Watkins Family Information from
Andy Watkins - awatkins6@gmail.com
map at time Thomas Watkins was born
THOMAS WATKINS (B: around 1740 D: 1809 Mecklenburg VA, age 69) Married to Elizabeth Watkins
(maiden name not identified) Probably married around 1762
Thomas Watkins Senior Last Will and Testament written on Nov. 9, 1805 and recorded Feb. 13, 1809 Mecklenburg County Virginia. Elizabeth, his wife had died prior to will being written.
Nine Children born in Mecklenburg VA: Married
George Watkins (1763- )
Susanna Watkins (1764-1842) John Baynes Jr (1760-1840) Married 1782 VA
Thomas Watkins Jr (1766-1801) Eleanor Farrar 8 Nov 1790 in Mecklenburg VA
Joseph Watkins (1772-1839) Sally Mills from Amelia/Nottoway Co VA
Nancy Watkins (1785-after 1870) Starkey Hayes (1774-1845) Married approx. 1803
Elizabeth Watkins (- ) Not married as of 1805 per Joseph Watkins Will
Mary Watkins (- ) Yancey
Jane Watkins (- ) (Possibly Andrew) Knight
Sally Watkins (- ) (Possibly James) Hunt
George Watkins first added to Tithables on his own in 1784 therefore birth date estimated 1763 + 21 = 1784
Thomas Watkins Jr first added to Tithables on his own in 1787 therefore birth date estimated 1766 + 21 = 1787
Joseph Watkins first added to Tithables on his own in 1793 therefore birth date estimated 1772 + 21 = 1793
Information about daughters derived from will of Thomas Watkins
“to be Equally Divided between Mary Yancy, Elizabeth
Watkins, Nancy Hayes (wife of Strake Hayes) Jany Knight, Susanna Baynes and Sally Hunt to them and their heirs forever”.
Husband names from other researchers.
Other than John Baynes Jr and Starkey Hayes, I was unable to verify husband names.
John Baynes and Andrew Knight witnessed the will of Thomas Watkins Jr in 1801 Absolam Yancy Security.
Thomas Watkins Sr was born abt 1740 and his son Joseph died in 1839.
To imagine how life would have been for them consider that this was the time period of George Washington (1732-1799), Daniel Boone
(1734-1820), Thomas Jefferson (1743 –1826) and Andrew Jackson (1767-1845).
12 when Ben Franklin discovered electricity in 1752.
35 when Daniel Boone blazed the Wilderness Road through the Cumberland Gap and into
Kentucky from Virginia in 1775. Daniel Boone was six years older than Thomas Watkins.
36 when the Declaration of Independence was signed.
49 when George Washington became the 1st President of the United States in 1789
61 when Thomas Jefferson became the 3rd President of the United States in 1801
Joseph and Sally (Mills) Watkins Children: Mary Polly, Martha, Nancy, Sally, John, James, Samuel, and William Thomas. Sally Mills is Daughter of
John Mills and Mary Leath Mills (Amelia/ Nottoway/Lunenburg County). Mary Leith is daughter of Arthur and Sarah Leath of Nottoway Parish.
Thomas Watkins Jr and Eleanor Farrar Children: Thomas, William and George (moved to Montgomery Co TN).

Son of Thomas Jr and Eleanor: Thomas Watkins married Mary Northington (b.1792 - d.1872) (Father Nathan Northington) of Lombardy Grove,
Mecklenburg,Va, married Aug10, 1819 moved to Granville County NC: Children: John A.; George W.; Thomas; Emma W. (Daniel); Mary W.
(Hart).
Suzanna Watkins and John Baynes Children: Elsworth Baynes, Sarah Baynes . . He moved to Sumner county, Tennessee, and then to Perry county,
Illinois, where he died September 2, 1840. He served in the North Carolina troops. He was pensioned.
Parents: John Baynes Sr and Mary (Yancey) Baynes - Married abt 1755 North Carolina.
Brothers: Thornton,William,James and Phillip Baynes Sisters: Mary and Nancy Baynes
Son Elsworth Baynes (Born 1783 VA) Daughter Sarah Baynes (Born 1786 VA).
George Watkins- appears to have left Mecklenburg in 1795 (this is when he stopped appearing on tax list) It is possible he moved to Chesterfield Co. South
Carolina. He sold land in 1800 and 1802 in Mecklenburg and was listed as being from Chesterfield SC. There was no mention of a wife’s release of dower rights so he may not have married. He had a license to operate an ordinary(tavern) in Mecklenburg in 1791.
Nancy Watkins married Starkey Hayes son of Winkfield “Starkey” Hayes and Mary Molly Vaughn. They appear to have moved to Kentucky around 1803.
Their son William was born in Taylor County KY in 1804 and a daughter Dianah Hayes was born in Green County KY in 1823. Other children were possible but not identified. They lived in the adjacent Kentucky Counties of Green, Taylor, Marion and Washington. Nancy appears on the 1870 Taylor County KY census with her daughter Dianah Hayes Tucker widow of Edwin Tucker. Their son William married Nancy Kennett in Taylor Kentucky. Starkey’s sister Lucy
Hayes married Revolutionary War Soldier John Carter "Johnsie" Hall and they also lived in Taylor Kentucky.
General Information
Based on the amount of land, slaves, cattle, horses etc we can determine that this Watkins family would have been considered average middle class in Colonial times, not a part of the upper gentry’ class or the lower indentured class. They were not rich nor were they poor. They were land owners and not tenant farmers. They were of the Baptist religion as opposed to adhering to the British imposed Church of England and they were also
Patriots that contributed to the American Revolution. They mostly stayed together on their land in Mecklenburg
VA as a planter farming family for 75 years from 1765 to around 1840.
Thomas Sr, Thomas Jr, Joseph, John and James Watkins died in Mecklenburg VA. George moved to Chesterfield
County South Carolina and William Thomas moved to Tippah County Mississippi. Samuel Watkins moved to
Granville County NC (adjacent to Mecklenburg VA). James and Mary Watkins and their 5 children John, Ann,
George, Sarah and Miles were still in Mecklenburg in 1850.
Religion - Buffalo Baptist Church
It was not until 1784 that marriages were recognized if not performed by the Church of England. Thomas
Watkins Jr and Eleanor Farrar were married by the Baptist Minister James Read Nov 1790 in Mecklenburg Co
VA. Children of Joseph Watkins: Sally, John, James, and Samuel Watkins were married by the Baptist Minister
Pleasant Gold in Mecklenburg Co VA. Pleasant Gold was ordained at the request of Buffalo Baptist Church in
1819. Buffalo Baptist Church built 1778 was only a couple of miles from the home of the Watkins Families and they were probably members of this church.
In 1768, there were only about 10 Baptist churches in all parts of Virginia. Through the work of the Reverend
James Reed, a society called Buffalo was formed, on or near Buffalo Creek, west of present day Clarksville. The
original Buffalo Creek building, erected in 1778, was of log construction. (Number of Baptist churches in
Virginia in 1774: 54). In 1825, 1894 and 1967 succeeding churches were built on the same land. Present day located at a dead-end on Rt 730 about 0.8 mi south of Rt 58, west of Clarksville.
It was not easy being a Baptist in the 1700’s since the Church of England was the established accepted religion. Parish affairs were governed by elected vestries that maintained a great deal of control over local life.
Of the various religious sects in America, Baptists were the most persecuted, and thus became the most vocal advocates of religious liberty. But after they began their operations in good earnest, so rapid was their increase, that by 1790, Baptist churches in Virginia had increased to 210, their ministers, ordained and licensed, to about
250, and their communicants to upwards of 20,000.
Our Watkins Family connection to President Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Watkins Jr married Eleanor Farrar 1790 in Mecklenburg County VA– Sons Thomas, William and George.
Eleanor Farrar's Grandmother was Judith Jefferson wife of George Farrar and sister of the father of
“Thomas Jefferson, 3 rd President of the United States" making Judith the Presidents maternal Aunt. Thomas
Jefferson, wrote the Declaration of Independence and was one of it signers July 4, 1776.
Eleanor’s father was Colonel Thomas Farrar (son of George and Judith Jefferson Farrar) who commanded in the Revolutionary War . Thomas Farrar was security for his daughter Eleanor's marriage to
Thomas Watkins Jr in 1790 and was a resident of Mecklenburg VA. See story later in this outline on Thomas
Farrar.
Soldier in Revolutionary War-John Baynes:

