3 Content Street
Bleach Green
Blaydon on Tyne

31.1-1923.

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Cowie

Having learned that You have determined to write the Life of Your Dear Father, It has brought Such a resurrection & awakening to my mind of incidents & experience through the Years that have gone. In early days of Boyhood when I used to travel from Cows Hill to the New House day School, Situated between St John's Chapel & Ireshope Burn, There was scarcly ever a day went over but I called at Ralph's Shop. Grand Father used to call it "our Ralph's". Grand Father & the Dr's father were Brothers, G-F used to take me to get measure for New Boots. But the most elative & Sensitive of History was when Santa Claus sent me a large [???] dapled grey wooden Horse. I never forget that Morning I took it down to the Cobbler's Shop to get trapings made for it. the Dr rose from His Stool & examined the Horse & with a peculiar Smile on His Face & said "I'm Sure Johnny it's a nice Horse" & gave His youngest Bro Tom orders to get the Trapings made. wasent I Some size when the Yoke was complete on Donnie[?] Boblic[?] & His cart.

Another eventful hour at a later Period was that night of Grand Father's Funeral, after the multitude had been Tead; about 7 oclock at night there was still a good more Friends left. Watsons from Winton[?] Gap & Irestone. Watsons & Harrisons from Ireshopburn. Gibsons from St Johns Chapel. they began to sing some of Grand Father's favourite Hymns. When the Dr. (Cousin Jno as He was then called), gave out "Brighest & beat, the Sons of the morning, Dawn our darkness, & lend us thine aid". Cuthbert, the Drs. Bro., who had a clear & well trained Soprano voice, with His 2 Sisters Phebe and Annie, Struck it away with Such a beatiful Pitch, oh the Sweetnes & inspiration of that beautifull Singing. the Hymn was Sung twice over from beginning to end. it was so Stimulateing. that same night the will was read over & very little notice was taken of it. but, oh, the Letter that was read which had come from Amercia on the day that Grand Father died & its news was never broken to Him, of the Death of my Dear Mother. what with the Death of G-F & the Sad news from New York of the Death of my Mother, I leave you to judge of my feelings whilst feeling the full force of the double event. I still hear those sweet vocies & see those Angels faces smile of long ago –

At that time I was under the Guardianship of Michael & Hannah Rutherford, Stately Prim Methodist at Wearhead Chapel. Needless to say that the Dr was Hannah's ideal Man of a minster. I have heard Her in her Private corner pleading earnestly at the throne for very specials on Him, whilst he travelled His probation in the Wesgate Circuit; & ever onward as long as Hannah lived, there had always to be a special afternoon Tea for John, when He paid His visits up the Dale. I was up the Dale last oct & had the pleasure of Preaching in Wearhead Chapel; & I find that the Names of the Dr & Hannah are still green & spoken of in the Highest rnown in the old viggleys[?]; & be it said to the honour of Hannah that She has two grand Sons to day in the P. Meth Minstery, in the names of the Revd Micheal & Thomas Featherstone. Micheal has been one of the Chosen Minsters for the Tyneside Simultainous Mission. I have often felt lately that if Bessy Binney was Ramsey Guthre ideal of a Prim Methoist, Hannah Rutherford was the best illustration of a Christian under the most testing & delicate struggles of Life. Had we been in conversation, I could have told Many more feats of faith & Power of Prayer – of the Dr & Hannah.

The Late Rev. Hugh Rose Ray, first president of Tyneside Nonconformist Free Churches, told me that, when He quiet a young man, He took charge of the Congregational Church at Spennymoor, when the Dr was Superintent of the P. M. Circuit of that Town at that time. Ray found the Dr to be of very profound repute. So much So that he was awfully frightened to meet Him. but one day they crossed each other in there Visitations & Shook hands, & Hugh testified that it was one of the most Sacred moments of His Life. He felt the very ground on which they stood to be Sanctified, & ever after that He felt the Dr as a Father to Him; & Certainly one of the most Manly & Neigbourly Minster that ever He labour beside; & all high repute was more than justified in the nature & character of the Man, citing certain events that occured whilst they Laboured together in Spennymoor.

