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Submissions have been down the last couple weeks.
The newsletter depends on the help of all of your for contributions
of research. If you have not
submitted anything, now might be a good time to take a few minutes and dig
into your research to see what you have to share.
Also, if you have access to any bulletin board please post a
message to others who might be interested in the newsletter. ******************************************** Contents: 1. Members
Lines ******************************************* 1. Dale
Molina - Dale 9to4@aol.com Her Great-Great-grandfather was Julius Watts, son of Thomas Watts.
Julius married Agnus Benson. His
estate was settled on 8 Apr 1861. Their
Children were: Benson Watts (dec’d.) m. Emily Eliza (Sumter Co. Equity Court Records - Roll 298) Nov. 12, 1853 Ruful M. Watts of Anderson Co. Texas
gave power of attorney to alexander m. Watts to received for him his share
of his father’s estate - Julius Watts, with Hampton H. Watts, Executor.
(Sumter Deed Book P, pa. 453 - Columbia Archives) June 10, 1848 - Alenader Watts was son of Julius
Watts. Dec. 16 1852 Rufus M. Watts and wife, Rhoda J.
of Anderson Co., Texas appointed Alexander m. Watts of Sumter District as
their attorney to receive for them their portion of estate of Jesse Smith,
dec’d father of Rhoda J.
Watts. Oct 13, 1792 - John Watts of Washington Co., Ga.
conveyed to Tabatha Watts, Benjamin Watts, Julius Watts and Isaiah Watts
of Kershaw Co., all his estate, right, title and interest or claim to the
estate of his Father, Thomas Watts, late of Kershaw Co., dec’d. Jan. 20, 1820 - Chesterfield Dist., Kershaw Co.:
Jenny Watts was wife of Benjamin Watts and Sarah Watts was wife of
Isaiah Watts. ? 7, 1815 - Julius Watts of Sumter Dist. gave a negro
girl to his daughter, Rebecca Corbett, wife of
Hampton H. Corbett. Dale is looking for the ancestory of Julius Watts. ******************************************** The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Published Quarterly by The Virginia Historical Society, June, 1906, Volume 13. p. 307 - Virginia Gleanings in England. Cornelius Wattes, of St. Cuthbertes in the city of
Wells, in the County of Somersett, Vintener.
Will 3 January 1640-I, proved 2 October 1640. To be buried in
the Churchyard of St. Cuthberts. To
John Davis of Shipton Mallet and his wife one Arrisoe Coverlett and a blew
Rugg and twoe siluer wine boles and 40s. a piece to buy each of them a
ring. To Margarett Davies,
daughter of said John Davie, 40s. To
William Watts, which is now in Virginia, my house next below the
Ashe-in-the-well and 10pounds. If
he dothe not returne again, my son Edward Watts to have the house but not
the money. To the Churcho of St. Cuthberts 10s. To the people of Thalmeshouse of Bp. Bubwith's and Bp. Stil
their foundations 10s. All
the rest to my wife Ann Watts and Edward Watts my son and Anne Watts my
daughter whom i make executors. Witnesses: Coventry, 129. [William Watts and Richard Davis patented, July 30, 1638, seventy-five acres on Queens Creek, adjoining the lands of Robert Booth and Lieutenant Popeley; due as follows: Fifty acres for the adventure of said Watts and wife, the second year, to Charles River, and twenty-five acres for the adventure, the second year, of the said Davis to Charles River. The
"adventure" refers to the bounty in land offered those who would
settle on Charles (now York) river, then a frontier of the Colony.
See grant to John Chew,
July 6, 1636, reciting an order of Council of October 8, 1630, (this
Magazine V. 341-342). Queens
Creek flows into York River not far from Williamsburg. - Ed.] Submitted by Paul Watts Allred, pwallred@ucdavis.edu ******************************************** The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, Published Quarterly by The Virginia Historical Society, June, 1906, Volume 13. p. 197 - Virginia Gleanings in England. Wilbeard Watts Witness of Will for William Guy,
Citizen and Haberdasher of London. Will
14 November 1665; proved 29 November 1665. Submitted by Paul Watts Allred, pwallred@ucdavis.edu ********************************************
Census
of 1790 - Rhode Island
Source: The Watts Family, American Genealogical Research Institute, Heritage Press, Inc. Washington D.C. 1975. Pa. 46-37. ******************************************** The following was sent to me by Dale Molina
(Dale 9to4@aol.com). It
is an interesting view of Thomas Watts in an article about life in 18th
century Virginia. I have only inserted portions of the article.
