Source list

Source reference NI07801 : According to the 1880 Sumter County, S.C. census Margaret was listed a boarder in the home of her brother A. Delay McCoy. Her age was listed as 59.According to the 1870 Sumter County, S.C. Margaret was listed as age 46 and living with her brother A. Delay McCoy. (without occupation). According to the 1860 Sumter County, S.C census Margaret is living by herself and working as a seamstress. Her age is listed as 35.More About MARGARET M. MCCOY:Fact 1: 1890, Buried at Bethel Methodist Church, Oswego, South Carolina

Source reference NI07802 : According to the 1860 Sumter County, S.C. census William is living with his mother Mary. He is classified as a farmer with personal property and real estate property worth $300 each. His sister Susan is also living with them. William's age is listed as 40 years old.According to the 1870 Sumter County, S.C. census William was living with his brother A. Delay and was listed as age 44. (without occupation).

Source reference NI07809 : Fact 1: 1890, Buried at Bethel Methodist Church, Oswego, South CarolinaWill of Mary Caroline McCoyI Mary Caroline McCoy of Sumter County So Ca, do make, publish and declare my Last Will and Testament as follows: Indebtedness of Estate to be paid in full My Husband A. Delay McCoy to receive a life Time support from my Estate. My Sons at (first) under age to remain and support the place. Gift by me until thet become of Age, then to receive as their portion from my Estate a good substantial Horse with saddle and bridle. My Real Estate I leave to my Daughters SarahSussannah and Annie Louise McCoy, but in case (Lastly) or both of my Daughters marry they forfeit their claims to my Real Estate. She or they receiving instead the same property in money value that my Sons received, hers or their portion of Real Estate forfeited to be divided porportionately between her or them and her or their surviving Brothers. My furniture I leave to my Husband A. Delay McCoy his life Time, at his death to be divided equally between my children now under Age. It is my wish that my Son John William McCoy be the Executor of this my last Will & Testament.In testimony whereof I hereunto sign my name this the twenty first day of July 1890.Witness Mary C. McCoy (sign & seal)Sarah S. McCoy (signed)S.D.M. LaCoste (signed)John Montgomery (signed)Filed August 6, 1890Probated September 9, 1890Recorded Journal #2 Page 149Will Book Page 728 & 729SC Dept of Archives & History, Bundle 182 Package 23Transcribed and donated by:Tim J McCoyAustin, TX

Source reference NI12973 : Dr. T.J. HarrelsonCOLUMBIA - Service for T.J. Harrelson will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, with burial in Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. in the church parlor, immediately preceding the service. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, is assisting the Harrelson family. Memorials may be made to Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, 3401 Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29204, or to Kona Christian Academy, P.O. Box 1179, Kailua-Kona, HI 96745, or to Garden City Chapel, 316 Dogwood Drive, Garden City Beach, SC 29576.Dr. Harrelson, husband of Fay Whitfield Harrelson, died Wednesday, December 1, 2004. Born in St. Charles, S.C., he was the son of Dow and Mary Cummings Harrelson. A graduate of Columbia High School, he spent three years at the University of South Carolina, and received an honorary doctorate from Columbia College in 1983.Dr. Harrelson was the founder and president of T.J. Harrelson Roofing and Supply Company. He encouraged the founding of Kona Christian Academy in Kona, Hawaii, and was a strong prayer partner for Makua Lani Christian High School, also in Kona. He was board member emeritus of the Garden City Chapel, as well as one of the original organizers and first chairman of the board of Trenholm Road United Methodist Church. Dr. Harrelson was a board member and chairman of the finance committee of First Citizens Bank, a board member of Glassmaster, chairman of the board of Investors Corporation of S.C., and trustee emeritus of Columbia College. After the great fire at Columbia College during the 1960's, Dr. Harrelson was chairman of the fundraising committee that allowed for rebuilding.Dr. Harrelson was a member of the Medlock Sunday School Class at Trenholm Road United Methodist Church, and was the church's official greeter for many years. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Palmetto Club, and Forest Lake Club. He considered one of the highlights of his life a visit to the Holy Land, where he was baptized in the Jordan River. An outdoorsman, his three most memorable sporting moments were a hole-in-one (he was an avid golfer), shooting seven quail on the rise, and bagging two wild turkeys with one shot.Surviving are his wife of sixty-three years; daughters and sons-in-law, Fay J. and Jimmy Halford of Georgetown, Thaddea and Jim Pitts of Kona, Hawaii, and Ann and Dan Douglas of Chapin; six grandchildren, Andie Halford Robinson, Chrissy and Jim Pitts, and Angela, Ali, and Daniel Douglas; two great-granddaughters, Parker and Peyton Robinson; and brothers, James D. Harrelson of Sumter, and Harvey "Nook" Harrelson of Chapin."Obituary posted: December 3, 2004"

Source reference NI13092 : Medical Notes: Betty Faye was adopted from the Bibb Masonic Home and lived in Dexter, Ga. for many years. She later found out who her mother really was and came to Macon, Ga. She was killed in a car collision on Eisenhower Parkway in Macon, Ga.

