Benjamin T. Watkins
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Stories about Benjamin T. Watkins compiled by: Laurie Searle - April 9, 2018
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Benjamin T. Watkins
photo from Ancestry.com
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Benjamin T. Watkins family papers, 1818-1920
Source: Emory University, Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library Benjamin Templeton Watkins was born July 4, 1797. He was drafted into the Georgia military in 1818 and fought in the Seminole Wars. In 1825 hfindingaids.library.emory.edu/documents/watkins717/e married Hannah Lassetter (March 10, 1809-December 2, 1851), possibly a descendant of a Cherokee Indian, and they both moved to Campbell County, Georgia in the 1830s. They had twelve children together. In 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins was commissioned as a captain of the Georgia Volunteers during the Cherokee removal in North Georgia and served as the commander of Fort Cumming. He died December 2, 1875. |
Robert Watkins Family [Great grandfather of Benjamin Watkins]
Source: Palmetto, A Town and Its People, page 217. (No publication date)
Submitted by Mrs. James H Bryam
Robert Watkins [Benjamin’s great- grandfather] came from Wales. His will was probated in 1753. He was living in the Township of Vencent in Chester County in the Providence of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Janie had eight children, one of whom was Reece.
Reece Watkins [Benjamin’s grandfather] was born circa 1732. In 1776 he moved to Oglethorpe County, Georgia and served in the Revolutionary War. He had eight or nine children, one of whom was Moses.
Moses Watkins [Benjamin’s father] married twice, his wife being first Keziah Campbell. He is listed on the 1795 Tax digest of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He had several children, and among them was Benjamin Templeton.
Benjamin Templeton Watkins was born July 4, 1797. He married Hannah Lassiter. His will was probated January 3, 1876. At his death his residence was Campbell County, Georgia. As described in his will, the property is located west of Palmetto on Hutcheson Ferry Road at Watkins Road, going west on both sides of the road. This property is still in the Watkins-Byram family. Benjamin had eleven children, among them John Hill Watkins, who became a doctor.
Source: Palmetto, A Town and Its People, page 217. (No publication date)
Submitted by Mrs. James H Bryam
Robert Watkins [Benjamin’s great- grandfather] came from Wales. His will was probated in 1753. He was living in the Township of Vencent in Chester County in the Providence of Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Janie had eight children, one of whom was Reece.
Reece Watkins [Benjamin’s grandfather] was born circa 1732. In 1776 he moved to Oglethorpe County, Georgia and served in the Revolutionary War. He had eight or nine children, one of whom was Moses.
Moses Watkins [Benjamin’s father] married twice, his wife being first Keziah Campbell. He is listed on the 1795 Tax digest of Oglethorpe County, Georgia. He had several children, and among them was Benjamin Templeton.
Benjamin Templeton Watkins was born July 4, 1797. He married Hannah Lassiter. His will was probated January 3, 1876. At his death his residence was Campbell County, Georgia. As described in his will, the property is located west of Palmetto on Hutcheson Ferry Road at Watkins Road, going west on both sides of the road. This property is still in the Watkins-Byram family. Benjamin had eleven children, among them John Hill Watkins, who became a doctor.
Benjamin Templeton Watkins (1797-1875) Fifth Generation in USA
Source: [NI3113] http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~watkinsy/
Author unknown as online resource is no longer available.
Benjamin is a name which is used over and over in our family. It joins with Robert, Moses, Phillip and Reese as the most popular given names in our family. Benjamin, as well as the other names listed, are still being used by the family today.
A son of Benjamin, Jefferson McDonald, named a son after Benjamin T., and we have relatives living in Texas who are his descendants. The most noteworthy of these is Marion Watkins Ball, whose research on our family helped cause my addiction to genealogy when I read her materials.
Benjamin was the first child of Moses and Keziah Campbell Watkins. He was born on July 4, 1797 in Wilkes, Oglethorpe or Clarke County, GA. (I understand that it was possible to have lived in the same house and over a period of 30 years to have lived in all three counties.) Keziah Campbell remains one of my challenges as to her parentage and siblings. There is a book written by Levi Stratton Rice, "The Campbell, Watkins, Barber Family" which when found may provide the answers sought.
Benjamin had one sister, Mary, who married a Thomas Angle. There were two brothers, Phillip who never married, and Reese Watkins, who married Eleanor Young Harris. Many of Reese and Eleanor's descendants are still to be found in the Greater Atlanta Area. Some months ago, while researching in the Atlanta Historical Library, I met Robert C. Watkins, Jr. He is a great-great-great-grandson of Moses and is about the same age as Howard. Since that meeting I have researched this branch of the family and they include some illustrious cousins. The most notable being Edgar Watkins who was a federal judge.
We believe Benjamin married twice. I have a record of his marrying Elizabeth Caroline Center 19 November 1820. Elizabeth died in 1822 without any issue. He then married Hannah Lassetter in 1830 in Campbell County. Hannah was the daughter of Benjamin Lassetter who was featured in Vol. I, No. 2. Records show that Benjamin was part Indian.
