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 25 documents in this set date mostly from 1835 to 1837. Ten of them, 1998.26.151-158, 170, 175, concern Edward Watts’s purchase of land from the Noffsinger family (also spelled Nofsinger and Noftsinger), a transaction already mentioned in earlier documents, and complicated by the fact that the land had been divided among several heirs, some of whom had moved to Kentucky and Illinois, and parts of the land had been sold. The earliest Noffsinger document in this group is from 1829, but most are from 1836 and 1837, when the deal was finally completed. Three items, 1998.26.163-165, concern the affairs of George Hancock, who has already appeared several times. Document 1998.26.173 is a receipt to Edward Watts for his investment in shares of the James River and Kanawha Canal Company. There are two oddly placed items from 1855, 1998.26.168 and 169, relating to the purchase of a threshing machine. The remaining items are a various group of letters on legal or business matters and account statements or receipts.
1998.26.151
December 25, 1837
Deed between the heirs of Joseph Noffsinger, deceased, namely his widow Elizabeth Noffsinger, and his son John Noffsinger, by his attorney William Noffsinger, of the one part, and Edward Watts, of the other part, conveying a tract of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, from the Noffsingers to Edward Watts
In testimony whereof they have hereunto set their hands and seals on the day and year first above written.
Signd seald & deliverd in presence of James B. Watts, T. Robinson, George Hannah, W. W. Evans } Elisabeth X Noftsinger her mark {seal}, John Nofsinger {seal} By William Nofsinger
his Atorney in fact
Elizabeth Noftsinger’s mark replacing a signature is typical of a person who could not write.
1998.26.152
December 17, 1836 and February 13, 1837
Deed between George A. Mullen and Elizabeth Noffsinger his wife of the one part and Edward Watts of the other part, for the sale of the former's interest in a tract of land inherited from Joseph Noffsinger, deceased, to the latter, with annexes acknowledging the act and certifying it for record by the Botetourt County Court, Virginia
1998.26.153
August 28, 1832, and November 13, 1832
Deed between John H. Noffsinger and Elizabeth Noffsinger his wife, residents of Macoupin County, Illinois, of the one part and Edward Watts of the other part, for the sale of the former's interest in a tract of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, inherited from Joseph Noffsinger, deceased, to the latter, with annexes acknowledging the act and certifying it for record by the Botetourt County Court, Virginia
State of Illinois, Macoupin County
This 28th day of August A.D. 1832 personally appeared before us the undersigned two acting justices of the peace duly commissioned and qualified for the county aforesaid the above named Rebecca Noffsinger whose signature appears to the above deed of conveyance, and being the wife of the aforesaid John, who being examined by us privily and apart from her said Husband acknowledged that she signed the above deed of conveyance knowing the contents thereof voluntarily and freely without any coertion or restraint of her said Husband, and desires the same to be certified to the clerk of the county of Botetourt State of Virginia in order that the said deed of conveyance & acknowledgm[en]t may be recorded. Given under our hands and seals this 28th day of August A.D. 1832, Abram S. Walker, Justice of the Peace {seal}, P. H. Winchester, Justice of the Peace {seal}
This certification was common on legal documents to which a married woman was a party; she was questioned separately to be certain that she understood what she was signing and was acting of her own free will, not under pressure from her husband.
1998.26.154
probably November 13, 1832
Envelope for the deed (1998.26.153) between the Noffsingers and Edward Watts
1998.26.155
August 17, 1836, and September 1, 1836
Deed between William Mills and Fanny (Noffsinger) Mills his wife of the one part, and Edward Watts of the other part, for the sale of a tract of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, from the former to the latter, with certificates of acknowledgment and of entry into record at Botetourt County Court, Virginia
1998.26.156
May 19, May 23 and May 25, 1829
Power of attorney from John Noffsinger, Jacob Noffsinger who intermarried with Mary Noffsinger, and Benjamin Coffman who purchased from George Bish who intermarried with Susannah Noffsinger, the said John, Mary and Susannah being children and heirs of Joseph Noffsinger, to their brother William Noffsinger of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, to carry out the sale of a tract of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, with certificates of acknowledgment
Kentucky, Muhlenberg County Fst
I John S. Eaves presiding Justice of the County Court for the county aforesaid do certify the foregoing certificate of Charles T. Wing clerk to the said County Court is in due form of law. Given under my hand the 25th May 1829, John S. Eaves PJ
Certifications of this sort were common. This is the last of several on this document, attesting to the identities of the signers and to the validity of the document.