The whole article can be found in “An 18th Century Perspective:
Culpeper County” Compiled
and Edited by Mary Stevens Jones, published by the Culpeper Historical
Society, Inc. Culpeper, Virginia, 1976, pa. 129-132. Archaeology tells us something about how people lived by showing us their possessions, what they had to live with. We can use a similar approach. The county will books contain inventories and appraisals of the estates left by deceased persons. These are lists of all an individual’s “worldly possessions” and their value, except for real estate. Land holdings may be determined from wills and deeds. About 165 estates were recorded from 1748-1770: the average value was 182 pounds. Of What did these estates consist? What was the accumulation of personal property over a life-time, and how does it reflect the daily life of a man and his family? John Smith’s estate was one of the smallest valued in 1751. Valued at 4 pounds, 6 shillings, 9 pence, it consisted of “1 Mare, 1 Old Saddle, and Bridle, 1 Dear Skin and heiffer Skin, 1 Old Hatchett and some paper, a Suite of old Cloaths and a Rugg, 1 Weeding Hoe, 1 old felt Hatt.” James Strother had the largest estate in the 22-year period of Will Book A. 1027 pounds, recorded march 19, 1761. He would have been regarded as a very well-to-do man by local standards. His will is not listed in the index of wills for Culpeper County, so we do not know the size of his family or the real-estate he owned. The appraisers listed his property in random order, probably as they came upon it on the premises. here the entries have been classified by use and the values aggregated: Negroes, 910.0.0 pounds; horses, 35.0.0 pounds; other livestock, 24.13.6; sleeping, 24.13.6; other furnishings, 4.7.3; cooking and eating, 5.17.0; tools and equipment, 8.10.0. The Negroes account for 89% of his property, livestock another 6.5%, leaving only 5% for everything else. The value of the estate of Robert Tureman, 126.5.9., is near the average of estates recorded around 1750. Of course, the fact that the value of the estate was average does not necessarily mean that it was representative in other respects. A number of additional factors, however, suggest in an average situation. Mr, Tureman owned 200 acres of land, which were a “plantation.” He owned five Negroes, two of which were children. None was a man, however, so there were no field hands. He had five children; his wife was still living when he died. he had some livestock and grew at least some tabacco. He could not write, nor could one of his witnesses of his will; both signed with “his mark.” All of the property belonged to the husband. A married woman could hold no title whatever to possessions or land during her husband’s lifetime. any bequest from her parents became her husband’s property; he acknowledged receipt of it in court. If a woman married a second or third time (which occurred often), land and possessions held in her name, during her widowhood, immediately became her new husband’s property. Sometimes a woman wished her children to have the benefit of the estate of their father. In that case, she either gave them title to the possessions or had an agreement with her prospective husband to give the children possession of their inheritance on becoming of age. The agreement was entered in the court records. An inventory of the Estate of Robert Tureman, Dec’d, March 22, 1754, included: Negroes, servants, valued at 100 pounds; horses, saddle and bridle, 3.2.0; other livestock, 5.5.9; sleeping, 10.0.0; furnishings, 0.19.0; cooking, eating, laundry, bathing, 5.14.; tools and equipment, 5.14.0. The total value of the estate was 126.5.9. Most interesting items listed were those used for “cooking, eating, laundry, and bathing.” Included were “1 iron kettle, spit and flesh fork, 2 box irons and 2 candlesticks, 3 butter potts and caps, 1/2 dozen spoons, knives, and forks, 2 small iron potts, a parcel of pewter, 3 old meal-sifters, 2 pales, and washing tub.” Would the plantation of a man of well above average wealth be better equipped for farming than that of the average planter? Thomas Watts’ estate, at 342 pounds, was nearly three times larger than Tureman’s estate. He had “sundry tools and sundry axes, 7 hoes and 2 plough hocs, 2 cross-cut-saws and a hand saw, 4 reap hooks. “These items, including a gun and a sword and sheath, were valued at about 5 pounds, compared to Tureman’s equipment at less than 1 pound. In both cases the equipment was the simplest of hand tools, hoes and axes; Watts had a few more. However, Watts has a still worth 19 pounds and a cart with “shod wheels” worth 4.10.0. Negroes accounted for 190 and livestock 40 pounds. Thomas Watts was also well-blessed with other possessions. He had 12 children and over 1200 acres of land. To each of seven of his children he bequeathed 150 or 200 acres of land. It seems noteworthy that in all these estates we find only the simplest furnishings and equipment for daily living. Aside