Watts Collection, documents 51-75

Checklist of documents in the Watts Collection 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”.

The documents in this group have dates between 1827 and 1831, with one exception: 1998.26.63. It dates from 1844 or later, and concerns property sold to pay the debts of Robert Carter Gwathmey. It includes copies of several deeds, the first of which is dated 1829, and that may account for its presence here. Several documents relate to Edward Watts’s expansion of the Oaklands plantation: 1998.26.52, 53, 62, 66, and 67. A group of letters and documents, 1998.26.57-60 and 64, concerns George Hancock, a prominent resident of the Roanoke area who moved to Kentucky, retaining Edward Watts as his agent for legal matters. Most of the remaining items are account statements or other papers relating to debts handled by Edward Watts; several are for payments to court clerks or the sheriff: 1998.26.70-72, and 75. Two items arise from the operation of the Oaklands plantation: a shopping list, 1998.26.65, and a payment for wagon repairs, 1998.26.69.

1998.26.51

around November 1831

Account of William Muse to Drury Childers, itemizing the sources of the original debt in February and March 1827, and several partial payments, plus interest

1998.26.52

September 4, 1827

Deed from Charles Johnston to Allen Taylor for the sale of a tract of land of 105 acres in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County along the Great Road, adjoining tracts belonging to Tayloe and Gish

1998.26.53

April 22, 1828

Deed from Henry S. Langhorne and Frances his wife, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Edward Watts for the sale of a tract of land of 117 acres in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County on Tinker Creek, adjoining tracts belonging to Watts, Allen Taylor, and Frederick Thrasher, with certifications by the Langhornes and the Botetourt County Court clerk's endorsement that the deed had been recorded on August 28, 1828

1998.26.54

October 11, 1828

Letter from Chiswell Dabney in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Edward Watts in Botetourt County, Virginia, employing him to collect a debt of $50 from George Hancock of Montgomery County, Virginia; Hancock is moving out of the state and offers a payment which Dabney asks Watts to negotiate for him

 Be pleased to write me in reply as soon as convenient, & also let me hear from you on the subject of the business with Mr Bowyer. Yrs in Haste, C. Dabney

1998.26.55

August 30, 1828

Letter from John Tompkins, in Lynchburg, Virginia, probably to Edward Watts, regarding a promissory note he has been offered, which is assigned by Major Edmondson (William Edmundson or Henry Edmundson), but the prospective buyer requests more information about the original maker of the note

Please give me as nearly as you can the history of the transaction. Was the bond given for land or for what. If I like the paper on being acquainted with its origin &c and you will make a discount of 10 p. Cent I will come up & pay my own expences & see what we can do. Is the debtor and land in your neighbourhood. Your obt Svt, Jno Tompkins

1998.26.56

September 27, 1828

Letter from John Tompkins, in Lynchburg, Virginia, probably to Edward Watts, regarding a meeting in Fincastle, Virginia, asking Watts to come prepared to conclude their business

1998.26.57

November 6, 1828

Receipt from Edward Watts to George Hancock for delivery of bonds of almost $5000 written by John R. Richardson to Hancock, and placed in the hands of Henry Edmundson, plus one smaller bond written by William C. Williams; from the proceeds, Watts was to pay William Taylor as executor for John Caswell Griffin, and pay Chiswell Dabney (see1998.26.54). This receipt canceled because it was replaced by another.

1998.26.58

October 4, 1828

Letter from Josiah Auld, accountant in Liberty (now Bedford), Virginia, to George Hancock, requesting a receipt for money he received in a judgment against the Govatkins (Gwatkins) estate; he identifies himself as an employee of Mitchell Ewing, explains that the receipt is needed to release the commissioners, and mentions contacting Hancock's attorney, Allen Taylor

1998.26.59

February 1830

Final page of a letter from George Hancock in Louisville, Kentucky, to Edward Watts near Salem, Virginia, regarding the account between John Tompkins and Hancock, including several bonds of Elijah McClanahan, and instructions for the money when the bonds come due

1998.26.60

December 6, 1829

Letter from George Hancock in Louisville, Kentucky, to Edward Watts near Big Lick (now Roanoke), Virginia, regarding several matters of business, including bonds, debts, payments, estates, and lawsuits, and also Hancock's intention of returning to Virginia in the spring; he mentions Henry Edmundson, J. W. Richardson, William Lewis (whom he expected to see in Ohio but missed), Jacob Flegar (whom he saw in Fincastle, Virginia), Backus, Wood (the master commissioner in the estate of John Caswell Griffin), Grabil (or Graybill) and Wilson (whom he is suing in chancery), Allen Taylor, James Littlepage Woodville, Elijah McClanahan, and William C. Williams

I hope that means will be taken to get a tryal of my chancery suits vs Grabil and Wilson. Please write me. With respects to your Family I remain, your Srvt Geo Hancock

1998.26.61

January 1829

Assignment of bonds for $3060 made by Joshua P. C. Brown in favor of Charles Johnston to Edward Watts as surety for his endorsement of a note by Johnston to the Farmers Bank of Virginia in Lynchburg, Virginia

1998.26.62

April 13, 1827

Survey by William Anderson of land constituting several small lots exchanged between Edward Watts and Jeremiah Whitten, these lots forming part of the land of Andrew Lewis divided among his heirs (see 1998.26.31-33).

