Alexander Melrose (ONeil) Watt (1900 - 1974)

Born 1900 in Carlton, Victoria, Australia

Ancestors

Husband of Winifred Ivy Grace (Austin) Watt — married 17 Mar 1923 (to 1928) in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia

Died 29 Mar 1974 at about age 74 in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Biography

Online birth record is under the name Alex ONeill and lists his mother as Jane ONeill and father as Unknown. She was only 15 years. Her name Catherine Jane AKA Jane Catherine.

On 9/2/1923 a warrant was issued for his arrest in Sheffield, Tasmania and he was charged with being the father of an illegimate son named Jack Alexander Austin age 2 months and leaving the child without means of support in Sheffield, Tasmania. The mother was Winifred Ivy Grace Austin. He had the letters AMW tattooed on an arm just above the wrist and his occupation was listed as Sailor or Steward.

On 17/3/1923 he married Winifred Ivy Grace Austin 1895 - 1978 in Devonport Tasmania.

His wife petitioned for divorce on 25/5/1928 in Victoria on the grounds of desertion. At the time she was living in Elsternwick. In the divorce papers she has her age as 32 and his as 30. There is no issue from the marriage. At the time of the marriage he was a book binder residing in Oakleigh, Victoria and after the marriage he obtained employment as a steward on the S.S. Loongana sailing between Melbourne and Tasmania and he still had that job at the time of the petition. Their child was born on 18/12/1922. Alexander left her on 21/9/1923 in Launceston.

Online death records are under the name Alexander Melrose ONeill Watt and list his mother as Kathleen ONeill and father as James Michie Watt.

He was listed in his father's Death Notice.

He was buried on 1/4/1974 in Springvale Botanical Cemetery.

Sources

• Victoria BDM records. Birth reg 1635/1900, Death reg 12492/1974.
• Tasmania Australia Police Gazette s 1884 - 1933. 16/2/1923 page 32. https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/142700:60971
• Victoria Australia Divorce Records 1860 - 1940. 1928 Watt v Watt. https://www.ancestry.com.au/discoveryui-content/view/14424:61565
• Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/244479035/alexander-melrose-watt