Finding list of documents in the collection “Watts Letters” at the Historical Society of Western Virginia, Roanoke, Virginia. To consult these documents, go to http://www.vahistorymuseum.org/ and click on “Visit HMWV's Virtual Collection!” The documents can be found by a keyword search, or by catalog number using “Click and Search”. For more information on this collection and on accessing the documents, see my page “Virtual Collections at the Historical Society of Western Virginia” at the right.
catalog #
date
abstract
2007.32.051
September 11, 1843
Letter from Edward Watts, at home in Roanoke County, Virginia, to his wife, Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts, in Botetourt County, Virginia, with her daughter Ann (Watts) Holcombe, who was ill, inquiring about her expected return, reporting on their children at home, and sending best wishes
2007.32.052
January 20, 1845
Letter from Robert H. Gamble, at his home in Weelaunee, Florida, to his first cousin William Watts, at his home at Oaklands, Roanoke County, Virginia, asking for news of his Watts cousins, telling about his father's delay in returning from a visit there, describing his own trip to Salem, North Carolina, to escort a niece back to Tallahassee, lamenting the results of the recent national elections but praising North Carolina for having elected a Whig as governor, discussing his difficulties in finding a woman to marry, and sending greetings to various members of the family
2007.32.053
February 5, 1845
Letter from James Breckinridge Watts in New York City to William Watts at home near Big Lick, Roanoke County, Virginia, telling of his life in New York, his efforts to establish himself as a lawyer, his largely negative views on the law and on the city, his plans, news of music for a friend, the situation with regard to a debt he denies, the weather, his correspondence, and family greetings
2007.32.054
September 29, 1845
Letter from James Breckinridge Watts, in Richmond, Virginia, to his brother, William Watts, at home in Big Lick, Virginia, discussing a legal case, with passing mention of James's practice in New York
2007.32.055
October 30, 1845
Letter from James Breckinridge Watts in New York City to his brother William Watts at the family home near Big Lick, Virginia, responding to a letter from William, reporting on the delay in sending shoes ordered, describing various law cases, and discussing briefly his social life
2007.32.056
November 25, 1845
Letter from James Breckinridge Watts in New York to William Watts at his family's home in Roanoke County, Virginia, agreeing to come home for Christmas, announcing the shipment of shoes and clothes requested by William, sending bits of news about friends, mail received, his health, local events, and business
2007.32.057
December 1, 1845
Letter from James Breckinridge Watts in New York to his brother William Watts at the family home in Roanoke County, Virginia, chiefly sending a model of a legal certificate for a law case, also discussing plans for James's return home for Christmas and the death of a cousin
2007.32.058
March 2, 1846
Letter from Edward Watts, at his home in Roanoke County, Virginia, to his wife, Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts, who was en route to New York to care for their seriously ill son, James Breckinridge Watts; the letter expresses his concern for his wife on the journey, and also tells about the health of their daughter Letitia Gamble Watts
2007.32.059
April 3, 1846
Letter from Edward Watts, at his home in Roanoke County, Virginia, to his wife, Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts, in New York, where she was caring for their son James Breckinridge Watts, giving a report on scarce news from home, mostly about bad weather, and inquiring about her expected date of return
2007.32.060
April 30, 1846
Letter from Thomas Lewis Preston, in New York, to William Watts at the Watts family residence in Roanoke, Virginia, describing the present health of William’s brother, James Breckinridge Watts, and proposing that William arrange to meet James and their mother in Baltimore or Richmond on their return journey
2007.32.060
Mother sends her best love to every member of the family in which I most heartily join. She continues very well. Should anything occur before my leaving of which you or the family should be advised you may depend upon my writing promptly, and freely. Hoping soon to see you (I presume we will meet in Richmond) believe me, your truly affectionate brother, Thos L. Preston
2007.32.061
August 20, 1846
Letter from Edward Watts, at Red Sulphur Springs, Virginia (now West Virginia), to his wife, Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts, at home in Roanoke County, Virginia, telling her that he arrived to find their son James Breckinridge Watts already dead; Edward confesses his grief, and gives information about his plans to return home
2007.32.062
November 24, 1848
Letter from Alice (Watts) Saunders, at her home at Flat Creek, Campbell County, Virginia, to her brother, Edward Watts at his home at Oaklands, Roanoke County, Virginia, offering condolences on the death of his daughter Henrietta Carter Watts, and sending news of her family
2007.32.063
January 1847
Letter from William Watts, at home at Oaklands, Roanoke County, Virginia to his aunt Alice (Watts) Saunders, probably at her residence at Flat Creek, Campbell County, Virginia, thanking her for a letter exhorting his family to turn to religion for consolation after losses, justifying his own lack of religious feeling, and giving news of other members of the family
