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Family: Benjamin Watkins / Elizabeth Cary (F5964)  [1, 2



Family Information    |    PDF

  • Father | Male
    Benjamin Watkins

    Born  Est 1724  Henrico Co., Virginia Colony Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  12 Feb 1781  Chesterfield Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Buried     
    Married     
    Father  Thomas of Swift Creek Watkins | F5966 Group Sheet 
    Mother  Elizabeth Pride | F5966 Group Sheet 

    Mother | Female
    Elizabeth Cary

    Born  Abt 1740  Colonial Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  Yes, date unknown   
    Buried     
    Father  Miles4 'The Elder of Peartree Hall' Cary | F5394 Group Sheet 
    Mother  Mrs. Miles4 of Peartree Hall Cary | F5394 Group Sheet 

    Child 1 | Male
    + Captain Thomas Watkins

    Born  12 Feb 1761  Halifax Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Died  Yes, date unknown  Halifax Co., Virginia Find all individuals with events at this location
    Buried     
    Spouse  Rebecca Seldon/Selden | F5958 
    Married     

  • Sources 
    1. [S86] Our Southern Cousins, http://oursoutherncousins.com/watkins4.html.
      Joel & Rhoda Gresham Watkins? children (& descendants)

      1) Silas WATKINS (b.Abt 1754-Virginia d.by 1799)
      | sp: Phoebe (dau of John W.) WATKINS of Cumberland County, VA (b.1753-Cumberland Co., VA m.26 Apr 1773)
      A) Joel, III (son of Silas) WATKINS (b.5 Jul 1776-Buckingham County,VA)
      | | sp: Mary (dau of Wm & Eliz) JONES
      -i . William (son of Joel, III) WATKINS
      B) Elizabeth (dau of Silas) WATKINS (b.10 Jun 1778-Buckingham County,VA)
      C) Phoebe (dau of Silas) WATKINS (b.30 Sep 1780-Buckingham County,VA)
      D) Silas (II) WATKINS (b.30 Sep 1782-Buckingham County,VA)
      | | sp: Lucy M. CLARK (m.26 Apr 1810)
      E) John (son of Silas) WATKINS (b.31 Jul 1784-Buckingham County,VA)
      F) Rhoda (dau of Silas) WATKINS (b.22 Apr 1786-Buckingham County,VA)
      | | sp: Samuel (son of John) WATKINS
      I. John WATKINS (son of Samuel) of Missouri
      G) Benjamin H. (son of Silas) WATKINS (b.28 Jun 1788-Buckingham County,VA)
      | | sp: Maria CARRINGTON (m.25 Mar 1818)
      H) Mary (dau of Silas) WATKINS (b.9 Apr 1791-Buckingham County,VA)
      I) Samuel (son of Silas) WATKINS (b.6 Apr 1794-Buckingham County,VA)
      J) Francis (son of Silas) WATKINS (b.2 Sep 1795-Buckingham County,VA)
      2) Joel (2nd) WATKINS (b.Abt 1758-Virginia)
      | sp: Martha STRATHAM (sp? - could also be Statham) (m. about Nov 1808)
      | A) Holcombe Pride WATKINS (b. 1810)
      | B) Susannah Elizabeth WATKINS (b.10 May 1819) (cousins married - see below) - needs further research
      | sp: Joel (3rd of name) WATKINS (b.14 Nov 1805 m.21 Dec 1836)
      | +-I. Elizabeth W. WATKINS
      3) Phillip WATKINS (b.Abt 1759-Virginia)
      4) Elizabeth WATKINS (b.Abt 1760-Virginia)
      sp: David WALKER
      sp: Samuel ROUTON
      5) Agnes WATKINS (b.Abt 1763)
      sp: John HAGGATT
      6) Susannah WATKINS (b.Abt 1763-Virginia)
      sp: Charles McKINNEY
      7) Rhoda WATKINS (b.31 Mar 1764-Virginia)
      | sp: John CHAMBERS of Buckingham Co., VA (b.Abt 1750 m.31 Mar 1778 d.1810)
      A) Agnes CHAMBERS (b.Abt 1779 d.1819-Franklin Co,VA)
      B) Samuel CHAMBERS (b.1781)
      C) William CHAMBERS (b.7 Jan 1783)
      D) Joel CHAMBERS (b.1784 d.Apr 1831-Franklin Co,VA)
      E) Philip CHAMBERS (b.1786)
      F) Rhoda CHAMBERS (b.1790)
      G) Mary CHAMBERS (b.1794)
      H) John (Jr.) CHAMBERS
      I) Susannah CHAMBERS
      8) Mary Ann WATKINS (b.Abt 1765-Virginia)
      | sp: William PATRICK (m.9 Sep 1794)
      9) Samuel WATKINS (b.Abt 1773-Virginia)
      sp: Martha CANNON
      A) Joel (3rd of name) WATKINS (b.14 Nov 1805) (cousins married) needs further research
      sp: Susannah Elizabeth WATKINS (b.10 May 1819 m.21 Dec 1836)
      +-i. Elizabeth W. WATKINS (*Already Printed*)
      ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

