----- Original Message ----- From: Muriel M. Davidson <Farquhar@netcom.ca> To: Gordon Watts <gordon_watts@bc.sympatico.ca Sent: Thursday, 16 September, 1999 2:42 AM Subject: RESEARCH ON HOLD > Just a FAKE message for all genealogy societies and people -- add/change > names, if desired -- it is what COULD happen, so read on. Muriel > ============================================================ > > THE SAMUELS FAMILY > > It is Spring, 2004 -- JANE SAMUELS (a fictitious name) decided it was > time she brought her family history up-to-date. > > Jane dug out all her notes, plus the notes of previous censuses: 1881, > 1891 and 1901. NOW it was time to go to the library and order the 1911 > census records!! She was excited as she anticipated these records of 10 > years, knowing there would be many changes in the families. > > Jane belonged to a local genealogical society -- she was assured all > would be well if she ordered the microfilm as usual through the local > library. She knew the wait would be at least three weeks and she > planned to use that time organizing her many notes. She became very > impatient and finally visited the local library. > > SAD NEWS AWAITED JANE!!! The 1911 Canadian census records would NEVER be > available and neither would future ones! > > "Why?" asked Jane, when told of this setback in her research. > > "Several years ago", she was told "a cross-Canada committee formed > themselves into helping and urging residents to complete petitions, > send in letters of support, for the elected members when Private > Member's Bills were presented." Many residents complied with the > requests -- but the support was not great enough to ensure the > passage of the Bills in Parliament. > > Jane was told the reason was an antiquated law that had needed changing > -- politicians thought the records should remain private long after a > person was dead, and without the person's permission, the post-1901 > Canadian census records would be forever sealed. > > Jane thought and thought -- then remembered she HAD seen many memos > about this possibility, but thought it would not affect her!! Her > genealogical society had assured her, at the time, that all would be > well. > > She remembered hearing about the following URLs: > <http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Farm/7843/poll.html> > > and <http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census> > > Jane checked her bookmarks -- Yes, there was the first URL, now being > used as a coast-to-coast genealogy information highway!! Some of the > census data was still there -- the Access to Information and other items > -- why had she not heeded the request at that time. > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- --- > We are now back in 1999: > > There is still an opportunity for many to help the Members of Parliament > and Senator Lorna Milne as they work on our behalf. > > Needed: Letters of Support to YOUR politicians, petitions, the safe > passage of a Bill just does not happen without support. > > Looking forward to hearing from you, > Muriel M. Davidson, census committee member > <Farquhar@netcom.ca> > Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@bc.sympatico.ca Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352 Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/index.htm Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petiton now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm Read my column on Post 1901 Census News at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/gazette.htm Subscribe to the CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN mail list at CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L-request@rootsweb.com

----- Original Message ----- From: Muriel M. Davidson <Farquhar@netcom.ca> To: <gordon_watts@bc.sympatico.ca> Sent: Friday, 17 September, 1999 3:12 AM Subject: [ONTARIO] Re: Maclean's Magazine website > Here is the website for Maclean's. The article is there. > http://www.macleans.ca/index.stm > > > Norm Wilson > Wilson's Genealogical Research Services > London, Ontario > Email: nwilson@webgate.net > Webpage: http://expage.com/page/wilsongensearch > > > ==== ONTARIO Mailing List ==== > All postings are archived, to search: > http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl >

