Thomas of Swift Creek Watkins^{[1, 2]}

1672 - 1760  (88 years)

• Name	Thomas of Swift Creek Watkins
  Born	1672	Malvern Hills Plantation, Henrico Co., Virginia
  Gender	Male
  Died	25 Jun 1760	Henrico Co., Virginia
  Person ID	I16870	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	2 Feb 2017

  
  

  Father	Henry Watkins,   b. Est 1636, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. 1691, Chickahominy, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age ~ 55 years)
  Mother	Catherine Pride,   b. Est 1635, Aaccomac Plantation, Colonial Virginia ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	One thing that endears Henry Watkins, to me, is his disbursement of his lands to his children prior to his death. He mentions his love for his children when he gave land to each of his sons on the south side of Chickahominy Swamp in 1691/2. The tradition of primogeniture was still common in the early colonies. However, by making a will you could distribute your property as you saw fit. Henry went even further than this when he partitioned his land to his sons prior to his death. I feel it showed a great deal of confidence in the ability and integrity of his sons. In January 1691/2, he gifted, "With love and affection," the following to his sons: William: 120 acres next to Edward Finch Joseph: 120 acres ?in the lower part? Edward: 120 acres ?in the lower part? Henry (Jr.): ?the tract where I now live? Thomas: 200 acres on ?Three Runs?
  Family ID	F5965	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Elizabeth Pride,   b. Est 1687, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. Aft 1681, Henrico Co., Virginia
  Married	Thomas and Elizabeth had the following eight children: A) Susannah WATKINS (b.1700/1706-Henrico County,VA d.Aft 1760-Powhatan Co,VA) | sp: Joseph (son of Benjamin) WOODSON B) Jean/Jane WATKINS (b.1708-Henrico County,VA d.2 Dec 1777-Goochland County,VA) | sp: Benjamin (son of Henry) WATKINS of "Jenitoe" (b.1698-Henrico County,VA m.1726 d.17 Sep 1753-Goochland County,VA) C) Mary (dau of Thomas "Swift Creek") WATKINS (b.1710-Swift Creek,Henrico County,VA d.13 Feb 1778-Goochland County,VA) | sp: Robert WOODSON (m.Abt 1724) D) . Elizabeth WATKINS (b.1712 d.1802-Cumberland County,VA) | sp: Benjamin WOODSON | sp: William S. (son of James & Margaret Vivion) DANIEL (b.1714 d.1775-Cumberland County,VA) E) THOMAS "Chickahominy" WATKINS * (b.Abt 1714-Henrico County,VA d.Nov 1783-Henrico County,VA) | sp: FRANCES ANDERSON * (b.Abt 1715-Henrico County,VA d.Aft 1750) F) . Joel (1st) WATKINS (b.1716-Henrico County,VA d.27 Jan 1776-Prince Edward County,VA) | sp: Rhoda GRESHAM (b.Abt 1735 m.15 Jul 1752) G) Stephen WATKINS (b.1720-Swift Creek,Henrico,Virginia. d.1755-Amelia Co.,Virginia) | sp: Mary CHRISTIAN (m.Abt 1745d.Amelia Co.,Virginia) H) Benjamin (son of Thomas "Swift Creek") WATKINS (b.1725-Henrico County,VA d.12 Feb 1781-Chesterfield County,VA) sp: Elizabeth CARY (m.25 Oct 1755 d.Jul 1801)
  Children	+ 1. Thomas of Chickahominy Swamp Watkins,   b. Abt 1714, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. Nov 1783, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age ~ 69 years)   2. Susannah Watkins,   b. Est 1700, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. Abt 1760, Powahatan, Virginia Colony  (Age ~ 60 years)   3. Elizabeth Watkins,   b. 1712, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. 1802  (Age 90 years) + 4. Joel Watkins,   b. 1716, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. 27 Jan 1776, Prince Edward Co., Virginia  (Age 60 years) + 5. Benjamin Watkins,   b. Est 1724, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. 12 Feb 1781, Chesterfield Co., Virginia  (Age ~ 57 years)
  Last Modified	9 Jan 2019
  Family ID	F5966	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Histories

