Found Someone's Old Family Bible - William Zenas Watts (1846 - 1903)

Question

When I was at a friend of a friend's house in Toronto... I noticed a massive old book was being used as a door stopper.  I took a closer look and discovered it was a very old family bible - more than 100 years old.  I asked the owner about it and he said that many years ago, he was paid to haul abandoned storage locker contents to the dump.  He noticed the bible in one of his loads and didn't feel right throwing it out, so brought it home.  Surprisingly, he gave it to me!

It is large (12"x10"x3") and beautifully illustrated with a big metal clasp.  There are birth, marriage, and death pages in the middle, as well as 16 old tin pictures of people in the back. I also found a leaf pressed between two pages (which I left where it was) and a hand written small banner saying Merry Xmas Marjorie.

The earliest date in the bible is William Zenas Watts born 21 Feb 1846.  I created a profile for him and and the other members of his family mentioned in the bible.  And I uploaded scans of the relevant pages from the bible.

I am trying to find living Watts descendants of his grandsons in order to pass this family heirloom back to their family.  It is a bit like looking for a needle in a haystack, so I'd appreciate any help that anyone would like to offer.

* Harold William Zenas Watts 18 Jun 1906 Watts-12427

* Leonard Alexander Watts 10 Mar 1908 Watts-12428

* John Dutton Watts 6 Jun 1917 Watts-12432

In the meantime, would anyone like to help me join this tree to the main tree?

Comments

His tree is connected to the main tree now!  Thank you to S Stevenson-3628 for finding not only one, but two connections!   And thank you to many others for finding more great sources!

Of course, everyone is still very welcome to continue to contribute - I think it would be wonderful to provide the future owner of this Watts bible with a complete as possible family tree. 

I will add a research note to the profiles of Harold, Leonard, and John indicating that I am looking for a Watts descendant to pass their family bible on to.

Thank you again to everyone - this WikiTree community is fabulous!  

Answer 1

Darn! My Ancestor is Watt  would have been nice though.

Answer 2

Thank you for saving the bible and trying to find it's proper owners!

Answer 3

Might be a long shot but I've been looking at this family on FamilySearch and someone (not me) has just updated some information  Could be someone from here or maybe a relative?

Comments

The link to FamilySearch is https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/LRYM-WXN

It should be possible to contact the persons making changes to this family. Just click in the link. Log on, search for this person, and then look at recent changes. The person’s user name name will be there, and a link to contact them.

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That was probably me doing the updates.

Another Wikitree member, Lisa Stevenson messaged me to say she had linked  my family to the Watts family.  I was trying to figure out how we are linked.  I make lots of updates in the process of figuring it out.

I'd like to make the suggestion that the Oxford County Historical Society or library or archives might be interested in the book.  The Watts family has a strong connection in the Otterville area.    .

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Yep, it was you    But I like your suggestion!  That is a great idea.  If I can't find a Watts descendant within a reasonable number of years, I will contact the Oxford Historical Society.  In fact, they might have some ideas for finding a Watts descendant.

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Peggy it was you, at the same time I was looking at a possible sister to William on her marriage she states her Parents to be James and Julia but think on her death its changed to James and Elizabeth, she was born Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada.

Answer 4

What a kind and thoughtful` soul you are!

I am another William(John)  Watts, descended from my GGGrandfather George Meadows Watts (b. 1805, Castle Acre, Norfolk, UK), who ended up living in Shelburne, Ontario. There are many Watts buried in the Shelburne cemetery.

I have the very old family Bible which dates from probably 1770's, as it still uses those "long Ss" (that look like an f) within a word. It has many birth dates and names. Recently I had it rebound, as the hard cover was coming loose.

One Watts migrated to North Dakota and then Manitoba around 1900. His descendants live in or near Brantford or Paris, Ontario. I've lost contact with them, but would like to reestablish the connection. Also interested in any Manitoba or other western Watts.

Happy New Year!

Comments

Hi William, 

I got excited for a minute when I saw your name - thought we'd found one of his descendants already!  It would be fabulous if one could be found that already has caught the genealogy bug   

The bible I found is also in need of being rebound.  It is very fragile.  People in this tree settled in Ottersville, Ontario... then some descendants moved out to Manitoba... and interestingly some moved back to Ontario again.

Happy New Year to you as well!

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TORONTO BOOKBINDING COMPANY!!!!

Jill and all looking to have a big old Bible repaired:

I can highly recommend Ansley Bookbinders, 946 Warden Ave., Toronto. It's about two blocks north of Eginton. They don't usually do individual binding like this, but one employee enjoys repairing, and will do this on his own time, for a feel of course.  I don't remember his name, but it might be Scott. He may be retired, but I'm sure theveryone co. can put you in touch with him.

Answer 5

Any clue where their from.  My watts are from England  and Scotland

Comments

You are

Awesome!

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Hi Victoria - his father is from England.  Many came to Canada from the UK in that time period.

Answer 6

Ok, this is super weird.  William's daughter Annie married my 11th cousin 4 times removed.  His 10th great grandmother is my 14th great grandmother.  Sure - a very, very distant blood relative - but crazy that their family bible accidentally ended up temporarily in my care!