Married to Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Guthrie (1870-1951)who was d/o William Henry Guthrie 1827-1904 and Rebecca Jane Revis (1831-abt 1906). These 3 are buried in Mount Zion Methodist Church in Weaverville - now known as Jupiter Cemetery in Weaverville NC.
Per family history from Mary Ruth Green Black in 2013 (Wife of William Maurice Black) as told to her by her grandmother. Her Grandmother told her that Elizabeth and Ben eloped after Elizabeth rowed a canoe or small boat across a stream to meet with Ben so no one would see them.
Ben lived in the Weaverville NC area until about 1929 when separated from Elizabeth and he moved to OK.
He was a very active "builder / construction contractor" in Weaverville until the stock market crash. The 1929 stock market crash seemed to have a huge impact on his business [put him out of business?] so he left Weaverville for Tulsa OK.
It appears that Ben left Elizabeth with nothing and she was forced to live most of the time with their son Lester Watts and his family. She also lived some of the time with her brother Bartlett Guthrie and maybe other relatives per William Black in 2014
No records can be found showing that Elizabeth and Ben divorced; but he later married Mary E. in OK who is buried beside him in Tulsa OK. He and Mary lived in Florida in the winter and OK in the summer. According to his Grandson William Black in 2013, Ben died in Florida but was taken back to be buried in Tulsa OK.
Before leaving North Carolina he was also a Deputy Sheriff in Buncombe County and the Superintendent of Sunday schools for Clarks Chapel Church.
Ben was s/o William Rubin Watts (1844-1933) and Sarah Ann Hunter [1841-1927 - who was d/o of Wiley P. Hunter and Mary Ann (Polly) Roberts]. William Rubin and Sarah Ann are buried in Hunter Cemetery in Madison Co, NC
Ben was brother to :
1. Mary Ann Watts(1865-?)
2. Ellen Ruffinia Watts(1870 - 1952)
3. Laura M Watts (1872-?)
4. Robert Watts (1874-?). he and his wife never had any children. They lived in Tennessee for a while and he worked at a sawmill and lumberyard. His wife worked as a cooked. The other workers told Robert that the owner of this sawmill was having an affair with his wife. 1 day Robert pretended to go to work but did not go to work and came back to find them together.Robert shot and killed the owner of saw mill but was never charged with a crime. Robert and his wife move back to North Carolina. This information was provided to me by William black in 2013.
5. Emiline Watts 3/1/1879 - ?)
6. Jesse "Jess" Nelson Watts (1882-1992) who became a minister in Buncombe / Madison Counties, NC; married Charlotte Nancy Silver and had several children, one of whom was TA Watts
Ben was FATHER to:
1. Lester Tilson Watts; went by "Lester" born in 1895; married Hester Lee (Lela Mae) Black, lived in Hendersonville NC; both are buried in Clarks Chapel Church Cemetery-Weaverville NC
2. Ossie Mae (aka Mamie) Watts born in 1897 who married William Mont Black - the brother of Lela Mae - Mamie and Will are buried in West Memorial Park, Weaverville NC
3. Alvia Roy Watts; went by "Roy" married to Bonnie Holcombe? - buried West Memorial Park Weaverville NC
4. Bunyon Clarence Watts, went by "Clarence" born on 1900 married to Bonnie Hyder- buried in Fl; committed suicide in 1981 and served some time in jail.
5. Merla Watts born December 1907; married to Bishop W. Best. Much younger than the rest of her siblings. Buried in Pineview Cemetery; Edgecombe County NC. In 1925-26 Merla Watts was in the High School Senior Class at Weaver College in Weaverville NC
Per family history from Mary Ruth Green Black in 2013 (Wife of William Maurice Black) as told to her by her grandmother. Her Grandmother told her that Elizabeth and Ben eloped after Elizabeth rowed a canoe or small boat across a stream to meet with Ben so no one would see them.
Ben lived in the Weaverville NC area until about 1929 when separated from Elizabeth and he moved to OK.
He was a very active "builder / construction contractor" in Weaverville until the stock market crash. The 1929 stock market crash seemed to have a huge impact on his business [put him out of business?] so he left Weaverville for Tulsa OK.
It appears that Ben left Elizabeth with nothing and she was forced to live most of the time with their son Lester Watts and his family. She also lived some of the time with her brother Bartlett Guthrie and maybe other relatives per William Black in 2014
No records can be found showing that Elizabeth and Ben divorced; but he later married Mary E. in OK who is buried beside him in Tulsa OK. He and Mary lived in Florida in the winter and OK in the summer. According to his Grandson William Black in 2013, Ben died in Florida but was taken back to be buried in Tulsa OK.
