Biography of Jesse Watts-Russell 1786-1875
On 06 May 1786 Jesse Watts-Russell was born to Jesse Russell.
On 29 Jan 1811 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 24) and Mary Watts (age 19) were married. She the heiress of a welthy wine merchant.
In 1812 [his son] Jesse David Watts-Russll was born to Jesse Watts-Russell (age 25) and [his wife] Mary Watts (age 20).
On 29 Jul 1816 [his father-in-law] David Pike Watts (age 62) died. His daughter [his wife] Mary Watts (age 24) and her husband Jesse Watts-Russell (age 30) inherited Ilam Hall, Staffordshire.
On 28 Mar 1817 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 30) took the name of Watts before Russell by Royal Licence.
In 1819 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 32) was appointed High Sheriff of Staffordshire.
Memorials of Francis Chantrey RA in Hallamshire and Elsewhere Part V London Life and Works. The interest of my visit to the mausoleum containing this affecting piece of sculpture, was considerably enhanced by the appearance of a most exquisite stone cross, which had just been erected in the adjacent village, by the benevolent proprietor (age 32) of Ilam, in memory of his [his wife] wife (age 27), the lady above mentioned, one or two of whose children, with their father, the clergyman of the place, and Mr. Derrick, of Oxford, the architect, were at the moment inspecting the newly-finished work. This out door incident formed a touching commentary on the monument in the church! I have always understood that the elegant residence of Jesse Watts Russell (age 32), Esq., owes something of its architectural beauty to the taste of Chantrey (age 37), who certainly designed the Parsonage House adjacent.
Before 21 Jun 1820 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 34) was elected MP Gatton which seat he held until 1826.
After 21 Jun 1820 [his father] Jesse Russell died. During his life he was described as a soap boiler, of Goodman's Yard, Minories, London and Walthamstow, Essex. His son Jesse Watts-Russell (age 34) received a half-share of estates in Essex and a third-share of the residue of personalty sworn under £500,000; see PROB 11/1632/437; IR26/836/679. The date 21 Jun 1820 is based on his son Jesse Watts-Russell (age 34) taking a fortnight's leave from Parliament on account of his father's illness
In 1821 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 34) commissioned James Trubshaw to build a Ilam Hall, Staffordshire to designs by John Shaw. Construction was completed in 1826.
On 31 May 1831 [his son-in-law] Norton Joseph Knatchbull 10th Baronet (age 22) and [his daughter] Mary Watts-Russell were married.
On 04 Jun 1835 [his son] Jesse David Watts-Russll (age 23) and [his daughter-in-law] Mary Nevill Wright were married. They had nine or more children.
In 1840 [his wife] Mary Watts (age 48) died.
On 20 Jun 1843 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 57) and Maria Barker were married.
On 30 Oct 1844 [his wife] Maria Barker died.
On 22 Nov 1862 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 76) and Martha Leach were married.
On 03 Sep 1874 [his daughter] Mary Watts-Russell died.
On 28 Mar 1875 Jesse Watts-Russell (age 88) died. He left Ilam Hall, Staffordshire, which he had had rebuilt 'in the Gothic style' in the 1820s, and which Dyott deemed 'most magnificent' and 'splendidly furnished', together with estates in Derbyshire and Northamptonshire, to his eldest son, [his son] Jesse David Watts-Russll (age 63).
[his daughter] Mary Watts-Russell was born to Jesse Watts-Russell and Mary Watts.