John Baynes married to Susanna Watkins 1782 VASee story later in this outline
Thomas Watkins was born abt 1740 (Virginia did not become a state until 48 years later in 1788). This was British territory at the time and the currency was pounds and shillings. He and his family lived on 450 acres purchased
in 1768 in Mecklenburg County VA, about two miles south of Clarksville VA, in an area near Beaver Pond Creek
and Grassy Creek below the Dan and Roanoke Rivers. This is a few miles north of the North Carolina boarder.
The land went from Sandy Fork Road (still called this today) leads from Clarksville to Sandy Fork, Fields Mill Road, and Church Road and then south crossing Beaver Pond Creek. Thomas also owned at least 750 more acres of land in Mecklenburg acquired in 1765 according to land records. Thomas would have been 25 when he bought this land so this is probably about the time he came to Mecklenburg. He does not appear on the Tax List of 1764.
In 1764, Mecklenburg County was formed from Lunenburg County. The area in 1764 was mainly open country for even as late as 1834; Clarksville had only fourteen private houses, nine mercantile stores, a wheelwright, and a boot/shoe manufacturer, among a few other establishments in the town. Clarksville was not incorporated as a town until 1818. Thomas was one of the first settlers in the county as there were 410 land owners in
Mecklenburg in 1764 with 297 owning less than 450 acres and 36 owning over 1000 acres.
.
Clarksville, Mecklenburg County VA in red
Even though the towns were small, several large Plantation homesteads were established in the county.
Mecklenburg County's most famous plantation built by Sir Peyton Skipwith and his wife Lady Jean Skipwith in 1794 and located 4 miles north of Clarksville.
Land Patents and Grants in Colonial Virginia
The King "owned" the English colonial claims in North America until he specifically granted rights to others, but he received no income from unsettled lands. It was in his interest to dispose of the colonial lands and encourage settlement. In 1632, King Charles I carved Maryland out of the lands defined as "Virginia". In 1663, he created the proprietary colony of Carolina, rewarding other friends and establishing a new southern boundary for
Virginia.
With these exceptions, however, other land grants were issued to individuals and to organizations from the king's officials in the colony. After 1745 groups of politically-connected individuals established land companies to speculate in unsettled lands. Large tracts of lands were granted to individuals who promised to increase settlement on the frontier. The largest grant of land in the Mecklenburg area was to Col. John Ruffin and Col.
John Baker in 1755 for 13,912 acres.
The population in 1748 of the area now Mecklenburg County was less than eight hundred people (based on the Cumberland Parish Tithe List). Hundreds of patents were issued during the next twenty years for land in the area. Many of the larger grants were patented by people who never resided in the county selling their land after being surveyed into smaller tracts. This made the land very inexpensive.

