Edward WATTS

Other Events:

• FamilySearch ID: GJYX-YVQ
• _UID: 0B206884083B4AFFA34E71D3C6526B015C9C

Notes:

Was a ship captain, married late in life to Anne.
The first known record pertaining to Edward Watts, presumed son of Thomas and Mary Watts, indicated that he received a levy for work done at the Stafford County Courthouse and prison on 16 September 1687. This is the same day that Edward Watts' presumed brother, Thomas, received payment for mending court benches and rails. Edward married Jacob Hubbard's widow Anne sometime between 9 February 1687/88 (the date that Jacob Hubbard's will was written) and 13 December 1688, when Edward was referred to in Stafford County records as Anne's husband. Anne was apparently the daughter of John and Joanna Martin.
Edward and Anne Watts were involved in several lawsuits in Stafford County. In December 1689, Edward was ordered to pay a debt to Robert Hewit. In March 1689/90, Edward and Anne filed a complaint against Christopher Herringe for an assault at the house of Symon Stacey on Potomac Creek, which presumably was on land leased from Thomas Watts. The plaintiffs alleged that in August 1689 Herringe "did her the said Anne kick beat and Evilly intreat so that by the said kicking and blows she the said Anne was grievously bruised and for a considerable time lame." Herringe countered that he "did only keep off and defend himself from the rage malice assault and battery of the plaintiff Anne" but the jury found for the plaintiffs. The same month, Edward was also involved in suits with Henry Ridgway, William Waller, and Thomas Chapman.
Some early records from counties near Stafford may refer to the Edward Watts discussed above. A February 1662/63 record in Rappahannock County mentioned Edward Watts as a witness in a lawsuit. A November 1668 record from Westmoreland County referred to Edward Watts as the master and commander of the ship "William and Ellen," which transported tobacco between Virginia and Europe. Similarly, there are records of persons named Edward Watts being transported into Virginia, but no records tend to place any such person specifically in Stafford County.
By August 1691, Edward was deceased. At this time, Francis Warrington and John Martin acted as securities for Anne Watts in the settlement of the estate of Jacob Hubbard. In April 1693, Anne successfully sued to recover a debt of 300 pounds of tobacco. Although the Stafford County Order Book entry describing the court action referred to her as "Anne Watts," the defendant's attorney dissented from the court order on the grounds that Anne's husband was alive, and that Anne was not appearing in court as her husband's attorney. Since Anne married Daniel McPherson sometime after the death of Edward Watts, it seems likely that the marriage took place between the time of the lawsuit was initially filed and when the court decision was rendered. Daniel was "on his deathbed" in November 1727 when he and Anne gave 100 acres, purchased from Francis Warrington, to John Martin of King George County.
The preceding discussion of Edward Watts is at odds with the research of Charles Heinemann and others. Heinemann believed that Edward Watts was the son of Cornelius Watts of Somerset, England. This was apparently based on the mention of a son named Edward in Cornelius Watts' 1640 will. There is no known evidence, however, that ties Cornelius's son Edward to Stafford County, and Heinemann was apparently unaware of Anne McPherson's will. Another source asserted that Edward Watts emigrated form Scotland, but again, no evidence was provided to support this theory.

Edward married Anne MARTIN about 1688 in Stafford, Stafford, Virginia. Anne (daughter of John MARTIN and Joanna) was born about 1670; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
_STATMARRIED

1. Thomas WATTS and died.
2. Margaret WATTS and died.
3. Edward WATTS was born about 1689; died about 1750.
4. Kahyanteehee John Francis WATTS, "Old Chief" was born about 1689 in Stafford, Prince William, Virginia, British Colonial America; died in 1754 in Hill, Craven, South Carolina.

Other Events:

• _UID: 4B6ECD7892214C48A9EBA892F524DADCE282

Thomas married Mary. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• _UID: B69A7C085AE741B19276DC1C7230852F5D8D