The Watts On-line
Issue No. 75
June 1, 2000

As summer is upon us many of you will be heading out to visit the places our ancestors inhabited.  I too will be doing just that the last two weeks of the month.  I plan on visiting cemeteries in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Canada, Virginia, West Virginia and Ohio.   Needless to say the newsletter for next month will probably be about a week late.  Don’t let your contributions dwindle during the summer.  If you visit a cemetery or site of Watts ancestry, please write and tell us all about it.  We would all like to hear.

Lori

CONTENTS

1.        Members Lines
2.        Queries
3.        Forthcoming Book on Peter Watts of KY
4.        Raybun County, NC Watts
5.        Watts Births in Augusta County, Virginia  1888-1896
6.        Interview of Abbie Lindsay of Little Rock, AR
7.        Interview of Fruithurst M. Fowler of  Cleburne Co. AL  (Governor Watts of Alabama)
8.        Deed between Elijah Watts and Gravit Edwards of Albemarle Co., VA
9.        Deed between John & Milly Hall and John Hall  (next to David Watts Land) of Albemarle Co., VA
10.     1777-1811 Watts land deeds in Culpeper Co., Virginia

MEMBERS LINES

From:                joey@sciti.com (joey)
Subj:       Col. James W. WATTS

Hi, I am looking for information regarding Col. James W. Watts who was descendant of Col. James Williams, hero of the American Revolution.  One of Col. Williams sons, James, married a Rebecca Watts.  James and Rebecca had at least two sons they were James and Frederick.  I believe there were other intermarriages.  Any information concerning the WATTS & WILLIAMS connection would be helpful and greatly appreciated. 

Thanks,

Joey in California

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QUERIES

From:                mcclure68@yahoo.com (June McClure)
Subj:       Velma Jane Watts

Hi,

I'm looking for information on Velma Jane WATTS, age 26 who married R.N.JAMES, age 60, on Nov.08,1899.  This is in Book K, page 282.Conway County Marrige Index 1891-1900 by Mary Ellen Guffey Brents and Euna Wood Beavers.

Do you have any information on Velma Jane Watts, i.e., her parents or siblings?  I believe that she and R.N.James had one child and I would love to know what happened to them...

Sincerely, June McClure

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FORTHCOMING BOOK

From:                jrevare@ix.netcom.com (Jack Revare)

I am currently writing a family history book.  It will be on my parents' surnames, Revare & Lake.  However, included will be several chapters on allied families.  I am currently writing an extensive chapter on the WATTS line.  I would like to hear from anyone descending from Peter WATTS of KY, (1756-1833). 

Jack Revare

Leawood, KS

jrevare@ix.netcom.com

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RAYBUN COUNTY, NC  WATTS

                In my search for Elias "Ali" Watts, Kaye Sinclair sent me the following e-mail. The information in it may be valuable to other Watts members. It is given below.

              Fred--- From:  Watts4550@aol.com

Fred,

Sorry for the delay I've been out at the Los Alamos Fires. I didn't find your specific names but I thought some of this might help crack that wall, The book is Sketches of Rabun County History by Andrew Jackson Ritchie written in 1948 reprinted in 1959.

page 218-220 has a detail on the Watts family it mentions that they were always well off... . the book may mention them in other places so I'm scanning for the watts name.. I can copy the 3 pages on Watts for you as soon as I get rested up again. It mentions that family has extensive family genealogy of this family this was in 1948 George Watts  and a daughter Grace near Clayton. ancestor in common appears to be John Watts that purchased land in 1837. John was one of the first settlers of the county he had 2 brothers Pleasant and James who came with him from western North Carolina but they moved on after a few years to the new Cherokee lands. John had sons named William, Jack, James and Charles  and was a large Watts settlement.  Pleasant came from Buncombe co NC and appeared to be a land speculator.  Interesting is that he sold land in 1834 to the authors grandfather Eli Ritchie! He moved to Gordon Co and settled near the town of what was in 1948 Fairmount. the author also mentions the late W B Watts  as  county school commissioner and Sherman and William still living as was George in 1948. It states there were many branches of this family. John and the family deeded to Charles watts the land that is now  liberty Baptist church. It mentions some lot numbers that might help as well. Eli Ritchie was in Capt William Cannon's  Nash Reg war of 1812 and was living in the Keowee river near Tenn.family was from the Anderson area  Pendleton dist  coming from Virginia in 1780 Andrew was his father, grandson of Richies from Lancaster and Chester co PA.