In Sept last at the Dunston extending Foundation Stone Laying, I had the pleasure of Sitting beside an old Vetran at Tea Table from the North Shields Circuit, who cited His conversion under peculiar condition. it was when the Dr was Stationed at N. S. Circuit, in the last Hours of visitations for that day, just about Chapel time, in came the Young Man from work; & the Dr laid hold of the Moment & So talked to the Young Man that He got Him to go to the chapel with His work Clothes on, in a Week Nights Service; & was Soundly converted that night; & striking His Hand over the Table, remarking "I put my Hand to the Gospel plough that night, through the blessed influence of the Revd. Jno Watson; & bless His Name -- it has Never been of since then; & now I am 75, & 1 of the oldest Local preacher of N. S. Plan". Had I been aware of Your intention, I should certainly had more detail from Him.

Recently, at one of My Visits to the Central Prim in Newcastle, I saw Mr Jos Harrogtes[?] the fater of L Preachers in the Newcastle 2nd Circuit. He said he had not seen your letter in the Leeder, but He thought you would get a liberal reponse, remarking that Maple St used to have Some big day on his Special Visitation. It has struck me that it might have been better if you had made Known your intention Sooner: you would have had a better chance of a response. Since the Drs demise, there has a considerable number of North of England Minsters & Laymen passed away, that Knew Him well. in fact, the Same thing made be said of the whole of the P.M. Connexion. However, I hope you will have Such a rsponse as will Make your task an easy & pleasant one. wishing You every Success in your enterprise

Kindest Regards to both

Yrs Truly
Jno. Watson

[The reference in the 1st paragraph is to an article about Annie's husband, Richard Cowie, which had recently been published in "The Primitive Methodist".]

3 Content Street
Bleach Green
Blaydon upon Tyne

17-8-25

Dear Annie

What a pleasing Surprise came over me, when I opened the Leader of July 23, & Mine eyes was glowed to See Such a Spacious open Forehead & sweet looking countenance in the Man of the morning; bespeaking a measure of the possession of the Mystic & a very large possession of latent power; quiet, capable of holding its own, & smiling in face of very strong opposing powers. I had to reread the Historic account there & then; & there is much that I can enter into & deeply enjoy. certainly, I do enjoy the old fashioned prayer Meeting; & its very painfull to See it So belittled to day, even in those big churches that have such a name. can you belive it: a big church & no prayer meeting.

I was an glad to See that the Man of the Morning has a warm enthusiasm for youth. Keep a hand[?] society[?] Lad. its grand to have & its grand to hold. It almost Knocks the Soul out of me when I read of thousands of thousands of youths that passes through the Methodist Churches every year into the world: its a sticker when you think about it. & I remember one afternoon in the Central Prim Church, over the Cups, sitting beside Mr. Ry[?]es, when He gave a glowing account of R. Cs. night of decision. I thought He put all His French polish on, but I am glad to find He could have given it little more gloss & been justified. its champion when you see your man pull through & become shining faced, & able to been[?] the tables of the Law; & lincked on to the shining that goes beyond the starrs; & honoured with the greatest & sublimest work that occupies the Great Creators Mind

For Some time, I have had a feeling to write You & congratulate You on Your Labour of Love, & the noble & High plain which you have So ably set forth -- Your Dear Fathers Life. it has been widely & intensely read by the People of the Tyne & the Wear. all the chapters are interesting to me. chapter 6, which bespeaks[?] the Presidential Hour, was very charming & inspiring to me. Dr Whyte, Principal Romney[?] & Frances Power Cobbe are all authors that have afforded me considerable stimulation during my time ; but no chapter cut me so deeply in as that when you refer to His Sister Annie; & I often do think, if you Knew what Annie and I felt the last time we saw each other, you would drop a hot tear & deeply sympathise with us each. it a b[?] terrable when your brightest hopes are forever dashed to the ground: there is many a slip between the Cup & the Lip.

