Guide to the Watts-Jones Family Papers
1800-1905
(Bulk 1806-1850)
MS 681
New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
Phone: (212) 873-3400
© 2011 New-York Historical Society
Collection processed by Maurita Baldock
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
on April 09, 2014
Description is in
English.
Descriptive Summary
| Title: | Watts-Jones Family Papers |
|---|---|
| Dates: | 1800-1905 (bulk 1806-1850) |
| Abstract: | The collection contains correspondence, legal papers, financial documents, and printed material from the Watts and Floyd-Jones families. The material documents the family lives and business matters of Charles Watts Sr., Charles Watts, Jr., Henry Floyd-Jones, and Sarah Floyd-Jones. |
| Quantity: | 1.1 Linear feet (3 boxes) |
| Location note: | Manuscript cage |
| Call Phrase: | MS 681 |
Historical Note
Charles Watts, Sr. (17??-1811) was a cabinet-maker and merchant of Charleston, South Carolina. He married Catherine Beard and had two children, Charles Watts, Jr. and Helen Watts (1792-1872). Charles Watts, Jr. began work as a merchant for J & L Gladstones Merchants (Liverpool) but later became an attorney. Around 1818, he started a business with Moses Isaacs to run a boat propelled by horses on the Hudson River from Christopher Street to Weehawken, NJ. By 1820, the business had failed, and he continued to practice law.
In 1816, Helen Watts married Henry Floyd-Jones (1792-1862), a merchant with the company Jones and Bailey and a Major General of the Queens County Militia, 1st Division Infantry of the New York State Militia. Henry Floyd-Jones was also a member of the New York Assembly from 1829-1830 and a member of the State Senate from 1836-1840. Helen Watts and Henry Floyd-Jones had seven children: Charles (1817-?), Sarah (1818-1900), Henry (1820-1849), Edward (1823-1902), DeLancey (1826-?), Helen Watts, (1827-1855), and Josephine Katherine (1832-1905).
Sources:
Smith, Harry J. Jr. The Romance of the Hoboken Ferry. New York: Prentice Hall, 1931.
Floyd-Jones, Thomas. Thomas Jones: Fort Neck, Queens County, Long Island, 1695 and His Descendants the Floyd-Jones Family, With Connections from the Year 1066. New York, 1906.
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains correspondence, legal papers, financial documents, family histories, and printed material from the Watts and Floyd-Jones families. Although some family matters are discussed, the material mainly documents the business matters of Charles Watts Sr., Charles Watts, Jr., and Henry Floyd-Jones. There are some personal letters to Charles Watts, Jr. and Sarah Floyd-Jones as well as legal documents regarding the estate of Charles Watts, Sr.
Some of the correspondence, legal material, and financial documents relate to Charles Watts Jr.'s efforts to run a ferry on the Hudson propelled by horses. Letters dated 1820 from Henry Floyd-Jones to Charles Watts, Jr. urge him to get out of the business and imply that he was in financial trouble. A 1811 letter describes a hurricane and tornado in Charleston and a 1822 letter to Henry Floyd-Jones describes a yellow fever outbreak in New York. One letter to Charles Watts, Sr. dated January 1807 remarks on appropriate punishments for men guilty of sodomy.
Arrangement
The Watts-Jones Family Papers have been divided into the following series:
- Series I: Watts Family Papers, 1800-1831
- Series II: Floyd-Jones Family Papers, 1816-1904
- Series III: Non-Family Members, 1807-1905
- Series IV: Printed Material, 1861-1876
Access Points
Subject Names
- Bailey, James S.
- Campbell, Alexander
- Fisk, Moses, 1759-1843
- Floyd-Jones, Helen Watts
- Floyd-Jones, Henry
- Floyd-Jones, Sarah
- Watts, Charles, d. ca. 1811
- Watts, Charles, Jr.
Document Type
- Accounts
- Correspondence
- Ephemera
Subject Organizations
- Jones and Bailey
- New York (State). Militia
Subject Topics
- Ferries--New York (State)
- Hurricanes--South Carolina--Charleston
- Steam-engines--Drawings
- Woodworking machinery--Drawings
- Yellow fever--South Carolina--Charleston--1822
Subject Places
- Charleston (S.C.)--Commerce
- Liverpool (England)--Commerce
- New York (N.Y.)--Commerce
Family Name(s)
- Floyd-Jones family
- Watts family
Occupation(s)
- Cabinetmakers
- Lawyers
- Merchants
Administrative Information
Provenance
Purchase June, 1944.
Access Restrictions
Open to qualified researchers.
Photocopying undertaken by staff only. Limited to twenty exposures of stable, unbound material per day. (Researchers may not accrue unused copy amounts from previous days.)
Use Restrictions
Permission to quote from this collection in a publication must be requested and granted
in writing. Send permission requests, citing the name of the collection from which
you wish to quote, to
Library Director
The New-York Historical Society
170 Central Park West
New York, NY 10024
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as Watts-Jones Family Papers, The New-York Historical Society.