In 1765, Thomas Watkins bought 450 acres on Allens Creek for only 100 pounds and 300 acres on Mitchells
Creek for 100 pounds. In 1768 he bought the 450 acres of land which became his home on Beaver Pond and
Grassy Creeks for 160 pounds.
On August 10, 1767, the Court ordered that Thomas Watkins, Roger, Ben, Dolle, Patt,
(slaves), and John Watkins and 750 acres of land be added to the list of tithables taken by John Potter. John may have been brother of Thomas? George Watkins (son of Thomas Sr) bought 386 acres on Grassy Creek adjoining the property of Thomas Watkins in 1784. George sold 186 acres of this land to Joseph Watkins his brother in
1800. Thomas Watkins Sr willed his land of 450 acres to Eleanor (wife of deceased Thomas JR 225 acres) and
Joseph his son (225 acres).
Thomas Wadkins (misspelled on census) appears as Head of Household (Mecklenburg County VA) in the 1st
Census of the United States in the Year 1790 (Federal Records lost for Mecklenburg Virginia(1790,1800 and
1810) so 1782 State Census was used for 1790 Federal Census) (Shows Thomas Watkins Household of 9 Whites and 5 Black slaves) Thomas Watkins also appears on the 1782 Mecklenburg County Land Tax List as owning 900 acres of land which would be the land he acquired in 1765 on Allen’s Creek and in 1768 on Beaver Pond Creek.
The 300 acres on Mitchell's Creek was sold in 1768. The land on Allen’s Creek was sold in 1804. The 450 acres on Beaver Pond Creek remained in the Watkins family after the death of Thomas Watkins Sr.
Thomas Watkins had slaves and owned 10 horses, some cattle, hogs, pigs, geese and sheep. One bay mare was called Bonny and left to his daughter Elizabeth in his will. Thomas Jr had a black mare named Creeping
Jeffress. Thomas Watkins and his family were most likely tobacco farmers and raised grains like wheat and oats as well as vegetables like corn, beans, peas, carrots, and cabbage to eat. They also raised pigs, cows, chickens and other fowl for food.
On the 1782 tax list Thomas Watkins Sr had 20 cattle, 10 horses, and 5 slaves
Slaves acquired by Thomas Watkins stayed with his family a long time:
On August 10, 1767, the Court ordered that Thomas Watkins, Roger, Ben, Dolle (slaves), be added to the list of tithables. Most of the slaves stayed in the Watkins family after the death of Thomas Sr. and Thomas Jr.
Names of Slaves of Thomas Watkins Sr/JR per Property Tax List Records 1782-1805
Dates below reflect time period with Watkins Family
1767-1799 Ben Ben probably died as an old man in 1799 while living with Watkins family
1782-1810 Pyillis Phyllis, Abraham (2) (young boy), and Willie (young boy) were sold in 1810 Estate sale of Thomas Sr
to Brown and Jarriot Avery – Abraham and Willie were probably her children
1767-1805+ Roger Roger was willed to Joseph Watkins by Thomas Watkins Sr
1767-1805+ Dolle (Dolly) Dolly was willed to Daughter of Thomas Sr-Elizabeth Watkins.
1802-1810+ Andrew
(2) Andrew was acquired by Elizabeth Watkins in 1810 Estate sale of Thomas Sr .
First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16
1804-1810+ Rhoda Rhoda was acquired by Joseph Watkins in 1810 Estate sale of Thomas Sr .
First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16
1783 Tiller, 1791-1792 Frank: First appeared on tax list as over 16
1783-1787 Ned
(1)
, 1783 Jime, 1784 Edmund, 1785 Simon, 1786-1787 Tom: First appeared on tax list as under 16
1798-1800 Ned
(2),
1800-1803 Viney, 1787 Andrew
(1)
, 1804 Cena: First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
1773-1808 Abram
(1) Sold 1808 First appeared on trust deed in 1773 as being about eight then on tax list as under 16 in
1782 , moved to over 16 in 1784
1793-1805+ Biddie First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16, moved to over 16 in 1797 – Born abt 1781
1799-1805+ Gloster First appeared on tax list as over 16
1798-1808 Ephraim (female) Sold 1808 - First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16, moved to over 16 in 1803 Born abt
1787
1799-1805+ China or Chrisy First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16, moved to over 16 in 1802 Born abt 1786
Glauster and Biddy were willed by Thomas Jr. to his wife Eleanor.
Names of Slaves owned by Thomas Watkins Sr. (per his will written 1805):
Roger, Dolly, Rhoda, Andrew, Phyllis, Abraham (young boy), and Willie (young boy).
Names of Slaves owned by Thomas Watkins Jr. (per inventory of his estate 1801):

Abraham, Glauster, Biddy, Ephraim, and Chrisy.
Names of Slaves owned by Joseph Watkins (per his Will 1839):
Aggy, Daniel, Osmond, Charles, Dick, John, Peggey, Pleasant, Big Bob, Little Bob, Matildy, Harriet, Major, and Jacob son of Lucy and Jacob .
Slaves left to Sally Mills Watkins (Aggy and Daniel) in will of her father John Mills were also mentioned in will of Joseph Watkins.
ALL of the slaves of Joseph Watkins were willed to his family and not sold.
Thomas Watkins Sr willed his land of 450 acres to Eleanor (225 acres) and Joseph his son (225 acres).
Eleanor Watkins (wife of deceased Thomas JR) had 9 slaves per 1820 census. Joseph Watkins had 8 slaves per
1820 census.
Taking into account the 8 slaves of Joseph above and the 9 slaves of Eleanor, it is assumed that they became bigger farmers than Thomas Sr had been. Eleanor had 3 sons and Joseph had 4 sons. Joseph Watkins had 16 slaves when he died in 1839.
Year 1782 Mecklenberg County Virginia - Family Nationalities
All
Nationalities
English and
Welsh
Scotch Irish German Dutch
6,397 5,803 387 159 28 20
In the year 1782, 91% of the white population in Mecklenburg was of English and Welsh ancestry. The white population was
6397 and slaves 4927.
Year 1790 Mecklenberg County Virginia
WHITE WHITE
ALL
MALES 16 MALES
TOTAL WHITE OTHER
YEARS OF UNDER 16 SLAVES
POPULATION FEMALES FREE
AGE AND YEARS OF
PERSONS
14,733 1,857 2,015 3,683 416 6,762
In 1790 the slave population ratio to white males over 16 was approx. 4 to 1
OVER AGE
For the 1782 Tax census Mecklenburg County was divided into 8 Precincts. Thomas Watkins lived in Precinct 1.
Precinct 1 and 2 was all of Mecklenburg County below the Dan and Roanoke Rivers to the North Carolina border.
At this time, there were 169 families in Precinct 1 owning 508 slaves. The ownership of slaves was as follows:
Precinct 1 Families (169) 90 43 22 13 1
Number of Slaves Owned (508) None 1-4 5-10 11-30 31-45
Precinct 2 Families ( 68 ) 38 4 11 12 3
Number of Slaves Owned (380) None 1-4 5-10 11-30 31-45
Thomas Watkins was listed with 5 slaves in 1782.
Neighbors with property adjoining Thomas Watkins per deed records:
1782
William Royster
White
6
Slaves
11
William Culbreath Sr
John Culbreath
Thomas Hailey
Elijah Graves
7
8
3
3
15
0
8
11
William Pitchford
7 0
Thomas Greenwood
12 16
Long Grass Plantation
The largest slaveholder in Mecklenburg Precinct 1 in 1782 was George Tarry with 39 slaves. George built Long Grass
Plantation in Mecklenburg VA in early 1800’s on 2000 acres of land. Nephew of George Tarry was George Tarry Taylor born
1802 in Mecklenburg VA, and died 1885 in Tipton Co, TN. He married Mary Goodloe Somervell 1825 in Mecklenburg VA .She was born 1805 in Mecklenburg VA, and died 1858 in Tipton Co, TN.
William Royster (neighbor of Thomas Watkins) was the father of Clark Royster, the founder of Clarksville, VA incorporated in
1818 on 100 acres of land. For the history of Clarksville, we must start with William Royster. He first acquired land here in
1752. His first act was to establish a ferry. The next logical step was to provide lodgings and food for the customers of his ferry. Mecklenburg was still a remote outpost in the 1750’s. After a long day of travel and a worrisome trip over the river, a good tavern, or ordinary in the parlance of the day, would be a welcome stop on a journey. Royster’s Ordinary flourished, and was a focal point for the community.
Major Elijah Graves (Revolutionary War Soldier) was murdered by his slaves. April 1799, a petition of numerous citizens of
Mecklenburg county for the pardon of two negro men named George and Jack, the property of Elijah Graves, convicted in the Court of said county of the murder of their master, the said Graves, for which another negro man named Nathaniel had

