signals (PMG). 

They had three children; Reginald, Beverly and Donald.

[5] Reginald Barry Hall was born on 12th January 1932 and married Miriam Beatrice Porter. They had four children.

[5] Beverley Dale Hall was born on 14th September 1936, married John Leslie Tucker on 22nd October 1955 and they have two children.

[5] Donald Terry Hall was born on 21st May 1940, married Jeanette Fay Stephens on 21st March 1964 and they have three children.

[4] Donald Keith Hopkins was born at Strathalbyn on 4th December 1913 and died on 1st March 1914.

[4] Laurence Douglas Hopkins was born at Strathablyn on 15th October 1918, married Betty May and had two children; 

[5] Dr Gary Douglas Hopkins and [5] Kym Bevan Hopkins, who was a High School Teacher at Mt Gambier. Kym has two children.

[3] Herbert Lovegood Watson (8th child) was born at Strathalbyn on 12th December 1886 and married Elsie Ruby Annie Godfrey on 1st October 1907. Herbert was a factory hand/butcher and they had seven children; Thomas, Elsie, Kathleen, Minnie, Thelma, Edna and Alma.

[4] Thomas Keith Watson was born at Milang, SA, on 28th March 1908 and married Dulcie Helena Rumbelow, his second cousin once removed, on 21st December 1940. Thomas was a sheet metal worker and they had a son.

[5] Lindsay Keith Watson who was born at Prospect, SA, on 5th February 1942. Lindsay, a sheet metal worker and farmer, lives at Narrung but also owns a home in Russell St, Encounter Bay. He has contributed a lot of the information on which this record is based, as well as providing information for other branches of the family.

[4] Elsie Doreen Watson was born on 12th September 1909 in South Australia and married Arthur George Matters, a carpenter/cabinet maker on 24th March 1934. Arthur died in 1950 and Elsie married Harold Kelly and later, Tom Silick. Elsie and Arthur had a son, [5] Robert Matters.

[4] Kathleen Winifred Watson was born at Goolwa on 16th April 1911 and married Fred Charles Warman on 27th June 1936. Fred was born in India of English parents and was an electrician and mechanic. 

They had four children; Brian, Daryl, Sandra and Lynette.

[5] Brian James Warman, a technician, was born in Adelaide on 23rd July 1937 and married Pamela Blackmore on 1st November 1958. They had four children.

[5] Daryl Keith Warman, a bank manager and rural counsellor, was born at Prospect on 24th October 1940 and married Edith Joan Morton. They had two children and after divorcing, Daryl married Helen Ruth Smith on 7th December 1985. They had a daughter.

[5] Sandra Helen Warman was born in Adelaide on 6th November 1944 and married Adrian Gordon H Craig, a retired Army Officer, on 16th December 1967. They have three children.

[5] Lynette Fay Warman married William Fennell and they had four children.

[4] Minnie Pearl Watson was born at Goolwa on 31st January 1914 and married Selby Young Loftes on 11th April 1931. Selby enlisted in the Australian Army on 13th June 1940 and when discharged on 14th December 1943 was attached to 2/25 Battalion. They had four children; Margaret, Rhonda, Elsie and Barbara.

Minnie and Selby divorced, and, on 4th May 1949 she married Stanley Cole Gubbin. Stanley joined the Australian Army on 23rd March 1943, and, when discharged was a Staff Sergeant attached to 2 Aust L of C Postal Unit.

[5] Margaret Loftes, a dressmaker, was born in Adelaide on 18th July 1931, married Norman Melvin Meyers, a storeman and packer, on 21st July 1951 and they had three children.

[5] Rhonda Joan Loftes was born in Adelaide on 5th April 1933 and married Kevin Brook on 6th February 1954. They had two children.

[5] Elsie June Loftes, a nurse, was born at Rose Park on 5th November 1934, married Ralph Godfrey Ness, a dairy farmer, on 3rd October 1953 and they had two children.

After divorcing, Elsie then married Nicholas John Edward Crawley on 29th June 1991.

[5] Barbara Pearl Loftes, a purchasing officer, was born at Rose Park on 25th June 1936 and married Murray Leslie Abbott, a compositor, on 13th November 1954. They had two children.

[4] Thelma Lucy Watson was born at Goolwa on 26th September 1915 and died on 2nd February 1916 aged four months.

