Jean Duncan Watts, my grandmother,
married Abram Penn Staples (III) on 5 January 1910, in Roanoke, Virginia. Thus
the Watts family, about whom I have written many times in this blog, was joined
to the Staples family, about whom I have so far written very little. The
wedding seems a logical place to begin remedying the imbalance. The local
newspaper devoted a long article to it the same day.
Society page article
on the Staples-Watts wedding (top)
Text of the article:
STAPLES-WATTS
The
marriage of Miss Jean Duncan Watts to Mr. Abram Penn Staples, Jr., which was
celebrated this afternoon at 4:30 o'clock in the home of the bride on 9th
avenue, s.e., was of unusual interest on account of the popularity of the
contracting parties and the social prominence of both families. Although the
wedding was a quiet home affair, it was exquisite in its appointments. Great
masses of mistletoe tied with broad red satin streamers, holly, evergreens in
Christmas effect were used in the wide-entrance hall. The stairway was
interwoven with evergreens and holly. The same color scheme of adornment was
used in the library. In the dining-room, the red carnations, smylax, candelabra
with red lighted candles were most attractively arranged. The dining-roon table
with its huge wedding cake, red carnations, cut glass and bon bons all added to
the beautiful effect. The parlor which was the scene of the wedding was in the
bride's color of white and green. The tropical potted palms were in profusion.
On the mantel was banked smylax and growing narcissus white candles tied with
love knots of white tulle. The chandelier was also beautiful with smylax and
white tulle but the central feature of beauty was the improvised altar of
palms, growing narcissus, tied with the love knots of white tulle all of which
formed a background for the altar. On each side were tall palms and altar
sconces with white tapers and with white tulle.
At
the appointed hour, to the strains of Tannhauser's "Wedding March"
played by Mrs. Lamar Lipscombe of Washington, DC, the bridal party entered the
parlor.
Mrs.
William Watts the bride's sister was the attractive matron of honor who wore an
imported white chiffon embroidered in silver and carrying La France roses,
preceded the bride, who entered on the arm of her brother, Mr. William Watts.
Her bridal dress was an exquisitely tailored brown suit with brown furs, hat,
gloves and shoes to match. Her ornaments were pearls, which had been worn by
her mother and grandmother at their marriages and she carried a shower bouquet
of lillies of the valley. The groom entered with his best man, his brother, Mr.
Hunt Staples of Petersburg and received the bride at the altar, where the
beautiful solemn ring ceremony was performed by the bride's pastor, Rev. Cantey
J. W. Johnson, rector of St. John's church.
During
the ceremony, Mrs. Lipscombe played "Believe Me If All Those Endearing
Young Charms".
Following
the wedding the guests enjoyed an informal reception.
A
delicious emperor's guard punch was served in the library by Mrs Lucien Cocke
and Mrs. Lamar Lipscombe. The guests were invited into the dining room where
the bride's cake was cut and wine and other delicacies were served.
The
young ladies assisting were: Mrs. DeMoss Taylor, Misses Mary Peyton of
Charlottesville, Luie Dillard of Rocky Mount, VA, Sarah Cox, Mary Churchill and
Mary Stuart Cocke.
The
bride is the daughter of Mrs. J. Allen Watts and Mr. J. Allen Watts deceased,
also the granddaughter of the late Colonel William Watts, one of the bravest
and most distinguished officers of the Confederacy and she is one of Roanoke's
most attractive and accomplished young ladies. She is a favorite in social
circles and has a host of friends. Mrs. A. P. Staples, Jr., was born at
Oaklands, Roanoke County, the old family homestead, and was educated at Hollins
Institute, Stuart Hall, Staunton, and New York city.
The
groom is the son of Prof. and Mrs. A. P. Staples of Washington and Lee
University at Lexington of which he is a graduate in law and is one of he most
popular and promising young lawyers at the bar in this city. His father was
formerly a very prominent lawyer of this city of the firm of Scott and Staples.