also been convicted by said Court and executed; the evidence on the trial having failed to show any further participation in the murder by George and Jack than their helping to conceal the body.
Current Day Map of Mecklenburg County VA
Just southwest of Clarksville VA was the home of the Thomas
Watkins family. Clarksville was the first incorporated town in the county of Mecklenburg in 1818 and was not yet a town when
Thomas bought his land in 1765. By 1832, Clarksville was recognized as one of the fastest growing towns in Virginia. By
1848, Clarksville was known as a major market for leaf tobacco and a tobacco-manufacturing center. Large shipments of tobacco were exported to Europe.
The Dan and Staunton rivers represented the two major rivers within the region, which merged to form the Roanoke River.
Thomas Watkins had farmland near the river. The 50,000 acre lake you see in the map did not exist until the Kerr Dam was built in 1952.
Mecklenburg County Virginia was formed in 1764-65, from the part of Lunenburg that was Saint James Parish. Saint James Parish was formed in 1761 when Cumberland Parish was divided. Lunenburg formed 1746 from Brunswick County and Brunswick County was formed 1720 from Isle of Wight, Prince George, and Surry Counties, Virginia .
1870 Map of Mecklenburg County Virginia which shows names of families. On the internet you can click on a number and see a very detailed map of each section–The Watkins home site was in the lower right hand corner of section 9 and upper right hand corner section 13 which is where Beaver Pond Creek is located. The map shows the name Watkins on the land in this area. The Dan and Staunton Rivers are in right corner of section 9 and change to the Roanoke River in section 14-
16. Taylor’s Ferry is in Sec. 14. Clarksville the town is in bottom left hand corner section 10. The current day Dam is at top of section 15 at historic Buggs Island location.
Section 9 Section 13 showing land still owned by
Watkins family in 1870 (Center of Map)
Clarksville and John H. Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake) today. The lake is the largest lake in Virginia and one of the most scenic in the south. Clarksville is the only incorporated town on this 50,000 acre lake. The lake did not exist until the Kerr Dam was built in 1952.

Watkins Land was on Beaver Pond Creek and extended to Grassy Creek. The land was about 3 miles from
Clarksville. The above map shows Beaver Pond Creek Start, extends to BPC 2, to BCP 3, to BPC End into
Grassy Creek. The map overlay in yellow is present day Beaver Pond Creek Wildlife Management Area which is 720 acres. Thomas Watkins had 450 acres on Beaver Pond and Grassy Creeks and George
Watkins (his son) had 386 acres on Grassy Creek giving a total of 836 acres. Therefore the map gives the ability to see that the Watkins Land was about the size of Beaver Pond Creek WMA.
VIRGINIA
At the start of the United States, Virginia had the largest population of any state. In 1790, nearly one out of every 5 Americans was a Virginian. There were 13 states. Four of the first five presidents were Virginians -
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe. In 1775, 40% of the people in Virginia were slaves. Tennessee was the 16 th state added in 1796. Prior to this Tennessee was considered part of North Carolina. Mississippi was the 20 th state added in 1817.
MECKLENBURG COUNTY VIRGINIA
The county is located in the Piedmont plateau region located between the Atlantic Coastal Plain and the
Appalachian Mountains, approximately half-way between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Atlantic coast, on the North Carolina state line. The land is gently rolling and on the lower eastern end of the county is the only mountain in Mecklenburg. The mountain has been known by various names over the years, one which happens to be Watkins’ Mountain . During this time period, the land was new and fertile as compared to the worn soil of the eastern Tidewater sections of Virginia. Mecklenburg is in the area of what is called Southside Virginia.
The plantation system was at its zenith in Southern Virginia and northern North Carolina. There were visits, leisure, fox hunts, and horse races. The Southside was famed for the horses bred and raced there