Container List
Series I: Watts Family Papers, 1800-1831
Scope and Contents noteThis series contains the papers relating to the personal and business affairs of the members of the Watts family. Most of the series consists of documents relating to Charles Watts, Jr. and Charles Watts, Sr., although some correspondence from Helen Watts is included. It is not always clear which Charles Watts is represented. |
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| Subseries I: Correspondence, 1806-1831
Scope and Contents noteThe letters are arranged chronologically and consist of incoming correspondence to Charles Watts, Sr. and Charles Watts, Jr. There are a few letters from Helen Watts to her father, Charles Watts, Sr. The letters reflect the business and personal affairs of both men. The correspondence details Charles Watt Sr.'s businesses in Charleston, New York, and Liverpool and Charles Watts Jr.'s time as a merchant and an attorney. The financial troubles of Charles Watts, Jr are well documented. Letters dating from 1820 from Henry Floyd-Jones discourage Charles Watts, Jr. from remaining in the business of running the horse ferry to New Jersey. One letter to Charles Watts dated January 27, 1807 contains remarks on appropriate punishments for men guilty of sodomy. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box: 1 | Folder : 1 | Watts Family Correspondence |
undated | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 2 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1806-1809 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 3 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1810 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 4 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1811 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 5 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1812 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 6 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1813-1815 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 7 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1816-1819 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 8 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1820 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 9 | Watts Family Correspondence |
1831 | |
| Subseries II: Legal Documents, 1803-1820
Scope and Contents noteThis subseries contains legal papers of the Watts family including deeds, indentures, estate papers, and the will of Charles Watts, Sr. It includes documentation of a lawsuit against Charles Watts, Jr. for a physical assault. The subseries also consists of legal papers regarding the running of the horse ferry to New Jersey and documents from cases with Charles Watts, Jr. serving as an attorney. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 10 | Family Legal Documents |
1803-1820 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 11 | Will of Charles Watts, Sr. |
1803 | |
| Box: 1 | Folder : 12 | Legal Papers re Estate of Charles Watts, Sr. |
1811-1816 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 1 | Legal Papers re Hudson River Ferry |
1814-1819 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 2 | Legal Papers with Charles Watts, Jr. Acting as Attorney |
1813-1819 | |
| Subseries III: Financial Documents, 1800-1820
Scope and Contents noteThis subseries contains accounts, bills, and receipts from both personal and business expenses. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 3 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
undated | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 4 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
1800-1805 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 5 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
1806-1810 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 6 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
1811-1815 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 7 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
1816-1820 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 8 | Financial Papers re Hudson River Ferry |
1819-1820 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 9 | Finacial Papers re Estate of Charles Watts, Sr. |
1811-1816 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 10 | Financial Documents re Family Property |
1807-1814 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 11 | Prices Current |
1809-1811 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 12 | Helen Watts- House Expenses |
1808-1811 | |
|
|
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Series II: Floyd-Jones Family Papers, 1816-1904
Scope and Contents noteMost of the material in this series relates to the business dealings of Henry Floyd-Jones. Other family members represented in the series include Sarah, Edward, and Marie Floyd-Jones. |
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| Subseries I: Correspondence, 1818-1904
Scope and Contents noteThe majority of the correspondence is letters to Henry Floyd-Jones regarding militia matters and the business of Jones and Bailey. An August 1822 letter to him mentions a yellow fever outbreak in New York City. Frequent correspondents with Henry Floyd-Jones include Thomas Delancey and Henry Nicole. The few letters to Sarah Floyd-Jones, daughter of Henry Floyd-Jones and Helen Watts, relate to family matters such as the deaths of relatives. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 13 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence |
undated | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 14 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence |
1818-1831 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 15 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence |
1833-1846 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 16 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence (Sarah Floyd-Jones) |
1847-1855 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 17 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence |
1868-1869 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 18 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence |
1876-1901 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 19 | Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, Letters of Introduction for Edward Floyd-Jones |
1904 | |
| Subseries II: Legal Documents, 1817-1841
Scope and Contents noteThis subseries contains family deeds and titles as well as the papers and certificates related to the Queens County Militia. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 20 | Floyd-Jones Family Legal Documents |
1817-1841 | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 21 | Legal Papers re Henry F. Jones's position as Major General of Queens County Militia |
1826-1841 | |
| Subseries III: Financial Documents, 1816-1846
Scope and Contents noteThe financial subseries includes the accounts, bills, and receipts of Henry Floyd-Jones. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 22 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
1816-1846 | |
| Subseries IV: Family Histories, undated
Scope and Contents noteThis subseries consists of family genealogies and the history of a family candle. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 2 | Folder : 23 | Family Histories |
undated | |
|
|
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Series III: Non-Family Members, 1807-1905
Scope and Contents noteThis series contains documents in which a person is either unidentified or the person's relationship to the Watts or Floyd-Jones families is unclear. Individuals include Alexander Campbell, George W. Scudder, and George Wilkes. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 1 | Correspondence |
1807-1905 | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 2 | Accounts, Bills, and Receipts |
1809-1837 | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 3 | Legal Papers |
1813-1863 | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 4 | Real Estate Papers |
1842, undated | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 5 | Notes and Writings |
undated | |
|
|
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Series IV: Printed Material, 1861-1876
Scope and Contents noteThis series contains printed items such as drawings, lists, an award, and a theater bill. None of the items include the names of Watts or Floyd-Jones family members. |
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| Container 1 | Container 2 | Title | Date | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 6 | Drawings of a Steam Engine and a Wood Splitting Machine |
[1871] | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 7 | Theater Bill |
1861 | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 8 | Award from Philadelphia Internation Exhibition |
1876 | |
| Box: 3 | Folder : 9 | Printed Lists |
undated | |
|
|
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