1998.26.157
December 17, 1836, and February 13, 1837
Deed between Elizabeth Noffsinger, widow of Joseph Noffsinger, and William Noffsinger and Joseph Noffsinger, sons and heirs of Joseph Noffsinger, of the one part, and Edward Watts of the other part, for the sale of a tract of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, from the former to the latter, with certificate of acknowledgment and admittance to record at Botetourt County Court, Virginia
1998.26.158
December 17, 1836, and December 20, 1836
Agreement among the heirs of Joseph Noffsinger, regarding the person to whom a payment for a land sale should be made, and receipts for two payments by Edward Watts for the purchase of a tract of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia
1998.26.159
January 30, 1835
Letter from Henry Robinson at Hanover Court House, Virginia, to Edward Watts, at Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, regarding Robinson's lands in Botetourt County, Virginia, and his preferred address, because he fears that an earlier letter has miscarried
Post. For the future, if you should write to me, I would thank you to direct your letter to Hanover Court House, to the care of Philip B. Winston, who has been kind enough to promise to attend to it for me. This arrangement will, I think, render the receipt of a letter much more certain. With respect your friend, Henry Robinson / Genl Edward Watts
Philip B. Winston (1786-1853) was Clerk of the Hanover County Court. Henry Robinson (1818-1856) was a neighbor; he died without issue, and his sisters inherited his estate.
1998.26.160
October 14, 1835
Receipt to Edward Watts for taxes in 1835, signed by Joseph Kyle Pitzer acting for James Cartmill
1998.26.161
March 1835
Envelope or wrapper for a receipt from Campbell to Edward Watts; probably John Campbell
1998.26.162
October 14, 1835
Letter from Herbert Whitmore at Petersburg, Virginia, to Edward Watts at Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia, asking him to collect a debt from F. B. Miller
you will much oblige me by making the money as soon as possible, it was transfered to me by Mr W. L. Blunt. You will please acknowledge the receipt of this. Yours Respectfully, Herbert Whitmore
Herbert Whitmore (1792-1855) is buried in Blandford Cemetery, Petersburg, Virginia. F. B. Miller and W. L. Blunt have not been identified.
1998.26.163
January 16, 1834
Letter from George Hancock, at Louisville, Kentucky, to Edward Watts at Big Lick (Roanoke), Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, authorizing the deposit of $1000 in Hancock's account with the Bank of Virginia to cover a draft, and inquiring about debts due from Henry Edmundson and the Wilson family
1998.26.164
February 3, 1835
Certificate of deposit by Edward Watts of $1000 in the Bank of Virginia, Lynchburg, Virginia, to the credit of George Hancock
1998.26.165
January 16, 1835
Letter from George Hancock in Louisville, Kentucky, to Edward Watts, at Fincastle, Virginia, asking him to deposit $1000 to his credit at the Bank of Virginia, Lynchburg, Virginia, relating to Hancock’s claim against Richardson
1998.26.166
March 14, 1835
Statement of account of John Campbell with Edward Watts, covering various goods and mutual services from 1832 to 1835
1998.26.167
December 1838
Statement of account of John Marshall Petty with Edward Watts from 1835 to 1838, covering mainly purchases of meat and sales of tobacco, itemizing sales and payments
Mr John M. Petty with E. Watts a/c
1835
Jany To 73 lbs beef at 4 cts $2.92
March To 148 lbs do at 5 cts 7.40
June To 19 pieces bacon 318 lbs at 12½ cts 39.75
Novbr To 11 lbs of bacon do 1.37½
-- $51.44½
The word “do” is an abbreviation for “ditto”. John Marshall Petty, b. c. 1804 in Botetourt County, Virginia, d. 1860 in Iron County, Missouri; in the 1850 census in Roanoke County, Virginia, as a farmer; he married twice and had numerous children.