Before leaving North Carolina he was also a Deputy Sheriff in Buncombe County and the Superintendent of Sunday schools for Clarks Chapel Church.
Ben was s/o William Rubin Watts (1844-1933) and Sarah Ann Hunter [1841-1927 - who was d/o of Wiley P. Hunter and Mary Ann (Polly) Roberts]. William Rubin and Sarah Ann are buried in Hunter Cemetery in Madison Co, NC
Ben was brother to :
1. Mary Ann Watts(1865-?)
2. Ellen Ruffinia Watts(1870 - 1952)
3. Laura M Watts (1872-?)
4. Robert Watts (1874-?). he and his wife never had any children. They lived in Tennessee for a while and he worked at a sawmill and lumberyard. His wife worked as a cooked. The other workers told Robert that the owner of this sawmill was having an affair with his wife. 1 day Robert pretended to go to work but did not go to work and came back to find them together.Robert shot and killed the owner of saw mill but was never charged with a crime. Robert and his wife move back to North Carolina. This information was provided to me by William black in 2013.
5. Emiline Watts 3/1/1879 - ?)
6. Jesse "Jess" Nelson Watts (1882-1992) who became a minister in Buncombe / Madison Counties, NC; married Charlotte Nancy Silver and had several children, one of whom was TA Watts
Ben was FATHER to:
1. Lester Tilson Watts; went by "Lester" born in 1895; married Hester Lee (Lela Mae) Black, lived in Hendersonville NC; both are buried in Clarks Chapel Church Cemetery-Weaverville NC
2. Ossie Mae (aka Mamie) Watts born in 1897 who married William Mont Black - the brother of Lela Mae - Mamie and Will are buried in West Memorial Park, Weaverville NC
3. Alvia Roy Watts; went by "Roy" married to Bonnie Holcombe? - buried West Memorial Park Weaverville NC
4. Bunyon Clarence Watts, went by "Clarence" born on 1900 married to Bonnie Hyder- buried in Fl; committed suicide in 1981 and served some time in jail.
5. Merla Watts born December 1907; married to Bishop W. Best. Much younger than the rest of her siblings. Buried in Pineview Cemetery; Edgecombe County NC. In 1925-26 Merla Watts was in the High School Senior Class at Weaver College in Weaverville NC
Married to Sarah Elizabeth "Lizzie" Guthrie (1870-1951)who was d/o William Henry Guthrie 1827-1904 and Rebecca Jane Revis (1831-abt 1906). These 3 are buried in Mount Zion Methodist Church in Weaverville - now known as Jupiter Cemetery in Weaverville NC.
Per family history from Mary Ruth Green Black in 2013 (Wife of William Maurice Black) as told to her by her grandmother. Her Grandmother told her that Elizabeth and Ben eloped after Elizabeth rowed a canoe or small boat across a stream to meet with Ben so no one would see them.
Ben lived in the Weaverville NC area until about 1929 when separated from Elizabeth and he moved to OK.
He was a very active "builder / construction contractor" in Weaverville until the stock market crash. The 1929 stock market crash seemed to have a huge impact on his business [put him out of business?] so he left Weaverville for Tulsa OK.
It appears that Ben left Elizabeth with nothing and she was forced to live most of the time with their son Lester Watts and his family. She also lived some of the time with her brother Bartlett Guthrie and maybe other relatives per William Black in 2014
No records can be found showing that Elizabeth and Ben divorced; but he later married Mary E. in OK who is buried beside him in Tulsa OK. He and Mary lived in Florida in the winter and OK in the summer. According to his Grandson William Black in 2013, Ben died in Florida but was taken back to be buried in Tulsa OK.
Before leaving North Carolina he was also a Deputy Sheriff in Buncombe County and the Superintendent of Sunday schools for Clarks Chapel Church.
Ben was s/o William Rubin Watts (1844-1933) and Sarah Ann Hunter [1841-1927 - who was d/o of Wiley P. Hunter and Mary Ann (Polly) Roberts]. William Rubin and Sarah Ann are buried in Hunter Cemetery in Madison Co, NC
Ben was brother to :
1. Mary Ann Watts(1865-?)
2. Ellen Ruffinia Watts(1870 - 1952)
3. Laura M Watts (1872-?)
4. Robert Watts (1874-?). he and his wife never had any children. They lived in Tennessee for a while and he worked at a sawmill and lumberyard. His wife worked as a cooked. The other workers told Robert that the owner of this sawmill was having an affair with his wife. 1 day Robert pretended to go to work but did not go to work and came back to find them together.Robert shot and killed the owner of saw mill but was never charged with a crime. Robert and his wife move back to North Carolina. This information was provided to me by William black in 2013.