Greetings Listers My apologies in advance for the length of this posting. Next Monday will be 20 September 1999, the day that the House of Commons is due to reconvene. While there have been rumours that the Fall Session may be delayed, the Senate started up on their scheduled date and is currently meeting. While we have tried to keep the Post 1901 Census ball rolling through the summer it is unsure of how sucessful we have been. It is time now to step up our letter writing and campaigning for the Release to the Public after a reasonable period of Post 1901 Census information. For the benefit of those who may be just coming on board regarding the Census problem and the Post 1901 Census Project Page it may perhaps be useful to recap the situation as I understand it. Up to and including the 1901 Census in Canada, Census records were transferred to the National Archives (or the equivalent of the day) and were subsequently made available to the Public 92 years after collection. This was possible because clauses in the Privacy Act (or the equivalent of the day) allowed identifiable individual records to be transferred, subject to other legislation that might override the Privacy Act. In 1906 the government of the Sir Wilfred Laurier, by Order in Council, introduced regulations which prevented release of any identifiable information from Census without the written consent of the person who provided the information. These regulations contained no time limitations. >From all that we today have been able to determine, the major reason for the new regulations being brought into effect was a fear by the population of the day (1906) that information from identifiable individual Census would be accessible and used by other Government departments for other purposes, i.e. taxation. Whether it was a concern about possible incoming Personal Income Tax, or some other form of taxation, i.e. on property or possessions, has yet to be conclusively identified. . Nowhere have we found any indication that their concern was that identifiable information would be used by historians or genealogists 30, 60, or 92 years down the road. Nor have we so far been able to find documentation that indicated that respondents had been informed information collected by Census would be kept secret forever. In 1918 the regulations were codified by the Borden government in the new Statistics Act. The pertinent clause of the new Act read, in part: "15 (1). No individual return, and no part of an individual return, made, and no answer to any question put, for the purposes of this Act, shall, without the previous consent in writing of the person.. be published, nor, except for the purposes of a prosecution under this Act, any person not engaged in connection with the Census be permitted to see any such individual return or any such part of any individual return." The applicable clauses in today's Statistics Act read as follows (emphasis is mine): "SECRECY Prohibition against divulging information 17. (1) Except for the purpose of communicating information in accordance with any conditions of an agreement made under section 11 or 12 and except for the purposes of a prosecution under this Act but subject to this section, (a) no person, other than a person employed or deemed to be employed under this Act, and sworn under section 6, shall be permitted to examine any identifiable individual return made for the purposes of this Act; and (b) no person who has been sworn under section 6 shall disclose or knowingly cause to be disclosed, by any means, any information obtained under this Act in such a manner that it is possible from the disclosure to relate the particulars obtained from any individual return to any identifiable individual person, business or organization." There are of course allowable exceptions to the rule. Section 17 continues, in part: "Exception to prohibition (2) The Chief Statistician may, by order, authorize the following information to be disclosed: (a) information collected by persons, organizations or departments for their own purposes and communicated to Statistics Canada before or after May 1, 1971, but that information when communicated to Statistics Canada shall be subject to the same secrecy requirements to which it was subject when collected and may only be disclosed by Statistics Canada in the manner and to the extent agreed on by the collector thereof and the Chief Statistician; (b) information relating to a person or organization in respect of which disclosure is consented to in writing by the person or organization concerned; (d) information available to the public under any statutory or other law; It is the wording of 2 (a) above that causes us problems today, i.e. information when communicated to Statistics Canada shall be subject to the same secrecy requirements to which it was subject when collected. This reflects back to the original wording of Clause 15(1) of the Statute passed in 1918. Because the clause contained no time limitations, Statistics Canada has taken the position that these records cannot be transferred to the National Archives and will remain secret FOREVER. Unless we are able to persuade the government of today to make retroactive changes to the legislation WE WILL NEVER AGAIN SEE ANOTHER CENSUS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC. This of course is catastrophic for historians and genealogists. We can make a difference by writing letters to our MPs and Ministers expressing our dismay with this situation, and requesting that they make retroactive changes to the legislation to allow transfer of the records to the National Archives, and subsequently to the Public, after a reasonable period. Even though you may not be currently residing in Canada you have every right to write letters as well. Write them to The Honourable John Manley Minister for Industry House of Commons, Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 The Honourable Sheila Copps Minister of Canadian Heritage House of Commons, Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 Mr./Ms. (Name of your MP) MP - (Name of your riding) House of Commons, Parliament Buildings Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A6 The Honourable Lorna Milne The Senate of Canada Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0A4 A formal Petition to the House of Commons of Canada has been drawn up and has been circulated Canada-wide. This petition, for citizens/residents of Canada to sign, urges the Government of Canada to take whatever steps necessary to retroactively amend Privacy/confidentiality clauses of Statistics Acts since 1906 to allow Release to the Public of Post 1901 Census records after a reasonable period, starting with the 1906 Census. This petition is downloadable from the Post 1901 Census Project page at << http://globalgenealogy.com/census >> Available from the same website is a French Language petition, identical in content to the English version. These petitions will be presented to the House of Commons in October 1999. After many requests from people living outside of Canada, a petition to be signed by citizens/residents of countries other than Canada, but having roots in Canada, is also downloadable. This petition has been worded to compliment the petition to the House of Commons and will be used as support in the Senate by Senator Lorna Milne. Also available at this site are sample letters to write to Members of Parliament and the appropriate Ministers, excerpts from Hansard that detail efforts by Senator Lorna Milne in the Senate of Canada, to bring attention to this problem, and links to other websites that have information regarding the problem and our campaign. There is a Scoreboard that lists all 301 Members of Parliament, their e-mail addresses, and shows how they would vote on a Bill to Release to the Public Post 1901 Census records. Click on your MP's name to bring up a correspondence log for him/her. The Scoreboard has been recently updated with further letters from MPs. Unfortunately most of these are from "fence-sitters". I encourage all to write to MPs who have responded expressing your satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, with their position on how they would vote on a Bill to Release to the Public, Post 1901 Census information. A mailing list has been set up to be used as a forum for genealogists and historians interested in Post 1901 Census issues. Everyone having an interest in Canada's Census information is more than welcome to join the list and participate in the discussion. To join this mailing list send an e-mail to << Canada-Census-Campaign-L-request@rootsweb.com >> with ONLY the word SUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and the body of the message. Please do not have any other text, or signature files, in the body of the message, or the server will reject your e-mail. - ---------------------------------------------- This message has been sent to the Ontario, Nova Scotia, Lunen-Links, PictouRoots, Colchester, British Columbia, Wiltshire-EMI, Roots-L, Watts, Census-Chat, and Canada-Census-Campaign mail lists. Please feel free to forward this posting, or any else I write regarding Post 1901 Census issues, to other mail lists, Genealogy or Historical Societies and Newsletters. Thank you for your support. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@bc.sympatico.ca Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352 Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/index.htm Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petiton now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm Read my column on Post 1901 Census News at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/gazette.htm Subscribe to the CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN mail list at CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L-request@rootsweb.com

