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This issue is a week late due to a hard drive failure. I have lost
some data so if you sent me something in the second week of October, I
probably lost the information. I would appreciate it if you could
re-send it. Also if you know of anyone who messaged me
concerning receiving the newsletter and they do not receive this one
please have them message me again. As of this week, I am going to
remove anyone from the list who's mail comes back to me two times in a
row. If you do not receive a newsletter, you should message me so we
can find out what the trouble is. Back issues - I lost the information concerning who wanted back issues when my hard drive died. Therefore I am going to have to rebuild that list. I will send out back issues #11 thru #15 next week, October 31st. If you are interested in being on the list to receive back issues you will need to message me. When asking for back issues, all you need to do is but "Back Issues" in the subject line. No other message is necessary. You will remain on the back issue list until you ask to be removed. Contents: 1. Members Lines 2. Queries 3. Watts sources from Neal Watts 4. Georgia Marriages 5. Hon. Cornelius C. Watts 9. Descendants of William Lawson Watts (includes Cornelius C. Watts) ******************************************** Members Lines 1. From: Gary Fletcher - gfletch@erols.com The only info I know on the Watts connection is this: Anna Watts, b abt 1820 in VA, married William G. W. Bentley 25 Aug 1846 in Hawkins Co, TN. Their children were: William b abt 1844 Alfred Maxwell b abt 1847 Elizabeth b abt 1849 John B, b 8 Jun 1851 Franklin A. b abt 1854 Mary b abt 1856 Barsheeba b abt 1858 Anna's father is rumored to be Greenberry Watts but I can not confirm nor deny this. I have additional info on some of the Bentleys but nothing else on the Watts. Thanks Gary 2. Lea Dowd. - lea@gnat.net The following is what I have on the WATTS line, not much. Corrections are appreciated. 1 Richard R. WATTS b: ca 1743 in VA d: 1817 in Wilkes Co., GA ... +Elizabeth TOWNSEND b: ca 1743 2 Judith WATTS b: ca 1776 in Amelia Co., VA d: 1829 in Henry Co., GA ... +Joseph KEY b: ca 1759 in Albermarle Co., VA m: 29 Jan 1784 in Bedford Co., VA d: 1826 in Henry Co., GA 3 [1] Caleb Witt KEY, Rev. b: 10 Jan 1806 in Green Co, GA d: 23 Jan 1881 in Augusta, Ga *2nd Wife of [1] Caleb Witt Key, Rev.: ... +Elizabeth WIMBERLY b: 20 Oct 1819 in Jones Co, Ga m: 02 Oct 1838 in Bibb Co., GA d: 16 Apr 1903 in Augusta, Ga 4 Isabelle Saucey/Chauncey KEY b: 31 Dec 1846 in Savannah, Ga d: 17 Jun 1924 in Charlotte, NC ... +William Garrard MAHONE b: 17 Jun 1848 in Ga m: 20 Jun 1865 d: 21 Oct 1888 in Talbot Co, Ga 5 Florence Belle MAHONE b: 29 Aug 1875 in Putnam Co, Ga d: 02 Mar 1944 in Columbus, Ga ... +Lee Bourke MCKEE b: 25 Jun 1868 in Columbus, Ga m: 01 Jan 1895 in Haddock, Jones Co., Ga d: 11 Apr 1937 in Columbus, Ga 6 Georgia Isabel MCKEE b: 29 Sep 1899 in Columbus, Ga. d: 05 May 1960 in Columbus, Ga. ... +Robert Magruder LEWIS, Sr. b: 23 Jul 1894 in Columbus, Ga. m: 09 Nov 1921 in Muscogee Co., GA d: 13 May 1946 in Columbus, Ga. 7 Robert Magruder LEWIS, Jr. ... +Laura Eugenia ANDERSON 8 Lea Anderson LEWIS ******************************************** QUERIES Question: From: KerryStahl@aol.com I presently subscribe to and save the Watts newsletter. However, I have been unable to find some issues, I guess since some of my files got messed up. I am particularly interested in issued 28 and 29. Did you say that there is somewhere on the net we can download old issues? If not, could you please re-send issues 28 and 29. I have been told that they discuss ancestors of mine. Answer: At this time there is no place you can download the newsletters. I am sending out the back issues 5 at a time. See the instructions above to add you name to the back issue list. Thanks. Lori Question: from: MAdkins953@aol.com I am searching for information on Thomas Watts b. @1765 Ireland. He came to SC where he served in the militia and m. ? and had at least one son John T. He went from there to Ouachita Parish LA where he m. a widow Susannah Hutchings Pace Berry in 1815. He lived there until @1825 when he and his family moved to Jasper Co Texas where he lived until he died in 1841. I would really like to find out the name of his first wife and his parents. Thanks for any info. Mickie Question: Seeking info on Nancy Watts, daughter of Elijah Durrett Watts and Catherine Long Watts. Nancy was born in Albemarle County, VA about 1784. She married Wiley Dickenson/Dickerson on 7 Jan, 1806 in Albemarle County, VA. After her marriage, where did they live? Did they remain in VA, or migrate elsewhere? Who were her children? When and where did she die? Where is she buried? I'll be most appreciative for any information pertaining to Nancy Watts. Thanks, Pete Dickerson petedick@ix.netcom.com ******************************************* From: nwatts@swbell.net (Neal Watts) I have some candidate