  Memoir - McGee - Magby - McGeehee - Mockboy - With Allied Lines of Anderson, Truman, Redd descending from Thomas Mockboy of Charles Co., Maryland AKA: James McGregor Magby-McGeehee Memoir.pdf

  
  

• Notes

  1666 June 6th Patent [Cavaliers and Pioneers Patent Bk 1, pg 556] John WILSON, 100 acs. Henrico Co., N. side of Appomattox Riv., 6 June 1666, p. 504 (616]. Part of 1100 acs. purchased of Wm CLARKE which was granted by pattent 6 May 1638 & by him sould to Leonard LAUGHTON 29 Oct. 1638, who sold to Seath WARD 3 Jan. 1639, as by record of sd. deed at James Citty 24 Sept. 1640 & assignments thereon endorsed may appear; & for better confirmation the Widdow Dorothy CLARKE surrendered the land to sd. Seath WARD at a Court held at Veriana 25 Mar. 1640, who at Ct. held at Variana 9 Nov. 1640 surrendered to Wm. WORSNAM 200 acs. being part of 300 acs. at the Ould Towne Cr. as by the records of that Cr. as by the records of that Ct. & by a deed of sayle thereof dated 2 Nov. 1640 & assignment thereon doth appeare; sd. Seth WARD for good consideration as assigned the other 100 acs. to Henry ROWEN, who at the same Ct. in like manner assigned same to Peter Feepond, who at the same Ct. assigned sd. 100 acs. to sd. WILSON; beg. at the river side, running W. by N. 1/3 Nly. along an old knowne fence being the line parting sd. WILSON & the Orphants of George & Wm WORSNAM &c; 631 acs. 25 po. beg. about 100 paces above Mr. RANDOLPHS Mill, extending E. by S 51 po. by same, S.E. by S. 88 po. to a greate balck oake at the Cr. side &c. to the old line of sd. WILSONS first grant where there is a greate pine marked for a cor. tree of this new survey which place is called the Swift Cr. round aboute, W.N.W. 237 po. against the second fall of sd. Cr. & c. [Known associates of Giles Carter and William Watkins at Swift Creek]

  
  

