Thomas was editor of the "Mascot" newspaper and a mill operator on Third Creek. In what appears to be the first issue of the "Landmark" newspaper, dated Saturday June 19, 1874, Volume 1, No. 1 comes the following announcement of the 2 candidates running for Sheriff of Iredell County, "Sheriff Wasson had declined to run for re-election." The 2 candidates were Thomas A. Watts and James A. F. Watts. (Note: brothers)
Thomas Watts was elected with a lead of 1,290 votes over his opponent, but the new Sheriff was smart enough to keep James A.F. Watts aboard since he had been a deputy and had experience. Watts was 1 of at least 2 early Iredell men who would serve as Sheriff who had close connections to the Civil War.
The approach of Union troops was first spotted by Thomas A. Watts and J.S. Miller who had been scouting down the road toward Salisbury. They “rid like madmen” through the streets of Statesville alerting the town according to reports in the "Landmark" newspaper.
During the terms of Sheriff Watts, he was involved with the execution of Bill Mecimore, who was hanged for the murder of his mother-in-law. Mecimore was a resident of Rowan County where the crime took place. For the sake of safety, the trial was conducted in Iredell County. Mecimore killed Mrs. Helig with a bludgeon and he threw her body in a well. Even in those early days, the Sheriff sought evidence and clues to crimes. During his search he found a convincing clue; tracking from the scene of the crime proved that a club-footed man committed the murder. Bill Mecimore was club-footed. Other evidence found by the officers convicted him of the crime without any doubt. After the conviction, after he realized that he would have to pay for his crime, Mecimore confessed his guilt. Sheriff T.A. Watts led him to the gallows. [1]
Residence
1850 US Census; 2 Dec 1850; Iredell County, North Carolina, United States
1880 US Census; 28 & 29 June 1880; Shiloh Township, Iredell County, North Carolina, USA
T A Watts Self M 43 North Carolina, Shff. Of County
M E Watts Wife F 40 North Carolina
A D Watts Son M 14 North Carolina
J F Watts Son M 12 North Carolina
E E Watts Daughter F 11 North Carolina
C J Watts Daughter F 10 North Carolina
P M Watts Son M 9 North Carolina
M B Watts Daughter F 7 North Carolina
M O Watts Daughter F 5 North Carolina
Foster P Watts Son M 4 North Carolina
Wm Matheson servant M 24 North Carolina, laborer
Wallas Gibson servant M 19 North Carolina, laborer [5]
Death
From FindAGrave memorial. Gravestone inscription is illegible in photo - treating as unsourced & information only.
Thomas Alexander Watts was born 5 May 1837 in North Carolina, USA and died 16 Jul 1896 (aged 59) in North Carolina, USA. He is buried at New Sterling Cemetery, Cool Springs, Iredell County, North Carolina, USA.
Inscription: Sheriff of Iredell County 10 yrs 1874 - 1884
Parents:
Fielding Watts 1799-1865
Sarah Steele Watts 1802-1867
Spouse:
Margaret Morrison Watts 1840-1902
Siblings:
James A.F. Watts 1828-1883
Alburtus E. Watts 1831-1857
John Silas Watts 1835-1907
Mary E. Watts 1841-1843
Fielding E. Watts 1842-1843
Erasmus Fielding Watts 1844-1929
Children:
Alston Davidson Watts 1866-1927
Maggie Blanche Watts 1873-1953
Minnie Ola Watts Boyd 1874-1933
Foster Pressly Watts 1876-1953
Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 07 June 2019), memorial page for Thomas Alexander Watts (5 May 1837–16 Jul 1896), Find A Grave: Memorial #54151376, citing New Sterling Cemetery, Cool Springs, Iredell County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Mark Lawson (contributor 47268319).
Sources
↑ History of the Iredell County, North Carolina Sheriff's Office, Link], accessed Mar 15, 2018.
↑ "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M4BC-QZM : 12 April 2016), Elizabeth Watts in household of Fielding Watts, Iredell county, Iredell, North Carolina, United States; citing family 1809, NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).
↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCXS-RTW : 12 September 2017), T A Watts, 1880; citing enumeration district ED 141, sheet 62C, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d), roll 0968; FHL
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