Thomas, Let me help you out a bit on this one.. Col. James Winston Watts b. 19 Apr 1833 d. 3 Dec 1906 was the son of Richard Davis Watts and Isabella Eagen Newell. Richard Davis Watts b. 28 Dec 1793 d. 17 Jan 1848 was the son of James Watts and Elizabeth Durrett. There was a article on him (I believe a month or so ago) in the Watts On-Line newsletter. James Watts b. 21 Jan 1767 d. 7 Mar 1793 was the son of William Watts and Jane Hord. William Watts was the son of Thomas Watts b. abt 1732 (probably in Spotsylvania Co.) and died in 1749. His will was left in Culpeper but Culpeper Co. was not formed until 1749 so he lived most his adult life in Orange County. The land grant of 1728 is still in Orange Co. Thomas Watts was the son of Edward Watts. Edward also received a land grant in 1728 next to his son. There has been much written on the his family in the Watts On-Line newsletters. You can e-mail me directly for more details. Lori

am looking for a Genealogy Report on Lt. Col. James Winston Watts: 1. THOMAS1 WATTS was born in Culpeper ?, Virginia ?, and died April 13, 1763 in Culpeper, Virginia. He married ESTHER ? in Culpeper ?, Virginia ?. She was born in Culpeper ?, Virginia ?. Children of THOMAS WATTS and ESTHER ? 2 i. Elinor2 Watts. She married ? Cox3 ii. Richard Watts.+ 4 iii. WILLIAM WATTS, born Bef. 1751 in Culpeper, VA; died in Madison, Virginia. Generation No. 2 4. WILLIAM2 WATTS (THOMAS1) was born Bef. 1751 in Culpeper, VA, and died in Madison, Virginia. He married JANE HORD March 03, 1766 in Culpeper ?, Virginia ?. She was born Bef. 1751 in Culpeper, VA ?. Child of WILLIAM WATTS and JANE HORD is: + 5 i. JAMES3 WATTS, born January 27, 1767 in Albemarle Co., VA; died January 25, 1828 in Bedford, Virginia. Generation No. 3 5. JAMES3 WATTS (WILLIAM2, THOMAS1) was born January 27, 1767 in Albemarle Co., VA, and died January 25, 1828 in Bedford, Virginia. He married ELIZABETH DURRETT March 07, 1793 in Albemarle Co., VA, daughter of RICHARD DURRETT and ELIZABETH DAVIS. She was born December 15, 1775 in "Wakefield", Albemarle Co., VA, and died July 15, 1815 in Bedford Co., VA. Children of JAMES WATTS and ELIZABETH DURRETT are: 6 i. Pauline4 Watts. She married John W. Hamilton 7 ii. Frances Watts, born in Bedford ?, Virginia ?. He married (1) ? Douglas He married (2) ? Douglas He married (3) ? Douglas + 8 iii. Richard Watts, born December 28, 1793 in Alb? Bed?, Virginia ?; died January 17, 1848. + 9 iv. JANE HORD WATTS, born 1798 in Bedford Co., VA; died 1855 in Bedford Co., VA. + 10 v. Mary Eliza Watts, born March 15, 1801 in Bedford ?, Virginia ?; died Aft. 1833. Generation No. 4 8. Richard4 Watts (JAMES3, WILLIAM2, THOMAS1) was born December 28, 1793 in Alb? Bed?, Virginia ?, and died January 17, 1848. He married Isabella Newell May 18, 1826. She was born in Botetourt?, Virginia ?, and died July 18, 1866. Children of Richard Watts and Isabella Newell are: 11 i. John5 Watts. He married Rebecca Hart 12 ii. Frances Watts, born May 04, 1824. She married George M. Jones September 13, 1 13 iii. LT. COL. JAMES WINSTON WATTS, born April 19, 1832; died December 03, 1906. He married Mary Elizabeth Jones February 22, 1854. 14 iv. Richard Thomas Watts, born September 05, 1838; died September 21, 1910. He married Emma Margaret Hart April 22, 1874. 9. JANE HORD4 WATTS (JAMES3, WILLIAM2, THOMAS1) was born 1798 Anyone with information On Lt. Col. James Winston Watts, will be greatly appreciated. Am willing to swap information. Thank You, Tommy Markham