Scanning the other families I came up with the following
p 234-236

Sarah Jones born April 17 1809 married William Watts, residing near Rocky Grove church Rabun Co her parents William Jones and Bathes Coffee  married in Oconee Co SC in 1800. She was already born when that family moved to Rabun Gap. Another daughter of these folks Bashaba born April 5 1824 married Berryman Shirley from Habersham Co GA, one of their children Mary married Joseph M Watts and Lewis Shirley whose 1st wife was Sarah Watts. Mary and Joseph Watts had a daughter Dora that married a Smith was alive in 1948.

Clayton in 1818 was part of South Carolina according to the first deed book.

Also mentioned on p 131 was Patsy Watts (of that well known family) married John Derrick that came from Buncombe Co NC.  on p 145 it has Polly Lovell, ? daughter of Jesse marrying Robert Watts that had first married her sister Eliza. p149 has Maroney Arrendale son of Joel grandson of Thomas from Spartenburg Dist marrying Sarah watts  his brother Frank married Beshaba Watts  Sarah's sister.

Pleasant Watts lot 134 is the center now of the land owned by rabun Gap Nacoochee School p164. Page 175 has Pleasant buying from Rabun Co resident, Mason son of Benjamin Grist a lot of land in Cherokee Co SC in 1837. It seems that Rabun Co residents often went back and forth across the Chattooga River or up the valley to Franklin NC so some records might be there as well.

     I'm sure you know that Watts was a common name for several Cherokee families mixed blood as well. And Erhl in his book Trail of Tears does some major family work on the watts unfortunately I don't have a copy- just in the library

Also The Rabun Gap school started the Foxfire books and interviewed Mrs Monteen Watts and M/Mrs Marvin Watts in the first edition Mrs Marvin watts has an article when she was growing up  and also mentions her seeing her 1st car a model T.
 Kaye Sinclair

kayesinc@nm.net (Kayesinc)

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WATTS BIRTHS IN AUGUSTA COUNTY VIRGINIA, 1888-1896

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INTERVIEW OF ABBIE LINDSAY OF LITTLE ROCK, AR
Age 84

Interviewer Samuel S. Taylor
 
"I was born June 1, 1856; the place at that time was called Lynngrove, Louisiana. It was just about a mile from the post office, and was in Morehouse Parish in the first ward--in the tenth ward I mean.

"My father was named Alec Summerville. He named himself after the Civil War. They were going around letting the people choose their names. He had belonged to Alec WATTS; but when they allowed him to select his own name after the war, he called himself Summerville after the town Summerville (Somerville), Alabama. His mother was named Charlotte Dantzler. She was born in North Carolina. John Haynes bought her and brought her to Arkansas. My father was an overseer's child. You know they whipped people in those days and forced them. That is why he didn't go by the name of WATTS after he got free and could select his own name.

"The name of my mother's mother was Celia WATTS. I don't know my grandfather's first name. Old man Alec WATTS' father gave my mother to him. I didn't know anything about that except what was told to me. They bought her from South Carolina. They came to Louisiana. My father was bought in South Carolina too. After the Haynes met the WATTS, WATTS married old man Haynes' daughter. He gave my father to his daughter, Mary WATTS.   She was Mary WATTS after she was married. She was Mary Haynes before WATTS’ father gave my mother to Alec WATTS. That is just the way it was.

(2.)

"My mother and father had three children to live. I think there were about thirteen in all. There are just two of us living now. I couldn't tell you where Jeffrey Summerville, my living brother, is living now.

"The slaves lived in hewed-log houses. I have often seen hewed-log houses. Have you ever seen one? You cut big logs and split them open with a maul and a wedge. Then you take a pole ax and hack it on both sides. Then you notch it--cut it into a sort of tongue and groove joint in each end. Before you cut the notches in the end, you take a broad ax and hew it on both sides. The notch holds the corners of the house--ties every corner. You put the rafters up just like you do now. Then you lathe the rafters and then put boards on top of the rafters. Sometimes shingles were used on the rafters instead of boards.

"You would finish off the outside of the walls by making clay cakes out of mud and filling up the cracks with them. When that clay got hard, nothing could go through the walls. Sometimes thin boards were nailed on the inside to finish the interior.

"They had planks--homamade wooden beds. They made tables and chairs. They caned the chairs. They made the tables with four legs. You made it just like you would make a box, adding the legs.

