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”.
This group of documents dates from 1844 and early 1845, with
only two partial exceptions: document 311 involves a court case that began in
1844 and continued into the late 1840s, and 316 is a collection of receipts
dating from 1839 to 1846. Most of the documents concern the law practice of
Edward Watts and his sons James Breckinridge Watts and William Watts; and much
of that practice involved collecting debts on behalf of distant creditors,
notably in New York, Philadelphia and Richmond. One name recurs with
significant frequency: Stoner (301, 311, 321, 323, and 324); the settlement of
their affairs will be a frequent topic in the Watts papers for several years.
Some documents involve routine business matters, like the hiring of slaves to a
neighbor (309), tax payments (317), payments to court clerks (318-320). Some of
the more interesting and exceptional items include a list of subscribers to the
Richmond Whig newspaper (303); a receipt from the professor who taught music to
the Watts girls (304); a letter from the Gwathmeys, in part about tobacco and
wheat sales, but also about family news (305); a plat and survey of land at the
confluence of Glade and Tinker Creeks (307); and a letter from Henry Coalter
Cabell to William Watts, seeking his support for a candidate applying to become
professor of moral philosophy at the University of Virginia (325).
doc #
date
abstract
1998.26.301
July 10, 1844
Letter from John
Quarles James in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts in Big Lick (Roanoke),
Virginia, whom he had recently met, requesting information about the trust deed
made by Samuel Stoner to Edward Watts, James Breckinridge Watts and Peachy
Ridgway Grattan, in particular whether the deed had been recorded by the court
clerk
1998.26.302
May 9, 1844
Receipt from Joseph
Kyle Pitzer by M. Leftwich, in Buchanan, Virginia, to Edward Watts, for 1679
pounds of tobacco, to be settled for according to contract
1998.26.303
January 17, 1844
Payment order from
Thomas W. Micou in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, to Edward Watts, to deliver
payments for several subscriptions to the Weekly Whig (Richmond Whig and Advertiser) on behalf of himself, D. Lewis, James
Eddington, Landon Cabell Read and Solomon Slusher, all residents of Roanoke or
Floyd Counties, Virginia, and to deliver a letter to Kent, Kendall and Atwater,
a Richmond dry goods dealer; the payment
receipted by Newton Hill
Will
please pay the Editors of the Weekly Whig for the following subscriptions
{viz D. Lewis Big Lick Va
{ James Eddington Do [ditto]
3$ sent { Edward Watts Do [ditto]
{ Landon C. Read Stoners Store
{ Solomon Slusher Greazy Creek Floyd Co
Va
and put the Letter to Kent, Kendall &
Atwater in the Office if he can’t see them personally
oblige
yrs &c
Thos
W. Micou
Big Lick Jany 17 1844
[receipted across
the text] Received the above amount of
Five Dollars / Newton Hill / Jan 22/44
Thomas
W. Micou was postmaster in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, in the 1840s. He was
married to a daughter of Elijah McClanahan and had children. He died in 1846 at
the Western Asylum in Staunton, Virginia. The
Richmond Whig and Public Advertiser; was a weekly newspaper; although the
name varied, it began publication in the 1820s and continued into the 1870s.
1998.26.304
January 30, 1844
Account statement of
Edward Watts with Gennaro F. Bozzaotra, professor of music, for instruction of
his daughters, Letitia Gamble Watts and Alice Matilda Watts in 1843 and 1844
1998.26.305
October 18, 1844
Letter from Temple
Gwathmey in Richmond, Virginia, acting for his brother Robert Gwathmey, to
Edward Watts in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, enclosing an account statement
for tobacco and flour sold for Watts; statement includes names of buyers and
identifications of lots, prices and deductions for expenses, with a total of
$999.54 due for the tobacco and $449.87 for the flour; letter discusses prices
of tobacco and flour and gives advice to improve chances of sale in the future,
such as not drying the tobacco too much and using cleaner barrels; letter also
includes news of the Gwathmey family
1998.26.306
July 20, 1844
Letter from R.