My Great Grandfather Benjamin Richard Markham b.may 2, 1835 in Bedford County, Va., and moved to Botetourt County, Va., when he was two years old, d. March 16, 1914, In 1856 Mr. B. R. Markham returned to Bedford County and secured employment with Lt. Col. James Winston Watts b. April 19, 1832, d. Dec. 03, 1906, near Bedford City. When Col. Watts had observed the sterling qualities of Mr. Markham he arranged for the young man to go home and take a course of study preparatory to taking charge of a large factory that the Colonel contemplated erecting on his place, but the war broke out and Mr. Markham shouldered his musket and went to the front under Col. Anderson of Buchanan. At the close of the war he returned to Bedford County and again entered the employ of Col. Watts with whom he remained until 1878, and as a partner having entire charge of the business after Col. Watts moved to Lynchburg along about 1868. Five years prior to leaving Col. Watts, he bought the Smith farm n! ear Lowry where he lived from 1878 to the close of his life, and where he reared a big family. In 1868 Mr. Markham married Jane Calpurnia Lee a cousin of Col. Watts, and daughter of Thomas Newell Lee, who lived at Otterville, Va. I am extending my Watts Line, and need help with this process. Anyone on the list that can help me with this branch of the family, I would appreciate very much. I also would be willing to share family information. Thank You, Tommy Markham

Greetings Listers One of our Post 1901 Census committee members, Holly MacKenzie, was recently interviewed by Maclean magazine regarding the popularity of genealogy research in Canada. She took the opportunity to explain the Post 1901 Census problem and it looks like someone listened. Holly sent me the message below which I think is GREAT news. I look forward to seeing what they have to say. This is the first article on Post 1901 Census in Canada that I am aware of that will have been published by a NATIONAL publication. Lets hope that they accurately reflect the situation. Please pass this notice on to any other mail lists to which you belong. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@bc.sympatico.ca Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352 Keep up to date on Post 1901 Census information at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/index.htm Download and circulate Post 1901 Census Petiton now from http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census/petition.htm Read my column on Post 1901 Census News at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/gazette.htm Subscribe to the CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN mail list at CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L-request@rootsweb.com Holly MacKenzie wrote: Hi Gordon, I just heard from Maclean's and the issue is scheduled to sell starting next Monday (13th) and will have a cover date of September 20th. Barring any unseen major occurrences, everything should go ahead. Should the Third World War break out, it will be pushed back a week. There will be a primary article on what is so attractive about genealogy and why genealogy is so big in Canada, and a secondary article about the post-1901 censuses. I don't know what is going to be in the articles, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Holly

----- Original Message ----- From: Muriel M. Davidson <Farquhar@netcom.ca> Sent: Saturday, 04 September, 1999 4:25 PM Subject: Let's Help GEORGE - and Ourselves!!! > For release > ------------- > To all: > There is an old saying: "Let George do it" -- but read the following > letter from a Canadian living where his work requires -- hopefully, we > will be able to change the saying to "Let's HELP George and ourselves". > > I will gladly answer queries from both sides of the border - Canadians > send your letters DIRECT - Free Postage. Non-Canadians may send to my > address. > > I hope to hear from many, > Muriel M. Davidson <Farquhar@netcom.ca> > > September 1, 1999 > > The Honourable Lorna Milne > Senate of Canada > Parliament Buildings > Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A4 > > Dear Senator Milne, > > I am writing to you to voice my support for opening the post-1901 > Canadian census records. As a Canadian citizen living in the U.S.A., I > do not have an MP to whom I can write and express my opinion. I am told > that you welcome letters from outside the country on this important > subject. > > As a professional genealogist, I live in New England and work in Boston > at the New England Historic Genealogical Society where I am the Canadian > specialist. I have led genealogical research tours for the Society to > different parts of Canada; authored and edited books on Canadian > research; and lectured all over North America on Canadian genealogical > research. I cannot stress to you strongly enough how important it is to > both our countries to have these records open to family historians and > to > scholars alike. I find the emphasis on confidentiality to be very > bizarre, especially when we are dealing with quite innocuous information > concerning people long gone. There is not much point to any > government's gathering information about its people if its people cannot > see and use it. > > Of the more than 18,000 members of the genealogical society where I > work, a very high percentage have Canadians roots and connections and > come to our library - a major centre for Canadian genealogical research > - to do as much research as they can there prior to travelling to Canada > on holiday or on research trips. Inability to identify places of origin > of their families would, and does, cause them great frustration and > often they cancel their plans to go to Canada to look up relatives or do > more research, thus affecting tourism and all that that implies. It > also, of course, causes a breakdown in communications and leads to a > lack of understanding between peoples, so important to our two > countries and our family historians. > > There are many reasons why access to the census records are important - > as many reasons as there are people who may want to use them. The idea > that Government can keep this data and not allow access to it is oddly > paternalistic, bordering on fascist. > > Canada has been called the best place in the world to live, and our > government one of the most responsive to its citizens' wishes. Now is > not the time to allow bureaucrats to horde information about our > families to which we have a moral right of access even if, at the > moment, we do not have a legal right of access. I am sure we can count > on you and other fair-minded Members to persuade Government to do the > right thing. > > With every good wish, I am > > George F. Sanborn > 24 Thornton Street > Derry, New Hampshire 03038-1628 > U.S.A. > (tax-payer of Hartsville, Prince Edward Island) > <melinde-and-george@mediaone.net> > CC: The Hon. John Manley and elected PEI Members of Parliament >

