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 move the cursor to
the “Virtual Museum” tile at the top. Then click “Virtual Collections” on the
menu that appears. The documents can be found by a keyword search, or by
catalog number using “Click and Search”. Some or all of the documents described
here may not yet be available online, but all may be consulted on site.
This is a very coherent set of 25 documents. The first 3
date from 1846 and relate to the affairs of Fleming James; the remaining 22 all
date from January to September 1847, and they are almost in chronological
order. Another 15 of these documents relate to the affairs of Fleming James. Of
the remaining 7 documents, 6 concern typical business conducted by William
Watts, mainly collecting debts due to clients. A single document, 1998.26.441, is a receipt to Edward Watts for
money paid by R. C. Gwathmey & Co, probably for agricultural products sold
on his behalf.
doc #
date
abstract
1998.26.426
March-April 1846
Account statement of
Fleming James to William McDermid, including farm items like clover seed,
horses and cows, and the assumption of a debt to John Sheridan
1998.26.427
June 30, 1846
Letter from Fleming
James in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Virginia, answering
with some delay a letter from Watts; notes actions taken in regard to Benjamin
Franklin Moomaw, Catharine (Ammen) Stoner, and William McDermid; questions a
charge for hauling plaster for William C. Langhorne; complains of delay in
receiving flour shipped by Landon Cabell Read; says that he was deceived by
Daniel Ammen about the money needed to clear Mrs Stoner’s title, but sends a
check to pay Alexander P. Eskridge, with instructions to Watts; gives an
account of the credit of Gordon and Skinker, endorsers of the note he plans to
offer Eskridge as security; boasts of the good name of F. & J. S. James
& Co.
1998.26.428
October 26, 1846
Letter from Abraham
Carney at Stoner’s Store, Virginia, to Fleming James, in Richmond, Virginia,
notifying James, his landlord, that he intends to stay another year as a tenant
farmer, stating that no one, including William Watts, James’s agent, has given
him notice; also mentions that he has been ill with a fever for six weeks
October tha 26 1846, Dear sur, I mus inform
you that I cant wat any longer for a notis about tha place I live on I hav had
notis from any purson an I hav comenced seedin an will hold tha land another
year on tha same turmes I hav been confined to my bed for six weaks with tha
fevour and cant at this time git out of the house and you nor any purson gave
me any notis that you wonted tha land that you intend me to stay an I hav
asertained that a land lord must giv a notis an that in time so that tha can
look out in time to seed an as you have faild to do so I must continue if I had
any notis by you or your agent I wold give posesion without a word for I wont
to liv in pes with all pursons on Erth
The spelling in this letter is
phonetic. Here is a translation into standard English:
October 26, 1846, Dear Sir, I must
inform you that I can’t wait any longer for a notice about the place I live on.
I have had [no] notice from any person and I have commenced seeding, and will
hold the land another year on the same terms. I have been confined to my bed
for six weeks with the fever, and can’t at this time get out of the house, and
you nor any person gave me any notice that you wanted the land [or] that you
intend me to stay, and I have ascertained that a landlord must give a notice,
and that in time so that the [tenant] can look out in time to seed. And as you
have failed to do so, I must continue. If I had any notice by you or your
agent, I would give possession without a word, for I want to live in peace with
all persons on earth.
Abraham (or Abram) Carney 1820-1911) was a life-long resident of the Bedford-Botetourt-Roanoke
County area. He appears in census reports in 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910, a
farmer living at Lisbon, Bedford County, Virginia, farmer; Lisbon is a “lost
village”, which lay along the Lynchburg-Salem Pike, about 9 miles east of the
Bonsack-Coyner’s Spring area where Fleming James’s land lay. According to
online family trees, Carney was married three times and left issue by his first
wife.
1998.26.429
January 9, 1847
Letter from J.
Sibley of Buck & Potter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to William Watts, in
Big Lick, Virginia, sending an account statement of their claim against G. W.
Anderson, showing an original debt of $392.74, with interest added and partial
payment deducted, leaving $334.37 before deducting Watts’s commission, and
asking Watts to remit approximately $303.50 by check on Philadelphia or New
York
1998.26.430
January 20, 1847
Letter from Thomas
S. Gholson, in Petersburg, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Virginia,
acknowledging receipt of a check for $300 and requesting a full statement when
the balance is sent, to enable settlement with N. S. Freeman to whom the debt
was due
1998.26.431
January 28, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, expressing pleasure at Watts’s return to health; describing his
agreement with William McDermid regarding the rental of James’s land for
another year, the purchase of his crop of clover seed and other matters to be
arranged with James’s manager Benjamin Perkins; telling of plans to send the
deed for the Coyner property; authorizing Watts to employ help in dealing with
lawsuits involving Daniel Stoner, John Stoner, Samuel Stoner, William S. Minor,
William McDermid, and St Clair; stating that John Stoner is pressing Perkins to
vacate the house, because of an agreement with William Langhorne, while James
wants to retain possession
1998.26.432
February 13, 1847
Letter from J.
