With each generation, parents get the opportunity to give their offspring their lifelong label. For me, it was an important task at hand and one that did not come without arguments from my better half. My children are of Polish descent through their father and choosing a first name that seemed appropriate for their surname was important to me but the middle name just needed to flow with the first and last name. Perhaps you can relate? At any rate, as I dabbled in genealogy during my twenties, then I turned to the names in our family lines. My son could have been a Paul, Lewis, Oris, Stan, Boleslaus, or George if I named him after a grandfather or great-grandfather. My husband was extremely opposed to naming our son Stan and Boleslaus was not used in the U.S. and the other names just didn’t seem right so we settled on Nicholas. I was given permission to decide the middle name without much argument. One name stood out as I learned about my family so I settled on Evan. The name has been handed down many times by descendants in my maternal Watkins’ family. It starts way back in this country's colonial period!
It was about 1709 in Maryland when my 6th great-grandfather, Evan Watkins, was born. He was most likely a son of Peter Watkins and Mary Griffith and became the founder and operator of Watkins ferry on the Potomac River[1] located between Falling Waters, Virginia (now West Virginia) and Williamsport, Maryland. He transported many travelers including General George Washington who was on his way to Fort Duquesne (Pittsburgh) in 1755 during the French-Indian War.
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| Source: 1778 map, Library of Congress |
Evan was married to Mary Finnicum who gave birth to four sons named Evan, Thomas, David, and Peter and three daughters named Jean, Ann, and Eleanor. While living at his house (built circa 1741) known as Maidstone-on-the Potomac, he expanded the original one-room house so beds could be rented to travelers and supplies could be sold. His ledger book listed ferriage rates, blacksmithing charges, and the costs for refreshments such as wine slings, toddies, and “ciderloy.”[2]
Maidstone-on-the-Potomac is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
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| Photographer: Debry Becker Jones Source: The Historical Marker Database |
Evan’s land deed granted in 1762 as transcribed by me:
The Right Honorouable Thomas Lord Fairfax Baron of Cameron in that part of Great Britain called Scotland Proprietor of the Northern Neck of Virginia To all to whom this present writing shall come Sends Greeting Know Yee that for Good Causes for in consideration of the composition to me paid for the Annual Rent herein after Reserved I have Given Granted & confirmed & by these presents for me my Heirs & Assigns do Give Grant & Confirm unto Evan Watkin of Fredrick County a Certain Tract of waste & ungranted Land on Potomach River in the said County & Bounded as by a Survey thereof made by Thomas Rutherford Beginning at a Sugar Tree on the bank of Potomach corner to Maidstone Common thence along the One of the said Common (land coordinates) three hundred & sixty poles to three red oak saplings corner to the common extending thence (land coordinates) one hundrend & nintyeight poles to a chesnutt oak near the head of a spring corner to Jeremiah Jacks line thence with his line (land coordinates) forty poles to a hiccory on the bank of Potomach River extending thence down the same (land coordinates) sixty poles & thence (land coordinates) three hundred & twelve poles to the Beginning containing two hundred & fifty two acres Together with all Rights Members & Appurtenances thereunto belonging Royal Mines Excepted & a full third part of a Lead Copper Tin Coals Iron Mine & Iron Ore that shall be found thereon to have & to hold the said Two hundred & Fifty two acres of Land Together with all right profits & benefits to the same belonging or in anywise appertaining except before excepted to him the said Evan Watkin his heirs & assigns forever. He the said Evan Watkin his heirs or assigns therefore yielding & praying to me my Heirs or assigns or to my certain attorney or attorneys agent or agents or to the certain attorney or attorney of my heirs or assigns proprietors of the said Northern Neck yearly & every year on the feast day of St. Michael the Arhangel the fee rent of one shilling sterling money for every fifty acres of land hereby granted & no proportionably for a Greater or lesser quantity provided that if the said Evan Watkin his heirs or assigns shall not pay the said reserved annual rent as aforesaid so that the same or any part thereof shall be behind or unpaid by the space of two whole years after the same shall become due if legally demanded that then it shall & may be lawfull for me my heirs or assigns Proprietors as aforesaid my or their certain attorney or attorneys agent or agents into the of one granted premises to render & hold the same so as if this grant had never passed given at my office in the County of Frederick under my hand & seal dated this twentyfourth day of May in the second year of his Majesty King George the third’s reign AD 1762.
Fairfax
Evan Watkin’s deed
For 252 acres Frederich County
Ex of Thos Bry Martin
Just two years after receiving the land deed, Evan created his will on May 02, 1764. Proved, August 06, 1765. Frederick Co., Virginia. Will Book # 3, Page # 298:
To wife Mary Watkins, 1/3 part of estate for her widowhood. To son Evan Watkins, all lands, paying to Evan Watkins, son of my eldest son Thomas, deceased, sum of 5 pounds. To son David Watkin, all my wearing apparel. Personal estate to be equally divided among my children, viz: Peter, Evan, Jean Watkin, Ann Lewis wife of Roger Lewis, and Eleanor Franks the wife of Henry Franks. Executor: Son, Evan Watkins. Witnesses: John Paul, Thomas Adams, John Champion.