Greetings Listers Have you ever used information in Canada's Census records to find that great-great-grandfather James XXX was married to Mary, and that they had four daughters and five sons, most of whom you were previously unaware of? Have you been able to find that g-g-grandfather James was born DD-MM-YY and that Mary was born DD-MM-YY? Did you find their countries of origin? Did you find the ages and birthdates of their children? Did you find the location of their homestead and that in 1901 they owned one horse, two cows, and three sheep? Would you like to continue using Canada's Census records to find information like this? Did you know that the last Census of Canada that was released to the Public was for 1901? Are you aware that under current legislation in Canada THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER CENSUS RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC? Did you know that privacy/confidentiality clauses in Canada's Statistics Acts since 1906 over-ride clauses in the Privacy Act that allowed Census records containing personal/identifiable information to be released to the National Archives, and subsequently to the Public 92 years after collection? A Canada-wide committee of genealogists and historians, of which I am a part, are dedicated to obtaining release to the Public after a reasonable period of time, of Canada's Post 1901 Census records . We have been working on the internet encouraging interested genealogists and historians to write Members of Parliament, the Hon. John Manley - Minister for Industry and Minister responsible for Statistics Canada, and the Hon. Sheila Copps - Minister for Canada Heritage. The purpose of writing is to express our dismay with the current legislation and to urge them to take steps to remedy the situation. A formal Petition to the House of Commons of Canada has been drawn up and is being circulated Canada-wide. This petition, for citizens/residents of Canada to sign, urges the Government of Canada to take whatever steps necessary to retroactively amend Privacy/confidentiality clauses of Statistics Acts since 1906 to allow Release to the Public of Post 1901 Census records after a reasonable period, starting with the 1906 Census. This petition is downloadable from the Post 1901 Census Project page at http://www.globalgenealogy.com/census Available from the same website is a French Language petition, identical in content to the English version. These petitions will be presented to the House of Commons in October 1999. After many requests from people living outside of Canada, a petition to be signed by citizens/residents of countries other than Canada, but having roots in Canada, is also downloadable. This petition has been worded to compliment the petition to the House of Commons and will be used as support in the Senate by Senator Lorna Milne. Also available at this site is a more detailed explanation of the problem, sample letters to write to Members of Parliament and the appropriate Ministers, excerpts from Hansard that detail efforts by Senator Lorna Milne in the Senate of Canada, to bring attention to this problem, and links to other websites that have information regarding the problem and our campaign. There is a Scoreboard that lists all 301 Members of Parliament, their e-mail addresses, and shows how they would vote on a Bill to Release to the Public Post 1901 Census records. Click on your MP's name to bring up a correspondence log for him/her. Finally at this site are links to articles I have written on the Post 1901 Census campaign for the Global Gazette and for The Family Tree, as well as a link to a speech given by Senator Lorna Milne to the Ontario Genealogy Society convention. I have set up a mailing list to be used as a forum for genealogists and historians interested in Post 1901 Census issues. Everyone having an interest in Canada's Census information is more than welcome to join the list and participate in the discussion. To join this mailing list send an e-mail to CANADA-CENSUS-CAMPAIGN-L-request@rootsweb.com with ONLY the word SUBSCRIBE in the Subject line and the body of the message. Please do not have any other text, or signature files, in the body of the message, or the server will reject your e-mail. Please feel free to forward this e-mail to other lists to which you belong. Happy Hunting. Gordon A. WATTS gordon_watts@bc.sympatico.ca Port Coquitlam, BC ICQ # 9183352

Childress is in Texas. My records do not show a Nina in that family though. Good Luck -----Original Message----- From: Dennis High <high@thegrid.net> To: WATTS-L@rootsweb.com <WATTS-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Sunday, August 29, 1999 8:11 PM Subject: Re: [WATTS-L] look-ups-Cates & Watts >Cyndi, > >What state is Childress in? > >Karen Watts High > >Pathoscafe@aol.com wrote: > >> Hi, >> >> Looking for ancestors... (who isn't!) >> >> Richard Albert Watts died 5/1/1907 in Childress >> Sally Jane Cates Watts died 1936 in Childress... I believe she is buried at >> Tell Methodist Cemetery.Their son William Frederick Black Watts was born in >> Franklin Co in 1884 so they didn't arrive in Childress until after that... >> His daughter >> Nina Opal Watts was born 8/24/1907 in Childress >>