information for your next newsletter. Item 1. John A. Watts file from Family Tree maker. I contacted the originator of the John A. Watts and Thomas Watts file that you have previously printed parts provided by me, among others. She is currently sending me additional data that she has collected since sending the file to WFT. I asked her if it was all right to publish her name and telephone and she said she would welcome calls. She isn't currently on-line but hopes to be in the future. Glenna Coultas 515 N. Catherine St, Terrell, TX 75160-2134 (972) 563-8381 Item 2. Rick Watts has published a new 60 page book titled: Descendants of William Watts: Early Settler of Livingston Parish This William Watts was ca 1776 in that Watts prolific area of NC. Several of William's children were born in in Anson Co, NC. While the book is oriented toward this one family and descendants, Rick has done a through job of documenting most Watts families in LA as well as early families in MS. He cites reference books like: Early Settlers of Mississippi by Walter Lowrie, Washington DC, 1834 and Records of Natchez District (MS) 1810. The latter identifies that in 1810: Josiah Watts resided in Wayne County James Watts resided in Wayne County Rubin Watts resided in Green County Thomas Watts resided in Marion County. Anyone interested in a copy should contact: Rick Watts 540 Fisher Drive Allen, TX 75002 (972) 727-6297 Item 3: After reading the latest newsletter I've come to the conclusion a database of all Watts families listed in early census records would be very useful to many of us. I suggest we divide up records searches by state and get one Watts newsletter subscriber to commit to research 1790 through 1830 for a state. I would suspect that there are no more than a handful of Watts families in most states so there wouldn't be a lot of effort required by each researcher. We need to be sure we get the full census data for each person listed. E.g. Slave records are kept separately from the name records. (Neal volunteers to coordinate the collection. He can provide the census index information for each state so the search part is simplified. Anyone interested should contact Neal to prevent overlap and for more details. If this works we can consider extending our database to later census years and other sources. Contact Neal at: nwatts@swbell.net ) ITEM 4: I'm also compiling a listing of sources for various Watts data to share. Besides census records, marriage records, death records, etc., there are numerous other sources. Examples include the books referenced by (and other written by) Rick Watts. Other records include Land Lotteries held in many states, periodicals such as the Southern Methodist Messenger, and cemetery records. (Old cemeteries can be fascinating. E.g., if you are ever in Huntsville, TX drive up Texas highway 1 to Sam Houstons gravesite. Then go across the street to the old cemetery and read the inscriptions. Second E.g., In parts of France you don't buy a plot, you rent it. If your descendants don't pay the rent, they dig you up and rent it to someone else.) (If anyone has a book source that's of Watts interest, send Neal an e-mail. When his list gets fairly far along, we'll put it in the newsletter.) I'm looking forward to the next group of early newsletters. Neal (Thanks neal for your contribution and offers of compiling information. I hope some of you e-mial neal and help in this effort. Lori) ******************************************** GEORGIA MARRIAGES CASS COUNTY George W. Watts - Sarah A. Trawick April 10, 1861 William C. Watts - Elizabeth Ivey December 28, 1842 DEKALB COUNTY Spencer Watts - Nancy Stone September 7, 1848 Spencer Watts - Rodut Fogarty July 9, 1850 Contributed by Tayna Watts Lynn Tlynn165@aol.com ******************************************** Hon. Cornelius C. Watts Hon. Cornelius C. Watts, ex-Attorney-General of West Virginia, ex-state Senator, and United States District Attorney for the State under President Cleveland (both terms), is a native of Amherst, Va., the date of his birth being April 23, 1848. He is the son of James D. and Lucy A. (Simms) Watts, who at the beginning of the late war removed from Amherst to Albemarle County. At the age of sixteen years he entered the confederate army, and served as a private in Mosby's command until the close of the war. He studied law and was educated at the University of Virginia. In 1870 he became a citizen of West Virginia, and began the practice of his profession at Oceana, Wyoming County; was elected Prosecuting Attorney in 1872, which office he held until 1875, when he removed to Charleston to become a law partner of Hon, John E. Kenna. The firm of Kenna & Watts at once took rank among the leading advocated of the Charleston Bar, and both gentlemen came into prominent notice and acquired a lucrative practice. Mr. Watts had grown so rapidly in professional reputation that in 1880 he was nominated and elected Attorney-General for West Virginia. His term of four years was filed with such general satisfaction as to win for him the deserved commendation of his profession throughout the State and the most kindly praise of the newspapers pres. As Attorney- General he argued many important cases for the State and published nine volumes of report of Supreme Court of Appeals, in which work he was ably assisted by Major O. D. Cook, his faithful assistant. Among the more important cases argued by General Watts may be cited the famous tax case of Miller, Auditor, vs. