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ETRC / Collections / Personal /

Watts Family Papers

COLLECTION INFORMATION TABLE OF CONTENTS
    Dates: 1806-1964
    Size: 3 boxes, 376 items (1.5 linear feet)
    Acquisition: Gift, 1986
    Access: Open for research
    Processed by: Jean White & Pam Palmer, 1987
    TIDES Link: Watts Family

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH

John Watts, a son of Arthur Watts, was born about 1752 in Virginia. A participant in the American Revolution, he enlisted in the Virginia Dragoons as a Cornet on June 17, 1776. By the end of the war he had achieved the rank of Captain. Later he served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Light Dragoons, U.S. Army, from January 8, 1799 until June 8, 1800. According to descendant Jessie Watts Roberts, John Watts was a personal friend of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. John Watts was awarded 4,944 acres in Bedford County, Virginia for his military service.

John Watts married Elizabeth (Betsy) Roberts and according to John's will, they had two sons and a daughter still living in 1830: Arthur (1809-1866), William W. Watts (d. ca. 1846), and Elizabeth R. Watts Scott.

The William W. Watts married Mary Leyburn and had two children Sarah C. Watts and John Watts. The family lived in Liberty, Virginia; Delaware Springs, Ohio; and Columbus, Mississippi. William W. Watts traveled frequently to arrange for the collection of debts, in and out of court, for which he received a commission.

William W. Watts' son John Leyburn Watts was born about 1824 in Virginia. He married Mary Frances Garner (1837-1896) and they lived the remainder of their lives on a farm in San Augustine. According to census records, they had at least four sons and three daughters. In 1855, John was appointed a Deputy US Marshall by Marshall Ben McCulloch.

William W. Watts' daughter Sarah C. was born in Bedford County, Virginia, and attended Leroy Anderson's female school in Williamsburg, Va.

("Watts Family Papers." East Texas Research Center. Ralph W. Steen Library. Stephen F. Austin State University).


SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The Watts Family Papers contain original correspondence, land documents, legal and financial papers pertaining to several generations of the Watts family. The geographic range of the collection includes Virginia, Ohio, Mississippi, and Texas, with special emphasis on San Augustine County, Texas.

Notable items in the collection from an historical perspective are the letters of James Pinckney Henderson, dating from 1843 to 1857. As a lawyer friend residing in San Augustine, Henderson advised William W. Watts about the debt collection business. At least three of the letters relate to Henderson's initially secret mission to negotiate a treaty of annexation between the United States and Texas in 1844. Henderson was inaugurated Governor of Texas in February 1846. The collection also contains teaching certificates authorizing John to teach second grade in San Augustine County in 1881 and 1882.


LOCATION OF RECORD

[A-126]


INVENTORY

BOX 1

Folder 1: Correspondence of James Pinckney Henderson, 1843 re: financial and legal matters concerning the Watts family. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 2: Correspondence of James Pinckney Henderson, 1844, with William Watts re: mission to negotiate annexation treaty for Texas, financial matters, slaves. Handwritten, photocopy. 6 items.
March, 10, 1844, Secret mission to negotiate annexation.
March 29, 1844,
May 10, 1844,
December 1, 1844, Slaves under a mortgage
Folder 3: Correspondence of James Pinckney Henderson, 1845, with William W. Watts re: financial matters. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 4: Correspondence of James Pinckney Henderson, 1846-1857, n.d. re: financial concerns of the Watts family and others. Handwritten. 7 items.
Folder 5: Letter to Col. John Watts, near New London, VA, from James Merriweather, Jan. 11, 1806 re: financial matters. Hand written. 1 item.
Folder 6: Correspondence to Sarah C. Watts, 1807-1809, from Betsy Watts [mother], Alice Watts Cousin], and friends Jane [Charlton?] and Paulina Jane Cabell. Mostly re: school and social matters. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 7: "Old Letters," The Womans [sic] Viewpoint Nov. 1925 and Dec. 1925/Jan. 1926. Articles containing excerpts from letters to Sarah C. Watts. Originals for some of the letters are located in Folder 6. Photocopy. 2 items.
Folder 8: Letter to Louisa, unsigned, 1809; letter from Louisa to Eliza [Betsy] R. Watts [cousin], 1825 re: death, ingratitude, social concerns. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 9: Correspondence to John L. Watts, 1835-1839, from friends James and Albert Galloway [fragment], William W. Watts [father], and mother [Mary Watts] re: school, family matters, religion, friends, Lexington, VA. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 10: Correspondence of John L. Watts, Col. William W. Watts, J. N. Morris, John W. Shields [fragment], 1840-1842 re: religion, family matters, school, scandalous rumors, financial concerns, Mississippi vs Ohio as a place to live. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 11: Correspondence of William W. Watts, 1843 re: financial and legal matters. Handwritten. 7 items.
February 1843, from W. M. Burwell, Enticing slaves to return to former owners.
August 8, 1843, from James J. Spencer, collect debts from people who moved to Texas.
Folder 12: Correspondence to William W. Watts, Apr.-Aug. 1844 re: legal and financial matters. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 13: Correspondence of John L. Watts and William W. Watts, Nov. Dec. 1844 re: financial matters, politics. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 14: Correspondence to William W. Watts, Feb.-Mar. 1845 re: financial and legal matters, annexation of Texas. Hand written. 4 items.
March 28, 1845, from J. A. Smith, Sam Houston's opposition.
Folder 15: Correspondence of William W. Watts, June-Dec. 1845 re: legal and financial matters. Includes letter from prominent early Texan Memucan Hunt. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 16: Correspondence to William W. Watts, Jan.-Feb. 1846 re: financial and legal matters. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 17: Correspondence to William W. Watts, Mar. 1846 re: legal and financial matters. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 18: Correspondence of Watts family, Apr.-Nov. 1846 re: family matters, financial concerns, death of William W. Watts. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 19: Correspondence to Sarah C. and Mary T. Watts, 1847 re: Watts estate, social and family matters. Handwritten. 3 items.
Folder 20: Correspondence of Sarah C. Watts, Jan.-May 1848 re: Watts estate, financial matters. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 21: Correspondence of Watts family, June 1847-1849 re: financial matters, death of Sarah C. Watts, William W. Watts' business with James Pinckney Henderson. [one fragment]. Handwritten. 7 items.

