Albertus Leander Watts (1801 - 1855)

Born 25 Nov 1801 in Statesville, Iredell, North Carolina, USA

Ancestors

Died 23 Jan 1855 at age 53 in North Carolina, USA

Biography

Albertus was born in 1801, the son of William Watts and Rachel Davidson. He passed away in 1855.

Excerpts from The history of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church : Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina

Beginning on Page 51:

Fifth Pastor — Reverend Albertus Leander Watts (1840-1853 tenure as pastor)

During the fall of the year the Reverend Watson left (1840), the pulpit was supplied by the Reverend A. L. Watts, then pastor of Lincolnton and Long Creek churches, North Carolina. In the spring of 1841, Steele Creek and Pleasant Hill united in a call for the Reverend Watts. He accepted and was installed as pastor at the next spring meeting of the Concord Presbyterv, which met that vear at Steele Creek.

In person, he was small, under medium in size, and of feeble and delicate constitution. As a preacher, he was plain and instructive. He was seen to best advantage and was most useful in his pastoral visits and in the chambers of the sick and afflicted. He settled on a farm, having purchased land four miles or more southeast of the church.

Albertus L. Watts, the youngest son of William and Rachel Watts, was born November 25, 1801. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish. He received his early education from various teachers, such as Captain Alexander, Robert Lansenbury, and Dr. Asa Beall. He went to school for three or four years with the Reverend Beall. He also received academic training under the Reverend J. M. Mushatt of the Associate Reformed church. Later he went to Andover College, but he did not stay long. Why he left we cannot say. He entered the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1826. He joined Concord church when the Reverend John M. Erwin was pastor and soon turned his attention to study for the ministry.

It should be of interest to many for us to turn momentarily to an incident in the life of the Reverend Watts' father, William. When his family was yet small, he, in the company of one of his neighbors, went on a trip to Pennsylvania, and when attempting to cross the Susquehanna by night, was swept from his horse by the current of the river. A short distance below he lodged on a rock, and there waiting till his fellow traveller could procure assistance, he vowed to the Lord if he would save his life, he would educate two of his sons and dedicate them to the gospel ministry. On the return home he related the circumstance to his wife, who proposed that he should fulfill his vow by educating for the gospel ministry two very promising lads of a near neighbor. To this the father would not consent, saying that was not what he wanted to do, and he lived to see his promise in a way of fulfillment, in the case of his two sons, William Franklin and Albertus Leander; for though he did not live to see them enter the ministry, he lived to see them in their academic course with a view to entering that holy office. Two other sons of William Watts became ruling elders.

After graduating at Chapel Hill, Albertus entered Union Seminary- in Virginia where he received instructions from Reverend John H. Rice. He was licensed to preach the gospel bv Concord Presbytery, at Lincolnton, North Carolina, November 15, 1828. For a short time thereafter he served the churches at Buffalo and Briar Creek, Virginia; thence, he removed to the bounds of Orange Presbytery; and preached for some time at Halifax Court House. Following this he went to the countv of Granville, Virginia, where he preached steadily to the church of Nuthrush. About this time he married Mary Williams. This union was short as she died of scarlet fever three months after their marriage. Soon after this he returned into the bounds of Concord Presbytery and bv invitation settled at Rutherford and Little Britain. About 1835, the Synod of North Carolina divided, or rather set off a portion of Concord Presbytery into a new Presbytery; called The Morganton Presbytery. This Presbytery met at Morganton in April, 1836, and at that time received the Reverend Watts. At the same meeting a call was presented to him from the church of Lincolnton, which he accepted. He was installed as pastor Julv 29, 1836. From there he came to Steele Creek. In 1843, he was married to his second wife, Sarah D. McMillan of Favetteville, North Carolina, bv whom he had four children — one son and three daughters. Charles Lewis Watts studied medicine and practiced in New York. He died December 29, 1871, at age twenty-five, thus he practiced for only a short while. Evidently neither daughter had a long life. Mary is buried at Steele Creek and her sisters in Fayetteville. Mrs. Watts died September 30, 1853, and is buried at Steele Creek.

In 1846, an unfortunate occurrence took place, which greatly disturbed the peace and prosperity of the church and ultimately impaired Reverend Watts' usefulness and was the cause of his leaving. This trouble grew out of an indiscretion, or ill report, circulated by one individual prejudicial to the character of Mrs. Watts. This slander, as it was generally regarded, was speedily, but rather violently avenged by a few of the congregation. Feelings were excited, and regardless of consequences, they resorted to such means of retribution as involved them in a very unpleasant and vexatious civil prosecution. As all of the parties concerned were of the same neighborhood, each had his friends and advocates. Thus matters went from bad to worse until the Reverend Watts became seriously involved. His course of conduct soon alienated some of his friends from him, relaxed their confidence in him, and in the end resulted in grave charges in respect to his ministerial character being preferred against him before the Concord Presbytery. The following charges were given: "Of conduct, in several instances, unworthy of a Christian, and unbecoming a minister of the gospel, and well calculated to destroy the confidence of a people in their pastor."