Colonists counted their money by the English system of pounds, shillings, and pence — twelve pence (pennies) per shilling, and twenty shillings per pound. Formally, pounds were referred to as pounds sterling , because a monetary pound was originally worth one pound of sterling silver.
Some items in estate of Thomas Watkins SR and values:
1 Negro man Andrew 140 pounds 5 shillings
1 Negro boy Willie 69 pounds
1 Negro boy Abraham 61 pounds 16 shillings
1 Negro woman Rhoda 42 pounds 18 shillings
1 Negro woman Phyllis 42 pounds 6 shillings
1 bay mare 15 pounds 1 shilling
1 pair iron Traces ( used with horse cart) 13 pounds 1 shilling
1 Bed & furniture 9 pounds
1 Cow and yearling 3 pounds
1 bull 2 pounds 9 shillings
5 large shoats (young pigs ) 2 pounds
10 Geese 1 pound
3 hilling hoes 5 shillings 1 pence
1 coffee mill (wheel or crank coffee grinder) 8 shillings
1 pole ax (an ax having a hammer face opposite the blade) 5 shillings
1 Cotton Wheel (for spinning thread or yarn) 2 shillings 4 pence
1 Looking Glass 3 shillings 2 pence
1 spice mortar & pestle (spice grinder) 3 shilling 9 pence
1 Dutch oven ( usually cast iron) cooking pot 2 shillings
A Water Mill was on Thomas Watkins Land
In Thomas Watkins Sr’s will he uses the Mill as part of the property line description for the lands he was leaving to his son Joseph and wife of deceased son Joseph Jr (Eleanor):

TRANSPORTATION

Below are descendents of Thomas Watkins Jr (1764-1801) and Eleanor Farrar (pictures found on internet) Thomas Watkins (son of Thomas Jr and
Eleanor) married Mary Northington 1819 in Mecklenburg VA and moved to Granville NC (which borders Mecklenburg VA). Children of Thomas and Mary
Watkins: John A.; George W.; Thomas; Emma W. Daniel; Mary W. Hart. Thomas and Mary were the grandparents of John Norman Watkins, below.
John Norman Watkins 1870-1952) Elizabeth Frances Hart Watkins (1873-1942)
E lizabeth F. "Lizzie" HART was born ABT 1873 in Granville County, NC. She married John Norman WATKINS 1893
PROPERTY OWNERSHIP HISTORY OF THOMAS AND ELIZABETH WATKINS IN MECKLENBURG CO VIRGINIA
Date
29 Apr 1765
14 Oct 1765
10 Aug 1767
Age of Thomas
25
25
27
Location
Allens Creek
Mitchells Creek
Acres Thomas Watkins and Elizabeth
450 bought
300 bought
750 Total acres believed owned at the time added to list of tithables (property tax roles)
11 Apr 1768
28 Apr 1804
;12 Sept 1768
16 Aug 1806
13 Feb 1809
28
64
28
66
69
Mitchells Creek
Allens Creek
Beaver Pond Creek
Beaver Pond Creek
Beaver Pond Creek
(300) Sold
(450) Sold
0
450 bought - This was to be their home
(225) Sold to his son Joseph Watkins
(225) Left in Will to his daughter in law Eleanor Watkins (widow of his son Thomas
0 Total acres believed to be owned as of 13 Feb 1809
When Thomas Watkins was 25 (1765) he bought 750 acres of land in Allens and Mithells Creek,Mecklenburgh County Va
He sold 300 acres of this land (Mitchells Creek) when he was 28 (1768). The remaining 450 acres on Allens Creek he held until sold when he was 64 (1804)
While he was 28 (1768) he bought 450 acres of land that was to be the site of his home (Beaver Pond Creek,Mecklenburg Co,VA)
This 450 acres was used to secure a debt of 102 pounds 12 shillings with McCall & Co from 1773 (age 33) until 1804 (age 64)
He sold 225 acres of his home land to his son Joseph when he was 66 (1806).
He left the remaining 225 acres to daughter in law Eleanor in his will when he died at age 69 (1809)
Typical Home (Built circa 1790) Mecklenburg
The usual home was the story and half building having two rooms and a central passage on the ground floor and one or two rooms in the loft. These homes were about twenty by forty feet long, with an enclosed staircase and chimneys at the gable ends (some with dormers).

“Mecklenburg Celebrated for Raising Fine Horses”
The bloodlines of the horses below associated with Mecklenburg are maintained just as is being done with the Watkins ancestry.
Mecklenburg VA was an early horse-breeding and racing region in America. Racing was important to the lives of the people in Mecklenburg. Race day was a day of socializing, gambling, eating and heavy drinking.
Races would continue for 3 or 4 days. The county had numerous quarter mile, mile and four mile tracks. Both the towns of Christiansville and Boydton had oval race tracks with “rails, infield and grandstands”.
The Quarter Horse is truly an American breed of horse. It was created to compete in quarter mile racing, one of the earliest forms of horse racing in America. The founding stallion was a Thoroughbred named
“Janus”, imported to America in 1756. John Willis of Brunswick County (Mecklenburg) VA had purchased Janus as a stud horse and brought him to his plantation. Thus the Janus blood and legend came to Southside
Virginia.
Another outstanding horse was Goode’s Babram, an inbred Janus, was known as “the fastest quarter
horse of the day”. He died during a match race with Juniper (also sired by Janus) for 500 Spanish dollars over the famous “Lewis Race Paths” in Mecklenburg Va in 1789. Goode’s Babram was well ahead when he crossed his front legs, fell and broke his neck.
Black-and-All-Black, of obvious color, was the property of Sir Peyton Skipwith of Mecklenburg VA (owner of
Prestwould Plantation) until sold for 500,000 pounds of tobacco-thus proving the stallion’s value. During the
Revolutionary War, British Lt. Colonel Tarleton “liberated” the stallion only to have General Lafayette of the
American army recapture him.
John “Race Horse” Goode who lived in Mecklenburg was the owner of celebrated race horses “Paddy
Whack” and “Goode’s Old Twigg” and possibly the last owner of “Janus”.
John Chesterfield Goode , the son of Thomas and nephew of John Sr(owner of “Goode’s Brimmer”) (all were Virginia breeders and racers of thoroughbreds), maintained a race course on his “Inglewood Plantation” in Mecklenburg. The “Sir Archy” strain predominated in his horses.
In 1839 a show advertised as “the first ever thorough-bred exhibition ever had in the United States” was even reported on in a New York newspaper stating “probably there never was a more splendid exhibition of colts, as regards form, size and blood-like appearance”.
Tax records show that Thomas Watkins Sr owned 10 horses. While unable to verify if he bred or raced his horses, it was not uncommon for even men of average means to do so in this time period.
One such man of modest means was David Dardin of Mecklenburg owner of a noted race horse “Romulus”.
In 1781 General Nathaniel Greene of the Continental army needed horses and sent an officer to Mecklenburg to impress a supply of horses for the army, one of which happened to be Romulus. It was not until 1832 that the children of Dardin received compensation from the US government for the horse.

