Virginia Sanders  Mylius

<gmylius@charter.net>   ·
Birmingham, AL    



Complete notes and sources available upon request.

Watkins Family, continued  (page 12)

The children of Thomas Watkins & Sarah “Sally” Walton - (conclusion)

7)   (Maj.) Isaac Watkins was the last child of Thomas & Sally.   He was born 10 Apr 1777- died 13 Dec 1827 in Pulaski, Arkansas.  Isaac & sister Polly accompanied their mother and her new husband, the Rev. Joshua Morris, from Virginia to Kentucky in 1788.    We tend to think that, because of this, Isaac and Polly lost contact with their older siblings, but that is not the case.  In 1800, Isaac’s uncle, Hon./Judge George Walton (signer of the Declaration of Independence) gave approval as a "Commissioner of the State" of Georgia to Isaac Watkins and Colonel Whitley to construct a road, to be built through the "Cherokee country to the highest navigation of the Savannah River."   Isaac was in the militia, and is listed on the muster rolls as having served in the War of 1812.   He married first Paulina  Thurston (11 Jun 1780-27 Nov 1805 KY) in Kentucky, the daughter of Plummer Thurston and Mary Talbot of Virginia.   They had one child, Robert Anderson Watkins, born 10 May 1804.   After Paulina’s death, Isaac married second Marie (or Maria) Toncre, of Kentucky, a lady of Huguenot ancestry.   The marriage was probably in Shelby Co., KY.    Isaac and Maria had four children.    

In 1821, Isaac left Shelby Co., KY and  took his family to Little Rock, Arkansas.   Meredith Gibson supplied the information that Isaac had co-signed note for friend, who defaulted on paying...& Isaac felt honor-bound to repay and left devoid of much of his wealth he had accumulated.  “A Pictorial History of Arkansas” states that Isaac’s was one of the pioneer families of the region.   The town was then the merest collection of huts, and the only house he could find in which to stay was a log house, far out on the outskirts of the place, but near what is now the corner of Scott and Fourth streets.   About 1825, Major WATKINS built a two-story frame house on the next block east and south, which was known as the old Stevenson place -- his widow, Mrs. Maria Watkins married Rev. W. W. Stephenson - and which stood until 1880, when it was pulled down after a division of the estate."   Meredith further told me that even though Isaac had to start over, he did well.  She also gave me an interesting account of Isaac’s death (if someone has further information about this, please contact me):  

“In 1827 Isaac saw man who had stolen hogs from his farm and accused him in public.  Later sitting in local store reading a paper, the man appeared and shot him and Isaac died shortly after. "

There is a lovely account of Maria Toncrey in "Pioneers and Makers of Arkansas", who, after Isaac’s death, married Rev. Stevenson:   "Mrs. Stevenson was born in Williamsport, Maryland, in 1793, and when quite young moved with her parents to Kentucky where she married Major Isaac Watkins, of Shelby County, with whom she and her infant son, the late Judge George C. Watkins, and her niece, Mrs. Woodruff, the wife of the venerable William E. Woodruff, resided. In 1820, she removed to Little Rock where she had always since lived."  After the death of Major Watkins, his wife remarried, her husband being Reverend W. W. Stevenson, a pioneer Methodist preacher at Little Rock, but who afterwards joined the Christian church, becoming a noted minister therein.  Mrs. Stevenson died at the residence of her son-in-law, Judge Clendennin, on the 21st of March, 1874, in the eighty-first year of her age, having lived in Little Rock continuously for fifty-four years, a longer continuous residence than any other citizen before her time, and, in all probability, since her time.  Her husband died in California in his eighty-ninth year.   Mrs. Stevenson was one of the best women who ever lived in Little Rock. She was first last and all the time a Christian, and her home was at all times a home of missions and for all the ministers of all denominations.   When the Scientist, Featherstonaugh,  was in Little Rock in 1838, he found no place of public lodgment at all suitable for a gentleman.  Mrs. Stevenson, hearing of his dilemma, threw open her house to him, where for several months he prosecuted his studies, leaving a high testimonial to the admirable good character and magnificent womanhood of Mrs. Stevenson. Such is a brief record of the antecedents of Chief Justice George Watkins, possibly the ablest man that Arkansas has produced.”     Isaac and Maria are both buried at Mount Holly Cemetery, Pulaski Co, AR.  