"A little house called the smokehouse was built in one of the corners of the yard. They would weigh out to each one so much food for the week's supply--mostly meat and meal, sometimes rice. They'd give you parched meal and rye too.

"Sometimes they had the slaves cook their food in the cabins. Mostly all the time. My people ate in the kitchen because my mother was the cook and my father was the yard man. The others mostly cooked at home--in their cabins.

"My mother and father worked around the house and yard. Slaves in the field had to pick a certain amount of cotton. The man had to pick from two to three hundred pounds of cotton a day if he wasn't sick, and the woman had to pick about one hundred fifty. Of course some of them could pick more. They worked in a way of speaking from can till can't, from the time they could see until the time they couldn't. They do about the same thing now.

"I remember the time the white folks used to make the slaves all come around in the yard and sing every Sunday evening. I can't remember any of the songs straight through. I can just remember them in spots.

'Give me Jesus, you can have all the world
In the morning when I arise, Give me Jesus.'
(Fragment)
'Lie on him if you sing right
Lie on him if you pray right
God knows that your heart is not right
Come, let us go to heaven anyhow.'
'The ark was seen at rest upon the hill
On the hills of Calvary
And Great Jehovah spoke
Sanctify to God upon the hill.'
(First verse)
'Peter spied the promised land
On the hill of Calvary
And Great Jehovah spoke
Sanctify to God upon the hill.'
There was lots more that they sung.

"They could go to parties too, but when they went to them or to anything else, they had to have a pass. When they went to a party the most they did was to play the fiddle and dance. They had corn huskings every Friday night, and they ground the meal every Saturday. The corn husking was the same as fun. They didn't serve anything on the place where I was. I never knew them to serve anything at the corn shuckings or at the parties. Sometimes they would give a picnic, and they would kill a hog for that.

"Right after the war, my father hired me out to nurse. Then I stayed around the house and helped my stepmother, and the white girls taught me a little until I got to be thirteen years old. Then I got three months' schooling in a regular school. I came here in 1915. I had been living in Newport before that. Yes, I been married, and that's all you need to know about that. I got two children: one fifty-three years old, and the other sixty.

"I don't have much thinking to do about the young people. It's a lost race without a change."

"Mother" Lindsay is a Bible-reading, neat and clean-appearing, pleasant-mannered business woman, a little bulky, but carrying herself like a woman thirty years. She runs a cafe on Ninth Street and manages her own business competently. She refers to it as "Hole in the Wall." I had been trying for sometime to catch her away from her home. It was almost impossible for me to get a story from her at her restaurant or at her home.

She doesn't like to sit long at a time and doesn't like to tell too much. When she feels quarters are a little close and that she is telling more than she wants to, she says, "Honey, I ain't got no more time to talk to you; I got to get back to the cafe and get me a cup of coffee."

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INTERVIEW OF FRUITHURST M. FOWLER OF CLEBURNE COUNTY, ALABAMA
(this is a portion of the interview which deals with Governor Watts of Alabama)

There wasn't but two things caused Massa Shepherd to whip any of his servants. Every one of the married families had their own house an' garden an' chickens, an' every family had to raise a pig, so that when Christmas come they could kill it, an' have a big time. He always give them plenty of everything, an' on Friday, after dinner, they had to stop work an' wash, an' on Sat. they ironed and cleaned for Sunday. An' on Sunday mornin', Massa had give 'em dishes, an knives an' forks, an' even tablecloths, on Sunday he went aroun' an' eat a mouthful in every house in the quarter. That was to see that every thing was done up right, an if they wasn't they got a whippin' the nex' day. The other reason was if any-body started to the fiel' on Monday mornin' without bein' clean, an' ready to start out the week right, why they got whipped.

No, Massa didn't do the whippin'. He set on his horse an' see it done, but Jake, the Over-looker he done the whippin', but he wasn't allowed to give more than a certain number of licks.

"Yessum, there was places, we heard of it, where they treated their servants bad. The next plantation to us, Governor WATTS, he owned it, they say's he had his servants whipped till the blood run. They had a white man for Over-looker, 'How did we feel about a white man that would hold a place like that?' We called him 'po' white trash'. He was so big an' strong, an he didn't show no mercy to the black people, an' his master didn't care if he didn't. One of his servants stayed at the Station where they shipped off all the things for the soldiers, corn, an' meat, an' sich like that the white folks give out of their own cellars an' barns, an' smoke-houses, for the soldiers. He stayed down at the Station, an' his master wouldn't let him have any shoes, an' the hot cinders, an' all burnt his feet, an' he boun' rags aroun' 'em, an' his master burned the rags off his feet. Many's the time, I has gone down there with Miss Georgiana, an' the two little Missies, an' she would read the Bible to him. Massa Sheperd hated to see servants mistreated. He'd say, ''y God, kindness and politeness don't cost a red cent.'"