Source reference NI13287 : 1805 GA Land LotteryJames Watts of Washington County, was entitled to 1 draw and drew a blank. (One drawindicates he was unmarried.)From Records of Natchez District (MS) 1810:Josiah Watts resided Wayne County.James Watts resided Wayne County.James was in Clarke County MS 1840James WATTS - B, C, D, E, I; N2, P, S; AG4; CRW; slaves: 1M 10-24; 1M 55-100; 2F under10; 1F 24-36http://www.netpathway.com/~bennie/1840cen1.html#123Margaret was the daughter of James and Nancy Watts. Her father was a native of SouthCarolina who moved to Georgia; her mother, born in South Carolina, came with her parents toMississippi at an early day, locating in Wayne County.Mr. Watts was a planter all his life, and lived in Clarke County from 1836 to 1862, when hedied, his wife having died the previous year.

Source reference NI13288 : born Abt. 1780 in Georgia (Based 0n Jarrad 1880Census);Josiah Watts is almost certainly the son of John Watts of Washington County, GA. GeorgiaService Records (Vol. II, 1936 by Louise Frederick Hays) show a Josiah Watts served as:Tax Receiver, Washington County, 1798Justice of the Peace, Washington County, Feb 13 1798 - Feb. 1799.Sheriff, Washington County, Dec. 23, 1800 - Oct. 30, 1801Representative, Washington County, 1808, 1810Senator, Washington County, 1809, 1811There's a deed in Kershaw County in 1798 where Josiah Watts has land adjacent to land in theestate of Thomas Watts. Maybe this explains why he's in SC when John is born.1798 Deed shows he bought land adjacent to that owned by the estate of Thomas Watts. Thus,he must have traveled back and forth a lot. This explains his marriage and the birth of JohnWatts in Chesterfield District in 1805.GA 1805 Land LotteryJacobs Watts, of Washington County, was entitled to 2 draws and drew 2 blanks. (2 drawsindicates he was married.) Need to see original of this document to determine if it's Josiah.Need to check Washington County documents for a Jacob or Jacobus Watts.Josiah Watts of Washington County, GA obtained a Headright and Bounty Grant in 1811From a book titled simply _WATTS_. No date or publisher. Acknowledgments by GladysPage Carter and Mildred M. Watts" HISTORY OF JOHN E. WATTS FAMILY [p. 1]From 1785 to 1820 a passport signed by the governor of Georgia was required for all whowould travel through the Creek and Cherokee Indian lands. From the Georgia Archives inAtlanta we have a copy of an application for a group John E. Watts was traveling with to crossthese lands on their trek westward. Copy of application is available in the Jackson Archives. Atranscript of this application follows:Page 56 - Saturday, November 14, 1812On application -- ORDERED:That a passport be prepared for CAPTAIN JOSIAH WATTS with his wife, four children andsixteen slaves. JOHN E. WATTS and JOSIAH EVANS, all from the County of Washington,in the State to travel through Indian Nations to the Western County - which was presented andsigned.From ages given on census reports, it is estimated John E. Watts was about seventeen oreighteen years of age in 1812. It is further assumed that Josiah Evans was about the same ageas John E. Watts, and that they andthe family of Captain Josiah Watts were all related in some way.The next account is taken from the book "Mississippi Territory in the War of 1812" by Mrs.Dunbar Rowland. A list of officers "Carson's Regiment of Mississippi Militia, 1814-1815"lists JOHN E. WATTS, Pvt., JOSIAH WATTS, Capt. and JOSIAH EVANS, Sgt. Accordingto "THE CREEK WAR OF 1813 AND 1814" by H. S. HALBERT and T. H. BALL,The