1998.26.63

After March 9, 1844

Copy of several deeds and court judgments concerning Gwathmey family property, summarizing the history of the ownership of property conveyed as payment of a debt. The principal figures are members of the Gwathmey family; Temple Gwathmey conveyed property to his two sons, Robert Carter and William Watts Gwathmey, and Robert Carter Gwathmey apparently had to surrender the property to pay debts he owed to Robert D. Murchie and his heirs, and to a New York firm trading as Rogers and Co. Others mentioned in the documents include Richard Morris, John Wickham, J. B. Harvie, John Grattan Gamble, Samuel Myers, Mary (Scott) Watts, James A. Seddon, B. W. Leigh, Otway and Andrew (male slaves), Betsy, Setty and Sally (female slaves), William Watts, Lewis Rogers, Charles Sagory, George Eugene Swann, and Judith Ann Murchie. The property included buildings in Richmond, Virginia.

By a deed, dated 10th April 1829, Temple Gwathmey conveys to Robert Gwathmey, Edward Watts and Richard Morris, as trustees, one half of a large brick lumber house situated near Shockoe ware house; also the house and lot at the corner of 10th and K (now Clay) street, being parts of lots nos 771 and 772, and adjoining the dwelling house occupied by the late John Wickham; also one equal fourth part of lot no 783, on the north side of K (now Clay) street, and adjoining the lot no 778, owned by J. B. Harvie

1998.26.64

October 12, 1830

Receipt and final statement of Edward Watts to George Hancock, listing bonds held by Watts for Hancock, several from John R. Richardson and one from William C. Williams, with instructions to pay various claims with the money collected, including to William Taylor for John Caswell Griffin's estate, and to Chiswell Dabney; endorsed as settled by Hancock in 1833

Out of the amount of these bonds when receivd by me I am to pay to Mr William Taylor the sum of fourteen hundred and fifty five dollars thirty nine cents, with interest on account of Barry's judgment vs John C. Griffin's estate, for which an order on me has been drawn by Mr Hancock and the residue if collected by me to be for Mr Hancock's use. Also John R. Richardson's bond to Mr Hancock for five hundred and forty four dollars seventy cents dated 15th October 1829 and payable on demand and William C. Williams' bond to same for one hundred and ninety one dollars fifty cents dated 15th October 1828 payable twelve months after date, out of the proceeds of which I am to pay Chiswell Dabney fifty dollars with interest from the 25th of May 1827 and the remainder should it be collected by me to be paid over to Mr  Hancock unless otherwise directed by a decree or order of Botetourt court. A former receipt given on the 6th of November 1828 for bonds is hereby canceld, the above embracing all placed in my hands by Mr Hancock.

Edwd Watts / Settled & Receivd the above in full / Geo Hancock / Oct 6th 1833

1998.26.65

1830

Account of Edward Watts with J. R. C. Brown, a storekeeper, showing purchases of clothing like shoes, ribbon and a hat, and of other household items like a razor, nails and letter paper

1998.26.66. WC

April 13, 1831

Deed for the sale by Allen Taylor and Rhoda his wife to Edward Watts, of a tract of land of 105 acres in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, along Tinker Creek and the Great Road, and adjacent to land of John Taylor and the Gish family

This Indenture made on this 13th day of April in the year 1831 between Allen Taylor and Rhoda his wife of the county of Botetourt of the one part and Edwd Watts of the same county of the other part, Witnesseth that for and in consideration of the sum of ten dollars to them in hand paid by the said Edward Watts at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, they the said Allen Taylor and Rhoda his wife have bargaind and sold, and by these presents do bargain and sell unto the said Edward Watts his heirs and assigns, a certain tract or parcel of land lying on Tinker Creek in the county of Botetourt containing one hundred and five acres, be the same more or less being the same land laid off and assignd to the said Taylor by certain commissioners appointed for that purpose and which is bounded as follows to wit, Beginning at the figure 5' on the connected plat

1998.26.67

August 30, 1831

Deed for the sale of a 250-acre tract of land to Edward Watts by Elijah McClanahan as executor of James Mason, the land lying south of the Roanoke River near the eastern border of Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia; also mentions William and Samuel Seagraves and Peter and Jacob Kefauver

This Indenture made and enterd into on the 30th day of August in the year 1831 between Elijah McClanahan, Executor of James Mason of the one part and Edward Watts of the other part, both of the county of Botetourt and State of Virginia, Witnesseth, that the said Elijah McClanahan, Executor as aforesaid for and in consideration of the sum of twenty dollars to him in hand paid at and before the ensealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath bargained, sold and confirmd and by these presents doth bargain, sell, alien and confirm unto the said Edwd Watts, his heirs and assigns, a certain tract or parcel of land containing two hundred and fifty acres be the same more or less lying on the south side of Roanoke River in the county aforesaid, being the same land which was granted to said McClanahan as Exor aforesaid on the 17th day of March in the year 1812 and which is bounded as follow, to wit: Beginning at two chestnut oaks near the River