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, which carried to the United States Supreme Court at Washington, where General Watts represented the State after his term of office expired, being specially appointed by Gov. Jacob B. Jackson. The railway company was represented by such counsel as Senator George F. Edmunds, of Vermont, and Judge William J. Robertson, of Virginia. In this litigation of State was successful and gained some $200,000, besides establishing the right to forever tax not only this but all railways now or hereafter to be built in the State of West Virginia. A writer in "Prominent Men of West Virginia" says: " The ability displayed by him in the preparation and presentation of this case called forth many high tributes from members of the profession." Senator Edmunds himself addressed General Watts a personal letter, expressing the highest terms his admiration of the skill and ability displayed in the conduct of the case." General Watts' reputation as a lawyer of high ability was fully established when, in 1886, President Grover Cleveland sent his name to the Senate for confirmation as the Attorney of the United States for the District of West Virginia, and the August body with exceptional promptness confirmed the appointment. General Watts was on the 3rd of August commissioned by the president United States Attorney for the term of four years. The Presidential election came again in 1888, and General Harrison succeeded President Cleveland. There had been election frauds practiced by voters of both parties, and General Watts began a rigid and uncompromising prosecution of the offenders, Democrats as well as Republicans, The "election fraud cases" became the topic of the day, and the District Attorney knew only his duty in the work of preserving the ballot free and honest. This course of action did not please President Harrison however, who on the 9th day of March 1889, five days after his inauguration, had the Attorney-General of the United States telegraph General Watts for the resignation. He immediately replied: "Your telegram of this date, by direction of the President, requesting my resignation of the office United States Attorney for the District of West Virginia has been received. I know of no act of absence of cause being assigned, would under existing circumstances, justify me in tendering my resignation. I therefore respectfully decline to make such resignation. If the President wants me to vacate the office of United States Attorney without cause being assigned therefore, let him assert his prerogative." On the 4th day of April, 1889, General Watts was notified by the President of his removal, which made him the first officer removed under the new administration. In 1890 General Watts was nominated for State Senator, and in district that two years before gave General Goff 800 majority, was elected by 2,200 majority - his own count of Kanawha that had gone 1,500 Republican at the preceding election giving him 375 majority. In the Senate his work was active, both in committee and on the floor. A very important series of litigation's more of less intricate and far-reaching in a public sense are the mining cases, brought up in the courts on the strength of Screening laws passed at the last session of the Legislature. The eminent advocate, ex-Judge J.H. Ferguson, introduced the bill in the House of 1891, and it passed with little opposition; but it was fought in the Senate, where General Watts came to its rescue and succeeded in passing it. Both gentleman from the first have been at work to secure this relief for the miners, and have given their services in the courts without fee or reward to test the constitutionality of the measures. The causes appealed strongly to the "live-and-let-live" nature of General Watts, whose characteristic sympathy in truth and in heart with the masses and with honest industry is well known. These States, provide for a just and fair rate of compensation to the miner for all the coal that he mines; whereas the custom heretofore in vogue was to pay him only for the coal that passed over the screen, which might be open or close mesh, but which generally was so open as to let fully on-third of the product of the mines go through. For this one-third of his work the miner got nothing, and if the operator also got nothing there would have been no advantage taken; but as the "slack" or dust sells for five cents a bushel and the "nut size" for six and