Family Matters

Written By: Leo Lawton

My Grandfather William had 10 siblings, one of which was a twin sister Wealthy, and another was a younger sister Annis. Annis married a man named Fred Healy. Fred and Annis are buried in Cavalry Cemetery in Watertown, New York. Their graves are well marked, and easy to locate.

However, Grandfather and his twin Wealthy, didn’t get along well as adults. Wealthy sued her twin brother on two occasions, on behalf of her younger sister Annis whom she apparently was very close. While searching for Wealthy’s final resting place I learned she was buried in Cavalry Cemetery. I was never able to locate a marked grave for her. However, if anyone else ever searches for it I can tell you this, there is a coffin in the ground right beside Annis Healy that is unmarked, and I’d bet even money it is Wealthy’s grave.

Watertown Times, Tuesday, May 9, 1893

Non-Suited Miss Wealtha B Lawton against Willie B Lawton

Action brought to recover about $325 for furniture. About two years ago Mr Lawton died in Antwerp leaving a widow and six children, some of whom were married. The widow moved to 12 Mechanic Street in Watertown. She later broke up housekeeping and went to live with her son Willie B Lawton. The father gave property to his wife, and when she went to her son’s home she divided the household goods giving most of it to the married children.

Miss Annis Lawton was one of the children underage, and her portion of the furniture was stored in Willie’s house in Antwerp. Annis, being a minor, could not commence an action so she made a bill of sale for the property to her sister, Miss Wealtha B Lawton, who commenced this suit against her brother.

The first witness called was Miss Annis Lawton, a pretty girl of 19 summers who lives at 43 Massey street Watertown. She testified a quantity of furniture had been given to her by her mother, and that she transferred it to her sister for a consideration of $1.

Wealtha B Lawton and Charles H Brown were the only other witnesses sworn. Attorney Hooker, for the defense, moved for a non-suit on the ground that the plaintiff did not have a proper title, as the transferr was made by a minor. The court granted the motion.