Catherine Pride^{[1, 2]}

Est 1635 - Yes, date unknown

• Name	Catherine Pride
  Born	Est 1635	Aaccomac Plantation, Colonial Virginia
  Gender	Female
  Died	Yes, date unknown
  Person ID	I16869	My Reynolds Line
  Last Modified	1 Jan 2019

  
  

  Family	Henry Watkins,   b. Est 1636, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. 1691, Chickahominy, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age ~ 55 years)
  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?
  Children	+ 1. Thomas of Swift Creek Watkins,   b. 1672, Malvern Hills Plantation, Henrico Co., Virginia ,   d. 25 Jun 1760, Henrico Co., Virginia  (Age 88 years) + 2. William Watkins,   b. Abt 1685, Curles, Henrico County, Virginia ,   d. 1784, Cornwall Parish, Charlotte County, Virginia  (Age ~ 99 years)   3. Joseph Watkins,   b. Est 1675, Henrico Co., Colonial Virginia ,   d. Yes, date unknown + 4. Edward Watkins,   b. Est 1680, Charlotte Co., Colonial Virginia ,   d. 1771  (Age ~ 91 years) + 5. Henry Watkins, Jr.,   b. Est 1660, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. 1715, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony  (Age ~ 55 years) + 6. Rachael Watkins,   b. 1664, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony ,   d. Bef 1729, Henrico Co., Virginia Colony  (Age 64 years)
  Last Modified	1 Jan 2019
  Family ID	F5965	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Sources

  [S86] Our Southern Cousins, http://oursoutherncousins.com/watkins.html. 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? Watkins Family There are several sources that state there was an early HENRY WATKINS (born about 1585) who was the father of Henry Watkins of Henrico County, Virginia, who married Katherine. Most particularly, there is the application of Miss Jamie Hess to the Daughters of the Pilgrims, which stated that ?Henry Watkins was born in Wales, 1600, was Burgess of Henrico Co, VA, 1623, listed as dead same year, References provided: Copies with applications of family records, wills and deeds filed with application. Virginia House of Burgesses, 1619-1658.? [I don?t know the truth of her proofs, and can?t help but wonder if those records still exist somewhere!? It seems to me that he would have been born earlier than 1600, and he seems to have been alive in February 1624, although that is the last mention of him I can find.] The first representatives of Accomack in the Assembly were "Captain John Wilcocks" and "HENRY WATKINS" both of whom signed a paper as Burgesses from the Eastern Shore in 1624. Henry is listed in Henry Watkins of Henrico County: His Descendants and Their Allied Families. States he was born 1585, which gives this list: I. Henry Watkins (1585-___) II. Henry Watkins m. Katherine Pride III. Edward Watkins (c 1665-1771) IV. John Watkins (c. 1710-1765) Phoebe Hancock V.Henry Watkins,(1758-1829)m. ElizabethHudson Clay VI. John Watkins (1785-1845) Catherine T. Milton Henry Watkins, alive on the Eastern Shore in 1623, after the great Indian massacre of March 22, 1621. In 1621, John Rolfe, in his "Relation of Virginia" writes of being at Cale's Gift near Cape Charles, where there were 17 inhabitants under the command of Lt. Craddock. By 1623 there were 96 inhabitants, 9 of whom were females. Of the 87 men and boys, the only names preserved were: Edward Rodgers, Benjamin Knight, Henry Wilson, William Andrews, John Parsons, Thomas Hall, Walter Scott, William Williams, Robert Edmunds, John Evans, Thomas Powell, Thomas Parks, HENRY WATKINS, William Davis, John Wilkins, William Smith, John Barrett, Thomas Ancient Savage, John Fisher, James Vocat Piper, John Parramore, and Thomas Gascoyne. Henry Watkins subscribed with twenty-five other Burgesses means with which to send Mr. Pountis , in 1623 , with a petition to the Crown. - (Campbell , 178, and Hening I, 129.) In February 1624, Accomack Plantation was represented at a stormy session of the General Assembly. Captain John Wilcox, overseer of the Company land, and HENRY WATKINS, overseer for Lady Dale, were the Burgesses. King James I had annulled the charter of the Virginia Company and only a decree of the highest court in England was needed to make the annulment final. The fate of the representative government which had functioned for almost five years was unknown. The King had never favored it and some members of the Virginia Company who sought Royal favors had criticized it. This Assembly was also concerned about the ownership of land in fee simple when the charter was annulled. Some existing laws were strengthened and additional ones were passed to make this government more closely conform to the English Parliament. After the General Assembly of 1624 adjourned, Burgesses Wilcox and WATKINS returned to Accomack Plantation to explain the laws to the people. At the census at this time there were 79 men, women and church. The charter of the Virginia Company was annulled on June 24, 1624, and Virginia became England's first Crown Colony. A church was built on the Secretary's land. After the harvest was finished in the fall of 1624, the rest of the Company tenants were transferred to Elizabeth City. The census of 1625 shows 51 people. Other than in Miss Hess?s application, I can find no further proof that this early Henry Watkins was the father of our Henry Watkins. There is no will of the early Henry Watkins, that I know of, and no land records, etc., that might tell us the truth of the matter. There are proofs that we descend from the following Henry, however. HENRY WATKINS is documented in Henrico County, Virginia. He was a Quaker, a member of the Society of Friends, and appears in officials records in Henrico County, VA as early as 1677. One quote says: "One of the most interesting families in Virginia from the point of view of economic, social and political development is the distinguished family of which Henry Watkins is the immigrant ancestor." 1677: assisted Richard Cocke, Col. Ligon, and Gilbert Jones in the survey of ?Mawburne [Malvern] Hills,? which he owned. 1678: Henry Watkins paid tithes in Varina parish. 1679: Deed patented for 170 acres of land on the north side of the James River in Henrico County. Henry Watkins held land in the "Turkey Island" district of eastern Henrico County, north of the James River, when a militia roll was taken in June 1679. [also the area where Giles Carter is found] 1684: Henry Fined for continuing in his Quakerism. 1690: Purchased 360 acres of land in Varina Parish, Henrico Co, south side of Chickahominy Swamp from Lyonel Morris. That same year, he bought 60 acres of land adjoining his own land and touching a run of Turkey Island Creek. His religion, at times, caused him to clash with the ruling authorities in Virginia. In 1660, the Virginia Assembly passed a strict law against Quakers, who they described as ?"... an unreasonable and turbulent sort of people, who daily gather together unlawful assemblies of people, teaching lies, miracles, false visions, prophecies, and doctrines tending to disturb the peace, disorganize Society and destroy the peace, disorganize society and destroy all laws, and government, and religion.? You?ll find many mentions of Henry Watkins in "Quaker Records of Henrico Monthly Meeting" by F. Edward Wright. When his wife was assaulted, he refused to prosecute the criminal because the law required actions contrary to the Quaker doctrine. In 1661 an act was passed that anyone who failed to attend services of the established church for a period of one month would be subject to a fine. And again in 1666 an act was passed imposing fines on 'refractory persons' for failure to comply with the militia laws and regulations. In 1684 Henry Watkins was fined by the court for "continuing in his Quakerisms." His fine was later remitted. Other Quaker families in the area were the Pleasant?s, ?Makeney?s,? and the Woodson?s. [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