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 20 documents in this group all date from 1839 to 1843.
The first two, dated 1840, pertain to the estate of James Breckinridge, which
has been a recurrent topic. Most of the others are routine items of legal
business, many addressed to James Breckinridge Watts, who was practicing law in
Roanoke at this time. A few are account statements or receipts for household
purchases from local merchants, or sales statements for products like tobacco.
Three items stand out as exceptions: two garrulous letters, dated 1839 and
1840, from Edward Watts’s brother-in-law Fleming Saunders, with family news and
strong opinions on politics and other matters; and a letter of condolence to
Edward Watts following the death of his daughter Elizabeth in 1843, at the age
of 20 or 21, less than six months after her marriage to Thomas Lewis Preston.
doc #
date
abstract
1998.26.281
December 1, 1840
Statement of the account of Cary Breckinridge, executor of
the estate of James Breckinridge, with the legatees, who were Cary Breckinridge
and John Selden Breckinridge, sons of the deceased; Edward Watts and Henry
Winston Bowyer, husbands of Elizabeth Breckinridge and Matilda Breckinridge
respectively, daughters of the deceased, and Letitia (Breckinridge) Gamble,
daughter of the deceased; the account itemizes the assets, notably the land and
slaves, the amounts already paid to each legatee, and the amount still due to
them or from them
1998.26.282
November 18, 1840
Letter from John
Roote Thornton in Paris, Kentucky, to Cary Breckinridge in Fincastle, Virginia,
regarding the collection of a note on Robert Trabue, deceased; the debt was
owed to James Breckinridge, deceased, of whose estate Cary Breckinridge was
executor. He had written to Thomas Towles Thornton, also recently deceased,
nephew of John Roote Thornton, seeking to collect the debt. The letter explains
that the Trabue heirs are contesting the claim, but the case against them is
solid, except that in the delay rats have destroyed some of the documents,
which must be sent again
I find among Thos. T.
Thornton's papers a record of your qualification regularly done, but he left it
in his office untill the case was to come on and owing to his death and other
circumstances, it has been exposed and the rats have so injured the paper, that
the name of the clerk and date and some material words are obliterated or eat
out. You will therefore have to supply it. You ought to enclose to me also ten
dollars to defray costs, because some are already due and I shall have to go
the security for costs. T. T. Thornton was security but now additional security
will be required. Whether you ever left anything with T. T. T. or not I do not
know. The heirs of Robert Trabue are good. I hope to hear from you very soon.
Yours respectfully, Jno R. Thornton
John Roote
Thornton (1786-1873) was born in Caroline County, Virginia, and died in Bourbon
County, Kentucky; his nephew Thomas Towles Thornton (1812-1839) was born and
died in Bourbon County.
1998.26.283
January 5, 1840
Letter from Fleming Saunders at Flat Creek, Campbell County,
Virginia, to Edward Watts at Oaklands, Roanoke County, Virginia, hoping to
arrange a meeting, but reporting a delay caused by sickness in his brother
Samuel's household in Franklin County, Virginia; expressing strong opinions
about the death of a woman because of ill treatment, leading him to argue
against hiring out unneeded slaves and separating their families; expressing
disgust about the upcoming election, especially John Tyler and the Whig party,
for whom he will nonetheless vote, and contempt for Congress. There is also a
brief note from his wife, Alice (Watts) Saunders, sister of the addressee,
asking for a copy of a medical manual
I shall vote the Whig ticket, but
the pill is a disagreeable one, particularly as to Tyler, who is too fond of
that slang which is destroying all respect for office and law. I cannot bear to
hear so much boasting of the freedom of the people, when I know the English to
be that the people won't be governed. Look to the freedom of Congress. What
must be the contempt felt by foreign nations, and by all orderly and moral
people among us, for the members of Congress. The people ought never to elect a
[man] who is given to drink, or who has not the feelings, fully of a Gent and
of correct manners. Remember me to your family, all & individually. I am yr
friend, Fleming Saunders
[in another handwriting] Please send us one volume of Ewel, if you
have it to spare. Your affectionate Sister.
Fleming Saunders (1778-1858), a
judge and farmer, married Alice Watts (c. 1793-1867), a sister of Edward Watts;
they lived at Flat Creek in Campbell County, Virginia, which had been the home
of William Watts. Alice wrote the post script to this letter, asking for a copy
of James Ewell’s The medical companion,
or family physician.
John Tyler (1790-1862) was elected
vice president as a Whig in 1840, after having been a Democrat. He succeeded to
the presidency in 1841 on William Henry Harrison's death after only a month in
office. Tyler served as president from 1841 to 1845. The legitimacy of his
administration was questioned, because the Constitution was unclear about the
role of the vice president; and he clashed with the great Whig senator Henry
Clay over many issues, notably the federal bank and the annexation of Texas.
Tyler ran unsuccessfully for the presidency in 1844 on a third-party ticket.
