Page:Appletons' Cyclopædia of American Biography (1889, volume 6).djvu/425

Rh WATTERSON, John Ambrose, R. C. bishop, b. in Blairsville, Indiana co., Pa., 27 May, 1844. After being graduated at Mount St. Mary's col- lege, Emmitsburg, in 1865, he studied for the priesthood and was ordained on 8 Aug., 1868. He was then appointed professor in Mount St. Mary's, and in 1877 he was made president. In 1880 he was nominated bishop of Columbus, and was con- secrated on 8 Aug. of that year. He devoted him- self specially to the work of education, and in 1884 founded a college in Columbus. The diocese con- tains 92 churches, 37 chapels and stations, 80 priests, and 17 ecclesiastical students.

WATTERSTON, George, librarian, b. in New York city, 23 Oct., 1783 ; d. in Washington, D. C, 4 Feb., 1854. He was educated at Charlotte Hall college, St. Mary's county, Md., studied law, and followed his profession in Maryland and in the District of Columbia. In 1814 he served in the defence of Washington against the British, and in March, 1815, was appointed the first librarian of congress, which place he held until 1829. He was also secretary to the National Washington monu- ment association from its inception. He was the author of numerous books, including "Letters from Washington" (Washington, 1818); "Course of Study preparatory to the Bar or the Senate " (1823) ; and " The Wanderer in Washington " (1827).

WATTS, Frederick, soldier, b. in Wales, 1 June, 1719 ; d. on his farm on Juniata river, 3 Oct., 1795. He received a fair English education, came to this country with his wife and family about 1760, and settled in Cumberland county, Pa. When the Revolutionary war began he became a member of the Cumberland county committee, and was commissioned a lieutenant-colonel of one of the associated battalions. When the Flying camp was organized by direction of congress he was in com- mand of the battalion that was assigned to Cum- berland county, which was captured at the surren- der of Fort Washington, 16 Nov., 1776. After his exchange he served in various capacities. He was commissioned justice of the peace, 1 April, 1778, chosen representative to the assembly in 1779, and appointed a sub-lieutenant of Cumberland county in 1780. He was commissioned brigadier-general of Pennsylvania militia, 27 May, 1782, in which capa- city he did excellent service in protecting the frontier counties of the state from the wild savages and marauding Tories. He was a member of the supreme executive council from October, 1787, un- til its abolition by the state constitution of 1790. At the close of his official life he returned to his farm on the Juniata. — His son, David, lawyer, b. in Cumberland county, Pa., 29. Oct., 1764; d. in Carlisle, Pa., 25 Sept., 1819, was graduated at Dickinson college in 1787, read law in Philadel- phia under William Lewis, and was admitted to the bar in October, 1790. For a long period he was the leader at the bar in the interior of Penn- sylvania, and his practice extended over two thirds of the state. He was an impassioned, forcible, and fluent speaker. — David's son, Frederick, jurist, b. in Carlisle, Pa., 9 May, 1801, was graduated at Dickinson college in 1819, entered the office of Andrew Carothers as a law-student in 1821, and was admitted to the bar in August, 1824. In 1845 he became president of the Cumberland Valley railroad, and through his energy that corporation was brought to a high state of prosperity. He was commissioned, 9 March, 1849, president-judge of the 9th judicial district of Pennsylvania, which office he filled until 1852, when the elective judi- ciary began. He then resumed hi.' ; practice at the bar at Carlisle, which has been one of great activi- ty and success. In 1871 he was tendered the ap- pointment of commissioner of agriculture, which he at first declined ; but, the offer being renewed, he accepted the appointment, and entered upon his duties on 1 Aug. of that year, serving till 1877, when he retired to Carlisle. As state reporter he edited the reports of the supreme court from 1832 till 1840 (10 vols., Philadelphia, 1834-'41), and sub- sequently he edited the reports from 1841 till 1845 (9 vols., 1842-'6). — Another son of David, Henry Miller, lawyer, b. in Carlisle, Pa.. 10 Oct., 1805, was graduated at Dickinson college in 1824, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1827, and began practice at Pittsburg. He served as deputy attor- ney-general in 1828-'9, sat in the legislature in 1835-8, and in 1841 was appointed U. S. attorney for the eastern district of Pennsylvania. He visited Europe in 1857, in 1861 was one of the founders of the Union league of Philadelphia, and in 1868-'9 was U. S. minister to Austria. After leaving Vi- enna, Mr. Watts visited several countries in Eu- rope, and on his return engaged in the develop- ment of the iron and coal interests of his state.

WATTS, John, lovalist, b. in New York city, 16 April, 1715 ; d. in Wales in August, 1789. He married Ann, daughter of Stephen De Lancey, in July, 1742, represented New York city in the as- sembly for many years, and was a member of the council in 1757-'75. He was one of the wealthiest land-proprietors of the colony, one of the original founders and trustees of the New York society li- brary in 1754, presented its first clock to the New York exchange in 1760, and the same year was elected the first president of the New York city hospital. He was opposed to the Revolution, and in 1775 removed to England. His estate was con- fiscated, but part of it was repurchased and re- conveyed on 1 July, 1784, to his sons, Robert and John. His wife, Ann De Lancey, died two months after leaving New York. His daughter, Ann (died in 1793) married Capt. Archibald Kennedy, of the royal navy, who became eleventh Earl of Cassilis. Their son, the twelfth earl, was born in this coun- try. — John's son, John, b. in NewYorkcity,27Aug., 1749 ; d. there, 3 Sept., 1836, was the last royal re- corder of the city of New York. He served three times as speaker of the New York assembly, was a member of congress in 1793-'6, and from 1802 till 1808 was judge of Westchester county. John G. Leake, a wealthy resident of New York city, dying childless, left his extensive properties to his rela- tive, Robert J. Watts, on condition that Mr. Watts should assume the name of Leake. The gentle- man, the only living son of John Watts, Jr., ac- cepted the property on the terms mentioned, but very soon died. Mr. Leake's will being defective as to the real estate, that escheated to the state of New York, and the personal property went to his father, who, being grieved that his only male rep- resentative should have consented to change his name, and deeply afflicted by the loss of his son, determined that he would not benefit personally by the money thus acquired, but apply it to the purpose designed by Mr. Leake in case Robert J. Watts had not assumed his name. John Watts then founded and endowed the charity entitled the Leake and Watts orphan-house. In 1887 the insti- tution was removed to Westchester county, N. Y., the property having been purchased as a site for the Protestant Episcopal cathedral. Mr. Watts married his cousin, Jane De Lancey, and they were considered the handsomest couple of the day.

WATTS, Robert, educator, b. in Fordham, N. Y., in 1812 ; d. in Paris, France, 8 Sept., 1867. He was graduated at Columbia in 1831 and at the