The never to be forgotten last meet with Annie, Your Father's Sister, was on a very fine Summer's Morning, in the old Nelson street P. M. Chapel. We sat together in Counclor Cooks Pew. He was there also, a very fine well dressed good looking Man, in white Waist Coat, gold Albert & Silk Top Hat, quite bly[t]he & full of Humour. Annie was Such an elegant proportionated, nice looking young Lady, with a pair of beautifull Sweet expressive eyes & Such a Statly cultured gait. She was a real of Angliec expression. at that tim[e] I was little more than a full Grown Lad, raw from the Country, with rosy cheeks & full of the vernacular from the Weardale Hills.

In looking up old correspondence, I see to day that I still posses a P.C & Letter from the Late Thos. Parker, Architect of Byker Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne, & Sec of the Examining Committee of the Newcastle P.M Circuit. I remember the night exceedingly well: the Late Peter Clark[?] in the Chair, Revd F. Watson by his Side, & Thos Parker Sec., old Geo Charlton, J Wallace, Peter Kidman, Mr Leighton, Thos & Geo Hall & Cud Holmes. my first impressions, as I looked around at the members of the Committee, there was one man gave me a squint that almost frightened me: the most expressive facical reppresentation of "Auld Nick", with a twisted up ill humoured Sour disconted looking Face with long eyelashes & over casting eye Brows, almost entirely covering the eyes altogether. by His side sat Mr Leighton, with a bright Smiley full open Face, very Christly looking,

as the examination came along, we got on to the Thrinity, & my ans[wer] caused quite a look up from them all; & one said "where has He got that idea." one said "it Sounds like Beacher." another said "nay, it Sounds more like Channing." thus the row began amongst themselves & became very profuse & Hot. never do I Seem to forget that benigned & laconic look Mr. Parker gave me, with His elbows on the Table & His Pen tapping His upper Lip, as if He was enjoying the francas. when Mr G Hall Said "a point order, Mr Chairman. I thought We were here to examine the Young Man, & not to discuse His ideas." "Right" said the C, "but there's no harm done yet." the question was put to me: "did You ever read any of Channng's works." ans[wer] "just one, on the Love of Jesus."

just at that moment, as if with lighting speed, the Old Surly burly Man's Face lit up with Such a radiant Miraculous Smile, & bawled out to me in the real Northumbrian dialect burr, "Stick to that Ma Young Lad -- the Love of Jesus -- Ill dew tha neah Harm." I leave you to think how my fears were all chased away; & the Sweet Sound of that vernacular Sentence still sounds in mine ears. "Stick tea that Ma Young Lad -- the Love of Jesus -- ill dew tha neah harm." Enclose you the reply of the examining committee: I think you will admire the Penmanship of the Sec.

I had the joy of preaching in the Little Chapel where I first began in early days. the Late Mr Paxton of Blaydon & I went for 12 consecutive years on the Good Friday, Paxton as chairman, Watson as speaker: some water Marks were reached & referred to to this day. In coming back to Your Labour of Love in the Life of Your Father, I may say since I last wrote you I have chatted with many, especially with the Revs E Phillipson the Late Thos Elliott & Wm Geling. We all think that Somebody may yet come forth & enable the Sweet Life to be put into Book form. Mr Gelling tells me that He hears nothing what the Preacher says, but Still attends Services when he is able. Dr Dalton pot[?] of very Suddenly. our New Minister, the Revd D. J. Dando, has gone through an operation. I visited Him in the Royal Infirmary: he was Surprised to find that the Honour of Life Govenor had been conferred upon me by that Magnificent Instatution. it was expressed that, by care, it might be the means of making a new man of Him. Let's hope it will, for He needs weight both ways: he has a difficult task before Him in many parts of the Circuit.

before I leave of[f] I may be aloud to give you two Mystery nuts to crack. The Revd Joseph James was betroth to Your Aunt Annie, & His Sister Isabela James was betrothed to Jno Watson. now, East is East & West is West; the inception, how, when & where they began to part; the reason why is mystery still. Joesph & Annie are gone, & Bella is also gone, & I only left alone, with My Pen in Hand: the clock of time struck 76 last month.

