Enslaved of Joel Watkins, Slaveholder, Prince Edward and Amelia Counties, Virginia

Joel Watkins was born 1716 in Henrico, VA and died 27 Jan 1776 in Prince Edward County, VA.   He was the son of Thomas Edward "of Swift Creek" Watkins 1678-1760 and Elizabeth Pride 1686-1740. Joel married Rhoda Gresham 1752 in Amelia County, VA.

In 1751 he owned 730 acres in Amelia County on both sides of Appomattox River.  He was on the tythe lists for Amelia County in 1745, 1750, 1752. This area became Prince Edward County in 1753/1754.

Will of Joel Watkins - written and proved Jan 1776
The Southside Virginian Vol IV No 1 pg 32 - Prince Edward Will Bk 1754-1784 by J C Kolbe
... to wife Rhoda for her natural life, plantation where they live and slaves Bobb and Jane now in possession of Ann Dikins.
... also (to wife Rhoda) slaves Dick, Will, Oliver, Cate, Tom, Sam, Peter, Mille, all [?], Flurry, Nancy and Charles.
... to son Silas, lands he now resides on below Fish Pond Creek and on the N side of Appomattox River in Buckingham County it being part of the land I bought of Alexander Trent and slaves Will, Sue, Jine, Moss and Adam.
... to son Joel my land and plantation which I purchased of James Walker, other lands adjoining the said tract and my grist mill tract and entries in Buckingham County.
... to son Philip land in Prince Edward and Buckingham Counties it being part of tract purchased of Alexander G Trent on the S side of Fish Pond Creek and Appomattox River.
... to son Samuel lands where I live being 423 acres which is the land I lent my wife during her natural life lying in Prince Edward and Buckingham counties and 2 entries in Prince Edward.
... to daughter Elisabeth Walker slaves: Daniel, Easther, Bidd, Anthony, Peter.
Executors: sons Silas and Philip Watkins, wife Rhoda, David Walker.
Witnesses: David Walker, Obadiah Woodson, William Lee, David Tyn.

Enslaved of Christopher Watkins, Slaveholder, Anson County, North Carolina

Christopher Watkins was born Jan 1732 in Henrico, VA and died 6 Nov 1822 in Anson County, NC.  He was the son of Thomas Edward "of Swift Creek" Watkins 1678-1760 and Elizabeth Pride 1686-1740. Christopher married Mary Jane Thomas 1737-1817

18 Apr 1771 issued land grant in Anson Co, NC for 300 acres: South Wt. of Pee Dee River at a post oak.
Land Book #20 pg 649

1780  Anson Co, NC - Christopher Watkins on petition, Apr 1780, to General Assembly from inhabitants of Anson County asking that new commissioners be appointed to "fix" the place to build public buildings.

1800 Census  Fayetteville, Anson Co, NC
4 Slaves

1810 Census  Anson Co, NC
7 Slaves

1820 Census Culpeper, Anson Co,. NC
Living alone with:
13 Slaves:
1 M 14-25
1 M 45+
8 F under 14
2 F 14-25
1 F 45+

Will of Dr Christopher Watkins, Probated in Anson Co, NC
NC Wills and Probate Records. Wiils, Vol C-D, 1848-1905 *have not yet seen more than reference in the index.

Enslaved of William Daniel, Slaveholder, Cumberland County and Mecklenburg County, VA

William Daniel b1710 Virginia - d1775 Cumberland County, Virginia.  He married Elizabeth Watkins b1712 in Henrico, VA - 22 Mar 1802, Cumberland County, VA. [see below]

The Last Will and Testament of William Daniel is dated 8 March 1771 Cumberland County, Virginia and was proven 24 April 1775.  Again proved and recorded in Mecklenburg County, Virginia Court in 1782. Will Book, pg 117.

Cumberland Co VA probate records.
IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Williams Daniel of Cumberland county in the Colony of Virginia, being in good health of body and of perfect and sound mind and memory (praise be to God,therefore) calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, and certainty of death, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following. This is to say first and principally I commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gate it hoping through his mercies to obtain a joyful Resurrection at the last day and my body to be buried as the discretion of my executors here after named and as for the worldly goods which it hath pleased God to bless me with after my just debts duly paid I give and dispose of in manner and form following: 

This I give and bequeath to my son William two hundred acres of land which I purchased of my brother, James Daniel, lying in this county on Soke Ass Creek joining the land of W. Alexander Tremt,(Trent?) Bradley and Thomas Holland, whereon my said son now lives to him and his main assigns forever. 