Regiment was under the command of Col. Joseph Carson in the Mobile Region.Companies included:Captain Peter Cartwright's CompanyCaptain Charles H. Devereux's CompanyCaptain Josiah D. Lister's CompanyCaptain Reuben Saffold's CompanyCaptain Josiah Watts' CompanyFrom "Mississippi Genealogy and Local History," Volume IV, by Norman Gillis, the WayneCounty Tax Lists for 1818 and 1822 lists Jehu Watts and Josiah Watts, evidently jointlyowned property. Possibly this is where their families lived during the time they were fightingwith Carson's Regiment in 1814-1815 in the War of 1812. What is the relationship of Carson'sRegiment and Wade Hamilton's Regiment where the Clarke County Jehu Evans fought?No account has been found of their travel through the 300 to 400 mile wilderness nor of whatroute they traveled. The most likely route was "The Three Chopped Way."The road traveled by most of the settlers who moved westward from the eastern seaboardthrough Georgia and Alabama into or through Mississippi was known as "The Three ChoppedWay." It was so obscure in the early days that it was necessary to mark it some way so that thetraveler would not get lost. Three slashes were made with an axe -- three slashes, along theway on strategically located trees. It was established about 1805, and extended fromMiledgeville, the capitol of Georgia, by way of St. Stephens in Alabama, to Natchez. At firstit was little more than a bridle path, but in 1807 it was widened into a wagon road. It is saidthat even this improvement left much to be desired. It was a bad road and breakdowns werefrequent and serious. It was the only direct route from Georgia to the increasingly importanttown of Natchez, however, and it was soon established as a Post road and mail passed backand forth three times a week.The road entered Mississippi Territory into what is now Clarke County and either passedthrough or touched Jasper, Smith, Simpson, crossed Pearl River into Lawrence County atMonticello, Copiah or Lincoln, Jefferson or Lincoln, Jefferson or Franklin and into Adams. "Possible Birth places of Josiah Watts: VA, Iredell, NC, SC, GAFrom the Bounty Claim of John Evans Watts, dated Sept 28,1850, and filed in Copiah County,Josiah Watts commanded a Company attached to the Thirty Ninth Regiment of Regularscommanded by Colonel Benton (If I read John's writing correctly)Mississippi Territorial Census 1816Josiah Watts - 4 males under 21 and 1 female under 21. This means there was a child bornbetween 1812 and 1816 in additiion to the four who moved from GA with them. Josiah Evansis next in census listed with 1 male and 1 female.Mississippi State Census 1820Josiah Watts - 6 males, 2 females, 1 taxable personThis means a fifth son was born between 1816 and 1820[Broderbund Family Archive #314, Ed. 1, Census Index: U.S. Selected Counties, 1820,Page #: 1131820 Census, Wayne County Page # 113Josiah WattsAge ranges in household: 10010-3110100Males Females1-103 110-151 016-181 018-250 125-441 045+0 03 male slaves, 12 female slaves, 1 foreigner, eight in manufacturing, 0 commerce, 0 agricultureThis indicates Josiah wasn't only in farming but in another business.Either Peggy is dead or the female record is incorrect or maybe there is a second wife?NEWSPAPER NOTICES OF MISSISSIPPIANS 1820-1860Josiah WattsEstate Notice. Oct. 1824 Term. Orphan's Court, Wayne Co, Ms. Miss Margaret Watts andJohn Evans Admrs. Jackson Southern Luminary Feb. 9, 18251830 Census1830 Wayne County Census reflects the following [Note: Surnames beginning with "W" all onone page]:Pg. 