1998.26.284
February 1840
Account statement of Isaac Hudson with the clerk of Bedford
County, Virginia, for 75 cents, for documents relating to the estate of Gabriel
Miner
1998.26.285
October 4, 1841
Receipt to William Watts for Cheltenham fabric and trimming
bought from John Cochran for $10.12, receipt signed by William H. Patterson
1998.26.286
August 22, 1841
Letter to James Breckinridge Watts at Salem, Virginia, from
N. Taliaferro at Rocky Mount, Virginia, regretting that he cannot come on a
visit to Roanoke because the judge in Franklin County, Virginia, has ordered
him to attend a court session in Floyd County, Virginia, involving a
counterfeiter named Stuart and two attorneys, John Preston Phlegar and
Edmundson; also mentions some current news topics
1998.26.287
February 10, 1840
Order from the County Court of Roanoke, Virginia, to the
Sheriff of Roanoke County, Elijah McClanahan, to summon Marcus D. Blankenship
and Pleasant Blankenship to appear as witnesses in a case between the
Commonwealth of Virginia, plaintiff, represented by James Breckinridge Watts,
and Thomas Golden, defendant
James
Breckinridge Watts (1812-1846), a son of Edward Watts, was commonwealth's
attorney for Roanoke County from 24 May 1838 to 20 Jan 1845. The witnesses and
defendant have not been identified.
1998.26.288
August 13, 1839
Letter from Fleming Saunders at Flat Creek, Campbell County,
to Edward Watts at Oaklands, Roanoke County, sending news of weather and crops
– rain has ended a drought, expected corn, oat and tobacco crops; his health
and that of others in the family – he has asthma, his brother Samuel very ill;
a lawsuit brought by a would-be overseer; travel plans – friends are en route
from Flat Creek to Oaklands, Fleming would like to go but must visit his
brother in Franklin County, Virginia, possible hunting trip to Greasy Creek,
Floyd County, Virginia, in the fall; comments probably relating to the estate
of Mary (Scott) Watts; and general family news
I hear from my
Brother, he is quite sick, very feeble and suffers much. I am as anxious to see
him, and so soon as I can leave home, I will visit him. I do not know at
present whether I can later the usual hunt this fall. Will you go? I want to do
so very much. I think [some] of the young people will [go] to Greasy. I have
the asthma [every] day, the paroxism not as [violent?] as formerly, I feel some
[stronger?] and I have some more flesh upon my bones. I have been sued by a
most worthless fellow ...
On Fleming
Saunders, see 1998.26.283 above. On the depredation of documents by rodents,
see 1998.26.282 above. Fleming’s brother Samuel Saunders (1783-1852) lived in
Franklin County, Virginia.
1998.26.289
May 18, 1842
Letter from Lewis
Rogers, in Richmond, Virginia, to Edward Watts, in Big Lick, Virginia, seeking
an arrangement about a property conveyed to Rogers by Temple Gwathmey, upon
which Watts has a prior lien, pointing out that the property has no value to
either of them unless it can be rented or sold
1998.26.290
March 31, 1842
Account statement of
Edward Watts with Powell H. and A. E. Huff for purchases of dry goods,
including cloth, sewing materials and some clothing, with a total value of
$189.90
1998.26.291
1842
Account statement of
sales of the home crop of tobacco for Edward Watts by Richard Tyree in
Lynchburg, Virginia, and Robert Gwathmey in Richmond, Virginia, for $2068.98
after deducting expenses
1998.26.292
May 5, 1842
Letter from Thomas
H. Ellis, in Richmond, Virginia, to James Breckinridge Watts, in Big Lick
(Roanoke), Virginia, regarding a claim of the estate of Charles Ellis,
deceased, against Samuel Stoner, and a suit filed by Watts which Ellis
approves; also mentions other claims by Stoner, and bonds of Dr Thomas Goode
and Dr John B. Lewis, and sends thanks for kindness in the case of Nininger
Dr Sir: Your favor of the 19th ulto.,
advising me that you had brought suit at common law on our claims vs Samuel
Stoner, one of $335.43 and the other of $230, has been recd, and the
proceeding, under the circumstances stated by you, meets our entire approbation.
This
letter suggests that Samuel Stoner was in financial difficulty some time before
his death in 1845; see 1998.26.280.
1998.26.293
May 22, 1842
Draft of a letter
from Edward Watts, in Roanoke County, Virginia, to Lewis Rogers, in Richmond,
Virginia, replying to a letter (1998.26.289) concerning deeds of trust on a property belonging to Temple
Gwathmey, stating that Watts has no intention of letting his prior deed serve
as a shield to prevent Rogers from collecting a just debt, noting that Gwathmey
has other debts to Watts and has given him as security a deed on a bond of his
son William Watts Gwathmey, and asking Rogers to decide whether to have
Gwathmey pay rent or compel him to sell the property
The debts secured by this deed of trust are
not all Mr G. owed me. He assignd to me in December so much of a deed executed
by his son Wm W. for his benefit as would pay me $3000, the remainder I inferd
from what he said he intended to assign to you. Very respectfully, Your mo[st]
ob[edien]t &c, Edwd Watts
Letter to Lewis Rogers corrected a little but
substantially the same sent to him
Deeds
of trust were used to convey the right to sell property used as collateral.
