Kahyanteehee John Francis WATTS, "Old Chief"

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• FamilySearch ID: GGQ7-K41
• _UID: DED307DBCC5F484F9A8328BB648306F73912
• Alt. Death: 23 Sep 1754, Hill, Craven, South Carolina

Notes:

From "Thomas Watts of Stafford County, Virginia, and His Descendants" by Edward C. Watts. . . .
Francis Watts was born sometime between 1688 and c1691.
He was listed on the 1723 rent rolls of Stafford County, and he appeared in 1724 on a list of tobacco tenders between the south side of Potomac Creek and the lower end of Overwharton Parish. In June 1727, Francis witnessed a deed for land along the head branch of Accokeek Creek in Stafford County.
In May 1738, Francis Watts (residing in Stafford County) bought 316 acres on Elk Run in Prince William County, Virginia. Francis's wife Ann and his son were also listed on the deed. Ann's maiden name is Unknown, but it is known that she was one of the sisters of Timothy Dargan's wife Catherine. Francis appeared on a list of voters in Prince William County in 1741, and was included on the quitrent rolls of Stafford County with 200 acres in 1742. He was bequeathed household goods in the will of his mother, which was proven in 1742.
In May 1749, Francis leased 130 acres in Prince William County to Thomas Calvert and 133 acres to Thomas Smith. The latter tract was located along Bull Run. Francis also apparently leased land from Thomas Smith around this time. The lease was included in the inventory of Smith's estate in May 1778, where it was stated that the 99 year lease had been drawn up 29 years earlier. In December 1749, Francis was granted 500 acres on Dry Run of the Hawksbill River in Augusta County, Virginia, by the Northern Neck Proprietor's Office. He sold this land in February 1753. That same month, he also leased land in Prince William County to Richard Blackburn.
Francis and Ann moved to Craven County, South Carolina (present-day Berkeley County), later in 1753. Francis apparently bought 500 acres in Amelia township on the south side of the Santee River. He wrote a will in Craven County in October 1753. The will, recorded in Craven County in August 1754, left part of his personal estate and a slave to his son Thomas. Francis's wife Ann was to receive slaves and land, which were to devolve to their grandson Francis Watts after her decease. The will also referred to Francis's five grandchildren. An inventory and appraisal of Fracis Watts' estate was made in May 1754. The estate was valued at nearly 1400 pounds. An inventory of the estate of Ann Watts was taken in Craven County in December 1756. Francis Watts' estate was divided among his grandchildren in May 1770. Fauquier County Will Book 1, p. 194

Family/Spouse: Ann MCPHERSON. Ann (daughter of Daniel MCPHERSON, Jr and Ann GREENWOOD) was born in 1686 in Fauquier County, Virginia; died in 1756 in Craven County, North Carolina. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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Married:
_STATMARRIED

1. Thomas WATTS was born about 1717; and died.
2. "Trader" John WATTS, "Forked Tongue" was born about 1724 in Bowling Green, Carolyn Co., Virginia; died on 4 Mar 1771 in Willstown, Fort Payne, Alabama.
3. Mildred "Millie" WATTS was born in 1730 in Orange, Virginia, British Colonial America; died in Feb 1846 in Randolph Co. MO.

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• 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]

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• FamilySearch ID: GJYF-9DS
• _UID: AEE2725C5D7C4C5F9439C68EA81B3F767B83

Notes:

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.

Notes:

Married:
_STATMARRIED

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• _UID: 4B6ECD7892214C48A9EBA892F524DADCE282

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

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• _UID: B69A7C085AE741B19276DC1C7230852F5D8D

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• _UID: 74D8E629C89B4694AF834F9D8873653F5504

John married Joanna. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 5364FE4B0F0744E7825863C6A6664259EBD6