256, L10 James R. WATTS Family: this family moved to Clarke Co., MS1 Male age 20-30, b. 1800-18101 Female age 20-30, b. 1800-18101 Male, age < 5 years, b. 1826-1830Pg. 256, L10 WATTS, Margaret, living alone, age 40-50 b. 1780-1790One source states that a son was named Jarred (probably after Jared Irwin). There is one onthe 1860 Census.The following is probably Josiah Watts b. 1789, son of Thomas Watts and Hannah RustBoggess.1845 State CensusJosiah Watts1 male2 femaletotal 31850 CensusJosiah Watts 60 SCMargaret E.24 MS (Married Davis)Jane 7 MSJosiah 2 MSIsaac Vernon Hodges & Mary Ann Watts m. in the Methodist Episcopal Church atGarlandsville, Ms. 12 May, 1844. WHO IS MARY ANN?Jarred and Thomas appear adjacent in the 1840 Census. James E. is two lines above.1840 Census Jasper County, MS179 29 Watts James E.16M Slaves (11 under 10) 5F Slaves Occupation Prof Eng.1M 5-101m 20-302M 30-401F under 51F 20-301F 30-401F 40-50180 1 Watts Jarred1M Slave No occupation listed2M 15-201F 5-101F 20-30180 2 Watts Thomas No Slaves No occupation listed1M 10-152M 30-401F 10-151F 30-40LA Public Library bk, "Tennessee Land Entries- Military Bounty Land, Martin Armstrong'sOffice, Part 4, warrants first series (#2501-5312) Sept 1785-Dec 1797", by Dr. A. B. Pruitt,1966, p age 668:6876. Dec 17, 1785 warrant 3195 (no names) heirs of Sgt Thomas Watts 1,000 ac delivered toJno McNeese 84 months; file and grant [blank] (warrant in Tennessee Revolutionary Warwarrants (roll 5), assigned May 14, 1797 by Josiah Watts, heir, to William Lytle (Jas Austinwitness);(following after #3199): Nov 26, 1818John King assigns 28 ac to James Lockhart, blance of185 ac assigned to me in 1809 or 1810 by John Strother deceased, of which 157 ac wasgranted to me; duplicate warrant issued Feb 24, 1809 by A. Foster, grants onthis warrant:#1565 for 300 ac to Matthew Jones, #1566 for 300 ac to Danl Havender, #1567 for 215 ac toThomas Hooker, #9171 for 107 ac to John King, & #3303 for 28 ac to James Lockhard;warrant assigned May 15, 1797 by Josiah Watts, heir, to William Lytle (Jas "Austen" witness)who assigned Mar 9, 1809 to John Strother (W Cannon witness) additional assignmentperhpas for 209 ac too dark to read; warrant not mentioned in Glasgow land fraud).

Source reference NI13308 : "Who Married Whom" lists wife as Nancy.Nancy was born in South Carolina, came with her parents to Mississippi at an early day,locating in Wayne County.

Source reference NI13309 : Elisha and Margaret were married in 1830. She was the daughter of James and Nancy Watts.Her father was a native of South Carolina who moved to Georgia; her mother, born in SouthCarolina, came with her parents to Mississippi at an early day, locating in Wayne County.There, Mrs. Margaret Sumrall was born in 1815, and there married at the age of fifteen years.Margaret continued to live with Jacob until her death. The six children born to Elisha andMargaret were Jacob, Nancy, James, Elijah, Elisha and John. Jacob was reared and educatedin Clarke County.

Source reference NI13310 : Evans is a patronmic form of the Welsh surname Evan, from the given name Ifan or Evan,which was the Welch equivalent of John. Occasionally, when of Scottish derivation it is avariation of Ewan, an Anglicized form of the Gaelic given name Eogann, a form of the Latinname Eugene. Heavan, and Heaven are variations of the Welsh form, Even is a Bretoncognate. Patronymic forms include Evens, Evance, Ifans, Ivings, Avans, Heavans , andHeavens.1830 CensusWayne CountyMargaret Watts 1F 40-50, no other individuals shown.