The
couple were the recipient of many magnificent presents. Mr. and Mrs. Staples
left this afternoon on the Memphis special for New York and will be at home on
their return at Judge and Mrs. Waller Staples on 13th avenue.
Only
the relatives of the contracting parties and a few intimate friends [were]
present at the ceremony. Relatives of the bride at the wedding were her mother,
Mrs. J. Allen Watts, Mr. and Mrs. William Watts, Judge E. W. Robertson, Dr.
Francis Sorrell, Mrs. John H. Parrott, Mrs. Rockingham, Paul, Miss Peachy
Robinson, Mr. Wm. Robertson, Miss Eliza Breckenridge, Mrs. Julia Breckenridge,
Miss Rosa Breckenridge, Mr. John Breckenridge, Miss Minnie Bowyer, Mrs. Joseph
E. Hunter, Jr., Mrs. Elizabeth Guerrard of Savannah, GA, Mrs. Harry Latane,
Buchanan; Miss Annie Allen of Buchanan.
The
groom's relatives who attended the wedding were: Mr. A. P. Staples and wife,
mother and father of the groom, Miss Harris Staples of Lexington; Mr. Hunt
Staples of Petersburg; Judge and Mrs. W. R. Staples, Mrs. D. DeJ. Staples, Miss
Olivia Staples, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Persinger, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Moir, Misses
Wallace Moir and Dorothy Moir, Mrs. Callie Staples, Daniel and daughter, Miss
Hilda Daniel, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Hoge, Miss Kitty Hoge, Mrs. Alice Penn, Mrs.
Ernest Penn, Mrs. I. E. Warren, Mrs. Charles Moir, Mrs. S. D. Shackleford, Miss
Willie Penn, Mr. G. H. Penn, Judge and Mrs. N. H. Hairston, Misses Elizabeth
and Mary Hairston, Mr. D. R. Hunt, Mr. H. D. Vickers and family, Mr. and Mrs.
A. M. Nelson, Miss Emma Staples, Mr. Sam Staples, Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Hairston,
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Hunt, Miss Bertie Hunt, Charlottesville.
Other
invited guests were: Mrs. P. H. Trout, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Trout, Dr. George
Lawson, Mrs. Jane Monsarrat of Baltimore; Mrs. Bettie Massie, Mr. J. J.
Watkins, Charlotte Court House; Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Cocke, Mrs. Frances Cocke,
Miss Mary Stuart Cocke, Mrs. and Mrs. Joseph Coxe, Mrs. and Mrs. Joseph Coxe
[sic], Miss Sarah Coxe, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Coxe, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Churchill,
Miss Mary Churchill, Mrs. D. J. Breslin, Mrs. Everett Perkins, Mr. and Mrs.
DeMoss Taylor, Mrs. Fred Foster, Miss Nonie Reed, Mr. Frank Reed, Miss Mary
Rogers, Judge Beverly Berkley, Mr. R. Quarles Mosely, Miss Mary Peyton of
Charlottesville; Miss Luie Dillard of Rocky Mount; Mrs. Lamar Lipscombe of
Washington, DC, Mr. Marvine Altizer, Mr. Paul V. Littlejohn, Mr. and Mrs.
DeMoss Taylor.
Although the article describes the
event as “a quiet home affair,” there were about a hundred people there. Oddly,
no photograph appeared with the article, and no wedding portraits have survived
among the family papers known to me. Here, instead, are pictures of each of the
two from shortly before their marriage.
Abram Penn Staples
(III), c. 1908
This photo is excerpted from a group
photo of fifteen young men, all formally dressed with jackets and bow ties,
except for A. P. Staples, who has a normal tie. It was probably taken around
1908 at Washington and Lee College, and must be a club of some kind. Abram Penn
Staples is called “Junior” in this article; his father had the same name, but
in fact the groom was the third member of the family to bear the name, and two
more followed. For clarity, they are referred to by Roman numerals I to V, in
parentheses.
