Andrew Jackson Watters was the son of Joseph Watters, who had fought under Andrew Jackson in the War of 1812 and in the Indian Wars. Joseph Wattes was a great admirer of Andrew Jackson and thus named a son for him. Joseph Watters also named his homeplace 'Hermitage' after the name of the home of Andrew Jackson.

The Hermitage is where Andrew Jackson Watters was raised after coming to Floyd County, Georgia from Newton County, Georgia, where he was born in 1826. His mother was Elizabeth (Aycock) Watters, who was the daughter of Burwell Aycock, and grandaughter of Richard Aycock, who was the son of William Aycock, one of the earliest settler's of Wilkes Co., Ga. The Aycocks came from North Carolina to Georgia.

Andrew Jackson Watters married Elizabeth C. Winn, who was born in 1828 and died on 3 Jun 1887. Both are buried in Myrtle Hill Cemetery in Rome, Ga. Andrew Jackson Watters was a Methodist Circuit Rider, who preached to Indians and Negroes, as well as whites in Floyd Co., Ga. He is listed in METHODIST MINISTERS thus: Andrew Jackson Wattes (1826-11-17-1905), MECS, b. Newton Co., Ga., d. Rome, Ga., (L) N. Ga. Conference., 1876 Deacon (E) 1877 Deacon, 1877 Silver Creek, Rome, Ga.

Andrew Jackson Watters enlisted on 23 Feb 1863 as Pvt. Co. E. 31st Louisiana Inf., by Capt. Baucom. He was in the Siege of Vicksburg and was paroled at Vicksburg, Miss., 4 Jul 1863. It is said that he moved to Home, La., during the Civil War to serve in his brother's (B. A. Watters) stead as his brother had such a large family to support. He came back to Floyd Co., Ga., ca 1870.

When Andrew Jackson was 75 year of age, he applied for a pension on the basis of his services in the Confederate Forces. The process was complicated as his Muster Roll Cards were filed under the name of A. J. Watson. Some of the cards in this file show the name of A. J. Watson and some show the name of A. J. Watters. I am not sure if they had the name of Watters spelled as Watson, or if there were two men in the same regiment named Watson and Watters.

A Muster Roll Card with the name A. J. Watson stated that he was attached to a hospital as a patient, dated 30 Apr 1863, and that he had never as yet been paid. This card was signed by W. H. Collings.

On 4 Jul 1863, he was on Roll of Prisoners of War paroled at Vicksburg, Miss, according to the terms of capitulation entered into by the commanding Generals of the United States and Confederate Forces, captured 4 Jul 1863, signed by R. A. W. McKeldren. On this Muster Roll Card, the name was spelled correctly as A. J. Watters.

On 29 Mar 1864, he was on a list of men of the 31st Regiment of La. Inf., who had reported to camp for exchange at Vienna, La., before 1 Apr 1864. List dated Hdgrs, Allen's Brigade, Shreveport, La., 29 Mar 1864., signed by H. A. Voemarr.

In the 'Questions for the Applicant' upon filing for a pension he stated that his name was Andrew Jackson Watters, that he had been a resident of Rome, Ga., for 75 years with the exception of 11 years which he spent in Louisiana and that he had been born in Newton Co., Ga., in 1826. He enlisted ca Feb, 1863 at Vicksburg, Miss, Co., E., 31st La., Regt. He remained in the company and regiment until the early part of 1864, about 12 months. He said he had been a farmer and was now not able to earn anything on his own. He based his application for pension upon the grounds of (1) Age and Poverty, (2) Infirmity and Poverty. He stated that he had been old, broken down and partially paralysed for 8 to 10 years and couldn't walk without a stick and his sight was bad also. He had no real or personal proprerty and no income. He had resided in Rome, Ga., and had filed no property for taxation. He was being supported by his children who were married and had families of their own. He estimated that the cost of his support for 1898 and 1899 was about $150.00 and that he had contributed nothing. He had not been employed nor had he received any compensation for any labor. His wife was dead and he lived with a married daughter and they had no means of support except their labor. The application was signed 9 Jul 1901 and his signature was feeble and weak. It was also signed by the Ordinary in Floyd Co., Ga. John P. Davis.

There were three afficavits from the State of Louisiana, Parish of Claiborne, which stated that B. P. Edwards, Judge of the Third Judicial District Court of Louisiana personally came and appeared before the Court of Record, having a clerk, J. T. Waller, personally known to me, who after being first sworn, says, That the answers to questions, made before Drew Ferguson Clerk of said District Court, on May 1, 1901, are true and correct in every particular, except, one, and that is the answer to said question where he stated in 1864 at Vicksburg, and that his answer to said question should have been in 1863, at Vicksburg, and with this correction he now affirms, before me, that said evidence given is aforesaid is true and correct, signed; J. T. Waller, Sworn and subscribed before me, 3 Dec 1901 B. P. Edwards, Judge 3rd District Court of Louisiana.

The next affidavit from the State of Louisiana, Parish of Claiborne: states: I, Drew Ferguson, Clerk of the District Court in and for Claiborne Parish, in Third Judicial District of Louisiana, do certify that B. P. Edwards, is a duly elected commissioned, qualified and acting Judge, of this said District, and that all his acts as such are entitled to full faith and credit at law., signed by Drew Ferguson, Clerk 3rd District Court of La.

The third affidavit from said place and court states; I, B. P. Edwards, Judge of Third District of Louisiana, do certify that Drew Ferguson is a duly elected, commissioned, qualified and acting Clerk of Claiborne Parish, La. and all his acts as such are entitled to full fair and credit at law, signed by B. P. Edwards, Judge 3rd Dist Court, La.

In 1903, there was a Power of Attorney, signed by the mark of A. J. Watters, authorizing John P. Davis of Floyd Co., Ga., to receive and receipt the pension allowed, and request that he remit same to me by check at Rome, Ga., executed in the presence of C. A. Thornwall, 1903. John W. Lindsey was commissioner of Pensions.

Another Power of Attorney was signed in 1904 giving John P. Davis Power of Attorney and executed in the presence of L. M. Johnston, (I belive this to be Lucius M. Johnston, a son-in-law who was married to Georgia Watters Johnston, a daughter of Andrew Jackson.

There was a third Power of Attorney executed in the presence of Lucious Johnston in 1905.

Andrew Jackson Watters died on 17 Nov 1905 and was buried beside his wife in Myrtle Hill Cemetery at Rome, Ga.

Source: Joseph Watters, Pioneer Settler of Floyd County, Georgia - His Roots, Branches, & Related Families By: Susan Watters Lovett Copyright: 1993 Page 153, 153(a), 153(b)

NOTE: Susan Watters Lovett is my mother - I have a copy of her book in my possession.

Andrew Jackson Watters - 1826-1905

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