The son named Peter was my fifth great-grandfather. He and his wife Hannah (her maiden name is not proven and some say it is Lewis, Reynolds or Boone) settled in Berkeley County, South Carolina near the Tyger River and later moved onto Rutherford County, North Carolina where he died circa October 1801. His will probated on 31 Jan 1801 lists the following children: David, William, Evan, Daniel, Esther, Nancy, and Ellanor.
My 4th great-grandfather is the son named Evan, born circa 1767 in North Carolina. He married Mary Ann “Polly” Dill about 1788 and the couple started their family in the Spartanburg district of South Carolina. In 1810, they are enumerated on the Rutherford County, North Carolina census and finally settled in St. Clair County, Alabama around 1820. Evan appears on the Early Land Ownership and Township Plat for Alabama, Huntsville Meridian (Northern Part of Alabama) along with Joseph Dill who is most likely a brother to his wife.
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| Source: U.S., Indexed Early Land Ownership & Township Plats, Alabama, Huntsville Meridian, Ancestry.com |
Around his 74th year of age, Evan passed away circa November 1840 in St. Clair Co., Alabama. His last will and testament was found on thehennesseefamily.com website and transcribed as follows:
I, Evan Watkins, of St. Clair County State of Alabama, contious (maybe meant to be conscious) of the uncertainty of human life, and not willing to die intestate do now in the full possession of my faculties make this my last Will and Testament. I do hereby will and bequeath to my loving wife, Polly Watkins, all my real estate during of her natural life consisting of land and house where I now live, also one horse and two cows and all the house hold furniture and at her death to be divided between my five sons John Watkins, Philip Watkins, Evan Watkins, Jr., Bennet Watkins, and Green Berry Watkins viz the land at her death to be divided between my said sons as they may agree on and at the death of said wife, John Watkins, Philip Watkins, Evan Watkins, Jr., Bennett Watkins and Green Berry Watkins is to pay my son Willis Watkins each one severally of them the sum of twenty dollars which is to be his part of said land. I do further will and bequeath to my four daughters Rebecca Philips, Patsy Wesson, Frances Wesson, and Susannah Humphrey all my personal property and moveable effects to be sold and the money equally divided among my said daughters, at my death it is further my will and desire that my said wife, at or before her death, to give or dispose of all house hold and perishable property as she may think proper.
I do hereby nominate and appoint my two sons my executors viz Philips Watkins and Evan Watkins, Jr. of this my last will and testament. I testamony (unsure if "testamony" is correct) of the a will and testament I have set my hand and affix my seal this the 17 day of May 1834.
(signed) Evan Watkins (seal)
In the presence of
John F. Dill (nephew of Mary Ann "Polly" Dill)
Lorenzo Dow Whisenant (s/o Henry Whisenant, and brother of William Jenkins Whisenant)
Nanny Dill (wife of John F. Dill)
The State of Alabama Personally appeared before me, James Rogan, Judge of the County Court for said county, John F. Dill and of the subscribing witnesses to the forgoing
St. Clair County forgoing will who being duly sworn sayeth that he did see Evan Watkins, whose name appears to said will, sign, seal and deliver the same on the
day and date therein mentioned and that he did also see the other two witnesses attest and sign their names as such sworn to before me this 21st day of Sept 1840.
James Rogan John F. Dill
Judge of CC
Recorded November 9th 1840 Joshua W. Hooper
Moving onto my 3rd great-grandfather, Evan Watkins, Jr., born July 3, 1811 in Rutherford County, North Carolina and married Margaret Ann Brown on December 28, 1837 in St. Clair County, Alabama.
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| Source: Familysearch.org |
According to the Broadaway Family Facebook page, the couple remained in Alabama until 1850 or so then departed with a wagon train of 11 families who were headed to Arkansas. They settled near an area now known as Jonesboro. Evan Watkins of Big Creed Township was awarded the contract for clearing away the brush and trees for the townsite” (Mr. Harry Lee William’s “History of Craighead County,” page 179; published in 1930 copyright 1932).
As with many southerners of large farms during this time period, Evan is on the 1850 slave schedule that listed a male and female, and the 1860 slave schedule listed one 28 year old Black female. The outcome of the Civil War may have affected their way of life in many ways such as the loss of two sons who fought for the Confederacy. Miller Watkins born in 1843 died at Ft. Pillow in Tennessee and John born circa 1840 and died July 4, 1863. In addition to these sons, there were an additional 11 offspring named James, Eliza, Joseph, Nancy, David, Marzee, Ross, Payton, Unity, Marion, and Cordelia. Whew!
Evan’s investment in a cotton gin turned out to be profitable as his fee to his neighbors was one pound of lint for every ten pounds of lint ginned. He often had enough bales to ship his cotton to the New Orleans Market via Jackson Port located on the White River in Arkansas. It is said he sometimes accompanied his goods to New Orleans.