      7) Stephen Watkins was born about 1720 in Henrico County, VA; died 1755 in Amelia Co., Virginia. His will named his brothers Joel and Thomas, wife Mary, children Charles, Thomas, Stephen, Elizabeth and Susannah. All of Stephen's children were under 18 years of age when his will was written:

      WILL of STEPHEN WATKINS. dated April 25, 1754; proved April 24, 1755

      Wit: James Vest, Richard Puckett. Ex. Brother Thomas Watkins, his two sons Henry and Thomas, my brother Joel Watkins, friend Charles Christion. Leg: wife Mary Watkins, instead of her third of all my lands, the use of my plantation whereon I live and all land lying below my mill up to first branch S/S mill run, up branch to head to cor. Between me and Colo. Wm. Cannon, on his line to River, up river to mouth of sd. Mill run; also lend wife Negroes and use of mill til son Charles is 18; daughter Elizabeth Watkins; son Charles plantation aforementioned, also 145 acres bought of Joseph Akins at age 18; son Thomas Watkins all my land N/S mill run and all my land S/S sd. Mill run not given to son Charles to be his at age 18; son Charles and Thomas the mill, each to have equal part; son Stephen Watkins 400 acres in Goochland Co., VA at age 18 dau. Susannah Watkins; wife Mary Watkins rest of my est. for life, then to be div. Between all my children. Slaves: Sarah and Agge; Will and Sue; Robin and Pompey; Jemy and Samson; Jack and Ned; York and Agge.

      Stephen married Mary Christian. I am not sure of the date of their marriage, and have seen different dates reported. These are their descendants (as I know them):