Sibley, of Buck & Potter in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to William Watts,
in Big Lick, Virginia, acknowledging receipt of a check of $303.05, payment for
the balance of the debt of George W. Anderson
1998.26.433
February 16, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, covering the deed for the Coiner land, which James wants Edward Watts
to sign and draw his commission for his work thereon, and for William Watts to
have recorded; announcing his imminent departure for New York for a month, in
care of Halsted, Haines & Co.
1998.26.434
February 22, 1847
Letter from Thomas
S. Gholson, in Petersburg, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Virginia,
acknowledging receipt of a statement and the balance of the debt vs Burwell,
credited to Gholson’s account in the Bank of Virginia
1998.26.435
March 8, 1847
Letter from John
Quarles James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke
County, Virginia, covering a copy of notice left for his father, Fleming James.
The notice says that depositions will be taken from Henry A. Edmundson and
others in Roanoke County, in a case in which F. & J. S. James & Co are
plaintiff and Daniel Stoner, Matilda Stoner, William Noffsinger as trustee for
Matilda Stoner, Clack B. Campbell and Jacob Frantz are defendants. John Quarles
James says that he and his cousins have gone into business under the firm and
style of H. & J. Q. James & Co, and solicits Watts’s interest in recommending them.
1998.26.436
March 11, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in New York, New York, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, asking Watts to obtain security for rental of a farm from William
McDermid, and to urge McDermid to deliver the clover seed to James’s manager
Benjamin Perkins; also asking Watts to assist Perkins, and obtain aid from
William C. Langhorne if necessary, to retain possession of the mansion house,
which John Stoner is trying to get; outlining his travel plans to Boston,
Massachusetts, Richmond and Roanoke
County, Virginia, and inquiring in general about the status of his lawsuits in
Roanoke and Botetourt Counties
1998.26.437
March 25, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, expressing displeasure at not finding a letter from Watts on his
arrival in Richmond and repeating urgent requests for action and information
about Mary (Dagen) Stoner’s dower; telling of Peachy Ridgway Grattan’s advice
to cede possession of the house and dower land to John Stoner but to retain the
store and other buildings on the road; asking Watts to meet him at William
Langhorne’s home in Roanoke County on March 31 and accompany him to Fincastle
for the court session; sending greetings from his family and news of Alice
Watts
1998.26.438
April 5, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Liberty (now Bedford), Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick,
Virginia, calling his attention to two letters addressed to him in Fincastle,
Virginia, one concerning William Langhorne and both of important to F. & J.
S. James & Co
1998.26.439
May 1, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, including a copy of a legal notice to himself and Edwin James,
partners in the firm F. & J. S. James & Co., that depositions will be
taken in their case against Daniel Stoner, Matilda Stoner, Clack R. Campbell,
Jacob Frantz, and William Noffsinger, trustee for Matilda Stoner; James’s
letter asks Watts to attend the taking of depositions and represent James’s
interests; also notes that John Stoner has asked James’s manager Benjamin
Perkins to hand over the keys to the house, which James has told Perkins not to
do and asks Watts to advise Perkins; and concludes noting with pleasure
political gains by the Whigs
1998.26.440
April 20, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, replying to a letter from Watts bringing the good news that James’s
manager Benjamin Perkins has full possession of the Stoners’ store and lumber
yard, asking Watts to substitute F. & J. S. James & Co. as defendant in
case Perkins is sued by John Stoner, and thanking both William and his father
Edward Watts for their help; also asking about taking depositions in the Stoner
case from Mr Parker and from Fleming’s son John Quarles James, and about
executing a bond against A. A. Boyd in time for the September session of the
Botetourt County Superior Court
1998.26.441
April 28, 1847
Receipt from the
Bank of Virginia to R. C. Gwathmey & Co. for a deposit of $1200 to the
credit of Edward Watts; receipt signed by John Hunter Hatcher, assistant teller
John Hunter
Hatcher (1813-1878) appears in the census in census 1850, 1860, and 1870 in
Chesterfield County, Virginia, giving his profession as bank clerk. He was
married twice and left issue by both marriages, according to an online familytree.
1998.26.442
May 11, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, describing his exhausting day riding horseback to inspect his estate
in Louisa County, Virginia, then taking the “cars” (railroad train) to
Richmond; promising to see Peachy Ridgway Grattan immediately about a bill of
injunction, needed in case Mary (Dagen) Stoner obtains a judgment against James
1998.26.443
May 13, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, covering a copy of the bill of injunction prepared by Peachy Ridgway
Grattan and granted by Judge Clopton; giving Grattan’s opinion about Mary
(Dagen) Stoner’s rights and James’s likelihood of winning his cases against her
and John Stoner; informing Watts that depositions will be taken from Alexander
K. Parker, Robert L. Brooke, John W. Boyd and John Quarles James in Grattan’s
office in June; stating that James will order an execution of fieri facias
against A. A. Boyd; saying that he has written to Bonsack about selling land;
explaining that William McDermid has paid his rent with horses, cows, hogs and
clover seed, about which James’s estate manager Benjamin Perkins will provide
details; and asking Watts to provide security for the bill of injunction
The Clover seed were to be at 6$ pr Bushel.
