I70842: Nancy Ann ALLEN (ABT 1760

Notes

From: Volume 2 of "THE BIOGRAPHICAL AND HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI", Chicago, IL, 1891. p. 1002 & 1003"

"Capt. James Watts was born in Wayne county, Miss., May 1, 1829, a son of John and Elizabeth (Chapman) Watts, the former of whom was a South Carolinian by birth and came to Mississippi when a boy, where he grew to manhood and married. He became a prominent and well-known citizen of Wayne county, filled the position of district attorney for a number of years and was circuit judge for twenty-five years. He was also a member of the state senate for some time and throughout his life was a warm personal friend of Judge Sharkey. He was a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he had long been a member, and died in full communion with that church at Newton, in Newton county, Miss., in 1875. He was a son of Josiah and Margaret (Evans) Watts. His wife was a South Carolinian by birth and a daughter of Thrashley and Catherine(Edwards) Chapman, with whom she came to Mississippi when a child of six years. Her marriage was celebrated in Wayne county in 1826, and resulted in the birth of ten children: Josiah, James (the immediate subject of this sketch), John B., Thomas, Julia, Cornelia, Olcott S., William S., Mary and Elizabeth A.

The early life of Capt. James Watts was spent in Jasper county, his education being obtained at Paulding academy, but left school in 1846 and began the study of law, being admitted to the bar of Mississippi in 1850. He commenced practicing at De Kalb, Kemper county, but during 1866-8 he was one of the ablest lawyers of the city of Meridian. He is now a resident of Scooba, Kemper county. He was married in 1851, to Miss Eleanor Bell, daughter of Dr. Samuel Bell, of Kemper county, of which he became a resident in 1844. Her mother, Jane Parke, was a native of England. Mrs. Watts was born in North Carolina in 1832 and has borne her husband four sons and six daughters: Elizabeth, wife of B. F. Ormond of Meridian; Ella W., wife of W. H. Ormond, of Meridian; John B., at Lauderdale; Clifford H.; Mamie L. wife of J. W. Brooke, of Meridian; Julia B.; James E.; Hallie A., wife of J. P. Lipscomb; Florence C. and Samuel T. Mr. Watts and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and although he was formerly an old line whig, he is now a member of the democrat party. Socially he belongs to the I. O. O. F., of which he has been a member since he was twenty-one years of age, and he has attained the thirty-second degree in the A. F. & A. M. fraternity.

In 1862 he organized what was known as company A, of the Thirty-fifth Mississippi infantry, commanded by William S. Berry, of Moore's brigade, Maury's division, Price's command, army of the West, and one of the principal engagements in which he took part was the battle of Corinth, Miss. He afterward resigned and returned to his home on account of ill health. "

Neal Parke Watts note: There are some errors in the above bio. E.g., John Watts was born in South Carolina, not NC. Also, John Watts left Wayne County early as he was in Neshoba by 1833. Some Internet military records indicate James Watts resigned in July 62, but this indicates a much later date, after the battle of Corinth, October 3-5 1862.

From: "John Chapman of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Thomas Powe of Cheraw, South Carolina and Related Families" Elise Chapman Edmonds, 1971. p. 115:

"In early life James Watts made a choice of law as a profession and began practice in DeKalb, Miss. When the war came between the States he organized and raised a company of volunteers and as their captain marched to defend the Southland. Being a man of rather feeble constitution the exposures of army life shattered his health so much that he was compelled to retire from the service before the close of the war. He possessed the art of drawing. He was a typical gentleman of the old school, and his training both moral and literary was good. His early life was spent in Jasper Co., Miss. and his education being obtained at Paulding Academy at Paulding, Miss. He was admitted to the bar of Mississippi in 1850. Capt. James Watts took part in the battle of Corinth. He married in 1851 Eleanor Bell b. 1832 in North Carolina dau of Dr. Samuel and Jane Park (b. England ) Bell of Kemper Co., Miss."

Obit: The Newton Record; Thursday 29 May 1902

Capt. James Watts Dead.

Capt. James Watts, one of the best and most universally loved citizens of Meridian, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E. J. Ormond, in that city, last Saturday evening, after an illness of many weeks, and was buried at the Rose Hill cemetery in Meridian Sunday afternoon.

Captain Watts was born in Wayne county, Mississippi, seventy-three years ago and he spent his whole life in this state. In 1851 he married Miss Eleanor Bell. He moved to Meridian for the first time soon after the city was founded, but he afterwards moved away, returning there four years ago.

He is survived by his wife, and by ten children, Mrs. E. J. Ormond, of Meridian; Mrs. W. H. Ormond, of Forest; John B. Watts, C. H. Watts, Mrs. J. W. Brooke, Miss Julia Watts, James E. Watts, and Mrs. J. P. Lipscomb, of Meridian; Mrs C. G. Parker, of Newton, and S. T. Watts, of Meridian. He left many other relatives in Meridian and other cities in the state.

1851, Member of I. O. O. F. (oddfellows) and 32nd Degree Mason
Education: Paulding Academy, Paulding, MS
Military service: March 1862, Company A, 35th Mississippi Regiment organized at Kemper
Occupation: 1850, Lawyer
Religion: Methodist Episcopal Church

My Southern Family

Nancy Ann ALLEN

ABT 1760 - ____

ID Number: I70842

Sources

Marks BRAGG

ABT 1782 - ____

ID Number: I83446

Sources

Mary "Molly" GRYMES

9 Nov 1753 - 16 Jun 1813

ID Number: I67525

Notes

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Caleb HIGGINBOTHAM

22 Feb 1844 - 30 Jun 1867

ID Number: I19546

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Elizabeth PURL

ABT 1800 - ____

ID Number: I54921

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HUMPHREY STAFFORD

ABT 1480 - ____

ID Number: I35467

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Elizabeth SWAN

30 Jul 1832 - Jun 1909

ID Number: I58242

Notes

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Capt. James WATTS C.S.A.

1 May 1829 - 24 May 1902

ID Number: I102716

Notes

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Samuel Moses WHITTINGTON

5 Sep 1889 - 11 Jan 1949

ID Number: I92729

Notes

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