ITEM I likewise give and bequeath to my said son William one negro boy named Abraham. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my daughter Judith one negro girl named Silvia for and during her natural life, and after death my desire is that the said negro with all her increase shall be equally divided among such children as she shall leave behind to them and their Heirs forever 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth [Fuqua] one negro boy named----?--- now in the possession of her and her husband John Fuqua, for and during the natural life of my said daughter, and my desire is that after her death the said negro be equally divided among her surviving children and their Heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah [Womack] one negro girl named Ivy now in the possession of my said daughter and her husband Jesse Womack for and during the natural life of my said dau. and my desire is that after her death this negro with all her increase be equally divided among such children as she shall leave behind to them and their heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary and her husband John Nelson for and during the natural life of my said daughter, one negro girl named Judah now in the possession of my said daughter, and my desire is that after her death the said negro will all her increase shall be equall(y) divided among such as she shall leave to them and their heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my son William Pride one negro boy named Cupid to him and his heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my son Hezekiah one negro boy named Joe to him and his heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my son John one negro boy named Brandam and one negro girl named Cloe to be delivered to him so soon as he shall be the age of twenty-one. And to his issue if he have any but if he die either under age or without issue then my desire is that the said slaves shall be equally divided among his surviving brothers or their issue if they be dead and left any such lawfully begotten and their heirs forever. 

ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Rhonda, one negro boy named Robin and one negro wench named Add to be delivered to her so soon as she comes of age, the said wench and boy with all their future increase to her and her issue if she die either under age or without issue then my desire is that the said negroes and issue if the wench have any and all whatever she shall be equally divided among her surviving brothers, and their issue if they be dead and left any such lawfully begotten and their heirs forever. 

ITEM I lend to my beloved Elizabeth three negroes named Matt, Hanna and Toby, during her natural life, my will and desire is that my said wife be wholly possessed of the land and plantation whereon I now live during her natural life without any interruption also all the stock and household stuff and furniture of what kind and quality soever, during her natural life, without any appraisal or administration thereon. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin one negro boy named Toby after the death of said wife, to whom he is lent during her natural life but after her death to my said son Benjamin and his heirs forever. 

ITEM My will and desire that after the death of my said wife the two said wenches and Hannah (which is lent to her during life) with all their future increase be equally divided among my three sons Benjamin, Williams Pride and Hezekiah,to them and their heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my son John all the tract of land and plantation whereon I now live after the death of my said wife, to him and his issue, if he leave any, but if he die under age or without issue my desire is that it be equally divided among his three brothers namely Benjamin, Williams Pride and Hezekiah, or the survivors of them if either be dead and issue of the deceased, and their Heirs forever. 

ITEM I give and bequeath to my said son John one rifle barrel gun likewise all my working tools and utensils of every kind, on and belonging to the said plantation after the death of my wife, and if he die under age to be given as the land to his three brothers aforesaid, my wife, and if he die under age to be given as the land to is three brothers aforesaid. ITEM I give and bequeath to my said son John one horse, saddle and bridle. ITEM I give and bequeath to my son Hezekiah one smooth barl (barrel) gun. 

ITEM My will and desire is that after the death of my said wife all the rest of the household furniture of every kind be equally divided between my son John and my daughter Rhoda and in case either of them die without lawful issue their part to be equally divided as before (viz.)between Benjamin, Williams Pride, and Hezekiah and their Heirs forever. 

ITEM My will and desire is that my wife aforesaid shall dispose of all the remainder of stock on the said plantation of every kind and quality among my children as she shall see cause of think most proper and convenient either in her lifetime or at her death. 

LASTLY I nominate and appoint my beloved sons William, Benjamin,Williams Pride, Hezekiah and John my whole and sole executors of this last will and testament, hereby utterly revoking and disannulling all and every former will by me heretofore made, and declaring ---- hand and affixed my seal this eighth day of March One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy one. Signed, Sealed and Published in presence of Joseph Starkey Guthry Williams Daniel, L.S 

William's will was recorded in Mecklenburg, County, VA.  Executors:  Thomas and William Daniel

William's wife, Elizabeth Watkins was the daughter of Thomas Watkins, born 1680 at Malvern Hills Plantation, Henrico, VA and died 4 Mar 1760 at Swift Creek Plantation, Cumberland County, VA.  Elizabeth married 1st Benjamin Woodson, then 2nd to William Daniel.  Children of Elizabeth and Benjamin: Thomas who married Mary Woodson, Jacob who married Susannah Brooks, daughter of Thomas Brooks of Buckington County, VA; and Elizabeth who married a Mr. Hubbard.  [Source: Henry Morton Woodson, Historical and Genealogy of the Woodsons and the New Connection - self published 1915.]

Elizabeth is named in her father's will, probated 23 June 1760 in Cumberland County, VA:

 “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 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.”

1810 Census  Lancaster, Garrard, KY - Rhoda Daniel Nelson (1758-1813) d/o William Daniel and Elizabeth Watkins 

5 slaves   [see above for Rhoda's inheritance]

1820 Census  Lynchburg, VA - William Daniel (1738-1807) s/o William Daniel and Elizabeth Watkins

 8 slaves, plus 2 Free Colored Persons - 1 M under 14; 1 M 14-25

 

1810 Census  Rowan County, NC - Peter Daniel (1777VA - 1852 KY) s/o William (1738-1807)

2 slaves

 

1840 Census  Bedford, TN - Drury Daniel (1809-1892)

No slaves

 

Also of note:  James W Daniel - "Colored" was a Private in the 29th United States Colored Infantry. He was 5/8". Occupation: Waiter.  Born about 1842 in Tennessee.