With a view to investigate the charges against the Reverend Watts, and to settle, if possible, the difficulty between him and the congregation, the Concord Presbytery met at Steele Creek from November 24 to December 2, 1847. After a faithful investigation, lasting eight days, their decision was: "The general charge is not sustained". The result was what might appropriately be termed "a draw game"; nevertheless, it brought about the necessity for Reverend Watts to leave Steele Creek in order to restore some semblance of congregational unity. This he promised the Presbytery at the time of the hearing, but he did not for several years as he continued at Steele Creek until 1853. In the same year that he left the church, Mrs. Watts succumbed on September 30. The double widowhood in home and church so closely together only tended to make his situation the more desolate and distressing.

The year after the Reverend Watts left (1854), he spent supplying two churches (Unity and Six Mile Creek), in the bounds of Bethel Presbytery; South Carolina. During this period he continued to live on his farm in Steele Creek. He prepared to move closer to his new area, but he was suddenly cut down by death January 23, 1855, in the fifty-fifth year of his age and the twenty-seventh of his ministry. Even though the Reverend Watts had left our service, he was laid to rest alongside his wife and daughter Mary in Steele Creek cemetery. ^[1]

Education

from Centennial general catalogue of the trustees, officers, professors and alumni of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia : 1807-1907

WATTS, ALBERTUS LEANDER: Iredell Co.. N. C.: b. Nov. 25, 1801; U. N. C.; (2) ; L. Cone Pby. Nov. 15, '28; S. S. Drusilla Ch., '29; O. Ev. Or. Pby. Dec. 10, '31; My. in Caswell Co., N. 0 , '31-'32; S. S. Bethany '32; P. Nutbush '33; My. '34-'35; S. S. Emmanuel and Long Cr. Chs., Morganton (now Concord) Pby., '35-'30. and P. of same '37-'38; P. Lincolnton and Long Cr. Chs. '39-'40; S. S. Steele Cr. Ch., Cone Pby.. '41. and P. of same '42-'54. Died at his home near Charlotte, N. C, Jan. 23, 1855. ^[2]

Marriage

A L Watts and Sarah D Mcmillan were married 16 Nov 1842 in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. ^[3]

Death

From FindAGrave memorial.

Gravestone inscription:

Other data, excluding burial location, is unsourced and information only.

Rev Albertus Leander Watts was born in 1801 in Iredell County, North Carolina, USA and died 23 Jan 1855 (aged 53–54) in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA. He is buried at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA (Plot: 2DW).

Age 54 years

Pastor Steele Creek and

Pleasant Hill Church 13 years

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27.* WATTS, Alrertus Leanuer; Iredell Co.. N. C. : b. Nov. 25. 1S01 ; U. N. C. ; (2) ; L. Conc. Pby. Nov. 15, '28 ; S. S. Drusilla Ch., '29 ; O. Ev. Or. Pby. Dec. 10, '31 ; My. in Caswell Co., N. C., '31-'32 ; S. S. Bethany '32 ; P. Nutbush '33; My. '34-'35; S. S. Emmanuel and Long Cr. Chs., Morgan- ton (now Concord) Pby., '35-'36, and P. of same '37-38; P. Lincolnton and Long Cr. Chs. '39-'40 ; S. S. Steele Cr. Ch.. Conc. Pby.. '41. and P. of same '42-'54. Died at his home near Charlotte, N. C., Jan. 23, 1855.

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Centennial General Catalogue, Of the Trustees, Officers, Professors and Alumni of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, 1807-1907 – Richmond, Va. Union theological seminary, Union Theological Seminary in Virginia

* * * *

*** Many thanks to J. Spaulding (#47270590) for full name and Jayne (#47579751) for parents links and to GENEALOGYLOVE 47646375 for additional info

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Parents:

William Fuller Watts 1754-1819

Rachel Davidson Watts 1755-1858

Spouse:

Sarah D McMillan Watts Unknown-1853

Siblings:

William Franklin Watts 1792-1826

John Davidson Watts 1796-1838

Fielding Watts 1799-1865

Children:

Mary William Watts 1848-1849 ^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ Douglas, John. The history of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church : Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte, N.C.: Craftsman, 1978. pp 51-55. (https://archive.org/details/historyofsteelec00doug/page/50)
2. ↑ Moore, Walter W.; Scherer, Tilden. Centennial general catalogue of the trustees, officers, professors and alumni of Union Theological Seminary in Virginia : 1807-1907. Richmond, VA: Whittet & Shepperson. p 43. (https://www.gengophers.com/book.html#/book/44158?page=48&given=Albertus%20Leander%20&surname=Watts)
3. ↑ "North Carolina, County Marriages, 1762-1979 ," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XF9B-R9J : 4 November 2017), A L Watts and Sarah D Mcmillan, 16 Nov 1842; citing Cumberland, North Carolina, United States, p. , North Carolina State Archives Division of Archives and History; FHL microfilm 1,689,354.
4. ↑ Find A Grave, database and images (accessed 13 December 2019), memorial page for Rev Albertus Leander Watts (1801–23 Jan 1855), Find A Grave: Memorial #89308848, citing Steele Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA ; Maintained by Lanie (contributor 47381115).

• "North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFSW-DCS : 15 March 2018), Albertus L Watts, 1855; citing Mecklenburg, North Carolina, United States, State Archives, Raleigh; FHL microfilm 2,027,038.