Daniel Henry WATTS

     
     Daniel Henry WATTS was born on 19 October 1829 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, son of Abraham WATTS and Lucelia HERRIN.¹
     Daniel Henry WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 1 June 1830, in the household of Abraham WATTS in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.² He was a farmer. He bought land two miles west of Coaling, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama from Benjamim N. and Nancy Jane Clements on 17 December 1853. He purchased the 40 acres of west half of northwest quarter, section 14, township 22, range 8 west, for fifty dollars and twelve cents. He also purchased the west half of the southwest quarter of the same section. Other landowners in this section were Jacob Oswalt, Benjamin Clements, Israel Clements, James Clements, and Hardy Clements.³
     Daniel Henry WATTS appeared on a census, enumerated 1855, in the household of Abraham WATTS in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.⁴ He purchased a government land patent 1 June 1858 in Tuscaloosa County. He bought 39.98 acres from the Tuscaloosa Land Office being the southeast quarter of the southwest quarter of section 11, township 22, range 8 west.⁵ He purchased a government land patent 1 June 1858 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He purchased at the Tuscaloosa Land Office 120.28 acres in two lots, the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 14, township 22, range 8 west. This is about two miles south of Coaling..^3,6
     Daniel married Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER, daughter of Jesse WEAVER and Rebecca SANFORD, on 24 November 1858 in residence of Jesse Weaver, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The ceremony was performed by H. P. Hudson, justice of peace.⁷ He and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER were methodists and attended Andrews Chapel Methodist Church.⁸
     Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 25 August 1860 in Collins Beat, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as David H. Watt [Daniel], a farmer, age 31; Deliah E. Watt [Dorothy], a seamstress, age 21; and Nancy J. R. Watt, age 7 months. All were born in Alabama. The value of their personal property was $100. Living next door was Dorothy's sister, Malinda Isabella, and her husband, Joshua Moses. Their daughter, Sarah, would later marry Daniel's brother, Phillip.⁹
     Daniel began military service at age 32 on 1 April 1862 in Addison (near Brookwood), Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, enlisting as a private in Capt. John C. Adam's Co. D, 36th Alabama Infantry, CSA during the War Between the States. The regiment served in Gen. Clayton's and later Gen. Holtzclaw's brigade in the Army of Tennessee. The company muster roll describes Daniel as age 32, height 5 ft. 9 inches, with blue eyes, red hair, and florid complexion. It said he was born in Tuscaloosa County. Also listed was Morgan Watts, age 22, with same description. His name was crossed off the roll. This was Daniel's brother, who later enlsted in the 43rd Alabama.¹⁰
     Daniel Henry WATTS ended military service on 13 August 1862 in near Mobile, Alabama. He had developed ulcers on his legs.
     Daniel Henry WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1866 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as three males under 10 [John, George, Joshua], one male 30-40 [Daniel], two females 10-20 [Nancy & ?], and one female 20-30 [Dorothy]. They lived in township 21, range 8W.¹¹
     Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 10 July 1870 in 15th Precinct, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Daniel Watts, a 40-year-old farmer with real estate valued at $184.00. He state that he was born in Alabama but the birthplaces of his parents are not given. Living with him are his wife, Dorothy, age 31; daughter, Rebecca, age 10; son, John, age 8; son, George, age 6; son, Joshua, age 4; and twins Louis and Bethona, age 3 months. Living next door were Rufus and Sarah Herring and Daniel and Barbary Snider.¹²
     Daniel Henry WATTS and Dorothy Elizabeth WEAVER appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 1 June 1880 in Smallwoods, Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. The household was listed as Daniel Watts, age 53, farmer; wife Dollie, age 45; son Garner [John], age 19, farm laborer; son George, age 17, farm laborer; daughter Thansy, age 15; son Brad, age 13; and daughter Lina, age 11. All were born in Alabama. The birthplaces of Daniel and Dorothy's parents is not listed.¹³ He witnessed the marriage of George Weaver WATTS and Adelia Reed on 7 January 1883 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama.^14,15 He purchased a government land patent 16 August 1889 in Tuscaloosa County. This was an original homestead claim for 40.07 acres purchased at the Montgomery Land Office, the lot being the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 20, township 21, range 8 west. This was the site of Daniel and Dolly's home near Andrews Chapel Methodist Church on Keene's Mill Road in Cottonwood..¹⁶
     Daniel Henry WATTS died on 24 September 1897 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama, at age 67. At the time of his death, Daniel lived 1.5 miles from Henry Weaver's farm, about one mile from Jesse Weaver and less than one mile from land that belonged to Rufus Herring, the nephew of Lucelia Herring Watts. The Old Herring Place is located in what is now Camp Horne, a Boy Scouts Camp. A section of the camp is called the Old Watts Place.³ He was buried in the Old Snyder Cemetery, near Coaling, Tuscaloosa County.¹⁷