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.
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