Thomas Watson was 'resident librarian and housekeeper' for the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts. In November 1838 he was accused by the Colonist newspaper of 'keeping back all the new works for his own intimate friends'. At the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts Committee Meeting of 3 November 1838 his 'claim to keep the library open additional hours each week' was ignored. The accounts paid listed for the 3 December 1838 Meeting include 'Mr Watson - Librarian £ 5- 13- 6.'

Source: Sydney Gazette and New South Wales Advertiser vol. 36 no. 4089 (27 October 1838): 2; J. D. Atkins (comp.) The Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts Diary 1833-1845 (1981): 61