The descendants of Isaac Watkins, as I know them, were:  

1. Major ISAAC WATKINS (b.10 Apr 1777-Virginia d.13 Dec 1827-Pulaski Co.,Ark)
sp: Paulina THURSTON (b.11 Jun 1780-Campbell County,Virginia d.27 Nov 1805)
 |-2. Maj. Robert Anderson WATKINS,  (M.D.) C.S.A. (b.10 May 1804-Shelbyville,KY d. 6 Jun 1865-Little Rock,AK)
 | sp: Mary Watkins NASH
 |  |-3. Isaac Anderson WATKINS (b.1830)
 |  |-3. Paulina WATKINS (b.1833)
 |  |-3. Cameron Briscoe WATKINS (b.1843)
 |  |-3. Robert Ashley WATKINS (b.1846-Pulaski Co,Ark d.24 Mar 1881-Little Rock,AK)
 |  | sp: Josephine C. RATCLIFF (b.27 May 1840)
 |  |  |-4. Anna Lydia WATKINS (b.19 Aug 1864 d.14 Sep 1921-Little Rock,AK)
 |  |  | sp: William Boswell CARLIN
 |  |  |  |-5. Henry CARLIN
 |  |  |  |-5. Louella CARLIN
 |  |  |  |-5. James William CARLIN
 |  |  |  |-5. Watkins Lancaster CARLIN
 |  |  |  |-5. Anna Belle CARLIN
 |  |  |  |-5. Ethel CARLIN
 |  |  |  +-5. Charles Edward CARLIN
 |  |  +-4. Harry H. WATKINS (b.Abt 1866)
 |  |-3. George Claiborne (#3) WATKINS (b.1847-Pulaski Co,Ark)
 |  |-3. William Clendenin WATKINS (b.6 Feb 1848-Pulaski Co,Ark d.8 Apr 1918-Hattiesburg,MS)
 |  | sp: Missouri J.  (b.10 Jun 1845 d.9 Jan 1927)
 |  |  |-4. Robert A. WATKINS
 |  |  |-4. Anna WATKINS
 |  |  |-4. (daughter) WATKINS
 |  |  |-4. Hortense J. WATKINS (b.20 Feb 1885)
 |  |  +-4. George C. WATKINS (b.21 Dec 1888)
 | sp: Hortense
  |  |-3. Thomas WATKINS (b.1863-Pulaski Co,Ark)
 |  +-3. Hortense WATKINS (b.Abt 1864-Pulaski Co,Ark)
sp: Maria TONCRAY (b.13 May 1795 d.21 Mar 1874)
 |-2. Judge George Claiborne WATKINS (b.25 Nov 1815-Shelbyville,KY d.7 Dec 1872-St. Louis. MO)
 | sp: Mary Adams CREASE (b.16 Aug 1823-Washington,DC d.28 Jan 1855)
 |  |-3. Lt. Col. Anderson WATKINS CSA (b.18 May 1842 d.22 Jul 1864-Battle of Atlanta,Civil War)
 |  |-3. Dr. Claiborne A. WATKINS Lt. Col. CSA (b.2 Mar 1844-Pulaski Co,Ark d.20 Jul 1908)
 |  | sp: Mildred FARLEY (b.12 Oct 1846 d.31 Oct 1937)
 |  |  |-4. Anne WATKINS (b.7 Apr 1874 d.12 Jul 1941)
 |  |  | sp: Robert Woods WALKER (b.20 Jul 1860 d.5 Mar 1920)
 |  |  |  |-5. Claiborne Watkins WALKER
 |  |  |  |-5. Robert Woods (Jr.) WALKER (b.1905)