“Romulus”
“Polly Williams - A Race Horse Mystery”

REVOLUTIONARY WAR:
Numerous taxes were placed on the citizens on Virginia for the War. One tax was for Beef on the Hoof. Every freeholder was taxed 300 hundred pounds of beef. If more than 300 pounds was impressed a certificate was issued which became a public claim against the government for later payment. Certificates were also issued for horses, guns and other items impressed for use by the army. Other taxes were collected in the form of grain, tobacco, pork, clothing etc.
Thomas Watkins Sr made a public claim for 225 cwt Beef for Continental Use recorded in Mecklenburg
Order Book 5 page 146 dated 5/14/1782 and he was listed as a Patriot.
While it is not believed any of this Watkins family served in the Virginia Rev. War military, the Watkins children being too young, they were in considerable danger during the war. The danger was increased as they lived only a few miles from Taylor’s Ferry where the Continental Army maintained troops and a Magazine (major supply and storage depot). This was a critical point of operations during the Revolutionary War as most supplies and troops to the Southern army passed through this point to cross the Roanoke River into North
Carolina. The magazine was maintained almost like a fort with detachments of Militia guarding the supplies.
Examination of British Army correspondence between Cornwallis and Tarleton reveals that they debated the benefit of attacking Taylor's Ferry, but considered it too well defended by the Mecklenburg Militia.
Richard and Mary Yancey were neighbors of and owned land adjacent to Thomas Watkins and had seven sons who served in Revolutionary War.
Lewis was a private in the 8th Virginia Regiment and is thought to have been killed in action in 1777.
Absalom was a private in the 14th Virginia Regiment in 1777 and 10 th Virginia Regiment 1779.
Hezekiah was a member of Caldwell's Rangers in South Carolina in 1775.
Joseph was a Quartermaster Sergeant in 1779, 3rd Regiment under Towles in South Carolina.
Zachariah's military record suggests he was a surveyor.
Charles Yancey 1777 9 th North Carolina Continental Regiment
Richard Yancey 1769 Private in Robert Harris Co. Granville NC
Other neighbors who owned land adjacent to Thomas Watkins were Revolutionary War Soldiers – Captain Elijah
Graves and Captain Thomas Greenwood. Thomas Watkins Sr appointed his good friend Captain James Hunt as executor to his will.
Soldier in Revolutionary War-Jonathan Jackson (father of Corbin Jackson that married Martha Watkins –daughter of
Joseph Watkins)
Enlisted in VA for service in Revolutionary War Sept 1775. Fought in The Battle of Great Bridge December 9, 1775.
Discharged August 1776. In the year 1780 was called out under orders of Col. John A. Washington of Westmoreland as a Militia to guard the Banks of the Potomac River, were continually reconstituting the shores for a term of nearly one year. In 1781 drafted in the services under Cap. Edwards, marched to the Rappahannock River thence joined the main army commanded by Col. William Nelson, from thence marched on to Gloucester-Town and remained there until the Surrender of Lord Cornwallis which ended the Revolutionary War.
Great Bridge was the first decisive battle fought in the South. Volunteer soldiers and militia had withstood a cannon supported attack by some of the finest professional soldiers in the world and virtually annihilated them. The complete defeat of the British in the Virginia Colony at the Battle of Great Bridge, 7 months before the writing of the
Declaration of Independence, was at the time called the Second Battle of Bunker's Hill. It resulted in the capture of
Norfolk by the Americans and ended the rule of the British in Virginia.
Soldier in Revolutionary War-John Baynes Jr: married to Susanna Watkins 1782 VA
JOHN BAYNES JR - enlisted at Mecklenburg in 1779, serving five times for three months each and the sixth time for six months, with Capt. Peter Bennett, and George Ferringot, and Cols. William Moore, Ambrose
Ramsey, Joseph Taylor, and Major Joel Lewis. He was in the battle of Camden. He removed to Sumner county,
Tennessee, and then to Perry county, Illinois, where he died September 2, 1840. He served in the North
Carolina troops. He was pensioned.
Parents: John Baynes Sr and Mary (Yancey) Baynes - Married abt 1755 North Carolina.
Brothers: Thornton,William,James and Phillip Baynes
Sisters: Mary and Nancy Baynes
Son Elsworth Baynes (Born 1783 VA) Daughter Sarah Baynes (Born 1786 VA).