BOX 2 CORRESPONDENCE

Folder 1: Correspondence to John L. Watts and unidentified addressees, 1850-1856 re: financial matters, social functions [includes mention of Ex-President Tyler], counterfeiting money and land certificates in Orange Co., TX, land, railroads. Handwritten. 5 items.
July 21, 1856, from G. H. Guptill, Regulators and a counterfeit ring. [image]
Folder 2: Correspondence to John L. Watts from B[enjamin] F[ranklin] Benton, Apr. 1858 re: Watts farm and family, financial and legal matters, requests for hardware, stationary, office supplies. Includes description of Benton's office. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 3: Correspondence to John L. Watts and family, Sept. 1858-1859 re: financial and legal matters. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 4: Correspondence of John L. Watts and unidentified"Ma and Matt," 1860-1861, n.d. re: financial matters, tobacco, Civil War. Handwritten, typescript. 4 items.
Folder 5: Correspondence to S. B. Bewley and Mr. Buely [sic], 1874 re: legal matters. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 6: Correspondence to John L. and Mary Frances Garner Watts, 1875-187_ re: family matters, Galveston, sewing, friends, legal business, Waco, Polynesian grass skirt. Includes Mary's sister Martha Garner Price and brother John F. Garner. Handwritten. 8 items.
Folder 7: Correspondence to John L. and Mary Watts, 1880-1888, and from John W. Watts to his mother, 1887-1888 re: family matters, farming, death of James Garner [Mary's brother] from Sue L. Garner [Mary's sister-in-law]. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 8: Correspondence to Mary F. Watts and daughters Ella and Lizzie, 1890-1906, n.d. re: friends, family matters, death of Ella shortly after her marriage, farming, gathering of the Irish. Handwritten, printed. 10 items.
Folder 9: Correspondence to John L. Watts and unidentified friend of the family from Mary Watts [mother, Liberty, VA, 1839]. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 10: Correspondence to John L. Watts, while residing in Ohio, from Mary Watts [mother], Columbus, Mississippi and places in Virginia, [ca. 1839-1840]. Handwritten. 7 items.
Folder 11: Correspondence to John L. Watts from Mary Watts [mother], Woodside [Ohio? 1840's?]. Handwritten. 3 items.
Folder 12: Correspondence to John L. Watts and family from Mary Watts [mother, mostly from Elmwood in Lexington, VA, 1864-1874, dated by birthdays and other events]. Handwritten. 7 items.
Folder 13: Correspondence to John L. Watts and family from Mary Watts [1870's]. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 14: Correspondence to John L. Watts and family from Mary Watts [1876-1878]. Handwritten. 7 items.
Folder 15: Correspondence to John L. Watts and family from Mary Watts [1879-1883]. Handwritten. 7 items.
Folder 16: Correspondence to John L. Watts from Mary Watts, n.d. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 17: Correspondence to John L. Watts from Mary Watts, n.d. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 18: Correspondence to Mary F. Garner Watts from Mary Watts, n.d. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 19: Correspondence to John L. Watts family from Mary Watts, n.d. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 20: Correspondence to John L. Watts family from Mary Watts, n.d. Includes fragment. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 21: Correspondence of James and Martha Garner [brother and sister of Mary F. Garner Watts], n.d. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 22: Correspondence to S. A. E. Watts from Mary Norvell, n.d.; correspondence to "friend" from E. H. Baker, n.d. Fragment and empty envelopes addressed to John L. Watts, n.d. Handwritten. 7 items.