      1. Stephen WATKINS (b.1720-Swift Creek,Henrico,Virginia. d.1755-Amelia Co.,Virginia)
      sp: Mary CHRISTIAN (m.1731d.Amelia Co.,Virginia)
      |-2. Stephen (Jr.) WATKINS of Goochland (VA)
      |-2. Elizabeth WATKINS
      |-2. Susannah WATKINS
      |-2. Charles WATKINS
      | sp: Lucy CURD (m.1772)
      | |-3. Edward (son of Charles & Lucy) WATKINS (b.1773)
      | +-3. Nancy (dau of Charles & Lucy) WATKINS (b.1776)
      +-2. Thomas WATKINS of Halifax Co., VA (b.Abt 1742 d.1816)
      sp: Magdalene DUPUY (b.1733 m.1775)
      |-3. Ptolomy Lefevre WATKINS (b.1793)
      | sp: Harriet Amasia DUPUY (b.1807 m.1825)
      | |-4. Mary Elethia WATKINS (b.10 Jan 1826)
      | |-4. Thomas Dupuy WATKINS C.S.A. (b.9 Dec 1827 d.7 Apr 1865)
      | |-4. Margaret Louisa WATKINS (b.17 Jul 1830 d.28 Oct 1856)
      | |-4. Powhatan Virginius WATKINS (b.17 Mar 1832 d.1 Jul 1835)
      | |-4. Adelaide Amelia WATKINS (b.16 Mar 1835)
      | | sp: Rev. Williamson Milner FERGUSSON (b.22 Sep 1822 m.18 Jan 1853 d.2 Aug 1864)
      | | |-5. Mary Elethia FERGUSSON (b.10 Aug 1854)
      | | | sp: George Washington SWAIN (b.16 Jun 1846 m.5 May 1873)
      | | |-5. Harriet Louisa FERGUSSON (b.24 Jun 1855 d.27 Dec 1855)
      | | |-5. Samuel James FERGUSSON (b.10 Sep 1856)
      | | |-5. Agnes Virginia FERGUSSON (b.1 Sep 1858)
      | | |-5. Elizabeth Noel FERGUSSON (b.4 Oct 1862)
      | | sp: Peter HUNTER (b.6 Sep 1804 m.24 May 1876)
      | |-4. Charlotte Harris WATKINS (b.6 Jan 1839 d.28 Mar 1843)
      | |-4. Peter Dupuy WATKINS (b.12 Dec 1840 d.16 Aug 1862)
      | |-4. James Martin WATKINS (b.23 Jun 1842 d.6 Jun 1843)
      | |-4. Linnaeus Dupuy WATKINS C.S.A. (b.12 Apr 1844 d.31 May 1864)
      | +-4. Harriet Virginia WATKINS (b.10 Feb 1846)
      | sp: John Thomas THORNTON (b.9 Mar 1848 m.16 Feb 1875)
      | +-5. John Thomas THORNTON (b.18 Dec 1875 d.23 Jul 1877)
      +-3. Stephen Dupuy WATKINS
      sp: Sarah Holman DUPUY
      |-4. Mary Louisa WATKINS (b.22 Mar 1819 d.8 Oct 1820)
      |-4. Thomas Linnaeus WATKINS (b.20 Oct 1821 d.24 Sep 1823)
      |-4. Washington Lafayette WATKINS Esq./of Henrico Co, VA (b.10 Jan 1824)
      | sp: Maria Sophia HALL (b.4 Jun 1833 m.10 Jun 1851 d.21 Sep 1864)
      | |-5. Thomas Gholson WATKINS (b.17 Jun 1852)
      | |-5. John Dupuy WATKINS (b.13 Jul 1854)
      | |-5. Anna Martin WATKINS (b.20 Jun 1856 d.17 Dec 1857)
      | |-5. Harriet Hall WATKINS (b.20 Mar 1858 d.18 Jul 1859)
      | |-5. Sallie Harrison WATKINS (b.7 Aug 1860)
      | |-5. Alverda Hall WATKINS (b.19 May 1862 d.16 May 1864)
      | |-5. Maria Hall WATKINS (b.3 May 1864 d.17 May 1865)
      | sp: Lizzie STRINGFELLOW (b.9 Sep 1845 m.9 Oct 1866)
      |-4. Anna Margaret WATKINS (b.16 May 1826 d.22 May 1866)
      | sp: Richard TAILAFERRO (b.12 Jun 1807 m.25 Sep 1861)
      |-4. Marcellus Dupuy WATKINS (b.30 Nov 1828 d.22 Oct 1846)
      +-4. Elaine Amelia WATKINS (b.19 Dec 1831 d.Sep 1833)

    2. [S100] Internet Source, http://genealogytrails.com/vir/halifax/historyhalifaxbook_families.html.
      LEIGH.
      The tradition is that Benjamin Watkins (the youngest brother of Thos. Watkins of Chickahominy), the first clerk of Chesterfield county, an office he held to the end of his life, and a man of genius, though with little education in the schools, cultivated his excellent understanding assiduously and was regarded as an excellent scholar. However much he cultivated his "excellent understanding," he did not comprehend that the course of true love is not to be thwarted even if the parent did not relish the idea of his daughter marrying a poor English clergyman.

      The Hon. Benjamin refused to accept the situation until the congregation of the Rev. William Leigh took the matter in hand and built a home and furnished it for the happy young couple; so in spite of father and fate, they started on life?s highway happy and unfettered with life?s financial cares.

      The Rev. William Leigh was a royal character, with lion-hearted antecedents, and not to be downed, as his father-in-law soon learned, and repenting him of his course, did the proper thing by his son-in-law and beloved daughter, and all the ambition he could ever have had for his daughter culminated in his two grandsons, Benjamin Watkins Leigh and his brother, Judge William Leigh, who lived in Halifax county. It was said of him that for almost a quarter of a century in which he had been the judge of the Halifax court he had discharged each and every duty with a fidelity and ability equal to any other man in Virginia, and had won by universal consent the title of a "just and upright judge."

      He was the friend and adviser of John Randolph of Roanoke, and the sole executor by his will of 1821, and he, with Henry St. George Tucker, were the final executors by the will of 1832.

      No character stands out more clearly in this county for acumen, probity and pureness than that of Judge William Leigh, and his descendants would do well to honor his memory by emulating his virtues, for we shall not see his like again.

      Two daughters of Thomas Watkins married the two Leighs. Mary Selden Watkins married Benjamin Watkins Leigh (his first wife), and Rebecca Watkins married William Leigh. Their sister, Hannah Cary Watkins, married Dr. John Barksdale, of Halifax. Their children were (1) Thomas W. Barksdale, (2) Alice S. Barksdale, (3) Benjamin Watkins Leigh Barksdale, and (4) Rebecca Barksdale.