Author: James Edward Mitchell
Peter Watts was recorded born on 10 Jul 1756 at Culpeper County, (Co,) Virginia (VA) according to the organization of the Nat’l Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) with the National Office Headquarters at Washington, DC; source, Ancestor Search For Revolutionary War Ancestors…, Ancestor #: A122850. Peter’s confirmed kinship line with Thomas and William Watts were recorded at St. Marks Parish, west of the confluence of the (mapped, 1776) Rapid Ann River (now Rapidan) with the Robinson River may be circumstantial but, existed in accordance with the record –Peter Watts, born in Culpeper (formed 1749 from neighboring Orange Co,) VA was found recorded in Guilford Co, Kentucky (KY) with wife, Margaret Fisher (aka Fischer), b. 25 Jul 1760, in Culpeper Co, a daughter of Adam Fisher and Elizabeth Gaar Fisher. Elizabeth was documented a daughter of Hebron Reformed Dutch Protestant Church elder, (Johann) Adam Gaar; source(s) The Virginia Germans by Klaus Wust, Copyright 1969, University Press of Virginia, Charlottesville, Chapter Six, Hebron Church difficulties in the Revolutionary War, pgs 74 -79 and, The Garr Genealogy 1894 by John Calhoun Garr, publ. Cincinnati, Ohio – pgs 65, 72 and ( pg 521, Adam Fisher) reflect Margaret Fisher, b. Culpeper Co, VA Jul 25 1760, a granddaughter of John Adam Gaar, b. Dec 24, 1711 (d. Jan 11 1790) will at Madison Co, Courthouse, Madison, VA; Margaret m. Peter Watts, b. Jul 10, 1756 in Garrard, KY, recorded children: William (1786-1817); Anna (1792-1861); Mary (1794-_); Mildred (1796-1860); Abraham Gregory (1802-1885); Simeon R. (1804- _) and, George Washington Fisher (1806-1857).

Further kinship evidence is recorded in the “Hebron” Baptismal Register, 2nd Edition, 2004 by John Blankenbaker, P.O. Box 120 Chadds Ford, PA 19317 pgs 8 -9; see, Hebron Church 20 Nov 1761 baptism of Salomon, a child of Michael Zimmerman i.e., Carpenter and Maria Crisler. Sponsors listed are Johannes (John) Gaar, Maria’s cousin; Heinerich Chrisler, Maria’s bro., Maria Willheit Carpenter, Michael Carpenter’s sister – in – law who married *Rev. William Carpenter and, Elisabeth Gaar Fischer, Maria Crisler’s cousin, married Adam Fisher. The native son, William Carpenter, Jr. (1762-1833) a son of William, sometimes called Wilhelm Zimmerman, began his long service as assisting Pastor Christian Streit (1749-1812) from Winchester. First licensed as a catechist to preach and baptize, his license was extended to administer communion in 1789. William Carpenter, Jr was ordained 22 Jun 1791 and he was pastor for 26 years at Hebron Church in Madison, VA. After Carpenter’s departure for Kentucky (KY) in the fall of 1813, recordings of baptisms were rare events; source(s) Ibid. “Hebron” and, The Garr Genealogy, pg 520.

Hebron Reformed Dutch Church –Lutheran (Madison, Co,) congregation continues to hold weekly services, now; it is the oldest continual operating Lutheran church in the South, possibly in the country, built about 1740. The 1st Communion service dated 13 May 1727; 2nd dated 28 Mar, 1737. The organ was built in 1800; source, A Hornbook of Virginia History publ. Sep 1949, Richmond, VA, Some Historic Old Virginia Churches –pg 53.

At age 76, Peter Watts appeared in Shelby Co, KY Courthouse (CH) on 20 Nov 1832 and identified himself. He declared that he was born at Culpeper Co, VA in 1756. He gave an affidavit that he enlisted May, 1776 at age 19 and, served one year as a Private in Capt John Nelson’s company (4th) North Carolina Rgt, raised for Guilford Co; commanded by Col Thomas Polk. His regiment was marched from Guilford CH to Wilmington on Cape Fear River (NC) and stationed; then, marched to Haddrell’s Point, South Carolina and posted near Fort Moultrie, opposite Charleston for defense. There his 1 year tour ended in May 1777 and Peter advised that he was discharged upon return to Guilford Co., NC. His American Revolutionary War service Pension Application was approved: Peter Watts, S.30765. Peter’s veteran’s payment of $40 per annum, commenced on 4 Mar 1831 for I years’ service as a Private in NC.

National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Application For Membership was approved on 26 Feb 1949 for Harrison Williams Gill of Chattanooga; Nat’l No. 68986, Tennessee State Society No. 811, a 4th great- grandson of Peter Watts. The approved application details Peter Watts’s death date as 5 May 1833 and birth on 20 Jul 1756. A separate search of Find A Grave Memorial# 102113135 determined Peter Watts married [Margaret (Peggy)] Fisher on 11 Nov 1785.

Peter, after his 1833 death at home in Simpsonville, Shelby Co, KY, was buried at his Watts family cemetery. From Simpsonville, drive north on KY 1848 for approximately 4.4 miles to its intersection with KY 362. At this intersection turn right onto the Aiken Road and drive .9 mile and turn right into the farm now owned by the Rutledge brothers. The cemetery is located .3 miles southeast of this point in a grove of trees, just south of a tobacco barn- mapped at Latitude: 38.281957 and Longitude: -85.318234, Copied May 1, 1977.