 |  |  |  +-5. Gertrude Watkins (died a child) WALKER (b.15 Mar 1911 d.27 May 1913)
 |  |  |-4. Mary (dau of Dr. C. A.) WATKINS
 |  |  | sp: Charles Louis THOMPSON
 |  |  |  |-5. Mildred THOMPSON
 |  |  |  |-5. Henrietta THOMPSON
 |  |  |  +-5. George THOMPSON
 |  |  |-4. Mildred WATKINS
 |  |  | sp: Lewis Dade PATTY
 |  |  |  +-5. Claiborne Watkins PATTY (b.21 Sep 1903 d.Oct 1985)
 |  |  |    sp: Eleanor TODD
 |  |  +-4. Gertrude WATKINS (b.31 Aug 1884 d.15 Jul 1938)
 |  |-3. Capt. Walton WATKINS (CSA) (b.1846-LIttle Rock,AK d.7 Jan 1884)
 |  | sp: Susan TREZEVANT (d.1885)
 |  |  |-4. Anna WATKINS (b.1873)
 |  |  +-4. Anderson (son of Walton & Susan) WATKINS
 |  |-3. Mary C. WATKINS (b.Abt 1855 d.1 Oct 1878-Fayetteville,AR)
 |  |-3. Jane (died a child) WATKINS (b.Abt 1846 d.12 Aug 1848)
 |  |-3. Louisa "LuLu" WATKINS (b.22 Dec 1851 d.28 Mar 1932-Pulaski Co,Ark)
 |  | sp: William Fulton WRIGHT (bu.Mount Holly Cemetery,Pulaski Co,AR)
 |  |  |-4. Morehead WRIGHT (b.1872)
 |  |  | sp: (unknown-
  |  |  |-4. Watkins Fulton WRIGHT (b.1876)
 |  |  |-4. William Fulton (Jr.) WRIGHT
 |  |  +-4. Louise Watkins WRIGHT (b.1881 d.1962)
 |  |    sp: James Fairfax LOUGHBOROUGH
 | sp: (Mrs.) Sophia FULTON-CURRAN (d.1865)
 |  |-3. Lizzie (died a child) WATKINS (b.16 Jun 1860 d.13 May 1869)
 |  | sp: W. J. TURNER
 |  |-3. Georgie WATKINS
 |  +-3. Ida WATKINS
 |-2. Henry Conway WATKINS (b.20 Aug 1822-Little Rock,AK)
 |-2. Mary Eliza WATKINS (b.12 Feb 1825-Little Rock,AR d.9 Mar 1873-Little Rock,AR)
 | sp: Judge John J. CLENDENIN (b.2 Sep 1813 d.4 Jul 1876-Little Rock,Arkansas)
 |  |-3. Elizabeth (died a child) CLENDENIN (b.15 Nov 1849 d.18 Aug 1852-Little Rock,Pulaski County,AR)
 |  +-3. Josie Elizabeth CLENDENIN (b.21 Sep 1865-Little Rock,AR d.14 Jul 1927-Little Rock,AR)
 |    sp: William Ashley (Aston?) ROYSTON (b.24 Jun 1857-Hempstead County,Ark m.14 Aug 1881 d.9 Sep 1941-Little Rock,AK)
 |     |-4. Mary Watkins ROYSTON (b.1 Jan 1883)
 |     +-4. Georgia ROYSTON (b.12 Oct 1884)
 |       sp: Frederick HEISKELL (b.4 Jun 1876-Rogersville,TN m.10 Apr 1912)
                         (names of children withheld)
 +-2. Catherine WATKINS (b.Aft 1827)

