Daniel Henry WATTS

M, b. 19 October 1829, d. 24 September 1897
Relationship
2nd great-grandfather of John Kennedy BROWN Jr.
Charts
Author's Pedigree Chart
Daniel Henry Watts, tombstone
     Daniel Henry WATTS, son of Abraham WATTS Jr. and Lucelia HERRIN, was born on 19 October 1829 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.1

He was probably the male under age 5 listed in the household of his father, Abraham WATTS Jr., in the 1830 Federal Census of Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.2 He was a farmer. He bought land two miles west of Coaling, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, from Benjamim N. and Nancy Jane Clements on 17 December 1853. He purchased the 40 acres of west half of northwest quarter, section 14, township 22, range 8 west, for fifty dollars and twelve cents. He also purchased the west half of the southwest quarter of the same section. Other landowners in this section were Jacob Oswalt, Benjamin Clements, Israel Clements, James Clements, and Hardy Clements.3

Daniel Henry WATTS purchased a government land patent 22 December 1854 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He purchased at the Tuscaloosa Land Office 120.28 acres in two lots, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 14, township 22, range 8 west. This is about two miles south of Coaling. The patent was recorded 1 Jun 1858.3,4

Daniel Henry WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 1855, in the household of Abraham WATTS Jr. in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.5

Daniel Henry WATTS purchased a government land patent 8 January 1856 in Tuscaloosa County. He bought 39.98 acres from the Tuscaloosa Land Office being the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 11, township 22 south, range 8 west. This is due south of Coaling. The patent was recorded 1 Jun 1858.6

Daniel married Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER, daughter of Jesse WEAVER and Rebecca SANFORD, on 24 November 1858 at residence of Jesse Weaver in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The ceremony was performed by H. P. Hudson, justice of peace. The couple first lived about two miles west of Coaling, Later they bought land on present day Keenes Mill Road near Andres Chapel in Cottondale.7,8 He and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER were methodists and attended Andrews Chapel Methodist Church.9

Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 25 August 1860 in Collins Beat, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as David H. Watt [Daniel], a farmer, age 31; Deliah E. Watt [Dorothy], a seamstress, age 21; and Nancy J. R. Watt, age 7 months. All were born in Alabama. The value of their personal property was $100. Living next door was Dorothy's sister, Malinda Isabella, and her husband, Joshua Moses. Their daughter, Sarah, would later marry Daniel's brother, Phillip.10

Daniel began military service at age 32 on 1 April 1862 in Addison (near Brookwood), Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, enlisting as a private in Capt. John C. Adam's Co. D, 36th Alabama Infantry, CSA during the War Between the States. The regiment served in Gen. Clayton's and later Gen. Holtzclaw's brigade in the Army of Tennessee. The company muster roll describes Daniel as age 32, height 5 ft. 9 inches, with blue eyes, red hair, and florid complexion. It said he was born in Tuscaloosa County. Also listed was Morgan Watts, age 22, with same description. His name was crossed off the roll. This was Daniel's brother, who later enlsted in the 43rd Alabama.11

Daniel Henry WATTS applied for a government land patent 20 May 1862 in Tuscaloosa County. This was an original homestead claim for 40.07 acres purchased at the Montgomery Land Office, the lot being the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20, township 21 south, range 8 west of Huntsville meridian. This was the site of Daniel and Dolly's home near Andrews Chapel Methodist Church on Keene's Mill Road in Cottonwood. This is just north of boy scout camp. The patent was recorded 16 Aug 1889.12

Daniel Henry WATTS ended military service on 13 August 1862 in near Mobile, Alabama. He had developed ulcers on his legs.

Daniel Henry WATTS appeared as head of household on a state census enumerated 1866 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as three males under 10 [John, George, Joshua], one male 30-40 [Daniel], two females 10-20 [Nancy & ?], and one female 20-30 [Dorothy]. They lived in township 21, range 8W.13

Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 10 July 1870 in 15th Precinct, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Daniel Watts, a 40-year-old farmer with real estate valued at $184.00. He state that he was born in Alabama but the birthplaces of his parents are not given. Living with him are his wife, Dorothy, age 31; daughter, Rebecca, age 10; son, John, age 8; son, George, age 6; son, Joshua, age 4; and twins Louis and Bethana, age 3 months. Living next door were Rufus and Sarah Herring and Daniel and Barbary Snider.14

Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1880 in Smallwoods, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Daniel Watts, age 53, farmer; wife Dollie, age 45; son Garner [John], age 19, farm laborer; son George, age 17, farm laborer; daughter Thansy, age 15; son Brad, age 13; and daughter Lina, age 11. I think Lina was probalby listed incorrectly and was actually Lewis who would have been about that age.The data on the three youngest children seems to have been jumbled. Brad was actually 15, the age given for his younger sister, Thansy. All were born in Alabama. The birthplaces of Daniel and Dorothy's parents is not listed.15 He witnessed the marriage of George Weaver WATTS and Adelia Reed on 7 January 1883 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.16,17

Daniel Henry WATTS appeared in a newspaper article 16 June 1886 in the Tuscaloosa Weekly Times, published in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Land Office at Montgomery, Ala. -- April 14th, 1886. Notice is hereby given that the following named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before the Judge of the Circuit Court, or in his adsence, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, at Tuscaloosa, Ala., on May 20th, 1886, viz.: Daniel H. Watts, Homestead Applilcation, No. 11,257, for the NE 1/4 of SE 1/4, Sec. 20, Township 21 S, Range 8 W.

He names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon, said cultivation of, said land, viz.: Charles B. Olmsted, of Olmsted, Ala., Allen H. Johnson and Leonard W. Snider, of Fleming, Ala., and James N. Hayes, of Coaling, Ala. -- J. G. Harris, Register.

Daniel Henry WATTS died on 24 September 1897 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 67. At the time of his death, Daniel lived 1.5 miles from Henry Weaver's farm, about one mile from Jesse Weaver and less than one mile from land that belonged to Rufus Herring, the nephew of Lucelia Herring Watts. The Old Herring Place is located in what is now Camp Horne, a Boy Scouts Camp. A section of the camp is called the Old Watts Place.3 He was buried in Snider-Scales Cemetery, near Coaling, Tuscaloosa County. Daniel was co-owner of the cemetery, which is located on Keenes Mill Road, along with one of the Snyders. The cemetery was associated with the Andrews Chapel Methodist Church. The church has now moved about one half mile further up the road.18
Last Edited=1 Aug 2022

Children of Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER

Citations

  1. [S673] Daniel H. Watts' Family Bible, Birth records.
  2. [S287] 1830 U. S. Census, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Abraham Watts household, pg. 652.
  3. [S353] George Randall Watts, "Watts Genealogy," e-mail to John K. Brown, 15 May 2000.
  4. [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Daniel H. Watts, Doc. #31436, Access #AL2820_.325.
  5. [S352] 1855 Alabama State Census, Tuscaloosa County, schedule 3, Abraham Watts household, pg. 17.
  6. [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Daniel H. Watts, Doc. #35050, Access #AL2890_.122.
  7. [S361] Tuscaloosa County Marriages: Book 1855-1859, pg. 449.
  8. [S1164] William O'Donald Hatchell, Weber of Rifferswil, pg. 205 - marriage date and where they lived.
  9. [S353] George Randall Watts, "Watts Genealogy," e-mail to John K. Brown, To get there, take I-59 east to Coaling exit 79 and US Hwy 11. Turn left and go to Keene's Mill Road. This will take you to Andrews Chapel.
  10. [S294] 1860 U. S. Census, Tuscaloosa County, David H. Wats household No. 1605, Collins Beat, pg. 563.
  11. [S295] Beasley S. Hendrix, Tuskaloosa's Own, pg. 28: Muster roll of Co. D 36th Alabama, recorded 13 May 1862, includes D. H. Watts, age 22.
  12. [S232] Bureau of Land Management, online http://www.glorecords.blm.gov, Daniel H. Watts homestead, doc. #5422, access #AL4690_.342.
  13. [S314] 1866 Alabama State Census, Tuscaloosa County, schedule 1, Daniel Watts household, pg. 21.
  14. [S259] 1870 U. S. Census, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Daniel Watts household No. 219, pg. 356.
  15. [S264] 1880 U. S. Census, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, Daniel Watts household #345, Smallwoods, Beat 13, ED 157, Sheet 38, Line 1.
  16. [S6] George W. Watts Family Bible records copied by Randall Watts.
  17. [S55] Tuscaloosa Genealogical Society, Tuscaloosa Marriages, Vol. 3, pg. 82, marriage of George Watts to Adelia Reed.
  18. [S11] To get to the cemetery go out I-59 East from Tuscaloosa and get off at exit 79 near Cottonwood. Turn left on US 11 and go 2-3 miles, passing the Coaling Town Limits sign and turn left on Keene's Mill Road. Follow signs for Andrew's Chapel church., Tombstone Inscription, Author's Personal Collection, Prattville, Alabama.

Information on this site has been gathered over many years from many sources. Although great care has been taken, inaccuracies may exist. Please contact [email protected] with corrections or questions..