Source reference NI13312 : Neshoba County was established in 1833. In 1836 it was divided in half with the southern halfbeing Newton County. John was the first district attorney.1850 CensusThis census verifies state of birth and birth years of all family members then born. John Wattsappears on Page 1 Dwelling 1, Family 1 on this census of Neshoba County, MS July 31, 1850.The census taker is his son James Watts, so the information is probably very correct. Thecensus shows R. A. Morris age 38, Male Farmer born in SC as living in this household. The1850 census shows $2500.00 value of real estate.Twelve slaves65MB65FB30MB30MB30FB28FB15MM10MB8FB6MB3?B The entry is double marked.1FBFrom: "History of Neuton County, Mississippi, from 1834 to 1894" A. J. Brown, p. 383:"Hon. John Watts, whose portrait occupies the frontispiece in this book, was so nearly andclosely, and for such a long time associated with the people of Newton county, as to deservemore than a passing notice.Judge Watts was born in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, May 26, 1805. His father, aprominent and influential citizen, came early to Wayne county, and his family was a veryconspicuous one in the same county. There were but few facilities for educating young men inthat new county; however, the best that could be provided was given to this rising young man.After leaving school, which he did at a very early age, quite a preference was shown him byhis fellow citizens, and they first elected him to the office of justice of the peace, then captainof a militia company; he then acted as deputy sheriff; was then elected circuit clerk, and duringthe term he was clerk, studied law and was admitted to practice in the supreme court of theState in the year 1831. He then opened a law office in the town of Winchester. Within a fewyears he became a candidate for district attorney and was elected by the people for elevenyears. He was elected in that and other districts in which he lived, judge of the circuit court fortwenty-two years, and but for the conduct of the military in the reconstruction of the State,would have remained until the end of his term. His last public service was in the State Senatein the troublous times of Radical rule, where he did good work for his people.It will be seen that for thirty-seven years he was a servant of the people, elected by thesuffrages of the people. These were places of honor and great responsibility. In all these yearshe served the people of Newton county- as this was at all times in his district. He was thedistrict attorney who assisted in the first court ever held in this county, even before the countywas divided from Neshoba, and continuously so as attorney and judge, with the exception offour years, up to 1868. He was also Brigadier-General of State militia at one time, and made afine commanding officer.Judge Watts, as has been intimated, did not have the educational training that he would haveliked and appreciated, but he used well what he did have, and filled every position to which heaspired in political life with honor to himself and justice to his constituents, He had the honorof presiding over the bar at the State capital, when he considered it the best in the South. Hewas always elected by the people, showing that they approved his course. For more than thirtyyears he was in office, and was never defeated but twice.Judge Watts felt proud of any position that his fellow-citizens conferred upon him. No painswere spared to do his duty. He was a pattern of young men for sobriety and diligence inofficial duties, feeling that the performance of these duties was his highest obligation andreward. Judge Watts had great pride of character, was a fine looking man, of commanding sizeand appearance, and always presided on the bench with a dignity befitting his honorableposition, He was a conscientious man, who tried to do his duty, and the people who placedhim on the high position set the seal of their approval on his conduct by keeping him in office,He loved to mingle with his old friends, irrespective of party. It was well known that he was an"old-Iine Whig," and for the greater part of his official life he was on the weak side of politics,Yet such were his magnetic qualities among the yeomanry of the country as to win them to hissupport, and by his consistent course of justice and care for their cause as to keep them withhim.Judge Watts was a Methodist preacher for about thirty years, and amidst all his hard work andactive duties of his profession, found time to devote much good work to his church, He waskind and sympathetic, a loving father and husband, a good neighbor, and great peace-makeramong those who had difficulties. He lived to the ripe age of seventy years, and died atNewton, May. 1875 surrounded by his children and friends, and was very greatly mourned."From: "History of Neuton County, Mississippi, from 1834 to 1894" A. J. Brown, p. 2:"The