1998.26.68

January 22, 1832

Statement of the account of Elijah McClanahan with Edward Watts, showing $14.60 due on a note after payments to the heirs of Rowland Madison and carriage of flour to Pattonsburg (now Buchanan), Virginia, and Lynchburg, Virginia

1998.26.69

September 22, 1831

Note from Edward Watts, probably at home in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, to Irvine (first name illegible), at Goose Creek, Bedford County, Virginia, covering payment of $6.25 for wagon repairs with receipt from Irvine to Watts

1998.26.70

1831

Bill from John Alexander, Clerk of Campbell County Court, Virginia, to Edward Watts, in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, for 96 cents for legal documents related to the Gwathmey family

1831    Edward Watts to the Clerk of Campbell D.C.                         Dr

April    Order for Counter Security of

            Gwathmey’s Admr 26 Copy 18 attorney 8                        $ - .52

May     Order against Same 26 Copy 18                                             .44

                                                                                                            ___

                                                                                                        $ - .96

            John Alexander Clk

1998.26.71

April 1831

Bill from John Mathews, Clerk of Greenbrier County Court, Virginia (now West Virginia) to Edward Watts, itemizing expenses for legal papers and procedures in a case involving members of the Spencer family

1831          as well to the late as present Clerk of Greenbrier County            Dr

March        Capias against Spencer & others 18 docketings 8                      .26

                  Attorney 8 Return 18 bail 18 Recognizance 18                          .62

1998.26.72

1831

Receipt from the sheriff's office of Botetourt County, Virginia, signed by Powell H. Huff, deputy sheriff, for John Moore, sheriff, for a payment made by Edward Watts on behalf of William Minor, for a tithe

1998.26.73

December 21, 1830

Note of Dennis Carroll and William Jennings to Robert Jennings for $30, assigned to Edward Watts for the benefit of F. Parton, and receipted on March 1, 1831; the name Charles Oliver also appears

1998.26.74

April 18, 1831

Memo of Edward Watts regarding a bond of Mr Richardson, which had been paid but accidentally omitted from the record

1998.26.75

December 1830

Receipt from the sheriff's office of Botetourt County, signed by deputy sheriff Bernard Pitzer, for payment of William Minor's tithe

More to come.

Watts Collection, documents 26-50

Checklist of documents in the Watts Collection 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”.

The documents in this post, 1998.26.26-50, date mainly from the 1820s. A majority of them relate to business conducted by Edward Watts, either in his law practice or in financial transactions. Several are related to the land acquired for the Oaklands plantation. Documents 31-33 concern the division of land among the heirs of Andrew Lewis; most of this land was eventually bought by Edward Watts, and document 45 is a copy of one of the conveyances. Document 30 is a list of titles to land owned by Edward Watts, with the names of the previous owners. Documents 37 and 38 are accounts linked to the operation of the plantation, the former for medical treatment of slaves, the latter for the purchase of fruit trees.

1998.26.26

June 4, 1821

Letter from William Leigh, at Green Hill, probably in Campbell County, Virginia, to Edward Watts, near Big Lick, in Botetourt County, Virginia, regarding the proposals from Benjamin William Sheridan Cabell to settle his debts, either by a lien on a lot in Lynchburg, Virginia, or by a tract of land in Nottoway County, Virginia

You will write to me as soon as you can on the subject. If you wish for time to make inquiries, I will endeavour to keep the negotiation open for some time, tho Cabell seemed to think that he would be obliged in the course of a few weeks to execute the deed. I have been in court for 16 hours and it is now half after one & so I can write no more. Your friend, William Leigh

1998.26.27

April 23, 1823

Account of George St Clair et al to Washington West, regarding repayment of bonds

1998.26.28

about 1823

Account of Washington West with Edward Watts for collection of money from George St Clair and George Pitzer

1998.26.29

January 16, 1819

Note for a debt owed by George Sinkler, David Palmer and Isaac St Clair to Washington West

1998.26.30

1830s?

List of title papers belonging to Edward Watts, for land conveyed to him by Adams, Breckinridge, Douglas, Eskridge, Langhorne, Lewis, McClanahan, Mills, Nofsinger, and Pitzer

Breckinridge                to         Watts               No     4        p        154

same                            to         same                          4        "        348

Adams                         to         ~~                            11        "        415

Eskridge M.                 to         ~~                            16        "        469

McClanahan               to         ~~                            17        "            2

Pitzer                           to         ~~                              "                  154

Lewis                           to         ~~                              "                  432

Langhorne                   to         ~~                            18                  337

Nofsinger                     to         ~~                            19                  435

Mills                            to         ~~                            21                  586

Douglas                       to                                         21                  629

Division of A. Lewis land Book C page 322

 1998.26.31

August 1-2, 1820

Plat and land division among the heirs of Andrew Lewis; the heirs include Jane (McClanahan) Lewis, Sarah Nealy (Lewis) Wood, John Lewis, William Lewis, Patsy Lewis, Samuel Lewis, Emeline Lewis, Eliza Lewis, and Jane Anne Lewis; the land was in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, lying roughly between the Great Road (Orange Avenue, route 460) and Mill Branch (now Lick Run). The text of this document is contained in 1998.26.12, 1998.26.31 and 1998.26.32. The first is incomplete, lacking the plat at the beginning and a few lines at the end. The third has some additional information at the end. There are trivial differences in the texts.