1998.26.168
July 5, 1855
Cover letter from William J. Anderson, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to William Watts, accompanying a statement of his account, covering charges of $20.36
1998.26.169
July 5, 1855
Statement of the account of William Watts with William J. Anderson, in Lynchburg, Virginia, covering shipping charges of $20.36 for salt and a threshing machine, with a note that it had been paid on July 6, 1855, by a draft on the Exchange Bank at Salem, Virginia
" Freight on Threshing Machine 5.00
" R R charges on Do 6.00
" Comm Rec'g & Forwdg Do 2.50
" Postage .03 13.53
The ditto marks at the left repeat the word “to”, used to identify charges; credits were identified with the word “by”. The threshing machine was apparently sent by canal boat to Lynchburg, and sent on to Big Lick by the new (1852) railroad. Anderson charged a commission for receiving and forwarding
1998.26.170
March 25, 1836
Transfer from Samuel W. Christian to Edward Watts of land in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, purchased from the Noffsinger heirs
1998.26.171
March 12, 1836
Letter from Edward Watts, in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, to the Rev. Franklin Gillette Smith, in Lynchburg, Virginia, protesting about charges for his children's schooling, such as extra fires when they were absent, minor breakage which was repaired, unauthorized extra music lessons on an execrable piano, and complaining generally about the poor conditions at the school, but sending payment in full in order to close the correspondence
oblige me by considering our correspondence as here closed. I am &c &c, Edwd Watts. P.S. Your charge also of $4.50 for extra music lessons, which were never authorized by either Mrs Watts or myself and assuredly had we known the execrable character of the instrument on which they were given, none either ordinary or extra would have been allowed; but utterly worthless & unauthorized as they were you shall be paid for them. You may remember that as soon as I heard your Piano I stoped the music lessons. E.W.
Franklin Gillette Smith, the butt of the outrage in this letter, was born in 1797 in Vermont, attended Middlebury College and graduated from Princeton University in 1820. He moved to Lynchburg in 1824 or 1825 to become minister of the relatively new parish of the Episcopal church there, and also ran a school, to which Edward and Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts sent some of their children, as did Fleming and Alice (Watts) Saunders. Undaunted by the negative view expressed in this letter, Rev. Smith moved to Columbia, Tennessee, in 1837 to become head of the Columbia Female Institute, and in 1852 founded, with his wife, Sarah Ann Smith, the Columbia Athenaeum, another women's college, which he ran until his death in August 1866; his wife continued to run it until her death in January 1871, and then their son Robert Davis Smith ran it. It closed in 1903.
The letter itself is presented much more clearly and more carefully than Edward Watts’s usual handwriting, examples of which can be seen in the first three lines of 198.26.151 and the first line of 198.26.167. Since he presumably sent the letter, this must be a copy made at his request by someone else.
1998.26.172
April 29, 1836
Statement of the account of Ann Trowbridge with the Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, Post Office in 1835 and 1836, totaling $3.65¾, marked paid by the postmaster, T. Johnston
1998.26.173
April 21, 1836
Receipt from the Bank of Virginia to Edward Watts for the deposit of twenty dollars, the fourth installment payment on four shares of stock in the James River and Kanawha Company, signed by the bank's cashier in Buchanan, Virginia, Jordan Anthony
1998.26.174
June 24, 1836
Statement of the account of Edward Watts with John Gaw Meem, wine merchant, showing $47.88 owed for a barrel of sherry, paid on June 24, 1836
1998.26.175
July 31, 1836
Letter from Benjamin Coffman in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, to Edward Watts, in Botetourt (now Roanoke) County, Virginia, concerning the sale of Joseph Noffsinger's land by one of his heirs named Bish, who had sold his interest to Coffman
More to come.
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