The Watsons: Beginnings - Epilogue

Epilogue

Robert and Cassandra married on the 25^th of December 1770, having waited until all of their family could come together to celebrate their nuptials. They had determined to be the happiest of couples and read to each other every day of their shared lives until their Lord in heaven should part them.

Since she had never conceived during her previous marriage, they were both surprised and overjoyed when Cassandra felt the quickening within four months of their wedding. In late September of the following year, they welcomed their first child, whom they named Robert Willoughby Watson. Both Henry and Charles insisted on being godfather’s to the Watson’s first child. Robbie Junior would later form a strong friendship with his ‘cousin’ Charles Junior who was born two years later in January 1773 as Mr Charles Turner had remarried a month after little Robbie’s first birthday.

In November of that same year, the Watsons Christened their second child, Elizabeth Theophila Watson. Mrs Garforth, Mr and Mrs Hodgson, and Mr John Mordaunt, Robert’s former brother-in-law all agreed to take up the roles of her godparents—though little Eliza Watson’s second name was given in honour and memory of Mr Watson’s late sister who was Mr Mordaunt’s late wife. Elizabeth was followed two years later by Penelope Antonina Watson, born in mid-March. This time, Mr and Mrs Parker stood up along with Mr and Mrs Hewgill as the godparents to the young girl.

Believing their family complete, Mr and Mrs Watson were delighted with their children. However, three years after Penelope, Margaret Arabella Watson was born in early April. This time, Robert’s youngest sister Margaret—now Mrs Turner having married in ’74—and her husband were asked to be godparents along with Mr and Mrs Francis Willoughby. When they were questioned about the choice of Margaret’s second name, the two only smiled at each other as they remembered that long ago rainy day in Henry’s library when Cassandra first read The Female Quixote to her dear Robert.

They were surprised when Maggie was followed two years later by Samuel Charles Watson in mid-December. The Reverend Mr Charles Mordaunt, younger brother of John, agreed to be one of the godparents and travelled to Yorkshire for the Christening. It was a memorable event as Samuel had been born on the same day as his cousin, Henry Willoughby. The Reverend James Willoughby and his wife, Eleanor whom he had married two years after the Watsons wedding, had two little girls, but they had already lost two sons; one having passed away in February of that same year at just eight months old. They hoped the double birth was a good sign, and they had readily agreed to share in the duty of being Samuel’s godparents should the Watson’s agree to the same for their dear little Henry. And so, the two boys were Christened in the same ceremony with the whole Willoughby brood present to pray for both young men to live long and healthy lives. And, while it is not part of this story, the author is glad to tell you that their hopes were answered.

Their last little ‘blessing’, as Cassandra liked to call their children, was named Emma Cassandra Watson. She entered the world two years after Sammy, just shy of Maggie’s fourth birthday. Little Emma was born when Cassandra was forty-three, and Mr Robert Watson was suddenly glad that he had married a woman with so many relations as they would never have to worry about running out of godparents. Young William Garforth was now all grown up and had married a few days after the birth of Margaret which caused Mr and Mrs Watson to miss his wedding. However, the couple was asked and agreed to become godparents for little Emma in addition to Miss Dorothy Mordaunt, who at nearly sixty was still spry. Her inclusion was suggested by Penelope, Mrs Parker, who insisted that her aunt “would do as well as anyone else and had more to offer than most.” While the Watsons assured Miss Mordaunt that they had no expectations, she agreed—finding humour in the offer.

The only shadow over Emma’s Christening was that, Mrs Hodgson, having passed away the year before, was unable to be there to meet her namesake. Mr Hodgson assured Cassandra that his late-wife would have adored Emma just as she had all the rest. The Hodgson’s had been childless, and Mrs Hodgson had doted on all her nieces and nephews as if they made up for that emptiness in her own life. Another downside of the timing of Mrs Hodgson’s death was that she was unable to live long enough to see her brother, Henry, inherit the title Baron Middleton upon their cousins dying without male heirs.

Less than one month after Emma’s birth, Mr Charles Turner—who had inherited the family’s estate on the passing of his father in ’74—was created a Baronet. He claimed that he needed to “keep up with his good friend as much as possible.”

Though both his godparent’s attained titles, little Robbie Watson was never aware of what good connections he truly held—at least not until both of his godfather’s had left the mortal coil, but that is a story for another day.

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Copyright © 2025 Eireanne Michaels (Erin Michelle Harris)

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