Plat showing the commissioners’ division of land among the heirs of Andrew Lewis

1998.26.32

June 1821

Plat and land division among the heirs of Andrew Lewis in 1815, recorded at Botetourt Court in 1820-21; the heirs include Jane (McClanahan) Lewis, Sarah Nealy (Lewis) Wood, John Lewis, William Lewis, Patsy Lewis, Samuel Lewis, Emeline Lewis, Eliza Lewis, and Jane Anne Lewis; the men charged by the court to carry out the division were William Anderson, Edmund Pate, and George Ground; the land was in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, lying roughly between the Great Road (Orange Avenue, route 460) and Mill Branch (now Lick Run). The text of this document is contained in 1998.26.12, 1998.26.31 and 1998.26.32. The first is incomplete, lacking the plat at the beginning and a few lines at the end. The third has some additional information at the end. There are trivial differences in the texts. See also 1998.26.33.

1998.26.33

June 1821

Copy made after 1838 of the final page of the land division among the heirs of Andrew Lewis in 1815, recorded at Botetourt Court in 1820-21; see 1998.26.32

1998.26.34

November 22, 1822

Rough draft of a deed between Charles Johnston of the one part, and Edward Watts, Henry S. Langhorne, James P. Preston and Allen Taylor of the other part, conveying land in Botetourt County, Virginia, orginally purchased by Johnston for the use of the Prestonville Company, as part of the plan to develop the Carvin's Springs tract now called the Botetourt Springs; this deed never executed

1998.26.35

February 7, 1824

Letter from W. McQuie, attorney for German Young Stokes, to Edward Watts, concerning the collection of a debt; McQuie asks Watts to remit to New York for acceptance a draft of James R. Maltbee on Messrs Ogden & Day of New York

1998.26.36

March 12, 1824

Letter from Charles Green at Cumberland Court House, Virginia, to Edward Watts at Big Lick, Botetourt County, Virginia, regarding a debt owed by George Hancock; the letter asks Watts's help in proving a case against George Hancock stemming from an allegedly fraudulent sale of property in Salem to the writer, who apparently needs the money to pay a debt he owes to Tweedy and Benedict, hat manufacturers in Danbury, Connecticut

Cumberland Court Haus March 12th 1824, Dear Sir, I was informed by James Bullock that you ware in posestion of a letter written by George Hancock and directed to James Bullock respecting the Salem property I bought of Clark's Trustees, my object is to prove that Hancock urged the sale or was instermentle thair in, I wish you to consider yourself imployd by me to ascertain and establish that fact, if posable. I will also wish you to take depuesitions in your county.

1998.26.37

1821-1823

An account with dates and prices of medical services rendered presumably to Edward Watts by John Yale Lane (uncertain reading), treating people identified only by first names or as Negro man or Negro woman, no doubt slaves

1998.26.38

March 13, 1823

Bill for trees sold by Prince and Mills of Flushing, New York, to Ellis and Allan of Richmond, Virginia, a list of 362 plum, apple and pear trees of about 30 varieties, with prices, sold by the Prince and Mills nursery to Ellis and Allan, tobacco and general merchants

Flushing March 13th 1823, Mr _ _ _ _, Bot of Prince & Mills, the following Trees packd in fifteen Bundles markd E&A

No       1          4 Purple Plum                                    |

            2          3 Green Gage                                     |

            3          1 Yellow Egg                                       |

            4          1 Red Imperial                                    } Plums

            5          1 Large Smiths Orlean                        |

            6          2 Red Gage                                         |

                        12 trees at 50 Cents                                                               6.--

            7          100 Hughes Virginia Crabs                |

            8          100 Harrison                                      |

            9          50 Red Streak                                     |

1998.26.39

November 6, 1824

Receipt from W. McQuie to Edward Watts for payment of a draft by James R. Maltby, funds collected by Watts from Ogden, Day and Company in New York, for a draft drawn by James R. Maltby, with $25 retained to meet an attachment against German Young Stokes; see 35

1998.26.40

after 29 July 1823

First draft of a report on a land appraisal ordered by the court of chancery in Staunton, Virginia, in a case between David Armstrong as plaintiff and Joseph Still and Isabella his wife as defendants, regarding the fairness of the division of property on 25 November 1790 among heirs of an estate, several of whom were named Armstrong

1998.26.41

after 20 June 1826

Draft of a report on a land division ordered by the court of chancery in Staunton, Virginia, in a case between David Armstrong as plaintiff and Joseph Still and Isabella his wife as defendants, regarding the fairness of the division of property and income from 1 January 1791 among heirs of an estate, several of whom were named Armstrong. The land in dispute was in part originally known as Israel Christian’s tract.