2007.32.063
It is impossible to move Papa out of his little neighbourhood circuit (except to Greasy) and Mama is gradually becoming almost as stationary as himself. But I will try and tug her as far as Flat Creek when the roads become passable, should yourself and Uncle S. be there still. All unite with me in affectionate remembrance to yourself and Uncle Saunders and the Boys. Your attached nephew, Wm Watts
2007.32.064
December 14, 1849
Letter from James Philemon Holcombe, traveling in Augusta, Georgia, to his father-in-law Edward Watts at his home at Oaklands, Roanoke County, Virginia, explaining his reasons for taking the trip, a persistent case of laryngitis; describing the trip from Ohio to Georgia and plans for the rest of the winter; and telling of arrangements made for his wife, Anne (Watts) Holcombe
2007.32.065
April 10, 1848
Letter from Alice (Watts) Saunders, at her home at Flat Creek, Campbell County, Virginia, to her brother Edward Watts, at his home at Oaklands, Roanoke County, Virginia, giving him news, mostly bad, of family and friends
2007.32.066
July 8, 1850
Letter from Fleming Saunders, at his home at Flat Creek, Campbell County, Virginia, to his wife’s nephew, William Watts, at New London, Virginia, en route to Richmond, inviting him to stop and visit for a few days
2007.32.067
December 11, 1850
Letter from George Plater Tayloe in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts at his home near Big Lick, Virginia, mostly concerning his efforts to negotiate the settlement of a debt, with some news of family and friends
2007.32.067
Your sister has taken a bad cold. We leave here tomorrow eve-g for the South. Mr Jno Gamble and his 2 Daughters are here. They leave this eve-g. Judge Cabell is extremely ill, doubts ent[ertaine]d as to his recovery. Best regards to you and all friends. Geo. P. Tayloe
2007.32.068
January 19, 1851
Letter from Edward Watts, visiting the Gamble family in Tallahassee, Florida, to his son, William Watts, at home in Roanoke County, Virginia, first responding to a complaint about short weight in some flour shipped to Richmond, then describing his difficult journey to Florida with his wife Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts and daughter Alice Matilda Watts, and their cordial reception in Tallahassee, concluding with instructions about a planned building renovation in Roanoke
2007.32.069
March 19, 1851
Letter from Mary Jane (Allen) Watts, in Richmond, Virginia, with her husband William Watts at the Virginia Constitutional Convention, to her mother Mary Elizabeth Payne (Jackson) Allen, at the Allen home at Beaverdam in Botetourt County, Virginia
2007.32.069
Miss Ruggles, one of the boarders, sat some time with me and Mr T. Preston paid me a call. Mary R. sent me some very nice molasses candy last week. Speaking of sending, will you please send me my pink barege, the nicest of my other summer dresses, my undersleeves, etc. by Papa.
I have had your caps made and hope they will suit you. Give my best love to Papa, the girls and children. Remember me to the servants. Yrs affectionately, Mary A Watts
2007.32.070
May 15, 1853
Letter from John James Allen, in Richmond, to his son-in-law, William Watts, at his home in Roanoke County, declining to leave the Virginia Court of Appeals to be a candidate for the Circuit Court
2007.32.070
We adjourn on Friday next and I hope I shall have the pleasure of seeing M.J. in some short time thereafter. Give her my love and present my respects to the Genl, Mrs Watts and the young ladies. Yours, John J. Allen
2007.32.071
December 1, 1853
Letter from Edward Watts Saunders, at his home in Franklin County, to his cousin William Watts, at his home near Big Lick in Roanoke County, Virginia, apologizing for missing a requested meeting, and sending news about the poor health of his family
2007.32.072
July 29, 1853
Letter from William Sylvanus Morris, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to William Watts, at home near Big Lick in Roanoke County, Virginia, agreeing to serve as administrator of their aunt Martha Watts's estate
2007.32.073
July 1853
Letter from William Watts, at home in Roanoke County, Virginia, to his wife Mary Jane (Allen) Watts, at her parents' residence Beaverdam in Botetourt County, Virginia, apologizing for not writing or visiting, describing the bad weather and illness among the Negroes, asking about his wife's health and the progress of their one-month-old son Edward Watts, and sending news of friends and relatives
2007.32.074
late summer 1853
Letter from Edward Watts Saunders, probably at his home at Flat Creek in Campbell County, to William Watts, probably at his home near Big Lick in Roanoke County, asking him to send the accounting for a law case, and sending some news about the family
2007.32.074
I hope Cousin Mary continues to improve. Please remember me kindly to her. Robert nurses his little Daughter very assiduously. He says he is only beginning to realise the realities of life, especially when the child cries all night. All unite in love. Yr Cousin, Edwd W. Saunders
2007.32.075
August 4, 1853
Letter from William Watts, at Oaklands, his residence in Roanoke County, Virginia, to his wife Mary Jane (Allen) Watts, at Beaverdam, her parents' residence near Buchanan, Virginia, asking why she has not written, describing the epidemic of fever among the servants at Oaklands, asking about her health of his wife and that of their infant son, and giving news of the Gamble family who had been guests at Oaklands
To be continued.
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