SOLDIER IN REVOLUTIONARY WAR – JOHN BAYNES
John Baynes Jr married to Susanna Watkins 1782
VA. John Baynes enlisted in Mecklenburg County,
Virginia, in 1779. He served 21 months. He was in the Battle of Camden South Carolina August 1780.
The Battle of Camden is portrayed in the 2000 movie “The Patriot” watched in dismay (by actors
Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger) from the window of
the abandoned plantation. The battle was a rout as shown in the movie. Victor: British Lt. General
Charles Earl Cornwallis Defeated: Continental Maj.
General Horatio Gates Casualties: The British lost
324 killed and wounded. The American casualties were 1,000 killed and wounded and 1,000 lost as prisoners.
Pictures from movie showing clothing styles of the time
SOLDIER IN REVOLUTIONARY WAR - COLONEL THOMAS FARRAR
Thomas Watkins Jr (1764-1801) married Eleanor Farrar (1772-) (8 Nov 1790 Mecklenburg County VA)
Parents of Eleanor Farrar: Colonel Thomas Farrar (1726-1809) and Elizabeth Howard (1736- ).
Before the war Thomas Farrar and his brother, George Farrar Jr., moved from Chesterfield Co. to Lunenburg
Co. Virginia, which later became Mecklenburg Co., to join their uncle Field Jefferson (1702-1765).
Thomas Farrar's first cousin, Thomas Jefferson (3 rd President of USA), wrote the Declaration of Independence and was one of it signers July 4, 1776.
The Daughters of the American Revolution show that Thomas Farrar served as a Major during the Revolution and lists him as a Patriot. The Governor commissioned him a Lt. Col. in 1802. Other records refer to him as Col.
Thomas Farrar.
Lieutenant-Colonel Farrar's mother was Judith Jefferson, sister of the father of Thomas Jefferson, president of
the United States." Thomas Farrar died at his son Abner's home on August 20, 1809. His obituary appeared in the Georgia Express Newspaper of Athens, Georgia on September 9, 1809, and the Augusta, Georgia Chronicle

on October 9, 1809. It stated that he was a first cousin of President Thomas Jefferson. (On file at the University of Georgia Library)
TAYLORS FERRY (on Roanoke River Mecklenburg County VA) Revolutionary War
The Ferry was located just a few miles from the home of Thomas Watkins and family.
Taylors Ferry Road to the ferry passed out of Boydton, Virginia directly south. The ferry site was only a few miles downriver from where the Dan joins the Roanoke River. This ferry was on the main road from
Petersburg VA to Hillsboro NC and was the principal road used for military travel North South in the
Revolutionary War period. Numerous supplies and troops passed through this point going to North and
South Carolina crossing the Roanoke River at Taylor's Ferry.
During the Revolutionary War, Virginia Governor Thomas Jefferson ordered that no Virginia wagons were to cross the Roanoke River south of Taylor's ferry for fear that they would not be returned. Horses for the army were pastured here and a magazine was built for the accumulation of military stores.
When General Gates army marched south under instructions from George Washington after the disasters at Charleston and Savannah, Gates found that the ferry boats across the Roanoke could not carry his 12 pound cannons, so these were left and built into the defenses of Taylor’s Ferry. Examination of British Army correspondence between Cornwallis and Tarleton reveals that they debated the benefit of attacking Taylor's
Ferry, but considered it too well defended by the Mecklenburg militia to risk the action.
The Fortunate Surveying of the Dan River “The Race to the Dan”
General Greene Crossing the Dan River
When General Nathaniel Greene was chosen by George Washington to replace General Gates, Greene stopped at Taylors Ferry and selected Lt. Col. Edward Carrington( who was stationed at Taylor's Ferry which was located near present-day Clarksville, Virginia) to examine the navigation of the Dan River. Orders were issued to Colonel Carrington "to explore the Dan, Yadkin and Catawba, and make himself thoroughly acquainted with the streams into which they discharged themselves." Not knowing it at the time, Greene's
fortunate order to survey the river would later save the entire Southern Army.
“The British were beaten before the Battle of Yorktown”. The Crossing of the Dan can be described as the beginning of the end for the British Lt. General Charles Cornwallis led British army. The contest was not a battle, but a race! Lord Cornwallis had to catch General Nathanael Greene before he could cross the Dan River in Virginia to re-supply.
"No operation during the war more attracted the public attention than this did." If Greene's army were to be destroyed, the South would have inevitably become members of the British Empire. The Retreat Begins at
Cowpens Battlefield then the Race Begins at Guilford Court House and Ends with the Crossing of the Dan River.
Note: The crossing of the Dan River occurred 14 Feb 1781 at Boyd's Ferry and Irwin's Ferry, located farther west on the Dan River, community of South Boston, Halifax County VA , 21 miles from the home of Thomas
Watkins and Family Clarksville, Mecklenburg Co VA.
The homefolks welcomed the ragged hard-bitten soldiers as heroes. Those unlikely-looking men had kept Lord
Cornwallis and his mighty legion from their door. The grateful patriots brought food, spirits, warm clothing and

