Biography

Isaac Newton Watt’s life can be gleaned from his obituary in the Otago Daily Times 11 September 1886.

“As a young man the deceased was a student at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. He never took his medical degree, although after his emigration to New Zealand he used to give many the benefits of his medical skill. The services of a ‘duly qualified medical practitioner’ then not readily obtainable as at present. Both at Taranaki and the Bluff he was known as ‘doctor’ and his services proved invaluable in many a time of sickness, both to the Maori population and to the settlers. Also to the sailors who by chance visited these shores. He first arrived in 1842, landing at Taranaki. Not very long after his arrival he obtained a commission in the militia and served through the first Maori war as Captain. In 1862 he obtained the position of Resident Magistrate at Bluff where he remained till 1865 when he received the appointment of Sherriff to the Supreme Court, Dunedin. After coming here, until about five or six years ago, he held the position of Sheriff, R.M. and Coroner. In 1880 he retired from active service on a pension. He still retained the office of Sheriff and Coroner up to the time of his death. Prior to death he was in a poor state of health and succumbed yesterday to some brain infection. He was 70 years old. His sons work for Mr Duncan’s office, Melbourne and Hillside Workshops respectively.”

His death notice in the Evening Post said that he died suddenly at Mr Brunton’s Selwyn House, North East Valley, 10-9-1886.