[4] Edna Ruby Watson was born at Goolwa on 1st January 1917 and died three days later.

[4] Alma Irene Watson was born at Goolwa on 12th March 1919 and married Colin David Sherrah, a painter/decorator, on 15th June 1940. Colin joined the RAAF on 18th August 1942 and when discharged on 23rd August 1945 was a Leading Aircraftsman attached to 13 Aircraft Repair Depot. They had four children; Wendy, Patricia, Anthony and Helen.

[5] Wendy Anne Sherrah was born at Prospect on 8th June 1942 and married Robert Ian Conroy on 28th April 1962. They had two children. Wendy and Robert divorced and she later married Richard Berkley Hodgson on 18th February 1994.

[5] Patricia Kaye Sherrah was born at Prospect on 24th August 1944 and married Desmond Henry Rainsford, a company investigator with the Australia Tax Office, on 5th June 1965. They had three children. Patricia and Desmond divorced and she later married George Paul Sanson in 1985.

[5] Anthony David Sherrah was born at Prospect on 1st April 1949 and married Jennifer Ann Limpus on 29th November 1969. They had one child, divorced, then Anthony married Aileen Joy Kent on 29th May 1976 and they had two children

[5] Helen Dianne Sherrah was born in Adelaide on 11th July 1950.

[3] Pearl Alice Watson (9th child) was born at Strathalbyn on 15th October 1891 and married Walter Leslie Montrose on 12th October 1915.

On 21st April 1921, Emma Watson (nee Rumbelow) became the third Rumbelow sister to marry Edward Robert Bolger, almost a year to the day after his second wife, Alice Rumbelow, had died. It is said that he wanted to marry Emma back in 1865 but Thomas Watson was instead the successful suitor. Although it would seem that true love prevailed in the end, Emma and Robert did not have any children as he was 75 years and she was 72 years old when they finally married.

Edward died at Strathalbyn in 1927 and is buried at the Victor Harbor Cemetery. Emma died just over 10 years later on 31st January 1938 and was buried in the Strathalbyn Cemetery, South Australia.

Added by Chris Butler 25/03/2025

"Here’s the details of the Butler family tree. This is the same as I sent Lesley Avery but with a couple of corrections from Kevin Watson regarding dates of his marriages. " 

Eric Rowland WATSON (father Rowland James) was born on 20 Nov 1897 in Strathalbyn, SA. He died on 29 Oct 1978 in Linden Park, SA and was buried on 30 Oct 1978 in Centennial Pk - transferred to VIC.

From 'The Advertiser' 21st October 1978.

Watson, Eric Rowland, On October 29th, 1978, dearly loved husband of the late Gladys Mary, father of Gwen (Mrs Gordon Butler), and Doug, father in law of Gordon and Pat, grandfather of John, Andrew and Elizabeth and Sandra, Kevin and Robert and 9 great grandchildren.  Age 81 years.  Privately cremated.  

Eric married36 Gladys Mary FIELDHOUSE, daughter of George William Henry FIELDHOUSE and Elizabeth MARCHANT, on 6 Aug 1921 in St Pauls Church, Adelaide, Gladys was born on 16 Mar 1897 in Arncliffe NSW. She died on 27 Feb 1970 in Adelaide, 

CHILDREN OF ERIC AND GLADYS WATSON

Gwendolin Gladys WATSON was born6 on 11 May 1922 in St Peters, South Australia, Australia.

Gwendolin married Gordon Charles BUTLER, son of Walter Norman BUTLER and Edith Ruby WILLIAMSON, on 23 Feb 1944. Gordon was born on 2 Mar 1918. He died on 8 Dec 1996 in Linden Park, South Aus. Ashes retained by family.

They had the following children:

John BUTLER was born on 27 Feb 1946. John married Wendy Lesley FULLER, daughter of Lindsay Keith FULLER and Lola LAMING, on 29 Nov 1969 SA. Wendy was born on 9 Mar 1950. Separated from his wife Wendy in May 2011. 

John and Wendy had the following children:

Tarnya Lee BUTLER was born on 1 Jan 1972. Married Steve Temme 4 Oct 2003.

They had 3 children: 

Maxwell Born 18 Apr 2005 in Melbourne. Leroy born 9 Apr 2007. Ruby born 13 Oct 2009.

