1881 Lucy Bell Watts Cabinet Photo, Bronx, NYC, Lucy Watts Genealogy
#955
On reverse: "Lucy Bell, July 1881" is handwritten in old period pencil. Her last name "Bell" is crossed off in red ink, and rewritten over it as "Lucy Watts". It is assumed Watts is her married surname and Bell was her maiden name. Photo type: Cabinet Card Photograph, Victorian, dated 1881. Photographer: Bostwick, No. 98 Sixth Avenue, between 8th & 9th Street, NYC New York, King County NY (known to be NYC photographer James Alba Bostwick, 1846-1927. JA Bostwick was born in Livonia, Livingston County, New York. He was also a partner in Bostwick & Bancker with fellow NYC photographer Jacques W. Bancker 1843-1921. A collection of Botwick's work is housed at the University of New Hampshire)
Found in Public Genealogy Records:
Lucy Watts Bell 1866–1929 born in Brooklyn, Kings County, NY. Her father was Clement Watts 1841–1876 of NY. He was the the son of Lewis H Watts 1806–1841 and Clementina Bartholomew 1823–1841, who died at age 18. His sister was Catherine Watts 1841–1857. We believe his young mother Clementina died in 1841, having giving birth to he and his twin..Clement and Clementina? She was the daughter of Truman Bartholomew 1782–1843 of Harwinton, Litchfield County, Connecticut and Susannah Graff Bartholomew 1783–1875. His mother was Lucy Patterson Cornell 1846–1902, daughter of William C. Patterson 1816–1876 and Sarah A. Mills Patterson 1810–1884. She married George H. Cornell, born 1835 in New York in 1880, 4 years after Clement Watts death. Lucy's siblings were William Truman Watts born in 1865 and Clemintina Watts 1865–1900. Lucy married William Henry Bell 1863–1908 in 1892, and their 4 children were William Emerson Bell 1893–1982; Ralph Raymond Bell 1894–1938 (married Ebba S. Johnson Bell 1900–1993); Lucy May Bell Potter 1897–1928 married Richard H. Potter Jr. 1896–1965; Walter Roland Bell 1901–1949 who married Anne Thompson Bell, born 1902, and Archie Bell or Archibald R. Bell 1909–1928, died age 19. This family lived in the Bronx, Bronx County, New York City.
This photo was found in Narragansett, Washington County, Rhode Island in 2012. A beautiful image of young Lucy, do you know this NYC Bell / Watts family? Lucy appears about 15-20 years of age in the photo, born about 1865. The photo is somewhat light in tone, but still a great image. Scans are enhanced and sharpened to clarity. A beautiful piece.
Size: 4.5 by 7 inches
Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)