• Sources

  [S86] Our Southern Cousins, http://oursoutherncousins.com/watkins.html. THOMAS WATKINS ?of Swift Creek? was born 1672 at Malvern Hills Plantation, Henrico County, VA; died 1760 in Henrico County, VA. Thomas married Elizabeth Pride, daughter of John. 1704: Thomas Watkins on the list of Quit Rents of Virginia with 4 land holdings: 200 acres in Henrico County, 400 acres in Essex County, 190 acres in Norfolk County, and (Thomas Jr.) 125 acres in King & Queen County. 1715: Thomas owned 400 acres on the main branch of Tuckahoe Creek, below the "Devil's Woodyard," in Henrico county Thomas and Elizabeth had the following eight children: The read more about his children, go to Watkins Family, page 3 A) Susannah WATKINS (b.1700/1706-Henrico County,VA d.Aft 1760-Powhatan Co,VA) | sp: Joseph (son of Benjamin) WOODSON B) Jean/Jane WATKINS (b.1708-Henrico County,VA d.2 Dec 1777-Goochland County,VA) | sp: Benjamin (son of Henry) WATKINS of "Jenitoe" (b.1698-Henrico County,VA m.1726 d.17 Sep 1753-Goochland County,VA) C) Mary (dau of Thomas "Swift Creek") WATKINS (b.1710-Swift Creek,Henrico County,VA d.13 Feb 1778-Goochland County,VA) | sp: Robert WOODSON (m.Abt 1724) D) . Elizabeth WATKINS (b.1712 d.1802-Cumberland County,VA) | sp: Benjamin WOODSON | sp: William S. (son of James & Margaret Vivion) DANIEL (b.1714 d.1775-Cumberland County,VA) E) THOMAS "Chickahominy" WATKINS * (b.Abt 1714-Henrico County,VA d.Nov 1783-Henrico County,VA) | sp: FRANCES ANDERSON * (b.Abt 1715-Henrico County,VA d.Aft 1750) F) . Joel (1st) WATKINS (b.1716-Henrico County,VA d.27 Jan 1776-Prince Edward County,VA) | sp: Rhoda GRESHAM (b.Abt 1735 m.15 Jul 1752) G) Stephen WATKINS (b.1720-Swift Creek,Henrico,Virginia. d.1755-Amelia Co.,Virginia) | sp: Mary CHRISTIAN (m.Abt 1745d.Amelia Co.,Virginia) H) Benjamin (son of Thomas "Swift Creek") WATKINS (b.1725-Henrico County,VA d.12 Feb 1781-Chesterfield County,VA) sp: Elizabeth CARY (m.25 Oct 1755 d.Jul 1801) [S40] Will, Thomas Watkins of Swift Creek. Cumberland Co., VA, Will Book 1, pp 199 - the WILL of Thomas Watkins of Swift Creek: Dated March 4, 1760 (A series of periods or a question mark indicate an unreadable word or words.) In the name of God, Amen, I, Thomas Watkins, of Cumberland County do make and appoint this to be my last Will and Testament ??.. in Manner following Impremis: I give unto my daughter Susanna Woodson a Negro Woman named Sarah now in her possession & ten pounds current money. Item: I give unto my Daughter Mary Woodson of Goochland County and her husband Robert Woodson my Slave Hannah and her three children now in his possession and their increase to them during the term of their natural lives and after the time limited for them to hold them, I give the said slave Hannah and her three children and their increase to my three sons Thomas Watkins, Joel Watkins and Benjamin Watkins to hold to them and their heirs forever. I also give my said Daughter ten Pounds current money. Item: I give unto my Daughter Elizabeth Daniel a Negro girl called Matt now in her possession and ten Pounds current money. Item: I give unto my son Thomas Watkins three Negroes called George, Dick and Matt now in his possession and two Negroes Kate, Sam to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give unto my son Joel Watkins three Negroes Ajax, Cato & Will with the former now in his possession. I also give my said son sett of S? (page torn) maker's tools, one iron pot of a midlin size, a pair of Iron hooks and one Iron pot, two stone juggs, one stone ? , brass skimmer and ladle, one cooper's axe, one cooper's adz, one shovel, and one Carpenter's adz, all the above ? goods I give to my said son and to his heirs forever. Item: I give unto my grandson Stephen Watkins now living in Amelia Co. one Negro called Brandon, two breeding cows, two ? leather chairs, one midlin iron Pot , a pair of iron Pot hooks and one iron pot rack but in case the above said Stephen Watkins should die before he attains the age of twenty-one years, then I give all the above estate given to him to his sister Elizabeth Watkins to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give unto my grandson Thomas Watkins, son of my aforesaid son Thomas Watkins one Negro girl called Sarah to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Watkins three hundred and fifty acres of land lying in Chesterfield County on the South side of Swift Creek to him and to his Heirs forever. I also give and bequeath unto my said Son Benjamin Watkins five hundred acres of Land lying in Cumberland County including the Plantation whereon I formerly lived be the same more or less to him and to his Heirs forever. I also give my said son three Negroes Named Robert, Jo and Frank now in his possession to him and his Heirs forever. Item: I give unto my above said Daughter Elizabeth Daniel one Negro boy named Sam during the time of her natural life and after her death, the said Negro boy Sam shall be and go to her Daughter Judith Daniel to her and her Heirs forever. Item: I give unto my daughter Jean Watkins ten pounds current money. Item: I give unto my grandson Thomas Watkins son of my aforesaid