Notes About Isaac Watkins and his Descendants

Dr. Thomas A. Watkins’  (1802-1884; the son of George & Mary Early Watkins of Augusta & Greene Co., GA) visited the family in Arkansas several times, and letters were often exchanged, many of them recounted in the book “Letters from Forest Place.”    We recently were thrilled to read a letter from Madame Octavia Walton LeVert to her cousin Dr. Claiborne Watkins in Arkansas, written April 24, 1875.   This letter was shared most graciously by a descendant of Dr. T.A’s.    Octavia was on a “reading” tour, and the letter was written on stationary from the Southern Hotel, St. Louis, MO, asking her relative about likely accommodations in Little Rock if she were to schedule an engagement there.   After the War and her husband’s death, Octavia lived in Augusta, GA, and states quite plainly in the letter that she is obliged to earn her living this way.   We believe she did so very well!      

I would love to hear from any descendants of Isaac Watkins!   
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 I will close this account of the Watkins family with this information about my Watkins’ great-great-great grandmother:  
Mary Elizabeth Martha Watkins, and her brothers.  

These four children were left orphans by the early deaths of their parents.   An educated guess tells us that their father, at least, probably died of consumption (as did his parents).   As early as 1820, we have determined that they are the four children living with their grandmother, Mary S. Robison Bugg-Arrington-Hatcher, thrice widowed daughter of George Heyward Robison & Elizabeth Ann Stewart.  Thomas lived nearby, but they didn’t live with him.  Mary raised her grandchildren, and they were all four mentioned in her will of 1829 (she died 2 Aug 1833).   

Martha married Charles DeLaigle on 21 Jan 1829 at the First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, GA .  Charles was the only son of French emigre Nicolas de l’Aigle and his wife, Marguerite.   Nicolas built quite a fortune, and started the first brick making factory in the South, leaving this to his only son when he died in 1853.   The War would change the fortunes of the family, as it did so many others.  

Martha Watkins DeLaigle bore her husband 15 children, from 1830 to 1852, dying with the birth of the last on December 22, 1852.    Only five of these children would live to adulthood to marry and have children, but they left numerous descendants!   Martha is buried in the DeLaigle plot, Magnolia Cemetery, Augusta, GA.   You can read more about them on the DeLaigle page.  

Robert Arinton Watkins was born ca 1812, died 1865 (buried 8 Dec 1865 in Magnolia Cemetery) Augusta, GA.   He married Harriet T. Hall on 5 Mar 1834, Augusta, GA.   I can’t find the burial record for Harriet.   

1. Robert Arrington WATKINS (b.Abt 1812 d.1865-Augusta,GA)
sp: Harriet T. HALL (b.South Carolina m.5 Mar 1834)
 |-2. Benjamin Hall WATKINS (b.11 Jun 1840 d.28 Jul 1886)
 |-2. Charles Delaigle WATKINS (b.5 Oct 1842-Loundesville,SC d.26 Jul 1886)
 | sp: Mary Frances HODGES (b.Abt 1846-South Carolina m.26 Mar 1866)
 |  |-3. Anne Bell (or Annabel) WATKINS (b.9 Sep 1867)
 |  |-3. John Rayford WATKINS (b.9 Sep 1868)
 |  |-3. Robert Arrington (II) WATKINS (b.16 Jan 1871)
 |  |-3. Benjamin Hall WATKINS (b.28 Aug 1872 d.Prior to 1880)
 |  |-3. Harriet Caroline WATKINS (b.18 Jan 1877)
 |  |-3. Charles Delaigle (Jr.) WATKINS (b.22 Apr 1879-Loundesville,SC d.30 Sep 1959-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  | sp: Juliette May COLEMAN (b.Ohio m.1903)
 |  |  |-4. Charles DeLaigle (III) WATKINS (b.14 Jul 1904-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  | sp: Stacie
  |  |  |  +-5. Horace WATKINS (b.Abt 1925)
 |  |  |-4. Robert William WATKINS (b.16 Sep 1906-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  | sp: Helen Florence LEGGETT
 |  |  |-4. Frances Loretta WATKINS (b.18 Dec 1908-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  |-4. Edward Rayford WATKINS (b.7 Jun 1911-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  |-4. Harriet Belle WATKINS (b.13 Nov 1913-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  |-4. Louise May WATKINS (b.7 Nov 1916-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  |-4. James Jonathan WATKINS (b.3 Mar 1918-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  |-4. Annie Belle WATKINS (b.26 Feb 1922-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |  +-4. John D. WATKINS (b.26 Jan 1926-Jacksonville,FL)
 |  |-3. William Power WATKINS (b.13 Jan 1880)
 |  +-3. William Taggart WATKINS (b.15 Sep 1883)
 |-2. Henry (Arrington) WATKINS (b.25 Apr 1844)
 +-2. Robert Fairchild WATKINS (b.28 Apr 1850)