1998.26.42

June 20, 1826

Copy of an order by the court of chancery in Staunton, Virginia, signed by William S. Eskridge, appointing James McClanahan as a commissioner in a case between David Armstrong, Elenor Armstrong, Peggy Armstrong, Sally, William & Elizabeth Armstrong heirs & representatives of Thomas Armstrong deceased and Archibald Armstrong as plaintiffs, and Joseph Still and Isabella his wife as defendants

1998.26.43

June 23, 1825

Copy of a decree by the court of chancery in Staunton, Virginia, appointing Nathaniel Burwell, Elijah McClanahan, and John Johnston as commissioners to appraise and divide land in a case between David Armstrong and others as plaintiff and Joseph Still and Isabella his wife as defendants, with a letter from Briscoe Gerard Baldwin to Edward Watts concerning the insertion of James McClanahan's name as commissioner and the principles for assigning lots after the division

1998.26.44

July 29, 1823

Copy of a decree by the court of chancery in Staunton, Virginia, concerning a case between David Armstrong, Eleanor Armstrong, Peggy Armstrong, Sally, William and Elizabeth Armstrong, heirs of Thomas Armstrong deceased and Archibald Armstrong as plaintiffs against Joseph Still and Isabella (Armstrong) Still, his wife, as defendants, interpreting the will of the deceased Eleanor Armstrong and appointing (unnamed) commissioners to appraise and divide the lands in the estate

Virginia at a Superior court of chancery holden at Staunton 29th July 1823 Between David Armstrong, Eleanor Armstrong, Peggy Armstrong, William, Betsy & Mary Armstrong, Heirs & reps of Thomas Armstrong deceased, & Archibald Armstrong, Plfs, and Joseph Still & Isabella his Wife, Defts. This cause came came on again to be heard this 29th day of July 1823 on the bill answered exhibits examination of witnesses the decree made therein on the tenth day of August 1822 & the plat & report of Surveyor Anderson to which there is no exception & was argued by counsel

1998.26.45

August 28, 1826

Deed between Madison and Eliza (Lewis) Pitzer, and Edward Watts, for the sale of the tract of land Eliza inherited from her father, Andrew Lewis, to Watts; with certification by Samuel G. Dawson and David Shanks, Justices of the peace, that Eliza Pitzer agreed to the transaction

1998.26.46

February 7, 1829

Letter from James Bullock to Edward Watts, describing an agreement made by William Langhorne and William Lewis to rent a property on Bent Mountain, in southern Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, from Bullock, trustee for C. Clark, and asking Watts to draw up the formal agreement

1998.26.47

July 14, 1827

Letter from Matthew and Andrew H. Amyx to Edward Watts, in Botetourt County, Virginia, requesting money, and receipt signed by their agent Andrew H. McCrery for the sum delivered

July the 14th 1827, Mr Edward Watts, Dear Sir, I take this opportunity to inform you that we stand in great nead for money at the present time. Sir we would be glad you would send all the money you have collected by the barer Mr Andrew McCrery sir and we send your recipt by Mr McCrery & also we do requist Mr McCrery to recept you for all the money he recives from you, his receipt to you shall be good for any amount of money he recive from you. Given under our hands as above riten Sir I am your obedient &c., Matthew Amyx, Andrew H. Amyx

1998.26.48

March 1826

Note for $100 from Drury Childers, George Bright and William Muse to the estate of William McClanahan, witnessed and signed, and receipted as paid in full by Elijah McClanahan, for the rent of Glade Creek mill

1998.26.49

Around November 1831

Notes on a lawsuit of Drury Childers vs William Muse, with a list of witnesses itemizing the evidence they can be expected to give to prove that Muse owed Childers money

1998.26.50

September 11, 1826

Note from Samuel S. B. Anderson to Edward Watts for a debt of $2.50

More to come.

Watts Collection, documents 1-25

Checklist of documents in the Watts Collection 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”.

            Some of the documents in this part of the collection relate to the establishment of the Oaklands plantation by Edward Watts around 1815 to 1817, and to the acquisition of additional land during the first half of the nineteenth century. Several of the documents have dates from the eighteenth century, but they are copies of deeds and other official records, used to establish title to the land. The deposition in #5 indicates that part of the land was claimed as an inheritance from Edward’s father William, who lived in the area in the 1780s and 1790s, but moved to Flat Creek in Bedford County, Virginia. The deed in #15 shows both that Edward purchased land in 1815, and that he already owned land by that date, probably inherited from his father. The indenture in #16 is an agreement by Edward and Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts to sell a piece of property in Lynchburg, no doubt because they were planning to move to the new house in Botetourt County.

            A few of the documents seem to relate to the law practice of Edward Watts, notably #20 through #22, regarding debts owed to Washington West. Others relate to debts owed to Edward Watts himself, such as #18 and #19, from William Whiteley & Co, for wheat, rye and corn bought in 1819, and #23 through #25, regarding a debt owed by Benjamin William Sheridan Cabell in Danville, Virginia, which he hoped to settle with a piece of property in Lunenburg County, Virginia.

doc #

date

abstract

1998.26.01.a

September 20, 1748

Fragment of a land record, grant to Mark Evans; part of 1998.26.03

1998.26.01.b

August 5, 1817

Copy of a land agreement between Edward Watts and William McClanahan, by which McClanahan sold to Watts his remaining interest in land bought by William Watts, Edward’s father, from John Breckinridge; the land adjoins holdings of the Evans family

1998.26.01.c

1787-1792

Copy of documents relating to a suit by John Christian Drewidz, of Williamsburg, Virginia, against John Besserer, James Southall, and John Fergusson, to recover a debt; there are several documents, but the record of the case is incomplete. Numerous court officers are named. The name “J. A. Watts” was added belatedly in pencil, and the name “R. Gamble” also appears; the two names link the case to the Watts family, but it is not clear what role they played.

