William Watson Hewitson (c1814-1863), partner in Kitson and Hewitson
c1814 Born at Allindale, Northumberland
Apprentice at Stephenson's at Newcastle [1]
1856 Patent. 'William Watson Hewitson and William Hamond Bartholomew, of Leeds, for improvements in the construction of the furnaces or fire boxes of tubular steam boilers; dated June 5, 1856.'[2]
1861 Living at Woodlands, Otley Road, Leeds (age 47 born Allindale, Northumberland), Engineer Master employing 1100 men, Iron Ship Builder 370 men, Colliery Owner employing 285 men. With his mother Jane (age 85 born Allindale) and his sisters Mary A. (age 50), Hannah (age 44) plus a servant. [3]
1861 June. Dispute over Tithes he does not want to pay as he is a member of the Society of Friends [4]
1863 May 7th. Died
1864 Obituary [5]
William Watson Hewitson was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne in 1815; and after serving his time at Messrs. Robert Stephenson and Co.'s works in that town he was for some time in the locomotive shops of Messrs. Fenton Murray and Jackson at Leeds.
From thence he went to the locomotive works of Messrs. Kitson and Co. at Leeds, taking the position of manager and principal draughtsman; and in 1842 he became a member of that firm, and continued so until his death on 7th May 1863 at the age of forty-eight.
He had made the locomotive engine his special study from his first connection with business ; and during the last two years of his life rendered material assistance in the development of the system of steam ploughing, in connection with Mr. John Fowler.
He was a Member of the Institution from 1848.