The following was printed in issue #46 of the WATTS' ON-LINE Newsletter about Isaac Watts. If you are interesed in receiving this free newsletter via e-mail or back issues please e-mail me directly. Hope this helps some. I really don't know much about the family but there is a source listed that you might be able to find out more. Lori Isaac Watts 1674-1748 (I have had several people over the years ask about Isaac Watts,the famous Watts who wrote hymns. Below is a article I found while searching the net. It is printed for your benefit by permission) Born: July 17, 1674, Southampton, England. Died: November 25, 1748. Isaac Watts wrote some 600 hymns in his lifetime. Buried: Bunhill Fields Cemetery, London, England. Hymnist John Bunyan is buried nearby. The Father of English Hymnody PICK UP ALMOST ANY modern hymnal, look in the index listing the composers of the hymns, and the name "Watts, Isaac" has a long list of hymns beside it. In his long life, Watts wrote over 600 hymns, and many of them continue to be used by English-speaking Christians to worship and praise the same Saviour Watts loved and served. Isaac was born July 27, 1674 at Southampton, England, the eldest of nine children. His father was a Dissenter from the Anglican Church and on at least one occasion was thrown in jail for not following the Church of England. Isaac followed his father's strongly biblical faith. Isaac was a very intelligent child who loved books and learned to read early. He began learning Latin at age four and went on to learn Greek, Hebrew, and French as well. From an early age Isaac had a propensity to rhyming, and often even his conversation was in rhyme. His father became quite annoyed at this and told him to stop. When the rhyming persisted, the father started to whip the boy, and little Isaac cried out: "O father, do some pity take And I will no more verses make." When he was seven, Isaac wrote an acrostic poem on his name which reflected his theological training: I am a vile polluted lump of earth So I've continued ever since my birth; Although Jehovah grace does give me, As sure this monster Satan will deceive me. Come therefore, Lord, from Satan's claws relieve me. Because Isaac would not follow the national Church of England, he could not attend the Universities of Cambridge or Oxford. Instead, he attended an academy sponsored by Independent Christians. Af ter completing his formal schooling, Watts spent five years as a tutor. During those years he began to devote himself more diligently than before to the study of the Scriptures. In 1707 he published his first edition of Hymns and Spiritual Songs. Ugly Isaac Though he had a beautiful soul, apparently Isaac Watts was not much to look at. He was frail and often sickly. His head seemed too large for his five foot tall body; his small, piercing eyes and hooked nose did not enhance his appearance any. A lady one fell in love with Isaac by reading his poetry and a correspondence ensued. Whe she met his face to face, however, she was very disillusioned, though he fell in love with her. He asked her to marry him, but her reply was, "Mr. Watts, I only wish I could admire the casket (jewelry box) as much as I admire the jewel." Watts never married, though the two remained good friends for over 30 years. Fever Forces New Direction For a few years Watts served as an assistant and then pastor to an Independent congregation in London. A violent and continual fever from which he never recovered forced him to leave the pastorate. Sir Thomas Abney received Watts into his home, and Sir Thomas' family continued to provide a home and serve as Watts' patrons for the next 36 years! Though naturally quick to resentment and anger, the Lord used Watts' sufferings to produce a gentle, modest, and charitable spirit. Out of his compassion, one-third of his small allowance was given to the poor. Watts' tenderness to children can be seen reflected in his lovely Divine Songs for Children, published in 1715. Beholding the "Brighter Discoveries" Watts' most published book was his Psalms of David, first published in 1719. In his poetic paraphrases of the psalms, Watts adapted the psalms for use by the Church and made David speak "the language of a Christian." Watts explained his method, . . . Where the Psalmist describes religion by the fear of God, I have often joined faith and love to it. Where he speaks of the pardon of sin through the mercies of God, I have added the merits of a Savior. Where he talks of sacrificing goats or bullocks, I rather choose to mention the sacrifice of Christ, the lamb of God . . Where he promises abundance of wealth, honor, and long life, I have changed some of these typical blessings for grace, glory, and life eternal, which are brought to light by the Gospel, and promised in the New Testament. And I am fully satisfied, that more honor is done to our blessed Saviour by speaking his name, his graces, his actions, in his own language, according to the brighter discoveries he hath now made, than by going back again to the Jewish forms of worship, and the language of types and figures. Examples of Watts' method can be seen in his paraphrases of Psalm 72 into the hymn "Jesus Shall Reign Wher'er the Sun," Psalm 90 into "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," and Psalm 98 into "Joy to the World." Many Thanks, Ben! Benjamin Franklin first published Watts' psalm paraphrases in America in 1729. His hymns were first published in Boston in 1739. Watts' hymns gloried in the power, wisdom, and goodness of his majestic God. During the American revivals of 1735-1739, known as the Great Awakening, George Whitefield used Watts' hymns and songs in his meetings. They were well-loved by those Americans of the Revolutionary period. Multi-Talented Man Besides over 600 hymns, Watts published 52 other works, including a book of logic used in the universities, books on grammar, pedagogy, ethics, psychology, astronomy, geography, three volumes of sermons, and 29 treatises on theology. After his death on November 25, 1748, a monument to Watts was erected in Westminster Abbey. His greatest monument, however, are the hymns to his God still used by Christ's church. Why not look in your hymnal's index and notice how many familiar hymns were penned by the Father of English hymns? GLIMPSES is published 12 times per year by Christian History Institute, Box 540, Worcester, PA 19490. Telephone 610-584-1893 Fax 610-584-4610. Ken Curtis, Editor. Writer, Diana Severance, Klein,TX I.S.D. Copyright 1992 by Christian History Institute. All rights reserved.