1998.26.01

August 12, 1817

Old copy of a land patent to Mark Evans from King George II of England, dated 20 September 1748, for 400 acres in Augusta (later Botetourt and now Roanoke) County, Virginia; mentions the “waters of Roanoak”, Caravie’s (Carvin’s) Creek, and the Barrens

George the second by the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith &c To all to whom these presents shall come Greeting: Know ye that for divers good causes and considerations, but more especially for and in consideration of the sum of Forty shillings of good and lawful money for our aid paid to our receiver General of our revenues in this our Colony and dominion of Virginia, We have Given Granted and Confirmed and by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors do give grant & confirm unto Mark Evans one certain Tract or parcel of land containing Four hundred acres lying and being in the County of Augusta, on the waters of Roanoak at a place called the naked farm and bounded as followeth...

1998.26.02

March 1, 1786

Plat and survey of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County for William McClanahan; the land adjoins holdings of John Breckinridge, the Evans family, and John Meux, and was assigned to McClanahan by William White. The land lay partly along Peter Evans’ Big Spring Branch (Crystal Spring), flowing into the Roanoke River

Surveyed for Colo William McClenachan 392½ acres of Land by virtue of three Land office treasury warrants, 192½ acres part of a land office treasury warrant assigned him by William White for 292½ acres No 14271 & Dated the 16th September 1782, also 50 acres by a warrant No 6268 & Dated 20th of June 1781, & 150 acres the Residue thereof by a warrant of 279¾ acres No 20122 and Dated the 20th Octo[be]r 1783, Lying in Botetourt County on the waters of Peter Evans' big spring branch, a branch of Roanoak...

1998.26.03

December 6, 1792

Indenture, or deed, between John Neeley and Susanna his wife and James Neeley and Catherine his wife of the one part, and Peter Evans of the other part, for sale of property in Botetourt (formerly Augusta, later Roanoke) County; some missing parts in 1998.26.01.a. The purpose of this document appears to be to clear the title of the three tracts of land described, each of 400 acres. They had been granted to Mark Evans by patent in 1748. On the death of Mark Evans, his eldest son Daniel Evans inherited the property, and in 1751 sold it to Peter Evans, whose kinship is not specified but who must have been a younger son or brother of Mark Evans. However, Daniel Evans's two daughters, Susanna and Catherine, were coparceners, which is to say, they shared in the inheritance. As a result, they had a legal claim to the property, but in this document of 1792 they in effect confirm their father's sale. The two sisters had both married men named Neeley (the spelling varies), who also therefore shared the claim. John and James Neeley may have been brothers, but that is not specified here.

1998.26.04

January 18, 1802

Land grant to Peter Dierly (or Deyerle), printed form filled in by hand, signed by Governor James Monroe of Virginia; the land was along the Roanoke River in Montgomery County, Virginia, adjoining the Fort Lewis tract and the land of James Smith.

James Monroe was governor of Virginia 1799-1802

1998.26.05

April 30, 1806

Copy of a deposition by Daniel McNeill in a lawsuit over land by John Breckenridge against Mark Evans and others; like 1998.26.03, this document attempts to settle disputed claims over land along the Roanoke River in present Roanoke County, Virginia, and known as “The Barrens”. Among the claimants and surveyors mentioned are William Carvin, John Poag, William Preston, Francis Smith, the heirs of William Watts, Daniel Evans, Peter Evans, James Neelley, Robert Breckenridge, John Neilley and his wife Susanna Evans, and James Neilley and his wife Catherine Evans.

1998.26.06

after 1847

Draft of an argument in a land title suit, probably in the handwriting of William Watts, involving Nathaniel Burwell, his wife Lucy Carter, other members of the Burwell family and many other people; eight pages are missing at the beginning, and an unknown number at the end; it is therefore difficult to make much sense of the issues; mentions Dropmore, the home of the Burwell family in Roanoke County, Virginia.

1998.26.07

between 1818 and 1859

Description of a tract of land bought by Elijah McClanahan from John Bower, prepared for Edward Watts; the land was situated near the point where the Great Road between Lynchburg and Salem, Virginia, crossed Lick Run; other landowners mentioned include Jeremiah Whitten, Leoroy Jeams, and William Rowland.

1998.26.08

August 30, 1816

Land survey and plat by William Anderson, surveyor of Botetourt County, Virginia, concerning land tracts disputed by Jonathan Evans and Samuel Paffly; there was an overlap between the tract inherited by Evans from the original 1748 grant to Mark Evans, and a tract sold by William McClanahan to Paffly.

Plat showing the land disputed by Jonathan Evans and Samuel Paffly

1998.26.09

October 13, 1825

Indenture or deed between George Eskridge, marshal of the Superior Court of Chancery in Staunton, Virginia, and Edward Watts, conveying land lying in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, along the Great Road between Lynchburg and Salem, Virginia; the land was sold by order of the court to settle a claim of John Campbell in a suit against Allen Taylor and Nathaniel Burwell, administrators of Andrew Lewis, deceased, his widow and heirs (this was not General Andrew Lewis, nor his son).

