Watts-Jones Family Papers
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Date
Creator
Extent
Language of Materials
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.
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.
Arrangement
The Watts-Jones Family Papers have been divided into the following series:
Missing Title
- 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
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.
Subjects
Organizations
Families
Genres
People
Topics
Places
Occupations
Access Restrictions
Materials in this collection may be stored offsite. For more information on making arrangements to consult them, please visit www.nyhistory.org/library/visit.
Use Restrictions
Taking images of documents from the library collections for reference purposes by using hand-held cameras and in accordance with the library's photography guidelines is encouraged. As an alternative, patrons may request up to 20 images per day from staff.
Application to use images from this collection for publication should be made in writing to: Department of Rights and Reproductions, The New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024-5194, rightsandrepro@nyhistory.org. Phone: (212) 873-3400 ext. 282.
Copyrights and other proprietary rights may subsist in individuals and entities other than the New-York Historical Society, in which case the patron is responsible for securing permission from those parties. For fuller information about rights and reproductions from N-YHS visit: https://www.nyhistory.org/about/rights-reproductions
Preferred Citation
This collection should be cited as Watts-Jones Family Papers, The New-York Historical Society.
Location of Materials
Provenance
Purchase June, 1944.
About this Guide
Edition of this Guide
Repository
Series I: Watts Family Papers, 1800-1831
Scope and Contents note
This 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.
Subseries I: Correspondence, 1806-1831
Scope and Contents note
The 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.
Watts Family Correspondence, undated
Watts Family Correspondence, 1806-1809
Watts Family Correspondence, 1810
Watts Family Correspondence, 1811
Watts Family Correspondence, 1812
Watts Family Correspondence, 1813-1815
Watts Family Correspondence, 1816-1819
Watts Family Correspondence, 1820
Watts Family Correspondence, 1831
Subseries II: Legal Documents, 1803-1820
Scope and Contents note
This 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.
Family Legal Documents, 1803-1820
Will of Charles Watts, Sr., 1803
Legal Papers re Estate of Charles Watts, Sr., 1811-1816
Legal Papers re Hudson River Ferry, 1814-1819
Legal Papers with Charles Watts, Jr. Acting as Attorney, 1813-1819
Subseries III: Financial Documents, 1800-1820
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains accounts, bills, and receipts from both personal and business expenses.
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, undated
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, 1800-1805
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, 1806-1810
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, 1811-1815
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, 1816-1820
Financial Papers re Hudson River Ferry, 1819-1820
Finacial Papers re Estate of Charles Watts, Sr., 1811-1816
Financial Documents re Family Property, 1807-1814
Prices Current, 1809-1811
Helen Watts- House Expenses, 1808-1811
Series II: Floyd-Jones Family Papers, 1816-1904
Scope and Contents note
Most 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.
Subseries I: Correspondence, 1818-1904
Scope and Contents note
The 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.
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, undated
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, 1818-1831
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, 1833-1846
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence (Sarah Floyd-Jones), 1847-1855
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, 1868-1869
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, 1876-1901
Floyd-Jones Family Correspondence, Letters of Introduction for Edward Floyd-Jones, 1904
Subseries II: Legal Documents, 1817-1841
Scope and Contents note
This subseries contains family deeds and titles as well as the papers and certificates related to the Queens County Militia.
Floyd-Jones Family Legal Documents, 1817-1841
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 note
The financial subseries includes the accounts, bills, and receipts of Henry Floyd-Jones.
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, 1816-1846
Subseries IV: Family Histories, undated
Scope and Contents note
This subseries consists of family genealogies and the history of a family candle.
Family Histories, undated
Series III: Non-Family Members, 1807-1905
Scope and Contents note
This 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.
Correspondence, 1807-1905
Accounts, Bills, and Receipts, 1809-1837
Legal Papers, 1813-1863
Real Estate Papers, 1842, undated
Notes and Writings, undated
Series IV: Printed Material, 1861-1876
Scope and Contents note
This 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.