Jean Duncan Watts, 1906
This photo was published in the
Richmond Times-Dispatch on 22 April 1906, with the following text in the
caption: “Miss Jean Watts, sponsor for Second Brigade, U.C.V. of Virginia, at
New Orleans reunion, April 25th-27th, is a daughter of the late Senator J.
Allen Watts. Miss Watts is one of the prettiest and most attractive young
ladies of Roanoke's younger set. Her mother is president of ‘William Watts’
chapter, U.D.C.”
The Watts
side of the family invited fewer than half as many guests as the Staples side.
There were few of them remaining in the Roanoke area. Most of their guests were
from the Allen family, kin through the bride’s grandmother, Mary Jane (Allen)
Watts (1825-1855); from the Breckinridge family, kin through the bride’s
great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Breckinridge) Watts (1794-1862); and from the
Robertson family, kin through the bride’s grandfather’s sister, Alice (Watts)
Robertson (1832-1914).
Mrs. J. Allen
Watts, née Gertrude Lee (1862-1953), was the bride’s mother.
William Watts
(1882-1932) was the bride’s brother; his wife of two years was Ellen (Catogni)
Watts (1889-1972).
Judge Edward Watts
Robertson (1868-1921) was a first cousin of the bride’s father; he was the son
of Alice (Watts) and William Joseph Robertson.
Dr. Francis
Sorrel (1827-1916) was the widower of Letitia (Watts) Sorrel, a sister of the
bride’s grandfather.
Mrs. John H.
Parrott has not been identified.
Mrs. Paul Rockingham
has not been identified.
Miss Peachy
Robinson was probably Peachy Gilmer Breckinridge Robertson (1894-1976), a
daughter of William Gordon Robertson (below) and Anne Anthony Breckinridge.
Mr. William
Gordon Robertson (1856-1910) was a son of William Joseph Robertson by his first
marriage; although not related by blood to the Watts family, he was married to
a Breckinridge cousin, lived in Roanoke and had close ties to the Watts family.
He died just a few months after this wedding. This guest was perhaps his son,
William Gordon Robertson Jr (1895-1958).
Miss Eliza
Breckenridge was probably Eliza Watts Breckinridge (1841-1928), a daughter of
Cary Breckinridge and a first cousin of the bride’s grandfather.
Mrs. Julia
Breckenridge was probably the widow, née Julia Anthony (1833-1917), of Peachy
Gilmer Breckinridge, the second son of Cary Breckinridge; her late husband was
a first cousin of the bride’s grandfather. But the guest may have been Julia
Breckinridge Robertson (1884-1916), granddaughter of the preceding, who was
married to Maurice Anthony Breckinridge.
Miss Rosa
(Rose) Breckenridge (1885-unknown) was a daughter of George William
Breckinridge, and a granddaughter of Cary Breckinridge; she was a second cousin
of the bride’s father.
Mr. John Breckenridge
(1887-unknown) was a son of George William Breckinridge, and a grandson of Cary
Breckinridge; he was a second cousin of the bride’s father
Miss Minnie
Bowyer (dates unknown); Matilda Breckinridge, a sister of the bride’s
great-grandmother, married Henry Winston Bowyer, and they had several children.
Minnie was no doubt one of the descendants of that union, but she is
unidentified.
Mrs. Joseph E.
Hunter Jr has not been identified.
Mrs. Elizabeth
(Allen) Guerard (1875-aft. 1910) of Savannah, GA; she was a sister of Julia
(Allen) Latane (below), and in 1910 a widow, living in Buchanan, VA, with her
sister and brother-in-law’s family; her late husband, Joseph Guerard, was a
doctor in Savannah.
Mrs. Harry
Latane of Buchanan, was born Julia Gatewood Allen (1871-bet. 1912 and 1920).
Miss Annie
Allen (c. 1884-aft. 1930) of Buchanan was a first cousin of the bride’s father.
In the next
posting, I will identify the guests from the Staples side of the family, and
provide a genealogical chart.
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