Cyndi, What state is Childress in? Karen Watts High Pathoscafe@aol.com wrote: > Hi, > > Looking for ancestors... (who isn't!) > > Richard Albert Watts died 5/1/1907 in Childress > Sally Jane Cates Watts died 1936 in Childress... I believe she is buried at > Tell Methodist Cemetery.Their son William Frederick Black Watts was born in > Franklin Co in 1884 so they didn't arrive in Childress until after that... > His daughter > Nina Opal Watts was born 8/24/1907 in Childress > > I'm hoping to find a birth record, obits, death notices, tombstones, tax or > deed or census records for the period from 1884-1936. Can anyone help me > find any of these? (I've checked the Genweb site) I'd like to get > photocopies/photographs of original records if possible and tombstones (and > will gladly pay for any copying, film, or postage!), but just some insight on > how to find these records in Childress county would be very much appreciated! > > For instance, is there a local newspaper that was publishing back then &, if > so, is there an archive I could write to?? > Is there an index to cemetery lists & does someone have access for a look-up? > Is there a funeral home that might have records from that period (1907 > &19363)? > How can I find birth records if they exist? > > Does anyone have access to census, tax or deed records? > > Any links or look-up people out there? I really need some help with these > folks! > Thanks! > Cyndi in Baltimore

Diane, Isaac Watts the Hymn writer never married or had children. If you are related it would have to be through another line. For more information see the Watts' on-Line newsletters. Lori

Here I am again, still looking for Jacob Andrew Watts b abt 1846 in Talladega Co, AL. Some new information is that he may have had a brother, George Wesley Watts, who also went to Frost, TX, maybe to be near Jacob Watts as he went to TX from AR in c 1898. There is also an Artie E. Watts from Morgan Co, AL b c 1870s who is buried near Jacob Watts in Navarro Co, TX. I am having a hard time finding out about this man. Any help would be deeply appreciated. Elaine

Hello--- Does this descendents chart look familiar to anyone? Also my family has this story that we are related to Issac Watts the hymn writer who wrote "Joy to the World" and a few other common ones. Diane Apostolakos dianea@compuserve.com Descendants of William James Watts 1 William James Watts . +Elizabeth Burrie ....... 2 William Isaac Watts 1838 - 1907 ............ +Amelia Knight 1838 - 1926 ...................3 Thomas Watts ....................... +Marian ..............................4 Marian Watts ................... *2nd Wife of Thomas Watts: ....................... +Dora ..............................4 George William Watts - 1953 ................................. +Olga Alice Fredrickson - 1978 ...................3 Ernest (Ernie) Watts ....................... +Nell Nutman ...................3 William Watts ....................... +Hetty ..............................4 Amelia Watts ..............................4 Ruth Watts ..............................4 Marion Watts ..............................4 William (Bill) Watts ...................3 Annie Watts ...................3 Annie (Nance) Watts ....................... +Robert Howe ..............................4 Gladys Howe ..............................4 Dudley Howe ..............................4 Ida Howe ...................3 Elizabeth Watts 1860 - 1944 ....................... +Charles Older 1859 - 1945 ..............................4 Amelia Jane (Millie) Older 1886 - 1921 .................................. +Frank Louis Swan 1885 - 1947 ..............................4 Oliver Older 1888 - 1890 ..............................4 Marion Lillian Alice Older 1890 - 1890 ..............................4 Dorothy Alice Older 1891 - 1989 .................................. +Gordon Leslie McDonald - 1977 ..............................4 Pearl Elizabeth Older 1894 - 1992 .................................. +Elmer Ralph Ziegler 1895 - 1943 ..............................4 Leon Cromwell Older 1896 - 1977 .................................. +Edna Letitia Thompson 1898 - 1934 .............................. *2nd Wife of Leon Cromwell Older: .................................. +Florence Pearl Hagenson 1900 - 1996 ..............................4 Violet Ruth Older 1903 - 1996 .................................. +Francis Alexander Teass 1902 - 1988 ...................3 James (Jim) Watts 1863 - 1955 ....................... +Lillian F. King 1863 - 1937 ..............................4 Ernest Watts - 1956 ..............................4 Lillian Watts 1894 - 1988 .................................. A. J. Beaudette ..............................4 Florence Watts 1898 - 1935 .................................. +Eichstedt ...................3 Amelia (Min) Watts 1870 - 1962 ....................... +William George (Bill) Nesbitt 1868 - 1955 ..............................4 William George (Will) Nesbitt 1891 - 1916 ..............................4 Ernest Oliver (Ernie) Nesbitt 1892 - 1976 .................................. +Alice King .............................. *2nd Wife of Ernest Oliver (Ernie) Nesbitt: .................................. +Nellie ..............................4 Harold Matthew Nesbitt 1893 - 1958 .................................. +Emily ..............................4 Amelia (Millie) Nesbitt 1900 - 1916 ..............................4 John (Jack) Nesbitt 1904 - 1991 .................................. +Lillian Kirby ..............................4 Annie Emily (Nancy) Nesbitt 1908 - .................................. +Sydney Ernest English 1905 - 1954 ..............................4 Percival Edward (Percy) Nesbitt 1912 - .................................. +Nellie Milton