medicine to honor these men who with superhuman will had dragged themselves 80 miles to cross the river, outfoxing their enemy. Eight hundred men from Halifax and surrounding counties (Mecklenburg) joined the
1,428 members of the American Army. The troops were soon fed and given moral support by the towns people, and militia volunteers came forward to join his army. During their stay, about 1500 to 1800 local militia came out to defend the town.
After new recruits almost doubled the size of Greene's army, he fought
Cornwallis at Guilford 15 March 1781, which is near what is now Greensboro, North Carolina. Cornwallis claimed victory, but lost many men, especially officers, and exhausted his supplies. He was never able again to mount an effective offense.
"This American retreat, which extended across the breadth of North Carolina into Virginia, is considered one of the masterful military achievements of all time."
MECKLENBURG ORDER BOOK - There were several court orders concerning Thomas Watkins.
On June 13, 1768, the suit between Alexanded Boyd, Plaintiff and Thomas Watkins Defendant - In Case - was dismissed. (M.O.B. 2, p.9) On
December 6, 1768, Thomas Watkins instituted a suit against William Davis, defendant - In Trespass, Assult & Battery. The trial was referred to the next court. (Ibid., p. 209)
On March 13, 1770, the court ordered that the Petition of James Parks against Thomas Watkins for 1 pound, 12 shillings, 9 pence due by account be dismissed and the petitioner pay to the defendant his costs. (Ibid., p. 357) Thomas Watkins was ordered to pay to John Watkins 65 pounds of tobacco for three days' attendance as a eitness for him at the suit of James Parks. (Ibid., p.359)
On the same day, in the Trespass, Assault & Batery case against William Davis, the difference was referred to the determination of Thomas
Anderson, Reachens Bream, John Lynch, and Thomas Eastland. They decided that the defendant, William Davis, was to pay to Thomas
Watkins 5 pounds and costs. The court ordered Thomas Watkins to pay John Watkins 25 pounds of tobacco for one days' attendance as a witness against William Davis. (Ibid., pp. 358, 362)
ON June 11, 1770, John Watkins entered a petition against William Daniel for 2 pounds due by note. The defendant did not appear. The Court ordered that the petitioner recover against the defendant 2 pounds plus costs. (Ibid., p. 419)
By deed of trust, Thomas Watkins conveyed to McCall Elliott & Co., on June 15, 1773, a negro boy named Abram and 450 acres. This was to secure a debt of 102 pounds, 12 shillings. (M.D.B. 4, p. 197) Watkins had completely discharged and paid the debt to McCall Elliott & Co. by
March 12, 1804 when the company, by Thomas Gholson, Jr., their attorney in fact, released the said negro and the said tract of land to the said
Thomas Watkins. The deed was witnessed by T. Vaughn and record on March 14, 1804. (M.D.B. 11, p. 538)
Note: The release of this lien was needed for Thomas Watkins to sell this land in April 1804. He had probably paid off this debt long before this time.
On August 13, 1782, Elizabeth Watkins, plaintiff, brought suit against William Willis, defendant, for Trespass, Assault & Battery. On
September 9 the court ordered that a deposition of Spenceer Pescot, a witness in North Carolina, be taken; and on December 10, 1782, the court ordered that the deposition of Francis Hower, another witness in North Carolina, be taken. (M.O.B. 5, pp. 187, 210, 254) The suit of
Spencer Pescot, Plaintiff, against Thomas Watkins, defendant, abated by the death of the plaintiff. (M.O.B. 5, p. 476) The suit of Elizabeth
Watkins vs. William Willis continued through Order Book 6.
Beginning with Thomas Watkins in 1765 through the 1820 census, our Watkins families were the only
Watkins living in Mecklenburg VA. With the exception of John Watkins, who was probably the brother of Thomas Watkins? And the Mary Watkins below:
A Mary Watkins died before September 10, 1782, and it is possible that she was the mother of Thomas Watkins or other close relative.
She left a will, for John Almond was called her executor. (If she had not left a will, the court would have appointed an administrator.) No record of the will has been found. On September 10, 1782, John Almond, executor of Mary Watkins deceased, plaintiff, brought suit against
Thomas Watkins, defendant - In Chancery. "On the motion of the plaintiff time is allowed him till next court to consider the defendant's answer now filed." (M.O.B. 5, pp. 217, 461, 474) Apparently the executor was satisfied with Thomas Watkins' reply, as no other reference to the suit was found.

Follow up on this

John Baynes and Andrew Knight withessed the will of Thomas Watkins Jr in 1801 Absolam Yancy Security.
Son of Richard and Mary (Neighbors)Could Absolam be husband of Mary Watkins?
Nancy Witherson witness who is this nancy? Thomas Faleconer Joseph Towns security who is this
Thomas Yancy (son of Tom) bought items at estate sale
Not Related:
2)James Watkins: Born 1748 Prince Edward, Virginia.
Married 1st Ann Miller (about 1750 Millers Ferry, Prince Edward, Virginia - about 1788 Mecklenburg, Virginia) in
1775 Halifax, Virginia. Children with Ann Miller: Micajoh Watkins (1781 - 1850/1860 Independence, Arkansas), Sarah
Sally Watkins (1776 - ????), John Watkins (1778 - ????), Elizabeth Watkins (1782 - ???? Yancyville, Caswell, North
Carolina), Ann Watkins (1784 - after 1850 Robertson, Tennessee, Mary Polly Watkins (1786 - ???? North Carolina).
Married 2nd Ann Nuckells (about 1752 Mecklenburg, Virginia - ????) on September 9, 1789 Mecklenburg, Virginia.
Children with Ann Nuckells: Nancy Watkins (1792 Mecklenburg, Virginia - May 23,1872 Leatherwood, Henry,
Virginia), Martha Watkins (1790 Mecklenburg, Virginia - 1843 Pittsylvania, Virginia).
Married 3rd Frances Chiles Smith (about 1752 Prince Edward, Virginia> - ????).
James died 1841 in Henry, Virginia.
THE UPPER ROAD
The Upper Road branched off from the King's Highway at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and went southwest through Hillsboro, Salisbury, and Charlotte in North Carolina, then on to Spartanburg and
Greenville in South Carolina. The road generally followed the old Occaneechee Path which went from
Bermuda Hundred on the James River, and Old Fort Henry (now Petersburg) southwest to the Indian trading town of the Occaneechi which existed by 1675 on an island in the Roanoke River at about the location of today's Clarksville, Virginia, close to the present Virginia and North Carolina state line.
From that location the trading trail went both north and south. The Trading Path divided at the
Trading Ford of the Yadkin River, one branch turning toward Charlotte, the other through Salisbury to
Island Ford on the Catawba, to the north of present Lake Norman. DeSoto and his cavaliers were perhaps the first white men to use portions of the great Occaneechi Path (1540). Some of the people associated with Fort Henry were Col. Abraham Wood, Thomas Batts, Robert Fallam, James Needham,
Gabriel Arthur, and John Lederer. From 1700-1750, active trading was carried on by white emigrants with Indian villages. After 1740, the proprietary governor of the Granville District began to issue grants to Quakers and others from the tidewater counties of North Carolina and Virginia, attracting them into the northern half of North Carolina. By 1750, the Upper Road became an important wagon route for southbound migrations into that portion of North Carolina. During the Revolutionary War, the road was used extensively for troop movements in the South--relating to the battles at Guilford
Courthouse, King's Mountain, and Cowpens.

Hayes, Beauford Rutherford HayesBirth








Death grandson nancy watkins
13 April 1834 in Taylor CO, KY
28 Oct 1889 in Portis, Osborne, Kansas, USA
Beauford Hayes, born in Kentucky to William and Nancy