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DEED BETWEEN ELIJAH WATTS AND GRAVIT EDWARDS

This indenture made this thirteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven;  Between Gravit Edwards and Ann his wife of County of Albemarle of one part of Elijah WATTS of County aforesaid of other part;  Witnesseth that Gravit Edward in consideration of sum of seventy six pounds current money of Virginia to him inhand paid by Elijah WATTS, hath and by these presents doth bargain and sell unto Elijah WATTS his heirs a certain tract of land containing by estimation one hundred fifty two acres be the same more or less lying in County of Albemarle and bounded, Beginning at a white Oak in Jacob WATTS’s line, running thence North fifty seven degrees East ninety two poles to a white Oak and Pine corner to Leonard David, North four degrees West ninety poles to a Post Oak, black Oak and Pine a new made corner, North fifty degrees East fifty four poles to a red Oak, white Oak and Hickory a new made corner in Thomas Stone’s line, thence along his line North forty degrees West seventy poles to a white Oak, Spanish Oak and black Oak saplings, South fifty seven degrees West eighty poles to a Pine and red Oak saplings, North twenty degrees West fourteen poles to a Pine, South fifty even degrees West eighty four poles to a one hundred and ninety two poles to the beginning; To have and to hold the tract of land with its appurtenances  unto Elijah WATTS and his heirs and Gravit Edwards for himself and his heirs doth covenant with Elijah WATTS his heirs that he the land and premises unto Elijah his heirs against the lawful claim of any person will warrant and defend by these presents; In Witness whereof the parties have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year above written

Signed and sealed and delivered in the presence of us

(no witnesses recorded)                                               Gravit (his mark) Edward
                                                                                Ann Edward

Received of Mr. Elijah WATTS the just sum of seventy six pounds current money of Virginia in full satisfaction of the consideration mentioned in the within Deed on the day and year within written
(no signature recorded)

At Albemarle December Court 1787
This indenture was acknowledged by Gravit and Ann Edwards, she being first privately examined according to Law, and ordered to be recorded

                                                                                Test  John Nicholas, Clerk

Sparacio, Ruth and Sam, Albemarle County, Virginia Deed Books, 1787-1790, The Antient Press, pa. 7-8.
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DEED BETWEEN JOHN & MILLY HALL AND JOHN CARR

This indenture made this 12^th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eithty seven;  Between John Hall and his Wife, Milly, of Albemarle County of one part and John Carr of said County of the other part;  Witnesseth that John Hall and his Wife, Milly, for sum of one hundred pounds Virginia currency to him in hand paid, do bargain and sell unto John Carr and his heirs one certain parcel of land in County of Albemarle containing by estimation one hundred twenty acres be the same more or less and bounded by the lands of Micajah Carr on North side, by the lands of David WATTS and James Las Cain and John Robertson on the South side, and Susanna Carr’s on the West, together with all appurtenances; unto John Carr and his heirs and John Hall and his Wife, Milly, for themselves and their heirs doth covenant with John Carr his heirs against all heirs the parcel of land with its appurtenances to John Carr his heirs against all persons will warrant and defend; In Witness whereof John Hall and his Wife, milly, have hereunto set their hands and affixed their seals the date above written

                                                                                John Hall
                                                                                Mildred (her mark) Hall

At Albemarle December Court 1787
This Indenture was acknowledge by John Hall and Mildred Hall, she being first examined as the Law directs, and ordered to be recorded

                                                                                Test  John Nicholas, Clerk

Sparacio, Ruth and Sam, Albemarle County, Virginia Deed Books, 1787-1790, The Antient Press, pa. 7.

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1777-1811 WATTS LAND DEEDS IN CULPEPER COUNTY, VA
(Transcribed by Ann Miller and found in the Orange Co. Virginia Historical Society)
-continued from issue #62-

CCDB H- 497  Joel and Isabella Watts to John Wharton, all of Culpeper Co., 78 acres in St Marks Parish, adj. Wharton.  Dated and recorded 18 Aug 1777.

CCDB K-222  Edward and Ann Eastham to Benjamin Watts, all of Brumfield Parish, 150 acres, adj. Thomas and John Rucker.  Dated 2 Oct 1779, recorded 17 Apr 1780.

