John Robert Watts (abt. 1810 - 1883)

Born about 30 Jun 1810 in Greene County, Georgia

Ancestors

Husband of Elizabeth Thornton (Asbury) Watts — married 3 Oct 1833 in Greene County, Georgia

Descendants

Died 1 Jun 1883 at about age 72 in York, Sumter, Alabama

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Biography

John Robert Watts may have been born 30 June 1810^{[citation needed][1]}

John Robert Watts married Betsy Thornton Asbury 3 Oct 1833 in Greene County, GA^[2]

"Moved to Alabama in 1838, member of Western Star Lodge Number 22"^[3]

Children

William Hicks Watts.

Jesse Asbury Watts.

Mary Anthony Jane Watts.

John Thomas Watts.

Richard James Watts.

Tandy Key Watts.

Vincent T Watts.

Martha E Watts.

Archibald Carey Watts.

Reuben Vail Watts.

Josiah Carter Watts.

Death

John Robert Watts d. 1 Jun 1883 and is buried in the Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, Rosser, Sumter, AL^[4]

Timeline

(1820 U S Census; Census Place: Capt Leftwicks District, Greene, Georgia; Page: 243; NARA Roll: M33_8; Image: 180 from merged data, not confirmed. Is he presumed to be in the household of his father?)

1850 Woods Precinct Division, Sumter, AL,^[5]
• John R, 39, merchant, born Georgia,
• Elizabeth, 33, born Georgia,
• William, 15, born Georgia;
• Jesse, 14, born Georgia;
• Mary J, 11, born Alabama;
• John S, 9, born Alabama;
• Richard, 7, born Alabama;
• Tandy K, 4, born Alabama;
• Vincent, 2, born Alabama

1860 Federal Census Sumter AL,^[6]
• J R, 49, merchant, born Georgia;
• E T, 35, born Georgia;
• J A, 23 overseer, b. GA;
• J T 19, born Alabama;
• R J 15, born AlabamaL;
• T K 13, born Alabama;
• V T, 11, born AlabamaL;
• M E, 9F, born Alabama;
• A C, 7M, born Alabama;
• R P 5M, born Alabama;
• B 5/12M, born Alabama

1870 reveals two enumerations, one which does not include Betsy's father, Jesse Asbury, done on 28 July 1870. ^[7]
• John R Watts, 59, farmer, born Georgia;
• Elizabeth, 55, born Georgia,
• Martha E 19 born Alabama;
• Archibald C, 17, born Alabama;
• Reuben V, 14, born Alabama;
• Josiah C, 10, born Alabama,
• Henry, 16, born Alabama (white - all household members listed as white)

1870, Township 5, Lauderdale, MS, PO Meridian, 8 August. "Jessey Asberry" age 77 is listed as living with them.^[8]
• John R, 65, born Georgia,
• Betsy, 56, born Georgia;
• Archa 18, born Georgia;
• Ruben V, 16, born Alabama;
• Martha 19, born Alabama,
• Josire, 11, born Mississippi,
• Jessey Asberry 77, b. VA;
• Henry Watts 18 (black - all others in household listed as white), born Alabama

1880 Federal Census, Sumter, AL. Thornville Beat #3,^[9]
• John, age 69, b GA, farmer.
• Elizabeth, 65 GA, both parents GA,
• Archibald, 26 AL, works on farm,
• Reuben, 23 b. AL, works on farm;
• Josiah, 20, b. AL, works on farm;
• Martha, 27 b. AL

Research Notes

Is his middle name "Robert" or "Roberts" (after his mother's maiden name)

Sources

1. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #5853484. The date given has no source.
2. ↑ Jesse Asbury Family Bible Record. Also Georgia, Marriage Records From Select Counties, 1828-1978 (Subscription database at Ancestry.com)
3. ↑ Jenkins, Nelle Morris, Pioneer Families of Sumter co., AL, Livingston Press, Livingston, Alabama, p197
4. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #5853484
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch : 9 April 2016), Alabama > Sumter > Sumter county > image 170 of 177; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
6. ↑ "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch : 24 March 2017), Alabama > Sumter > Southern Division > image 29 of 104; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch : 13 June 2019), Mississippi > Lauderdale > Township 6 > image 89 of 128; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
8. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch : 13 June 2019), Mississippi > Lauderdale > Township 5 > image 10 of 40; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
9. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch : 24 December 2015), Alabama > Sumter > Thornville > ED 159 > image 2 of 21; citing NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).