Kingsland & Co in New York to William Watts in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia,
asking for a duplicate check to be sent, to replace one sent by James
Breckinridge Watts and apparently lost in the mail or stolen
1998.26.307
December 26, 1844
Survey and plat by
Andrew Reynolds for George Ground of 271 acres of land in Roanoke County,
Virginia, lying on Tinker and Glade Creeks, which Ground sold to John H. Smith;
the survey mentions boundaries shared with property belonging to Edward Watts,
the Vinyard family, the heirs of Robert Filson, the McDermid family, and David
Gish
1998.26.308
May 20, 1844
Receipt for deposit
by James Philemon Holcombe of $1000 to the account of Edward Watts in the Bank
of Virginia, Lynchburg, Virginia, signed by W. B. Averett, teller
1998.26.309
January 17, 1844
Account statement of
Thomas Tosh with Edward Watts for hire of two slaves, Jabet and Peyton, with
itemized additions and deductions
1998.26.310
May 23, 1844
Letter from Thomas
& Charles Ellis in Richmond, Virginia, to James Breckinridge Watts, in Big
Lick, Virginia, sending a check signed by W. B. Averett of the Bank of Virginia
for $919.88, for the account of Townsend Sharpless of Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
1998.26.311
1847 or 1848
Bill from William S.
Donnan & John Donnan, merchants, to Edward Johnston, judge of the Circuit
Superior Court of Law and Chancery for the County of Roanoke, asking for a writ
to be issued against William S. Minor, the heirs of Samuel Stoner, and John
Stoner, and many others, who were heirs of the Stoners, who held deeds of trust
for them, or who purchased property from them, or who did business with them,
for recovery of a debt; the bill includes copies of writs from 1844 and 1845,
and the defendants’ confession of the obligations, which however had not been
paid and the debtors had subsequently sold their property and declared
insolvency. The following individuals and companies are named, in addition to
the plaintiffs, judge, and primary defendants: John Bonsack; Edward C. Burks;
William Bush; Robert Campbell; Isaac Davenport, Jr.; Henry Davis, executor of
David Palmer, deceased; Robert Edmond; Alexander P. Eskridge; John Gaynor;
Gaynor, Wood & Co.; John O. L. Goggin, administrator for Stephen Goggin,
deceased; Peachy Ridgway Grattan; Edwin James; F. & J. S. James & Co.;
Fleming James; John Quarles James; James F. Johnson; Frederick Johnston; David W. Moon; Alexander K. Packer or
Parker; M. A. Painter; J. K. Pitzer, administrator of Samuel Stoner, deceased;
John H. Seay; Edward D. Steptoe; Elizabeth “Eliza” Virginia Stoner; Emiline Stoner;
Frances Stoner; John Stoner, Jr.; Kenton Ballard Stoner; Lavinia Stoner; Lenora
Ann Stoner; Louisa C. Stoner; Osborne Stoner; John W. Thompson, administrator
of William Woodson, deceased; William H. Watson; Edward Watts; James
Breckinridge Watts; William Watts; George A. Williams; Samuel Williams; Joseph Wilson;
Jackson B. Wood; Peter M. Wright, administrator for Matthew Wright, deceased
1998.26.312
December 12, 1844
Letter from Buck
& Potter, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, signed by J. Sibley, to James
Breckinridge Watts, in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, asking for his services to
collect a debt of $392.74 from George W. Anderson of Christiansburg, Virginia;
they write on the recommendation of Col. W. M. Lambert
1998.26.313
November 16, 1844
Letter from Dr
Robert Johnston, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Salem, Virginia,
asking his help in obtaining payment of $20 for assistance rendered at White
Sulphur Springs, probably in Montgomery County, Virginia, in the birth of a
child born to a slave belonging to Col Thomas Burwell, and adding a lengthy
political diatribe lamenting the results of the 1844 election, expressing
disillusionment with the idea of government by the people
I really do consider that the experiment of
free government has failed with us. We are clearly under the dominion of a mob,
who set all law, order and moral obligation at defiance, and are prepared at
any moment to trample under foot the most sacred institutions of the country,
should they appear to be in the way of any of their favourite schemes or
maxims. I believe the experiment will always fail of giving to the people,
their own government; the intelligence suffused by education is disproportional
to the actual power given them, it is not possible to equalise these two
elements.
Dr
Robert Johnston (1803-1847) is buried in Shockoe Cemetery in Richmond,
Virginia.
1998.26.314
June 21, 1844
Letter from O. A.
Strecker, in Richmond, Virginia, to James Breckinridge Watts, in Roanoke
County, Virginia, asking him to collect money from a bond of $91.88 of Dr
Thomas Goode of Hot Springs, Virginia
1998.26.315
March 2, 1844
Letter from Townsend
Sharpless & Sons, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to James Breckinridge Watts,
in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, inquiring about progress on collecting a debt
from David Fenton Kent
1998.26.316
1839-46
Wrapper and eight
brief documents relating to debts owed by or to James Breckinridge Watts or
William Watts, including receipts for payment, accounts, bonds and bad debts;
people named include Edward Watts, Christian Bowen, John Steele, J. Robertson,
Harry P. Taylor, David Gish, L. Brockenbrough, W. B. Peck, Elisabeth Bradley,
N. P. Dillard, William Nelms, and others
1998.26.317
1845
Account statement of
Edward Watts for taxes paid to the sheriff of Roanoke County, Virginia, in
1845, itemized, including 1 white and 80 black tithes, 98 slaves, 50 horses, 1
carriage, 2 gold watches, 2 pianos, silver plate and 2250 acres of land
1998.26.318
1844
Account statement of
Edward Watts for fees owed to the clerk of Montgomery County Court, Virginia,
in 1844, showing charges in a case involving Deaton and Leahy, signed by R. D.