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| Source: Jacksonhistory.net |
Evan died on February 28, 1891 and I have not located a will but his son Payton Ryan Watkins handled the sale of his land to pay debts owed, etc. Evan was laid to rest in the Herman Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
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| Evan Watkins, Jr. Source: Photo provided by Jvhyde-1, member, Ancestry.com |
David Watkins was the seventh child born to Evan and Margaret on June 3, 1847 in St. Clair County, Alabama and my 2x’s great-grandfather. He followed in the footsteps of his father making a living as a farmer in Craighead County, Arkansas and married his first wife, Sarah Ellen Burns, around 1867. They had seven to eight children that included a son named John Evan but he was not my great-grandfather.
Their firstborn son James Andrew Watkins (known as Andrew) was my great-grandfather. His other siblings were Missouri Emma, Elbert Houston, William Autman, Joseph Warner, Mary Ollie, and Pearl Victoria, and maybe a daughter named Zina. After the death of Sarah in 1886, David married Mrs. Susan Gambill nee Harden who gave birth to another daughter named Cora Caldonia. David lived most of his life in Arkansas then moved to Wall, Stephens, Oklahoma and lived with his daughter Pearl and her husband Ben Horn. He died April 10, 1934 and is buried with many family members in the Marlow Cemetery in Stephens County, Oklahoma.
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| David Watkins Source: Photo provided by Allanfain54, member, Ancestry.com |
Great-grandfather Andrew came into this world on January 18, 1870 in Craighead County, Arkansas and did not marry until the age of 30. Edith Ellen Puckett became his wife on December 23, 1900 in Jonesboro, Craighead, Arkansas. Around 1910, the couple moved their boys named Lloyd Everett, Nathan Francis, and Oris Lavell to Wall, Stephens, Oklahoma to farm in the newly formed state of Oklahoma. The 1910 census recorded that Andrew and Edith were renting the farm. The couple had another son named Audie Brent who died while they were living in Arkansas. Five daughters were born after the move to Oklahoma named Odell Vivian, Burnice Susan, Loda Deola, Venita Florence, and Lois (my mother’s namesake who, I believe, died very young).
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Watkins’ Family 1st row (left to right): Oris, Venita, Loda, Odell. 2nd row (left to right): Lloyd, James Andrew, Edith, and Nathan. Taken before 1947 as their daughter Venita passed away that year.
Although Andrew eventually owned his farm in Wall, Oklahoma, he lost it during the Great Depression. Andrew lived to be 95 years old and his obituary was published on September 5, 1965 in
The Lawton Constitution & Morning Press:
Marlow (Special) – Services for James Andrew Watkins, 95, who died Thursday after a year’s illness, were Saturday 2 p.m. in the Callaway-Smith Funeral Home chapel. Rev. Richard Moody, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiated. Burial was in Marlow Cemetery.
Mr. Watkins was born Jan. 18, 1870, in Jonesboro, Ark. He had lived in Marlow since 1907. He married Edith Ellen Puckett in Jonesboro Dec. 23, 1901. He was a retired farmer.
Survivors include three sons, Lloyd and Orris of Marlow, and Nathan, Oklahoma City; three daughters, Mrs. Frances Etier, Marlow; Mrs. Roy Barnes, Oklahoma City, and Mrs. M. R. Fisher, Chattanooga; a brother, W. A. Marlow; two sisters, Mrs. Ollie Fain, Michigan, and Mrs. Cora Hill, Marvel, Ark.; 24 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren.
Oris, my grandfather, married Clellie Ruth Winchester on January 2, 1923 and began struggling with mental health issues in his twenties as he suffered from schizophrenia. My grandfather tried to work but it was a struggle for him. The family eventually moved away from the Marlow area and settled near Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, Oklahoma only to have their home demolished by a tornado on April 12, 1945. The tornado claimed 8 lives and injured 200. It was an F4 rated tornado that started near the Cleveland county line and destroyed over 160 homes in the communities of Valley Brook, Del City, and Choctaw. Most fatalities were family members of military personal at Tinker Air Force Base (Source: April 12, 1945 tornadoes). That day became known as the tornado outbreak of April 1945 and was overshadowed by the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
My grandmother Clellie’s health was failing by 1947 and Oris checked her into the Capital Hill Hospital where she died at the age of 44 from uterine cancer. This was a turmulteous time for my mother and her siblings and their father was not capable of caring for them. Oris lived to be 74 years old but most of those years were spent in a Marlow nursing home. Lloyd Watkins, Oris’ older brother, was able to get monetary assistance and health care for grandpa. Mom took me to see my grandfather once at the nursing home when I was 13 or 14 years old. I doubt he knew we were there but he was awake and sitting “Indian style” on his bed while smoking a cigarette. He passed on July 9, 1979 and his children met at the Marlow Cemetery to reflect on his life and enjoy each other's company.
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| Oris' children arranged from youngest to oldest (left to right): Larry Dean, Coy Lynn, Cleta Joy, Benny Lavell, Hazel Loree, Mary Alice, Lois Maurine, and Melba Fern (Source: LBposse, member, Ancestry.com) |
This group added another generation of men named Evan. So what does the name mean? According to Wikipedia, it is a Welsh name derived from "lefan", a form of John and means "Yahweh is gracious"; "Young Warrior" in Gaelic; "Right-handed" in Scots; and "Good messenger/Good man" in Greek.