BOX 3

Folder 1: Copy of patent for land grant, 1844, for Cadwalader Wallace and John Watts, Marion Co., Ohio, authorized by President James Monroe, 1823. Photocopy. 1 item.
Folder 2: Land deeds and other papers, 1843-1848, n.d. for Watts family in Ohio and Virginia. One fragment. Handwritten, handwritten on printed form. 7 items.
Folder 3: Land papers, 1859-1875, for Watts and Garner families, San Augustine Co., Texas. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 4: Land leases, 1844-1845, n.d. from Watts family for farm land in Ohio. Includes one blank form. Handwritten. 3 items.
Folder 5: Land lease, April 1854, from William Davenport, Tyler, TX to U.S. government for use of house as a courthouse. Handwritten. 1 item.
Folder 6: Survey maps and other notes about land, 1839-1872, n.d. Handwritten. 7 items.
Folder 7: Contracts, deeds, and mortgages for farm labor, crops, stock, 1839-1871. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 8: Bills of sale and lawsuit re: slaves, 1836-1852. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 9: Divorce papers of Ann L. Stewart from Charles Stewart, 1857; power of attorney from Ann L. Stewart to John L. Watts, 1858. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 10: Powers of attorney, 1843-1847, granted to William W. Watts and John L. Watts. One blank form. Handwritten. 4 items.
Folder 11: Lawsuits and legal papers re: debts, 1846-1857. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 12: Appointment of John L. Watts as a deputy U.S. Marshall of Texas, signed by U.S. Marshall Ben McCulloch. Handwritten. 1 item. [image]
Folder 13: Agreement between John L. Watts and William Sumner, 1858 re: claim for Revolutionary War services of Capt. John Watts of Virginia. Handwritten on printed form. 1 item.
Folder 14: Teaching certificates, 1881-1882, for John L. Watts to teach 2nd grade in San Augustine County. Handwritten on printed form. 3 items.
Folder 15: Will of John Watts, 1830. Incomplete original and complete copy Handwritten, typescript. 2 items.
Folder 16: Estate papers, 1830-1848, for John Watts and Sarah Watts. Handwritten, handwritten on printed form. 4 items.
Folder 17: Estate papers, 1855-1863, for William W. Watts and Arthur Watts. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 18: Funeral notices, 1858-1903. Printed. 4 items.
Folder 19: Lists of notes for collection, 1846, n.d. Handwritten. 3 items.
Folder 20: Bills and accounts, 1810-1844. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 21: Bills and accounts, 1846-1859, n.d. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 22: Tax receipts, 1825-1833, for the Watts family lands in Ohio. Handwritten on printed. 6 items.
Folder 23: Tax receipts, 1843-1871, for Watts family lands in Ohio and San Augustine Co., TX. Handwritten on printed form. 7 items.
Folder 24: Receipts for costs in court cases, 1846-1851. Handwritten. 6 items.
Folder 25: Miscellaneous receipts, promissory notes, 1841-1862. Handwritten, handwritten on printed form. 9 items.
Folder 26: Insurance policy for George L. Watts, Lufkin, TX, 1910. Typed on printed form. 1 item.
Folder 27: Portions of dramatic and religious writings, n.d. Handwritten. 2 items.
Folder 28: Poetry, 1841-1880, n.d. Some signed by Mary Ella Watts. Handwritten, printed. 6 items.
Folder 29: Obituaries, 1890-1892, n.d. found in Watts family Bible, In possession of Jiggs[?]. Printed. 4 items.
Folder 30: Poems, recipe, prescription and small piece of needlework found in Watts family Bible, n.d. Handwritten. 5 items.
Folder 31: Poems and short prose clippings, tract, advertisement, and pages from Bibles found in Watts family Bible, n.d. Printed. 32 items.
Folder 32: Genealogical records for Watts, Garner, McConnell, and York families, 1964. Handwritten, typescript, photocopy, printed form. 10 items.

Last Revised: 

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