from the beds, which are not described, other furnishings seem few, simple, and far from elegant. The equipment for food preparation seems to offer a quite limited scope of cookery, and the table service seems very primitive. This absence of refinement for daily living appears to have been by choice. James Strother, for example, could easily have traded 5% of his investment in slaves for more comfortable or luxurious furnishings. What was daily life like for Robert Tureman’s “average” family? He had no Negro men; he and his sons, and possibly daughter too, worked the plantation with hoes, They cut firewood with an axe, summer and winter, and split it with axe and wedges. There is no saw of any kind on Tureman’s inventory. (notice 2 saws in Thomas Watts) Their home was probably a log house about 16x20 feet. Most of the family had to walk to church, or anywhere else, since there were only two mares to ride; they had no cart of wagon. But walking several miles was not thought of as a hardship. Bedsteads had no springs, but were equipped with feather bed, bolsters, and pillows. There were also “flock” beds in which the ticking was filed with rags, bits of wool, milk-weed, or cattails Down. Either type had sheets, blankets, and perhaps a “rugg.” the latter may have been used as a cover or hung on the wall to reduce drafts. Sheets were of canvas or “Holland” a coarse, unbleached linen. There might be several quilts. some beds had curtains and valances also to shut out drafts. ...Eating with a knife was a common practice that persisted in some areas into the 20th century. By the 1700’s forks were more common. In summer some cooking was done out of doors in pots hung over a fire. In cool months and in winter the cooking was done on the hearth. With a large family and a number of servants food preparation was almost a continuous activity. When there were servants the mistress of the house supervised the household tasks-preparing the food, caring for the milk, salting the meat, rendering the lard, etc. ...The average family bought little more than actual necessities, a minimum of manufactured or imported goods. Until villages and general stores spread through the country, what was bought was obtained at the distant market town, usually Fredericksburg. Some modest purchases might be made when the tabacco was rolled to market. ...In addition to cider, other drinks included beer, wines, brandy (distilled from fermented peaches or apples) and rum. Rum from the West Indian trade was relatively cheap. It was considered a rather common drink and was sometimes provided for the servants. Drink was consumed extensively; even a before -breakfast draft of beer or cider was common practice. among the upper class drinking was heavy, probably excessive even by modern standards. (Remember Thomas Watts owned a still) ******************************************** There has been some confusion concerning the above
Thomas Watts as to the name of his wife.
We know it was Esther from the will of Thomas Watts. Our family has past down the history her name was Esther
Wilkins. There is no
documentation I know of to support this.
Recently, I have seen the name of Esther Stone used.
As far as I know, I have not seen any documentation to support this
either. I recently discovered the existence of another Thomas Watts who was a Mariner, in York and Northhampton Counties in Virginia. His wife was Esther Wilkins. He died in 1726 and left a will in Northhampton County, Virginia made 11 Mar 1725 and proved 12 Apr 1726. In it he names his children: John Wilkins Watts Esther Wilkins Watts, father was John Wilkins of
Northampton, VA. John Wilkins
left a will mentioning his grandchildren.
This evidence links this family Could someone somewhere back have mistaken this Thomas Watts and Esther? After finding this man above, I feel this man was confused with the Thomas Watts of Culpeper. I would appreciate any thoughts from those of you who are descended from either of these Thomas Watts’. Lori ******************************************** I only know my line back to my Grandfather Robert Kenneth Watts, He was born Sept. 17, 1885 in Jacksonville, Florida. he married Eva Luetta Dakin Dec. 23, 1911 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania. They had three children, William b. 1912, John b. 1914 and Robert b. 1917. Grandfather may have used the name kenneth, his marriage license was signed R. Kenneth Watts. he disappeared in 1919, his last known location was Dupont Mills, DE. Eva divorced him in 1922 for desertion. The divorce papers list his mother as living in New Jersey, but it doesn’t say her name. he may have had a brother who was a doctor. Some say R.K.Watts has a second family somewhere in New York. Does anything sound familiar? please write Tabitha Watts, 834 Twp Road 350, Nova, Ohio 44859. or E-mail my sister at mdecker@ix.netcom.com. ******************************************** |
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