CCDB L-179  Peter Watts, att’y in fact for William Watts of the State of North Carolina, Guilford Co., 128 acres in Culpeper Co., adj. Reuben Doggett of Culpeper Co., adj. Amelia Road, Watts’ branch, John Megannen.  Dated 20 Jul 1782, recorded 16 Sep 1780

CCDB L-219  Frederick and Elizabeth Watts to Timothy Wale, all of Culpeper Co., 50 acres in Culpeper Co., on the Old Amelia road, adj. William Kabler, Richard Chelton, Potatoe Road   Dated and recorded 18 Nov 1782.

CCDB M-447  Benj. And Anne Watts to Lewis Snell, all of Brumfield Parish, 150 acres in same, ajd. Thomas and John Rucker (see CCDB K-222).  Dated 27 Oct 1783, recorded 19 Oct 1784.

CCDB N-3  James and Lucy Simpson of Orange Co., and Benjamin and Ann Watts to Culpeper Co., to Merry Walker of Culpeper Co., 100 acres on the Staunton River, adj. Isaac Smith.  Dated 23 Apr 1785, recorded 28 Apr 1785.

CCDB O-190  John and Sarah Watts of Culpeper Co., Brumfield Parish to Thomas Watts, their son, of same, 200 acres in Culpeper Co., part of a patient to Thomas Watts, dec. adj. James Barbour, dec. the branch.  Dated 14 Oct 1787, recorded 15 Oct 1787.

CCDB 0-316  Frederick and Elizabeth Watts to Nicholas Kabler, all of St. Mark’s Parish 86 acres, part of Watts land, on Mud Run, adj. William Kabler.  Dated and recorded 17 Jun 1788

CCDB Q-264  John Sr. and Fanny Hisle to Amiss Griffey and William Watts, all of Culpeper Co., 111 acres in Brumfield Parish, Culpeper Co., in the Gourdvine Fork of the Rappahanock River, adj. Rev. Thiman, dec. and Hisle.  Dated and recorded 23 Feb 1791

CCDB S-59  William Watts and Amias and Mary Griffith (signed Griffey) all of Culpeper Co. to Thomas Hughes of same, 158 acres.  Dated 7 Aug 1794, recorded 15 Sep 1794

CCDB T-183  Aaron and Margaret Watts of Stafford Co., to William Richards of Culpeper Co., 84 ½ acres obtained by Aaron Watts as legatee to Thomas Watts, dec., who died on the premises, adj. The run, Bruce and Wallace, Robert Watts.  Dated 24 Aug 1797, recorded 18 Sep 1797.

CCDB T-443  John Sr. and Sarah Watts of Culpeper Co., to their son, Barnett Watts, 200 acres in Culeper Co., adj. William Watts, Benjamin Johnson, Thomas Watts, the River Wit. James Watts, Hord Watts, Benjamin Turner.  Dated 14 Jan 1791, recorded 18 Jul 1791.

CCDB T-444  Benjamin Quinn of Woodford Co., KY to Barnett Watts of Culpeper Co., land in the robisseon Fork, adj. Caves Road, William Watts, Sarah Gaines.  Hord Watts a wit.  Dated 19 Feb 1790, recorded 17 Oct 1791.

CCDB EE-58 Robert Watts of Culpeper Co., to Humphrey Hume of same, all the land devised to Robert by his father, Thomas Watts, dec.’s will, 84 ½ acres, adj. Aaron Watts, John Wharton.  Dated 28 Sep 1810, recorded 15 Oct 1810.

CCDB II-53  Frederick Watts to John Wharton, both of Culpeper Co., to divide old William hackney land, conveyed To William and Ann Watts, rec. in Orange Co., 28 Jul 1741.  400 acres in the Great Fork of the Rappahanock River.  John Wharton purchased the moiety of William Watts, Jr., with simple Plat.  Dated 31 Jul 1811, recorded 16 Mar 1812.

CCDB FF-29  Frederick and Elizabeth Watts of Culpeper Co., to Robert Smith of same, land where Smith now lives, on Potatoes Run in Culpeper Co., adj. John and William Kabler, Henry Chase, Frederick Watts.  100 acres.  Dated 21 Nov 1811, recorded 16 Mar 1812

Contributed by Mark White

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Watts’ On-Line:  compiled from E-mail and other sources
Distributed by Lori Watts Linnell    Lorlin@aol.com