Montague, clerk
1998.26.319
April 1844
Account statement of
Edward Watts for fees owed to the clerk of Bedford County Court, Virginia, in
April 1844 for a writ of capias against Gish, Ground and Taylor, and other
actions involved in these cases, costing a total of $5.12
1998.26.320
1845
Account statement of
Edward Watts for fees owed to the commissioner of Roanoke County, Virginia, in
1845 for a land transfer to his sons James Breckinridge Watts and William Watts
1998.26.321
January 15, 1845
Letter from Jordan
Anthony, cashier of the Bank of Virginia, in Buchanan, Virginia, to William
Watts, at Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, forwarding a note for $500 from Samuel
Stoner to James Philemon Holcombe, with advice about Holcombe’s intention if
the note was not paid at maturity
Jordan
Anthony (1788-after 1866) appears in the census reports of 1850 and 1860 as a
bank cashier, living in Botetourt County, Virginia. In 1860, his household
included his niece, Julia Anthony, who was married to Peachy Gilmer Breckinridge (1835-1864), a
first cousin of William Watts. James Philemon Holcombe was William Watts’s
brother-in-law. Samuel Stoner’s debts are a recurrent subject in these
documents.
1998.26.322
January 16, 1845
Letter from Henry
Homer, in Newbern, Virginia, to James Breckinridge Watts, in Big Lick
(Roanoke), Virginia, concerning a debt, unpaid because Homer has not yet
received money from a sale of bottles from Alexander and Harness, who sold the
bottles in Baltimore, Maryland
1998.26.323
January 16, 1845
Letter from Drinker
and Morris, stationers in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts in Big Lick
(Roanoke), Virginia, asking Watts to collect debts from William S. Minor and
John Stoner, the latter resident in Bedford County, Virginia; to the former,
whose note is not due, they propose to offer reduced terms; as to the latter,
who signed an acceptance but gave a draft that was refused, they plan to file
suit
1998.26.324
January 25, 1845
Letter from John G.
McClanahan and Elijah G. McClanahan, in Lynchburg, Virginia, to William Watts,
in Big Lick (Roanoke), Virginia, explaining that they refused to pay a draft
for Samuel Stoner because he had not met his obligations, and they had notified
him to return or destroy it
1998.26.325
January 19, 1845
Letter from Henry
Coalter Cabell, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick (Roanoke),
Virginia, asking his help in having a kinsman, James Lawrence Cabell, appointed
professor of moral philosophy at the University of Virginia, to succeed George
Tucker; he says that Benjamin Franklin Minor and other faculty are supporting
him, and hopes that Watts will use his influence to secure support from Senator
William Cabell Rives, his cousin William Ballard Preston, and his
brother-in-law James Philemon Holcombe
If you could write a letter to Mr Preston,
speaking in such terms as I hope you would feel yourself authorized to use, he
probably would have no difficulty upon your statement in giving this
recommendation. Holcombe, if with you, I am sure would join in such letter. I
hope you will use your discretion and act promptly in this matter. It is now a
subject near his heart to succeed in this application and I hope he may not be
disappointed. I write in great haste. Your friend, Henry C. Cabell
Henry
Coalter Cabell (1820-1889) had known William Watts as a student at the
University of Virginia. James Philemon Holcombe was William Watts’s
brother-in-law and a professor at the University of Virginia. William Ballard
Preston
(1805-1862) attended Hampden-Sydney College and studied law at the University
of Virginia. He served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1830-32, 1844-45, in
the state Senate 1840-44, and in the U. S. House of Representatives 1847-49.
Under President Zachary Taylor, he served as Secretary of the Navy, then
retired from political life and practiced law. He went to France in late 1850s
as a negotiator, but returned as the Civil War grew imminent. He was a member
of Virginia's secessionist convention in 1861, wrote the act which declared
Virginia's secession; he also served in the Confederate Congress. James
Lawrence Cabell was not successful in his campaign to obtain this appointment;
see 1998.26.346.
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