court-house for the county of Neshoba, previous to the division of the county, was nearwhere the town of Union, in Newton county, is now situated. An old settler, who is nowliving, says it was a black-jack oak cabin with dirt floor; that Judge Wm. Sterling as judge, andHon. Jno. Watts as district attorney held the first court for the new county of Neshoba." Thiswas in 1833 after the Choctaw removal.From: "John Chapman of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Thomas Powe of Cheraw, SouthCarolina and Related Families" Elise Chapman Edmonds, 1971, p. 112:"John Watts attended St. Stephen's Academy which was at that time the most flourishingInstitution near by. It was located on the Tombigby River. He later studied medicine but didnot persue the career although he was a fairly good doctor if there was a need. He returnedhome and read law and obtained a license from the Supreme Court in 1831. and practiced lawin Winchester, Miss. He was elected District Attorney and held that office for 11 years. JudgeWatts rose to distinction in the State and held many public offices. He was a man ofcommanding presence and great purity of character and had a remarkable dignity of manner,but when to his great personal and intellectual advantages were added the graces of a sweetand gentle nature this was his secret as of his popularity in East Mississippi. Having served thepeople as a Senator and Representative in the Legislature and for many years Judge of theJudicial District, he then joined the Methodist Church in Paulding, Mississippi in 1841 and in1842 received a license to preach. He resided in the Counties of Wayne, Jasper. Neshoba andNewton. He died in Newton in 1875. Judge Watts married 2nd Mrs. Martha Keegan wife ofJudge A. M. Keegan of Monticello. Miss. No Issue by this marriage."He preached at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Newton, Mississippi.There is a scrapbook kept by Misses Betty and Lizzie Watts who collected newspaperclippings from "The Newton Record", "Mississippi Baptist", and "Meridian Star". Thisscrapbook was last in the possession of Mrs. Heber Logan (Judy Watts). It appears from all theinformation that John had land and homes in both Jasper and later Neshoba Counties.Neshoba County was established in 1833. In 1836 it was divided in half with the southern halfbeing Newton County.John was the first district attorney.1840 Jasper County CensusThis is confusing with what looks like a bunch of extra children living with them. (SamuelBoykin Watts is one, maybe the student)177 6 Watts John 24 M Slaves 10 F Slaves 40 in Agriculture 2 Prof/Eng 1 Student1M under 52M 5 to 102M 10 to 151M 15 to 203M 20 to 301M 30 to 401M 40 to 501F under 50F 5 to 101F 10 to 151F 15 to 201F 20 to 301850 Neshoba County CensusThis census verifies state of birth and birth years of all family members then born.John Watts appears as Page 1 Dwelling 1, Family 1 on this census of Neshoba County, MS 31July 1850.The census taker is his son James Watts, so the information is probably very correct.The census shows R. A. Morris age 38, Male Farmer born in SC as living in this household.The 1850 census shows $2500.00 value of real estate. Twelve slavesSlave Census AgesB=Black M=Mulato65 MB65 F B30 MB30 MB30 F B28 F B15 MM10 MB8 F B6 MB3 ?BThe entry is double marked.1 F BFrom: "History of Neuton County, Mississippi, from 1834 to 1894" A. J. Brown, p. 383:"Hon. John Watts, whose portrait occupies the frontispiece in this book, was so nearly andclosely, and for such a long time associated with the people of Newton county, as to deservemore than a passing notice.Judge Watts was born in Chesterfield District, South Carolina, May 26, 1805. His father, aprominent and influential citizen, came early to Wayne county, and his family was a veryconspicuous one in the same county. There were but few facilities for educating young men inthat new county; however, the best that could be provided was given to this rising young man.After leaving school, which he did at a very early age, quite a preference was shown him byhis fellow citizens, and they first elected him to the office of justice of the peace, then captainof a militia company; he then acted as deputy sheriff; was then elected circuit clerk, and duringthe term he was clerk, studied law and was admitted to practice in the supreme court of theState in the year 1831. He then opened a law office in the town of Winchester. Within a fewyears he became a candidate for district attorney and was elected by the people for elevenyears. He was elected in that and other districts in which he lived, judge of the circuit courtfor twenty-two years, and but for the conduct of the military in the reconstruction of the State,would have remained until the end of his term. His last public service was in the State Senatein the troublous times of Radical rule, where he did good work for his people.It will be seen that for thirty-seven years he was