Give my very best regards to Mr Cowie & tell Him that He has all my prayer & sympathy in His work of Faith: a Labour of Love, in Making His Kingdom to Shine forth in this our day. Mr Cowie will I think have been very Sensitive to the dangerous forces that have been bumping up one against the other of late. I am astonished at the number that seems to be labouring & ready for revolution. all credit to Mr. Baldwin's geniues & energy for staving of the crash: but I dont believe subsidy in any industry

What fine holiday weather we are ha[vi]ng just now. I hope you have had a good Holiday & returned in the Pink. Kindest regards to you both.

yrs Truly Jno Watson

[P. S.] when you write you will oblige by returning Mr Parker Letter

3, Content Street
Bleach Green
Blaydon

[1928?]

Dear Mr & Mrs Cowie

Since last we Stroked the Pens I have been wondering how you have been getting along in the battle of life, under these foolish testing times. I say foolish because the clear & Honest pathway of wisdom was Set to one side, & the Slogan of a bubly Cook & a stupid Smith, flying to the polictial fence & calling on all the federated trade[?] cockeny[?] on the fence the Cookie Slogan. not a [???] of nor a minute on, never considering the question of right or wrong. for 50 years I have always laboured for a clean board of arb[it]ration – all Industrial disputes – I have Knocked up & down both the Wear & the Tyne, amongst the rank & file of working men -- what tales of suffering & privation -- most heart rending to see & listen to.

in coming to what I mostly began to write about – I think I saw in the Leader that after being 7 years in your circuit you desired a change. I was wondering what your outlook, where like. I see Mr Eccles has got fixed up for anothe[r] year. you may have observed that Mr Dando is leaving us in 29, being 4 years Service. We are having a social at our place 'Vinlation'[?] on Saturday night, on purpose to talk matter of interest for the Church & the Circuts – amongst the items, liberty to Suggest the Minister whom we would like in Dando's Place. How are things looking you in your lookout. I feel that I would like to Know –

my GrandDaughter "Bertha' has come to Leeds [??] Newbury[?]. I have been advising Her this week to Seek out your Church in Cardigan Road & let me Know what She thinks of the church & People, expecially if Mr Cowie is preaching. She does not care to be in company with the Methodist class. She thinks there is far to much gossiping & two faced work, expecially among the Wesleyans & Prims. She likes to be straight forward & Honest. She is a devouring reader & likes the story that is now coming through the M. Leader.

This is a little incident that has a bit Watson touch in it. 3 weeks ago I was at Bishop Auckland at Cousin Sally's Husband's Funeral. I stayed a few days & on the last day I called to bid Her good bye. She was busy folding up the Bed Sheets that were bought to entertain John Wesley, when He was the guest of good old Stephen Watson at Lingg Riggs, Weardale. The Sheets have shrouded many of the Sacred of the Watson Line Since Wesley's day; but the pecularity of them -- there's not a flow nor a tare in them, & quality of the Material cannot be matched at this day. I said to Sally that she should send them up to London as relicts of the Wesley times. What she says with considerable expression: No, so they shall not go out of the Watson Family as long as I am alive. another little item was discovered: that I was born in the very room that Wesley Slept in – I hope See the little touch of Watson line in relation to yourself There are other little bits folk Lore relative to my Visit to Bp A.

I am invited to night to the great Birth day party at the Benwell P.M Church. I was at the concert on Saturday night. I didnt much care for it – there was plenty of music but very little Soul that touches the inner fibers.

I hope that junior Jno has got around arond His little fishing pools like his Granda on His way from youth to fame.

Kindest Regards to you all

yr's Truly
Jno. Watson