eight cents a bushel, the hardship to the miner was ever manifested to his dissatisfaction, for to him it seemed the surplus that would give him his little creature comforts-his luxuries, as it were - which he saw go tot he operator and mine-owner as clear gain. To say nothing of the hardships of the miner, of his arduous and perilous avocation, his dependence in remote and primitive settlements upon the very whim, almost , of his moneyed employers this absolute loss day after day and year after year of a part of his product was a constant source of depression and discontent; therefore when the Legislature gave him relief he at once availed himself of the new scale, and just as quickly did the operator and mine-owner oppose it. Consequently General Watts and Judge Ferguson understood to defend the law they had passed and champion the interests of the miners-no small affair when it is realized that the coal industry is the great source of wealth of the State, employing as it does 14,000 miners that turn out on the markets of the world over 9,000,000 tons of coal annually. So conspicuously ably and courageously had this fight been carried on by both gentlemen that the miners held a mass meeting at Charleston, where General Watts and Judge Ferguson made addresses and were thanked by the meeting in the following resolution: "Whereas, The Hon. Judge J. H. Ferguson and Gen. C. C. Watts have at all times held themselves ready to advance our interests on a just and equitable basis; therefore it is Resolved, that District 17, United Mine Workers of America, do hereby return our sincere thanks for their services in our behalf and for their presence at our convention of this date." In the gubernatorial candidacy of 1892 General Watts was for a time a prominent and also a promising favorite for the convention to consider, but for various reasons he decided to dismiss the prospect form his future calculations altogether, and accordingly addressed a letter to the people of the State relinquishing all claim upon his friends and positively declining to be a candidate. The people took this decision very much to heart, and finally, after badgering the General at every convenient opportunity and declaring that they "would run him anyhow," they addressed to him a petition signed by over 2,000 men, both Democrats and Republicans, asking that he reconsider and allow his name to go before the convention. In an open letter addressed through the papers to him they said; "As a slight expression of our appreciation of your valuable services in behalf of the humble toilers and wage-workers of this Common wealth, and feeling that you are in sympathy and accord with all the people, we sincerely hope and request that you will reconsider your letter of declination and former decision in this matter and that you will allow us to assist in electing you Governor of their State; therefore Resolved, That if you will accept the nomination, and if the Democratic State Convention will nominate you as their standard-bearer for the office of Governor, we, the undersigned, do solemnly pledge you our support at the next State election regardless of our former party affiliation." In an eloquent and sincere response General Watts declined again to be a candidate, but in doing so assured his friends that their appeal "was deeply touching and brings to my heart a feeling of gratitude that non can know who have never been similarly situated." Very few public men could have refused such a prospect for securing the honorable office of Governor which General Watts was virtually sure of had he consented to make the race. General Watts, on the 4th day of may, 1893, tendered his resignation to the Governor McCorkle as a member of the West Virginia Senate, having only the day before received again from President Cleveland his commission as united States Attorney for the District of West Virginia. This second commission comes to him a "badge of honor" and a personal and official vindication dearly prized by himself and greatly appreciated by the Democracy of West Virginia. As a speaker and writer General Watts has the reputation of being clear and forcible. In pleading a case he goes directly at the subject, state his ground, and presents his argument in a rugged honesty of statement that would be considered hazardous by those members of the bar who believe a cautious and kid-gloved policy of such paramount importance in winning a verdict. But it is before an appellate court where he is perhaps the most effective, and it is doubtful if he could make a thoroughly good argument in any case the merits of which he was not fully assured of, so earnest, direct, pointed, emphatic, forcible, and comprehensive is he in sating the claims of his cause and the authorities in the books upon which he bases his argument. Of prepossessing appearance and decidedly professional air, General Watts is a typical lawyer who would command the respect of any bench and appeal to the