Hi, Looking for ancestors... (who isn't!) Richard Albert Watts died 5/1/1907 in Childress Sally Jane Cates Watts died 1936 in Childress... I believe she is buried at Tell Methodist Cemetery.Their son William Frederick Black Watts was born in Franklin Co in 1884 so they didn't arrive in Childress until after that... His daughter Nina Opal Watts was born 8/24/1907 in Childress I'm hoping to find a birth record, obits, death notices, tombstones, tax or deed or census records for the period from 1884-1936. Can anyone help me find any of these? (I've checked the Genweb site) I'd like to get photocopies/photographs of original records if possible and tombstones (and will gladly pay for any copying, film, or postage!), but just some insight on how to find these records in Childress county would be very much appreciated! For instance, is there a local newspaper that was publishing back then &, if so, is there an archive I could write to?? Is there an index to cemetery lists & does someone have access for a look-up? Is there a funeral home that might have records from that period (1907 &19363)? How can I find birth records if they exist? Does anyone have access to census, tax or deed records? Any links or look-up people out there? I really need some help with these folks! Thanks! Cyndi in Baltimore

Does anyone know of a Watts who went to New Brunswick as a loyalist during the Revolutionary War. He may have been from Virginia. My g-g-grandfather Charles Watts was in the St.John New Brunswick area when he married Elizabeth Whelpley. The family story says they were from a loyalist family. They were parents of my g-g-grandfather, James Michael Watts. Do any of these names ring a bell with anyone? I'm really stuck on this one. Ruth

Hi, This post interested me because I have a line of Watts in this area also--can't link to your post, but maybe we can figure something out! My line is a little strange-2 mysteries... Mystery 1 Thomas WATTS married Fenattie Watts ca 1807. Fenattie, b. ca 1775 in Faquier Co, VA died 1832 in GA and was daughter of Thomas Watts, Jr of Prince Wm, Faquier and Greene Counties, VA. Who is the Thomas Watts she married???? He was said to be born ca 1775 in VA and died after 1832 in AL. Their child, Ludwell P Watts (not to be confused with at least 2 other Ludwells) was born 4/24/1807, m. at least twice (once in Monroe Co, AL) and died in 1877 in Pine Apple, Wilcox Co, TN. I have not found his gravesite thru the Genweb pages... Mystery2 Ludwell had 2 children before marrying Mary MYRICK 8/29/1857 in Monroe Co, TN. One was born in April of 1857! I'm guessing that Ludwell's first wife died in childbirth or shortly thereafter--who was Ludwell's first wife and the mother of Richard Albert and Malcome McMillan Watts????? Three cheers to anyone who can help (and please forgive the multiple posts)!!! Thanks, Cyndi in Baltimore

I'm looking for the death dates for William Henry WATTS and his wife, Louisa SIMPSON OWENS WATTS. W.H. was born in 1846 in Mississippi and Louisa was born June, 1838, in Tenn.. They were married in 1868 either in Tenn. or Graves Co., Ky. They then lived in Clay Co., Ark. I believe that they might have died and were buried in Memphis, Tenn., where their son, W.H. WATTS, Jr., lived. Would appreciate hearing from anyone that could help. Barbara McKeel bjmck@stlnet.com

I am looking for information on Roland Watts and Jane Causby (wife) From Morganton NC from 1880-1900 time period. Would appreciate any help. So far I have been unable to find any information on Roland Watts family. Donna Karns