Daughter Jean Watkins, one Negro Girl named Hannah now in his possession and her increase to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give unto my grandson Joseph Watkins, son of my aforesaid Daughter Jean Watkins one Negro named Dick now in his Possession to him and to his Heirs forever. Item: I give unto my Granddaughter Hannah Watkins daughter of my aforesaid son Benjamin Watkins one Negro boy named Abram to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give unto my aforesaid daughter Susanna Woodson one Negro boy named Jo to her and to her heirs forever. Item: I give unto Ann Dickens the use and profits of two hundred acres of land during the time of her natural life or widowhood lying in Cumberland County including the plantation whereon I now live and is bounded as followeth: Beginning at a run marked corner Hickory near Buckingham Road thence along my line to a corner White Oak on the north side of Swift Creek near the run thence up the said Creek to a marked Corner White Oak thence along a line of new markers ??? to Buckingham Road thence down said road to the beginning to include the said two hundred acres of land be the same more or less and after the time limited for the said Ann Dickens to hold the above said 200 acres of land, I give the said land to my above said son Thomas Watkins to him and his heirs forever. I also give unto Ann Dickens the labor and service of my two Negroes named Robin and Jean ?? her natural life and widowhood and after the death of the said Ann Dickens I give the aforesaid two slaves to my abovesaid son Joel Watkins and their increase to him and to his heirs forever but in case the above said Jean should have a child or children in the time limited for the said Ann Dickens to hold her, then said son Joel Watkins shall immediately take such child or children away or pay a reasonable charge to the said Ann Dickens for raising of them. I also give unto Ann Dickens the use of my Grey Mare and Mare colt, my gun and a pair of scales and weights and Flax Hatchell during the time of her natural life and after the death of said Ann Dickens, I give the said Mare and her colt and her increase, my gun, scales and weights and Flax Hatchell to my aforesaid grandson Thomas Watkins of Goochland County to him and his heirs forever. I also give unto the said Ann Dickins during the time of her natural life one pair of sheets, one Rug, Bedstead, Hide and case, my largest pair of Cart Wheels and Tobacco Carriage, one pair Fire Tongs, one frying Pan, also a set of horseharness sufficient for working two horses together, also twelve barrels of seed corn, ten bushels of wheat, four hundred weight of neat Pork, eight head of cattle, ten hogs at a year old each, six sheep, two bushels of salt, one meal bag, two meal barrels and after the death of said Ann Dickens, I give all the above premised goods and chattels to my two sons above mentioned Thomas Watkins and Joel Watkins to be equally divided between them. It is my will and desire that Thomas Gibson may continue unmolested on my Plantation in Chesterfield County till the year sixty-two and have the benefit of half the fruit the Orchard affords and half the cash that was made for his use and mine during the time before mentioned and it is my will and desire that the above said Ann Dickens have the other half of the cash and the benefit of the other half of the fruit and after the time is expired for the said Gibson to continue on the Plantation, it is my will and desire that Ann Dickens have the use of all the cash and the benefit of all the fruit during the time of her natural life and it shan't be in the Power of anyone to molest her. And it is my will and desire that the said Ann Dickens shall possess the Estate above given to her immediately after my death and it is my will and desire that the said two Negroes given to the above said Ann Dickson be clothed the following year after my decease by my son Benjamin Watkins and have each of them a Blanket. Item: I give unto my son Benjamin Watkins all the residue and remainder of my estate not herein before given or disposed of to him and to him heirs forever whom I charge to pay all the legacies given to my daughters and I do hereby appoint my said sons Thomas Watkins, Joel Watkins and Benjamin Watkins Executors and I desire my Estate may not be appraised. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Thomas Watkins Witnesses: John Watkins Jr., Jordan Anderson, John Watkins At a court held for Cumberland County, 25 June, 1760, The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Watkins dec'd was proved by John Watkins Jr and John Watkins Sr., two of the witnesses thereto and by the Court order to be recorded. Test. Thompson Swann, Clk Ct. Note: Thomas Watkins, as his father before him, overruled the laws of primogeniture by having a will and distributing his property as he saw fit. In his case, he left most of his property to his youngest son, Benjamin. It is my opinion that his other sons were prospering just fine on their own. He obviously trusted his older sons enough to make them the executors of his estate./vsm