5. Emiline Watts 3/1/1879 - ?)
6. Jesse "Jess" Nelson Watts (1882-1992) who became a minister in Buncombe / Madison Counties, NC; married Charlotte Nancy Silver and had several children, one of whom was TA Watts
Ben was FATHER to:
1. Lester Tilson Watts; went by "Lester" born in 1895; married Hester Lee (Lela Mae) Black, lived in Hendersonville NC; both are buried in Clarks Chapel Church Cemetery-Weaverville NC
2. Ossie Mae (aka Mamie) Watts born in 1897 who married William Mont Black - the brother of Lela Mae - Mamie and Will are buried in West Memorial Park, Weaverville NC
3. Alvia Roy Watts; went by "Roy" married to Bonnie Holcombe? - buried West Memorial Park Weaverville NC
4. Bunyon Clarence Watts, went by "Clarence" born on 1900 married to Bonnie Hyder- buried in Fl; committed suicide in 1981 and served some time in jail.
5. Merla Watts born December 1907; married to Bishop W. Best. Much younger than the rest of her siblings. Buried in Pineview Cemetery; Edgecombe County NC. In 1925-26 Merla Watts was in the High School Senior Class at Weaver College in Weaverville NC
Per family history from Mary Ruth Green Black in 2013 (Wife of William Maurice Black) as told to her by her grandmother. Her Grandmother told her that Elizabeth and Ben eloped after Elizabeth rowed a canoe or small boat across a stream to meet with Ben so no one would see them.
Ben lived in the Weaverville NC area until about 1929 when separated from Elizabeth and he moved to OK.
He was a very active "builder / construction contractor" in Weaverville until the stock market crash. The 1929 stock market crash seemed to have a huge impact on his business [put him out of business?] so he left Weaverville for Tulsa OK.
It appears that Ben left Elizabeth with nothing and she was forced to live most of the time with their son Lester Watts and his family. She also lived some of the time with her brother Bartlett Guthrie and maybe other relatives per William Black in 2014
No records can be found showing that Elizabeth and Ben divorced; but he later married Mary E. in OK who is buried beside him in Tulsa OK. He and Mary lived in Florida in the winter and OK in the summer. According to his Grandson William Black in 2013, Ben died in Florida but was taken back to be buried in Tulsa OK.
Before leaving North Carolina he was also a Deputy Sheriff in Buncombe County and the Superintendent of Sunday schools for Clarks Chapel Church.
Ben was s/o William Rubin Watts (1844-1933) and Sarah Ann Hunter [1841-1927 - who was d/o of Wiley P. Hunter and Mary Ann (Polly) Roberts]. William Rubin and Sarah Ann are buried in Hunter Cemetery in Madison Co, NC
Ben was brother to :
1. Mary Ann Watts(1865-?)
2. Ellen Ruffinia Watts(1870 - 1952)
3. Laura M Watts (1872-?)
4. Robert Watts (1874-?). he and his wife never had any children. They lived in Tennessee for a while and he worked at a sawmill and lumberyard. His wife worked as a cooked. The other workers told Robert that the owner of this sawmill was having an affair with his wife. 1 day Robert pretended to go to work but did not go to work and came back to find them together.Robert shot and killed the owner of saw mill but was never charged with a crime. Robert and his wife move back to North Carolina. This information was provided to me by William black in 2013.
5. Emiline Watts 3/1/1879 - ?)
6. Jesse "Jess" Nelson Watts (1882-1992) who became a minister in Buncombe / Madison Counties, NC; married Charlotte Nancy Silver and had several children, one of whom was TA Watts
Ben was FATHER to:
1. Lester Tilson Watts; went by "Lester" born in 1895; married Hester Lee (Lela Mae) Black, lived in Hendersonville NC; both are buried in Clarks Chapel Church Cemetery-Weaverville NC
2. Ossie Mae (aka Mamie) Watts born in 1897 who married William Mont Black - the brother of Lela Mae - Mamie and Will are buried in West Memorial Park, Weaverville NC
3. Alvia Roy Watts; went by "Roy" married to Bonnie Holcombe? - buried West Memorial Park Weaverville NC
4. Bunyon Clarence Watts, went by "Clarence" born on 1900 married to Bonnie Hyder- buried in Fl; committed suicide in 1981 and served some time in jail.
5. Merla Watts born December 1907; married to Bishop W. Best. Much younger than the rest of her siblings. Buried in Pineview Cemetery; Edgecombe County NC. In 1925-26 Merla Watts was in the High School Senior Class at Weaver College in Weaverville NC
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