Of Robert and Harriet’s children, the only one I know anything about was Charles DeLaigle Watkins who married Mary Frances Hodges.   And that is thanks to Mr. Russell K. Brown, who told me an interesting story about Charles!     "Charles D. Watkins was a member of the Oglethorpe Light Infantry, a pre-war volunteer company in Augusta. They were mustered into service in March 1861, served at Pensacola briefly and then in western Virginia. They were mustered out March 1862. Watkins then joined Cobb's Legion cavalry and served in Virginia  until at least 1864, no records available later than Oct. 1864 but there might be a pension record.    Before the war he was a clerk for Kauffer, Baum & Co., dry goods, at 175 Broad St. in Augusta. After the war he was clerk and salesman.

Watkins; Francis M. "Frank" Hight; and Joshua J. Doughty were accused of shooting and stabbing Capt. Alexander W. Heasley, a Union army officer, to death in a private house in Augusta on Aug. 30, 1865.    Heasley identified them as his assailants before he died. They were tried by a military commission, the civil courts not yet functioning. The commission found Hight guilty and Doughty and Watkins not guilty.    Hight was sentenced to hang. The commanding general commuted Hight's sentence to 15 years; he said the evidence supported a finding of guilty for Doughty but he let him go. Watkins was exonerated. The three accused had served together in the Oglethorpes. Doughty later headed his own cotton brokerage and died in 1914. I don't know about the other two.

I am hopeful of hearing of any descendants of Robert Arinton Watkins!

Isaac Thomas Watkins was born ca 1813/1815.    Isaac is named in Thomas's brother's will.  Issac’s uncle Robert WATKINS' wrote in his 1828 will:    “After my just debts are paid whatever remains of my Estate whether real or personal, evidence of debt or of whatever nature of kind (except the small memorials hereinafter devised) I give devise and bequeath to my affectionate nephew ISAAC THOMAS WATKINS, and his heirs and assigns forever to be held in Trust for him until his death, or he shall have attained the age of twenty-one years by my friend Robert WALTON.”  

I am hopeful of hearing of any descendants of Isaac Thomas Watkins!  

Valentine Walker Watkins was born ca 1815/1820.  He was named for his uncle. Gen. Valentine Walker of Augusta, Ga, who had been married to his aunt, Mary Arinton.  (Mary died young, leaving no children; Gen. Val Walker remarried to Zemula Creswell.)   In the 1840 Census, V.W. Watkins is living in Richmond County, GA, with a female, same age range,  but I can find no record of a marriage.     V.W. Watkins was a private with the Richmond Blues, of Augusta, GA,  Richmond Blues left Augusta for Mexican War on June 3, 1846.  Captain was D.W. Dill; 1st. Lt. was J. Phinizy.   They went from Augusta to Madison, GA, which was at that time the western terminus of the Georgia Railroad, and from there they walked to Mobile, AL, where they took a boat to Vera Cruz.  

I am hopeful of hearing of any descendants of Valentine Walker Watkins!  

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End of information provided about the Watkins Family

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