James Watt family papers
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Date
Creator
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Abstract
The James Watt family papers, covering the period from 1840 to 1899, document the early years of the Watt family as new immigrants to New York from Scotland. Items in the collection include correspondence from James Watt to relatives in Scotland, including his parents and brother-in-law, Peter Machray; a notebook listing family birthdates and birthplaces; receipts addressed to Machray for gas and rent in Scotland; and a receipt for James Watt's pew rental at the Lawrence Street Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. Correspondence details Barbara Watt's voyage from Scotland to New York with three young children, and the family's impressions of living in New York as immigrants.
Biographical note
James Watt (1821-1870) and his wife Barbara Machray Watt (1822-1902) were natives of Aberdeen, Scotland. In 1848, James immigrated to America; Barbara and sons James (b. 1844), William (b. 1846), and Peter (b. 1849) sailed on a later ship and arrived in New York in September of 1849. The Watts first lived in Astoria, Queens, where their fourth son, George (b. 1851), was born. The family moved to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. around 1853, where twins Thomas (1854-1855) and Joseph (1854-1855), son Robert (b. 1856), and daughter Ann (b. 1858) were born. The Watts finally settled in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, where son Thomas was born in 1861.
Scope and Contents
The James Watt family papers, covering the period from 1840 to 1899, document the early years of the Watt family as new immigrants to New York from Scotland. Items in the collection include correspondence from James Watt to relatives in Scotland, including his parents and brother-in-law, Peter Machray; a notebook listing family birthdates and birthplaces; receipts addressed to Machray for gas and rent in Scotland; and a receipt for James Watt's pew rental at the Lawrence Street Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn. Correspondence details Barbara Watt's voyage from Scotland to New York with three young children, and the family's impressions of living in New York as immigrants.
Photographs in the collection include a tintype of James Watt, Sr.; tintype of sons James, William, Peter, and George Watt; cabinet card of Barbara Watt; cabinet card of James Watt, Jr.; cabinet card of George Watt; portrait of Robert Watt; portrait of Ann Watt; portrait of Thomas Watt (b. 1861); and cartes-de-visite of George Watt wearing traditional Scottish dress.
Subjects
Families
Genres
People
Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Conditions Governing Use
Reproduction rights for photographs have not been evaluated. Please consult library staff for more information.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Edith Fenner, date unknown.
About this Guide
Processing Information
Minimally processed to the collection level.
This collection combines two accessions: 1977.633 and V1997.071.