There were two horses I believe at 50$ or upwards each, also a cow, perhaps
two, & maybe some hogs, but Mr Perkins will inform you precisely. Charge
your commission of 5 pr Ct on both years rent when the balance is realized
& settle with McDermid as soon as you can.
It
has been raining more or less for 4 or 5 days past, extending as I learn beyond
the mountains. I hope Roanoke has had enough. John & Mrs James unite with
me in friendly sa[lutations] to [your father,] mother & family.
This document
shows damage done by rodents. Benjamin Perkins (1793-1852) had worked for
Fleming James on properties in Louisa County, Virginia, before James brought
him to Roanoke County to manage his new land there, mainly acquired from the
Stoner family; Perkins appears in the 1850 census in Roanoke County as
“manager for James”. He was married and had children; after his death, his
wife, née Eliza A. Sanders or Saunders, returned with the children to live with
her parents near Trevilian Depot in Louisa County. William McDermid (c.
1791-1871) was married to Anna Stoner.
1998.26.444
June 10, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, acknowledging receipt of a letter and enclosures, and enclosing the
indemnifying bond from Gordon addressed to Frederick Johnston, clerk of the
court; also informing Watts of progress in taking depositions from John Quarles
James, John W. Boyd and Alexander K. Parker; and expressing regret over the
poor wheat crop in the Roanoke area
1998.26.445
June 15, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, announcing that the depositions in his case against John Stoner,
given by John Quarles James, John W. Boyd, and Alexander K. Parker, with Peachy
Ridgway Grattan as lawyer, had been sent by Samuel T. Pulliam, the magistrate
who sat for them, to the clerk of the Superior Court of Law & Chancery for
Roanoke County in Salem, Virginia; also urging Watts to clear the docket of all
of James’s cases at the next session; and sending news of Watt’s sister Alice
Matilda Watts, who has been riding with her cousin Mary Ann Breckinridge and
James’s wife Mary (Armstrong) James
1998.26.446
August 23, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Saratoga Springs, New York, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke
County, Virginia, saying that he has instructed his estate manager, Benjamin
Perkins, to apply to Watts for assistance with his crops, and with making
arrangements with his tenants William McDermid and William S. Minor;
apologizing for burdening Watts with these tasks and hoping for success in
their upcoming cases before the Roanoke County Superior Court
Saratoga Springs,
August 23rd, 1847
Wm Watts Esqr, Big
Lick Va
Dear Sir, I have
directed Mr Perkins, our manager in Roanoke, to apply to you to assist him in
securing his growing crop & in preparing for & seeding a large Crop of
wheat the coming fall. I have also requested him to get your aid in arranging
with Mr McDermid to seed a crop of wheat on the land he now occupies with a view
to my bargaining directly or through you with Mr McDermid about staying on the
place another year.
The
ink has bled through the page of this letter, making it difficult to read. On
Benjamin Perkins and William McDermid, see 1998.26.443 above.
1998.26.447
August 24, 1847
Receipt from J. K.
Pitzer, deputy sheriff, for John H. Griffin, sheriff of Roanoke County,
Virginia, to William Watts, agent for Fleming James and F. & J. S. James
& Co., for $70.19 in payment of an
execution against William McDermid in favor of David Gish, James Howell, and
Hiram Haydon, this payment being the balance in full of Howell’s portion
1998.26.448
September 6, 1847
Letter from Fleming
James, in Baltimore, Maryland, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Roanoke County,
Virginia, saying that he expects to return home the next day, and to be in
Roanoke County in thirty or forty days; replying with satisfaction to a letter
announcing victory in the suit against John Stoner and promising to pay $300 to
the Donnans to settle a suit over the Coiner land; asking Watts to talk to
James’s estate manager Benjamin Perkins about settling with William McDermid,
who may be needed as a witness in a suit to stop David Gish from building a
mill dam; expressing surprise that Captain Nelmes had not yet sold his tobacco
and paid Watts; saying that Landon Cabell Read also owes money for mill rent;
proposing to pay Watts soon for all the work he has done on matters that are
now settled, including those already mentioned and others with Samuel Stoner,
Mrs Stoner, William C. Langhorne, William S. Minor, and Alexander P. Eskridge
1998.26.449
September 10, 1847
Letter from Thomas
W. Brockenbrough, in Richmond, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick,
Virginia, acknowledging receipt of $167.26 deposited in the Bank of Virginia at
Buchanan, collected as a debt from Goode
1998.26.450
September 14, 1847
Letter from James
Moss Smith, in Martinsville, Virginia, to William Watts, in Big Lick, Virginia,
giving directions for the disposition of debts collected for Harrison Carter
France and Edmund Starling, the money to be sent to McCorkle & McDaniel of
Lynchburg, Virginia, credited to William T. Clark, grocer, of Henry County,
Virginia; the France debt belongs to John Cousins Traylor and the Starling debt
to the writer, James Moss Smith
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