confidence of any jury at home or abroad. He is a good horseman and prides himself as the owner of several blooded animals who give him rest and recreation upon the road. He is also interested in breeding a few head of stock at Lexington, KY. He resides with his family on the cliffs of West Charleston, where a picturesque scene may be enjoyed that included Charleston and the Great Kanawha River, with the hills and mountains far beyond. General Watts became united in marriage to Miss Ella M., daughter of the late Daniel and Narissa Shumate, of Raleigh, West Virginia. With their large family of boys and girls they live contentedly and quietly in their pleasant suburban home. Contemporary Biography of West Virginia, pa. 96-99. ******************************************** Descendants of William Lawson Watts 1 William Lawson Watts 1777 - Aft. 1850 b: 11 Nov 1777 d: Aft. 1850 .. +Mary Ann Dillard 1784 - b: 13 Sep 1784 ......... 2 Mary Ann Watts ......... 2 Sarah G. Watts ......... 2 Emily F. Watts ......... 2 Ann Watts ......... 2 America Watts ......... 2 daugher Watts ......... 2 daughter Watts ......... 2 [2] James Dillard Watts 1801 - 1864 b: 26 Feb 1801 d: Dec 1864 in Albemarle , VA Buried: Watts Cemetery , Albemarle, VA ............. +Jane Shannon Higginbotham .................... 3 Shanon Watts .................... 3 Sterling Fletcher Watts .................... 3 [1] Robert William Watts 1825 - b: 16 Oct 1825 ........................ +Cornelia Agnas Simms 1821 - 1858 b: 03 Dec 1821 d: 07 Dec 1858 in Albemarle Co. VA ............................... 4 Bettie Jane Watts 1850 - b: 1850 ............................... 4 Eliza Wingfield Watts .................... *2nd Wife of [1] Robert William Watts: ........................ +Mary Elizabeth Appling ............................... 4 Francis Watts ............................... 4 James D. Watts ............................... 4 Mamie Watts ............................... 4 Janie Watts ............................... 4 Robert Dillard Watts ............................... 4 Richard Wingfield Watts ............................... 4 Sarah Jane Watts .................... 3 James Milton Watts Abt. 1829 - b: Abt. 1829 .................... 3 Dillard Watts Abt. 1832 - Abt. 1834 b: Abt. 1832 d: Abt. 1834 ......... *2nd Wife of [2] James Dillard Watts: ............. +Eliza Goodman ......... *3rd Wife of [2] James Dillard Watts: ............. +Lucy Ann Simms 1814 - 1885 b: 1814 d: 1885 in Albermarle Co. VA .................... 3 Thomas Brown Watts 1836 - 1861 b: 13 Aug 1836 d: 20 Oct 1861 .................... 3 John Westley Watts 1840 - 1863 b: 22 Apr 1840 d: 1863 .................... 3 Richard Simms Watts 1841 - b: 1841 .................... 3 Charles Edward Watts 1842 - b: 1842 .................... 3 Morton Simms Watts 1844 - 1924 b: 23 Dec 1844 d: 21 Jul 1924 ........................ +Susan Ann Garnett 1850 - 1902 b: 23 Jun 1850 d: 25 Jan 1902 ............................... 4 Eugenia Watts ................................... +Shackelford ............................... 4 Josephine Watts ............................... 4 Bessie Watts ................................... +Robert Ellis ............................... 4 Hattie Watts ................................... +Henry Ellis ............................... 4 Pauline Watts ................................... +Horace Chalmere ............................... 4 Morton Watts ............................... 4 Oscar Watts ............................... 4 Susan Watts ................................... +Edward Ware ............................... 4 Cecil Watts .................... 3 Cornelius Clarkson Watts 1848 - 1930 b: 23 Apr 1848 in Amherst Co. VA d: May 1930 in West Virginia ........................ +Ella Shumate ............................... 4 Lillian Watts ............................... 4 Albert Watts ............................... 4 Florence Watts ................................... +Roy Cash ............................... 4 Jesse Watts ............................... 4 O. Watts ............................... 4 Joseph Blackburn Watts ............................... 4 Marcissa Watts ............................... 4 Lulu Watts ............................... 4 Arnold Watts ............................... 4 Stephen Richard Watts ................................... +Katherine Reed b: in of Parkersburg, West Virginia .................... 3 Mary Eliza Watts 1850 - 1908 b: 12 Mar 1850 d: 1908 ........................ +John Q. Stovell .................... 3 Lucian Clarke Watts 1853 - b: 10 May 1853 .................... 3 Emma Jane Watts ........................ +Ash M. Prince ......... 2 William Henry Watts 1821 - b: 11 Dec 1821 ......... 2 Lucinda Watts 1824 - b: 1824 ......... 2 Stephen Richard Watts 1826 - b: 02 Sep 1826 ******************************************** Watts's On-Line: Compiled from e-mail and other sources Distributed by Lori Watts Linnell lwlinnell@aol.com
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