Kelly Jayne BUTLER was born on 24 Dec 1974. Married Daniel Hand on 22 Mar 1997. Divorced no children. Then married Michael McAvaney 3 Feb 2002. Children Jack born 8 Dec 2002. Patrick born 12 May 2005. Maeve born 30 Sep 2010.

John Butler had a partner, Sandy Clarke from 2013 until his death on 4th Oct 2024. 

Andrew Norman BUTLER was born on 11 Nov 1948.

Andrew married Christine RICHARDS, daughter of Fred Hall RICHARDS and Marjorie Claire JOHNSON, 4th April 1970 . Christine was born on 11 Nov 1948 

They had the following children:

Emma Kate BUTLER was born on 6 Dec 1975. Emma married Russel Daniel on 21 Nov 1998. Children: Olivia born 3 Nov 2005. William born 20 Sep 2008. 

Matthew Todd BUTLER was born on 31 Jul 1979. Matthew married Stacey Hannaford on 6 Nov 2006. Children: Mitchell born 4 Oct 2008. Harrison born 7 Dec 2011.

Elizabeth Anne BUTLER (daughter of Gwen & Gordon Butler)

Elizabeth married (1) Alan Keith SCARBOROUGH, son of Bob SCARBOROUGH and Thelma HAMILTON, on 20 Oct 1973. Alan was born on 3 Oct 1952.

They had the following children:

Darren Keith SCARBOROUGH was born on 17 Jul 1976. Darren married Kerrie Smoker in 2019 and had two sons. Henry born 2015 and Charlie 2018. 

Kristy Anne SCARBOROUGH was born on 4 Apr 1978. Kristy married Rocco Colicchio  in 2008. They had two sons, Zac  born in 2004 and James born 2006.

Elizabeth and Alan divorced.

Elizabeth also married (2) Bryce AMES on 13 Apr 1996. Bryce was born on 13 May 1940. He died on 30 Nov 1998. 

Elizabeth also married (3) Ian Campbell FORD on 8 Jul 2002 in Adelaide Registry Office, Adelaide. Ian was born on 2 Feb 1947. 

Douglas Eric WATSON (father Eric Rowland) born7,8 on 26 Jul 1923 in St Peters, South Australia, Australia. He died on 27 Nov 2009 in Narre Warren, Vic and was buried in Merbein, VIC.

Douglas married Kathleen Patricia FITTEN, daughter of Stephen Gregory FITTEN and Dorothy Edna Rose DONNELLY, on 26 Nov 1944 in NSW. Kathleen was born on 26 Sep 1923 NSW. She died on 29 Apr 2000 in Vic and was buried in Merbein Cemetery, VIC.

They had the following children:

Sandra Anne WATSON was born on 3 Feb 1947.

Kevin Douglas WATSON was born on 1 Feb 1950.

Robert Eric WATSON was born on 21 Oct 1957 in Crystal brook, SA.

Sandra married Carl William LAPHAM, son of William James LAPHAM and Edith Anne DONOHUE, on 3 Jun 1967 in Lakemba, Sydney, NSW. Carl was born on 30 Apr 1949. 

They had the following children:

Sheryl Joy LAPHAM was born on 9 Dec 1967.

Samantha Karen LAPHAM born on 1 Jul 1973 in Melb, Vic. Died on 17 Sep 1973 

Dale Collin LAPHAM was born on 28 Oct 1976 in Melbourne, Vic.

Dale married Kellie Jane GORDON on 27 Jun 2003 in Sheraton Resort, Nandi, Fiji       Islands. Kellie was born on 10 May 1976.

Kevin Douglas WATSON was born on 1 Feb 1950 in Adelaide, SA.

Kevin married (1) Denise SMITH in 1970 in Brisbane, QLD. Denise died on 19 Jun 1974 in Singapore. and was buried in Merbein Cemetery, VIC.

Kevin and Denise had the following children:

Tony Michael WATSON was born on 15 Jan 1972.

Mark Troy WATSON was born on 14 Dec.

Kevin also married (2) Sally O’Brien in 1995 in Waverley, Melbourne, Victoria. Sally was born on 9 Jun 1954? Sally had a son from previous marriage. He was Brendan Dyson who was officially adopted by Kevin Watson when he married Sally.

Kevin also married (3) Anna PEDERSEN in 1997 in Mildura, Victoria. Anna was born on 30 Jul 1952.