a servant of the people, elected by thesuffrages of the people. These were places of honor and great responsibility. In all these yearshe served the people of Newton county-- as this was at all times in his district. He was thedistrict attorney who assisted in the first court ever held in this county, even before the countywas divided from Neshoba, and continuously so as attorney and judge, with the exception offour years, up to 1868. He was also Brigadier-General of State militia at one time, and made afine commanding officer.Judge Watts, as has been intimated, did not have the educational training that he would haveliked and appreciated, but he used well what he did have, and filled every position to which heaspired in political life with honor to himself and justice to his constituents, He had the honorof presiding over the bar at the State capital, when he considered it the best in the South. Hewas always elected by the people, showing that they approved his course. For more than thirtyyears he was in office, and was never defeated but twice.Judge Watts felt proud of any position that his fellow-citizens conferred upon him. Ho painswere spared to do his duty. He was a pattern of young men for sobriety and diligence inofficial duties, feeling that the performance of these duties was his highest obligation andreward. Judge Watts had great pride of character, was a fine looking man, of commandingsize and appearance, and always presided on the bench with a dignity befitting his honorableposition, He was a conscientious man, who tried to do his duty, and the people who placedhim on the high position set the seal of their approval on his conduct by keeping him in office,He loved to mingle with his old friends, irrespective of party. It was well known that he wasan "old-line Whig," and for the greater part of his official life he was on the weak side ofpolitics, Yet such were his magnetic qualities among the yeomanry of the country as to winthem to his support, and by his consistent course of justice and care for their cause as to keepthem with him.Judge Watts was a Methodist preacher for about thirty years, and amidst all his hard work andactive duties of his profession, found time to devote much good work to his church, He waskind and sympathetic, a loving father and husband, a good neighbor, and great peace-makeramong those who had difficulties. He lived to the ripe age of seventy years, and died atNewton, May, 1875 surrounded by his children and friends, and was very greatly mourned."From: "History of Neuton County, Mississippi, from 1834 to 1894" A. J. Brown, p. 2:"The court-house for the county of Neshoba, previous to the division of the county, was nearwhere the town of Union, in Newton county, is now situated. An old settler, who is nowliving, says it was a black-jack oak cabin with dirt floor; that Judge Wm. Sterling as judge,and Hon. Jno. Watts as district attorney held the first court for the new county of Neshoba."This was in 1833 after the Choctaw removal.From: "John Chapman of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, Thomas Powe of Cheraw, SouthCarolina and Related Families" Elise Chapman Edmonds, 1971, p. 112:"John Watts attended St. Stephen's Academy which was at that time the most flourishingInstitution near by. It was located on the Tombigby River. He later studied medicine but didnot persue the career although he was a fairly good doctor if there was a need. He returnedhome and read law and obtained a license from the Supreme Court in 1831, and practiced lawin Winchester, Miss. He was elected District Attorney and held that office for 11 years. JudgeWatts rose to distinction in the State and held many public offices. Hi was a man ofcommanding presence and great purity of character and had a remarkable dignity of manner,but when to his great personal and intellectual advantages were added the graces of a sweetand gentle nature this was his secret as of his popularity in East Mississippi. Having servedthe people as a Senator and Representative in the Legislature and for many years Judge of theJudicial District, he then joined the Methodist Church in Paulding, Mississippi in 1841 and in1842 received a license to preach. He resided in the Counties of Wayne, Jasper, Neshoba andNewton. He died in Newton in 1875. Judge Watts married 2nd Mrs. Martha Keegan wife ofJudge A. M. Keegan of Monticello, Miss. No Issue by this marriage."He preached at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Newton, Mississippi.There is a scrapbook kept by Misses Betty and Lizzie Watts who collected newspaperclippings from "The Newton Record", "Mississippi Baptist", and "Meridian Star". Thisscrapbook was last in the possession of Mrs. Heber Logan (Judy Watts).Burial: Unknown, Garlandsville, MSEducation: Studied Medicine at St. Stephen's AcademyFact 4: 1836, A Founder of Neuton CountyMilitary service: Brigadier General of MilitiaOccupation: District Judge