1998.26.10

October 8, 1827

Indenture between Samuel Lewis of Kanawha County, Virginia (now West Virginia), and Edward Watts, for the sale of land in Botetourt County, Virginia, by Lewis to Watts; Samuel Lewis was one of the heirs of Andrew Lewis, cited in 1998.26.09.

1998.26.11

about May 6, 1834

Account statement of J. R. Richardson with George Hancock for the repayment of bonds and interest

1998.26.12

August 1-2, 1820

Court ordered division of property in Botetourt County, Virginia, among the heirs of Andrew Lewis. The text of this document is contained in 1998.26.12, 1998.26.31 and 1998.26.32. The first, #12, is incomplete, lacking the plat at the beginning, and its final part is a separate document, 1998.26.33. It is a copy, made after 1838, of the original document of 1820. The third copy, #32, has some additional information at the end. There are trivial differences in the texts.

            The division was carried out by William Anderson, Edmund Pate, and George Ground (whose names appear in #33). The heirs of Andrew Lewis were his widow Jane (McClanahan) Lewis, his daughter Sarah (or Sally) Nealy (Lewis) Wood and her husband James S. Wood; his children John Lewis, William Lewis, Patsy Lewis, Samuel Lewis, Emeline Lewis, Eliza Lewis, and Jane Anne Lewis. The land lay between the Great Road between Lynchburg and Salem, Virginia, and Lick Run (here called Mill Branch), in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia. The property included a mill. It adjoined the land of Edward Watts, who eventually acquired it.

1998.26.13

November 28, 1834

Indenture or deed between William Lewis and his wife Jane (Tosh) Lewis, and Edward Watts, for a sale of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, to Watts. This land was one share of the division described in 1998.26.12

This Indenture made and entered into on this the 28th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four between William Lewis and Jane his wife of the county of Botetourt and state of Virginia on the one part and Edward Watts of the same county and state on the other part, Witnesseth that the said William Lewis and...

1998.26.14

November 30, 1837

Indenture or deed between Jeremiah Whitten and his wife Susan M. (Jones) Whitten, and Edward Watts, for a sale of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, to Watts. This land was part of the division described in 1998.26.12, which the Whittens had bought.

1998.26.15

October 12, 1815

Extract of a deed between William L. Adams and wife, and Edward Watts, for a sale of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, to Watts. This land included the greater part of Round Hill and lay along Evans Spring Branch (Lick Run), and shared a boundary line with the Noffsinger family; it had been the home of Adams and his wife. This document is a copy made probably between 1865 and 1883, and certified by Thomas J. Godwin.

1998.26.16

July 11, 1817

Indenture or deed between Edward Watts and his wife Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts, and Samuel J. Harrison, for a sale of property in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Harrison; the Wattses had acquired the property from John Lynch in 1811.

1998.26.17

December 6, 1817

Account statement of Dr William Steptoe with Dr William Wardlaw, of Richmond, Virginia, and receipt for amount collected by Edward Watts

1998.26.18

1819

Memorandum and assignment for payment of a debt owed by William Whiteley & Co to Edward Watts, dated 1819, for wheat, rye, and corn; the debt is paid by the assignment of a note from Abner Whitten

1998.26.19

November 25, 1819

Note for a debt owed by William Whiteley & Co to Edward Watts

1998.26.20

January 16, 1819

Note for a debt owed by George Sinkler, David Palmer and Isaac St Clair to Washington West, witnessed by John Stoner and William Deaton; payment is receipted by Moses F. Cook

1998.26.21

January 16, 1819

Note for a debt owed by George Sinkler, David Palmer and Isaac St Clair to Washington West, witnessed by John Stoner and William Deaton

1998.26.22

January 15, 1819

Memorandum of an agreement between Washington West, by Moses F. Cook, his attorney, and George St Clair and David Palmer, regarding a sale of property by West; part of the land is claimed by George Lemmon, and provision is made should he sue and win. The agreeent was witnessed by John Stoner and William Deaton.

1998.26.23

September 13, 1819

Letter from Benjamin William Sheridan Cabell in Danville, Virginia, to Edward Watts in Lynchburg, Virginia, regarding a debt; he acknowledges responsibility but asks for more time, offering as surety a property in Lynchburg

Humiliating as it is to me to use such language, I deem it my duty to do so, to place the whole ground before you. And I conclude by the solemn declaration, that while I live, I will devote every means within the compass of my power to the payt of my debts, till they are utterly discharged. I am Respectfully, yr obt st [your obedient servant], Benj. W. S. Cabell

1998.26.24

March 31, 1819

Letter from Benjamin William Sheridan Cabell in Danville, Virginia, to Edward Watts, near Fincastle in Botetourt County, Virginia, regarding a debt, and offering a piece of property on Beaver Pond Creek in Lunenburg County to settle it; the land came to Cabell from his wife, Sarah Eppes (Doswell) Cabell

Address page, with charges, stamp, and hole made by the wax seal.

