Transcript

of

R. I. Watts. [Obituary]

Trans. Devon. Assoc., R. I. Watts. [Obituary]

by

Rev. W. Harpley.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s August 1899 Torrington meeting. Mr Watts was a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) and is best remembered for his role as a prominent town councillor, then Mayor of Devonport, one of the several divisions within the parish of Stoke Damerel. He was also a member, then honorary pastor of the Pembroke Street Baptist Chapel. The Chapel was initially erected in 1781 on what were known as Liberty Fields.  This was where the men working in the Royal Dockyard used to hold their meetings to air grievances. Its first pastor was the Reverend Isaiah Birt. The Chapel remained in use until the Second World War, after which it was cleared away under a redevelopment scheme.  The Baptist Association decided to replace it with a new building on one of Plymouth's post-war housing estates and so in 1958 Crownhill Baptist Chapel was opened with the pulpit and organ from the Pembroke Street building. The obituary, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers.

R I. Watts was for many years a prominent member of the Town Council of Devonport. His energetic business qualities and his assiduous attention to his duties were acknowledged and awarded by his fellow- councillors by electing him to the office of Mayor, which he held for two years in succession; he was also made a Justice of the Peace. He was a Director of the Devonport Gas Company, and also took an active part in the management of the Naval and Military School. In his early manhood Mr. Watts became a member of the Baptist Communion, and was an indefatigable worker in the interests of that body. He became honorary pastor of the church at Pembroke Street, Devonport, which office he sustained with success for eleven years. Being possessed of ample means, he was ever ready, at the call of distress, with assistance and sympathy. He joined the Association as a Life Member in 1889, and was present at the Annual Meeting held at Tavistock that year. He died on the 9th of January, 1899, at his residence, 1, Trafalgar Villas, Stoke.