Temple Gwathmey had apparently signed two deeds of trust on the same property,
one to his brother-in-law Edward Watts, the other to Lewis Rogers, a prominent
New York merchant.
1998.26.294
December 9, 1843
Letter from Townsend
Sharpless and Sons, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James Breckinridge Watts,
in Roanoke County, Virginia, forwarding a transfer dated February 22, 1843, of
a claim by Hunn and Remington against David Fenton Kent of New Bern, Virginia,
and asking for collection and payment of the proceeds; Watts noted that he
answered the letter on December 20, 1843, but neither the amount nor the nature
of the claim is specified
James B. Watts Esqr, Va
Dear Sir, You will please pay the proceeds of
our Judgment (when obtained) against D. F. Kent, of Newbern to T. Sharpless
& Sons or their order. Yours Resp[ectfull]y, Hunn & Remington
Philadelphia, 22 Feb[ruar]y 1843
Townsend
Sharpless (1793-1863) was a prominent Quaker and merchant in Philadelphia. His
sons were Samuel Jones Sharpless (1816-1904) and Charles Leeds Sharpless
(1821-1882). His daughter, Lydia Jones Sharpless (1818-1911), married in 1836
Ezekiel Hunn (1810-1902), one of the partners in Hunn and Remington. The Hunns
were also Quakers, and very active in the abolitionist movement. David Fenton
Kent (1807-1850) was a prominent and respected businessman in Pulaski County,
Virginia, but this debt proved very difficult to collect, and correspondence
about it continued until 1846.
1998.26.295
April 4, 1844
Account statement of
Edward Watts with J. Bonsack for services provided in production of cloth and clothing,
receipted as paid in full for $8.30
1998.26.296
November 22, 1843
Account statement of
Edward Watts in Big Lick (Roanoke), Roanoke County, Virginia, with Richard
Tyree, merchant in Lynchburg, Virginia, for services provided in the sale and
shipment of tobacco, including to Robert Gwathmey; for various purchases,
including nails, cloth, clothes, and sugar; and for money transfers to others,
including a doctor, a saddle maker, a beer seller, and a millstone supplier.
Includes a letter explaining the charges, and quoting prices on flour, wheat,
tobacco and pork
1998.26.297
December 28, 1843
Letter from Bouldin
and Yancey in Lynchburg, Virginia, to James Breckinridge Watts in Big Lick
(Roanoke), Virginia, informing him that they have collected and deposited to
his credit $30.50 from an execution of Tosh and McClanahan against Edwin
Matthews, and declining to accept any fee for their services
1998.26.298
March 4, 1843
Letter from Thomas
Atkinson in Lynchburg, Virginia, to Edward Watts in Big Lick (Roanoke),
Virginia, expressing condolences for the death of his daughter Elizabeth
(Watts) Preston, and urging him to turn to religion; he remarks on having seen
the deceased, and discussed religion with her, and passes along comments by
Bishop William Reade, who had also known her
On the morning we left Abingdon, Bishop Meade
had a long and interesting conversation with Miss Preston of Montgomery and
herself and told me that he hoped soon to see them both professing their faith
in Christ their Redeemer. I trust then that she whom you so loved is with a
better, a tenderer, even a heavenly Father. And now, my dear sir, will you not
think me presumng too much when I take the liberty of entreating you to direct
your own thoughts more entirely in future towards God ...
The
writer of this letter, Thomas Atkinson (1807-1881), practiced law for several
years before becoming a priest. At this date, he was rector of St. Paul's
Church in Lynchburg, Virginia; he was elected bishop of North Carolina in 1853. William Meade (1789-1862) became
bishop of Virginia in 1841. Elizabeth Watts (1822-1843), a daughter of Edward Watts, married on 13 September 1842 Thomas Lewis
Preston (1812-1903)
of Abingdon, Virginia; she died unexpectedly less than six months later.
1998.26.299
December 19, 1843
Letter from Townsend
Sharpless and Sons in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James Breckinridge Watts
in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, asking about a recent letter enclosing a
transfer of a claim by Hunn and Remington against David Fenton Kent; the
missing letter is 1998.26.294
1998.26.300
December 19, 1843
Account statement of
John M. Petty with Edward Watts for 1835 to 1843, involving amounts paid and
owed by both parties, mainly for beef, bacon and pork, but also other products,
including flour, oats, tobacco and hemp; materials, including salt, timber and
lime; articles including tilling hoes and equipment for horses; and services,
including temporary hires; as well as sums paid to numerous third parties
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