Thomas Watts Jr. (abt. 1710 - 1767)

Born about 1710 in King and Queen, Virginia

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 1767 at about age 57 in Essex, Virginia

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Biography

We can trace this Thomas Watts, Jr. to his father, Thomas Watts, Sr, to his father, William Watts who died before 1704 in St. Stephens Parish, King & Queen Co,. by the Patent for Glebe St Stephens Parish - 1691 (shows William Watts as an adjoining land owner). Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Land Office. The Capitol, Richmond, Virginia. Patents Volume 8, page 141.

1691 -May 12 - King and Queen County was established from New Kent County . 1692 -Apr 16--Essex County was created from Rappahannock (old) County seat: Tappahannock

1744 - they lived in St. Stephens Parish. K&Q. 1759 - Thomas Watts begins to purchase land in Essex Co 1759-1771 - his land is listed for processioning in South Farnham Parish, Essex Co, Virginia. 1767 - Will probated 1781 his land is sold by his heirs -

Petition for a bridge

(this shows Thomas Watts land location and his neighbors while living in K&Q. Essex County, Va, Records, Court Order Book No. 14. page 38. Original at Tappahannock, Virginia. August Court 1744. Philoman Bird and als ) Petition for Against ) a Road Ann Smith and als )

"Be it Remembered that on Tuesday the 21st of Aug 1744 - came Philoman Bird Thomas Starks Jos: Farguson Henry Eastham Henry Coleman Junrr and Henry Colman Sen'r William Walton Henry Gresham Thomas Watts, Thos Carlton Wm Good Edwd Carlton, Geo Gresham Wm McDuff John Row Ambrose Gresham Arthur Watts Edwd:Watts John Holcombes Con: Smith Rob't Amis'd Bird John Hemingway John Hayerton Sam'l Smith Geo Richards Wm Phelps Jos Rogers and - - - - - the Subscribors Living on the south side of the Draggon Swamp in King and Queen County sheweth that they having erected Bridges and a causeway over the said Draggon Swamp very convenient - to pass too and From Rapahannock and Mattipony Rivers But more Especially For those in KING & QUEEN near the said Bridge in carring their Tobacco to Boulware's Warehouse not being above three or four miles to the said Warehouse whereas now they are for want of this convenient way forced to carry their Tobacoo and other Comoditys to Matapony River from ten to near thirteen miles

WILL

Records of Essex County. Clerk's Office, Tappahannook, Virginia. Will Book 12. 1762-1775. page 281.

"In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Watts of the County of Essex and parish of Southfarnham being desirous my Estate should be disposed of as followeth my just debts being first paid.
Item I give unto my Son John Watts that tract of Land he now lives on in King and Queen County which was my fathers Land to him and his heirs
Item I give unto my son William Watts all that tract of land I purchased of my Brother Arthur Watts in the County of Dinwiddle to him and his heirs forever.
I give unto my Son William Watts one Mans saddle one Gun I purchased of Charles Goore one pot.
Item I give unto my Son Kauffman Watts all the Land I purchased of George Braxton, Holmes Bougan and John Hammon being in the County of King and Queen to him and his heirs forever. I likewise give him one mans saddle and one Yearling I purchased of Mary Durham.
Item I give unto my son Thomas Watts the land I now live on which I purchased of Lewis and Abraham Montague and £20 Current money to him and his heirs forever I give him one heifer and one mans saddle.
Item I give unto my daughter Betty Gresham on (sic) shilling and six pence
Item I give unto my daughter Mary Watts all the land on the north side of the spring branch whiche (sic) I purchased of Lewis and Abraham Montague being 40 acres and one Negro girl named Judea to her and her heirs.
Item I lend unto my loving wife Mary Watts the land I now live on and four Negroes Will, Rachel, Daufney, London during her natural life or widowhood. I lend her half of the stock of Cattle the Household goods all the Hogs and sheep with all the moveables one white mare Cart and Boat on the plantation where she now lives and all the remainder of my Estate to be equally divided amongst my Children to whom my Estate both real and personal is given and after my wife's decease what I lent her to be equally divided as above mentioned if any of my children die without heir their estate to be equally divided amongst my Younger Children and my daughter Betty's Children and if all my Children die without heir of their Body I give one third of my Estate unto my wife and the remainder unto my brother Edward Watts and his heirs.
I do nominate and appoint my Brother Edward Watts and Brother in Law George Kauffman and my son John Watts Executors of this my Last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this eight day of April 1767, it is my desire that my sons William and Kauffman have their estates at the age of eighteen years.
Wit. Jas. Medley Elinor Medley, Anne Medley
Thomas Watts.

At a Court held for Essex County at Tappahannook on the 16th day of November 1767. This Last Will and Testament of Thomas Watts deceased was presented in Court by John Watts one of the Exors thereinnamed who made oath thereto according to Law and being also proved by all the Witnesses is ordered to be Recorded
Teste: John Lee Clk

page 294 - December -1767 Pursuant to a order of Essex Court wee the subscribers have appraised the estate of Thomas Watts deceased in King and Queen. - Amounts to £511.10.4 , which includes 15 Negroes valued at £413. signed John Stone, Sen'r, Robert Carlton, Thomas Boum.
- Recorded: 20 June 1768

Deed of Heirs

5 Sep 1781. Deed Book 32 - 1781-1786, pg 55 John Watts & Mary his wife Kauffman Watts & Joanna his wife, John Mitchell & Mary his wife of King & Queen Co, George Gresham & Betty his wife of Prince Edward, William Watts & Mary his wife of Dunwiddie Co

for 175 pd specie sold to James Dunlop of Essex Co a 370 a. tract of land being all the land which Thomas Watts late of King & Queen County, father of the said John Watts and the others purchased of Lewis Mountague & devised by his will to his son Thomas Watts and which upon the death of the said last mentioned Thomas Watts intestate & without issue descended & became vested in the said John Watts, Kauffman Watts, John Mitchell, George Gresham & William Watts, boured (sic) by the lands of James Medley, of the glebe of South Farnham Parish, of John Mountague, of Joseph Minter, of Lilly Bush, of Reubin Bush, descendants of Samuel Mountague, of Betty Brooks widow of William Brooks descendants and of the above named James Dunlop. Wit: Wm Southerland, Geo Richards, Jno Gresham, Da Hemingway, Philemon Gresham. Wit to receipt: Lawrence Gresham, Philemon Gresham. Proved 18 Feb 1782 & recorded. Attest: Hancock Lee clerk. (Pg 56)

Sources

Secretary of the Commonwealth, State Land Office. The Capitol, Richmond, Virginia. Patents Volume 8, page 141.

Ann Kicker Blomquist, Vestry Book of South Farnham Parish of Essex Co., Virginia 1739-.

Mary Marshall Brewer, Essex County, Virginia Land Records 1761-1772 (Millsboro, Delaware, Colonial Roots, 2016).

Mary Marshall Brewer, Essex County, Virginia Land Records 1772 - 1786 (Lewes, Delaware, USA, Colonial Roots, 2006).