[address] Edward Watts Esq / near Fincastle / Bottetourt / care of / James S. Wright Esq / Lynchburg

[return address] Danville Va / April 3d

[postal charges] 12½ / 6 / 18½

[postal stamp] LYNCHG VA APR 13

[seal on red wax, and hole made by its removal]

1998.26.25

April 15, 1821

Letter from Benjamin William Sheridan Cabell in Campbell County, Virginia, to Edward Watts, at Fincastle, Virginia, requesting an immediate reply to 1998.26.24

More documents to follow.

The Watts Graveyard at Oaklands, part 3 (conclusion)

            My two previous posts explain the history of the Oaklands cemetery, and describe the grave markers for the male line of the Watts family who lived at Oaklands and were buried on the estate. This final installment describes the graves of the families of Edward Watts’s daughters Letitia (Watts) Sorrel and Emma (Watts) Carr, and the graves of those who were not members of the immediate family.

            Both husbands of Letitia Watts were buried at Oaklands. Both were surgeons who served with the Confederate army. Landon Cabell Rives was born in 1827 and came from Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father was also a doctor. He died early in the Civil War. Francis Sorrel, of French descent, was born in Savannah, Georgia, and led an adventurous life; he went to California in the Gold Rush, but returned to the East when the Civil War broke out.

In memory of Landon Rives Jr. / Surgeon C.S.A. / Died / in Richmond. Va. / March 18, 1862 / Aged / 35 years (no photo available)

Francis Sorrel, M. D. / July 27, 1827 / June 30, 1916 [This stone replaced a table monument, which bore the following inscription.] Sacred / to the memory of / Francis Sorrel, A.M., M.D. / (formerly of Savannah, Ga.) / Graduate of Princeton Univ. / Class 1846 / of the Md. Dept. Univ. Penn. 1848  / Asst. Surg. U. S. Army 49 / Member California Legislature / 60 - 61 / and Surg. C. S. A. and Medical / Director at Richmond, Va. General / Hospital East of the Mississippi / 61 - 65 / Born July 27, 1827 - Died June 30, 1916.

            Emma (Watts) Carr’s husband, George Watson Carr, remarried after his first wife’s death to a woman the Watts family disapproved of, but he continued to live in Roanoke, and he was buried with Emma at Oaklands. Four of his children with Emma were also buried there: Ann Holcombe Carr, Alice Robertson Carr, Maria Dabney Carr, and William Watts Carr. William Watts Carr’s widow, Madge (MacDougall) Carr, was cremated and her ashes interred beside her husband’s grave. She was the last person whose remains were buried at Oaklands.

Col. George Watson / Carr / June 7, 1822 / Apr. 19, 1899

Anne Holcombe Carr / Daughter of / George & Emma / Watts Carr / Born / Mar. 20, 1870 / Died / Jan. 7, 1873

Alice Robertson / daughter of / George W. & Emma / Watts Carr / Born / Feb. 20. 1866 / Died / Jan. 29, 1883

Maria Dabney / Carr / Beloved wife of / J.H. Skinker / Born / Sept. 21, 1861 / Died / Mar. 23, 1887 / So He giveth His beloved sleep

William Watts / Carr / Dec. 11, 1867 / Oct. 22, 1930

Madge MacDougall / Carr / Jan. 25, 1870 / July 9, 1963 / Beloved wife of William Watts Carr

            Finally, there were three burials at the Oaklands cemetery of people who were not family members. Only the name is known of Katherine Turpin, who was a governess at Oaklands. Her grave was originally marked by a boxwood, but a marker was carved for her in 1977. Clement Read was a neighbor and friend; his grave was marked by fieldstones with no inscription. His family bought Monterey and established their own cemetery on that estate, so no new stone was made for him. Jean Gamble Robertson was distantly kin to the Wattses, but the families were closer than the kinship would suggest. Jean’s father, William Gordon Robertson, was a stepson of Alice (Watts) Robertson, as a son of William Joseph Robertson by his first marriage to Hannah Gordon. William Gordon became a good friend and law partner of his step-cousin, J. Allen Watts; he lived in Roanoke, and married Anne Anthony "Nannie" Breckinridge, who was a second cousin of J. Allen Watts. Their little girl, Jean, died in a tragic accident, when her clothing caught fire on her father's 39th birthday.

Katherine Turpin / governess at Oaklands / died ca. 1847

Jean Gamble / daughter of / W.G. & Nannie B. / Robertson / Born / Jan. 23, 1891 / Died / Feb. 12, 1895

            My mother became so interested in preserving old cemeteries while working on the transfer of the Oaklands graves, that she helped produce a book, Roanoke County Graveyards Through 1920. It can still be bought from the Historical Society of Western Virginia. As the Watts graveyard illustrates, economic progress and human change are not the only enemies of old cemeteries; weather, weeds, the passing of caretakers, and the general ravages of time all take a toll. The old itself once replaced the even older. Even though the land may be doomed to redevelopment, much of the history can be saved if the sites are photographed and the inscriptions recorded. It’s a rewarding way to do family history, and better for the heart and lungs than sitting in front of the computer. I will discuss some other cemeteries in later posts.