Children of Benjamin T. and Hannah Lassetter Watkins with their spouses follow:
Jefferson McDonald Watkins 1825/1907
Nancy H. (Watkins) Bryant
Thaddeus Duncan Watkins 1827/1862
Rebecca (Watkins) Floyd
William Wynn Baggett Watkins 1830
Julia T. (Watkins) Neal
Permelia Olive Watkins 1832
Emaline Campbell Watkins 1833/1927
Henry Monroe Head
John Hill Watkins, MD 1836/1903
Etta Belle (Watkins) Bedell
Julius Cicero Watkins 1838/1927
Claramond (Watkins) Camp
Louisa Jane Watkins 1840
Sarah Ann Elizabeth Watkins 1842
Whitefield Attaway
Keziah Mary Ann Watkins 1845
Reese Phillip Watkins 1846/1927
Alabama Missouri (Watkins) "Bamma" Richards
Robert Orr Watkins 1849/1893
Benjamin Camp Watkins 1850
They had a total of thirteen children, many of whom are buried in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery at Palmetto, Fulton County, GA.
Little is known of Benjamin’s boyhood days. Since his father Moses married Elizabeth Angle on 7 December 1814 and Reese, the youngest child, was born in 1807, one might speculate that Benjamin's mother died when he was in his early teens. It is possible that Benjamin traveled to Alabama with his father and Uncle Phillip, as mention of this appears in some documents I have read. This trip took place prior to the marriage to Elizabeth and it might have been Benjamin's introduction to the Indian Lands from which Coweta, Carroll, Campbell and Douglas Counties were carved.
Benjamin, in any case, had returned to Oglethorpe County where he married Elizabeth Center on 19 November 1820. Less than two years later he was a widower.
A cousin, Paul Marczynski, whom I met on Prodigy, provided me with information which proved that Bengu (Benjamin) was one of the first settlers of the 8th District, Coweta County, GA. This move by Benjamin was after the death of Elizabeth Center and probably was around 1824-25. While the documentation necessary to prove this conjecture has not yet surfaced, I believe the land upon which he settled was located on County Line Road which eventually became a part of Campbell County.
Benjamin was a man of many interests. He was a farmer, land speculator, and Justice of the Peace. Many records exist that show he officiated at numerous marriages. Likewise, there are records of where he settled disputes, recorded land purchases and certainly was a man of prominence. Recently we have discovered that he was a veteran of The War of 1812. A metal marker so designating him as a War of 1812 veteran has been found near his tombstone.
One record I have is a map showing land owned by Benjamin which seemed to begin at Goodes and ran down both sides of Hutchinson Ferry Road to the Chattahoochee River. I have decided to include this map in this edition. In the copy of Benjamin's will you will note that he left land to only Keziah Ann and John Hill. Perhaps the reason no other children are listed is that Benjamin had already given land to them.
In Savannah there is a man named William Watkins Byram. He and I both are members of Rotary and have become friends. When we first met I asked where he had gotten such an outstanding middle name. He said he was named after his great-grandmother, Lola Watkins. My next question was where she was born. He stated Palmetto, GA. Imagine his surprise when I stuck out my hand, called him cousin, and told him why! His great-great-grandfather was John Hill Watkins, MD, one of the two children mentioned in Benjamin's Will.
An interesting addition to this story is that the mother of the second wife of Basell Smith, Margaret Amanda Atchison, was Dicey Byram. Dicey was the daughter of James Byram who is William W. Byram's great-great-grandfather. So we are cousins on both sides.
There remains a great deal of research that needs to be done on Benjamin T. As was the case with some of his forebears, we have not been able to find if he were a church member. We have been able to determine that he was a relatively wealthy man for his day. Only one other person is listed as being worth more than Benjamin in a mid-1800 census. So far no Will has been found for Moses Watkins so we do not know if Benjamin inherited anything from his father.
Amazing, isn't it. A man without much of anything other than a desire to become could during his lifetime with his wife raise 13 outstanding children, earn a reputation as a fair and honorable man, and amass what was a fortune for his day.
Benjamin T. Watkins is buried behind the barn on property presently owned by the children of Phillip Watkins. Property located on Hutchison Ferry Road, near Sardis Baptist Church about six miles from Palmetto.
Source: [NI3113] http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~watkinsy/
Author unknown as online resource is no longer available.
Benjamin is a name which is used over and over in our family. It joins with Robert, Moses, Phillip and Reese as the most popular given names in our family. Benjamin, as well as the other names listed, are still being used by the family today.
A son of Benjamin, Jefferson McDonald, named a son after Benjamin T., and we have relatives living in Texas who are his descendants. The most noteworthy of these is Marion Watkins Ball, whose research on our family helped cause my addiction to genealogy when I read her materials.
Benjamin was the first child of Moses and Keziah Campbell Watkins. He was born on July 4, 1797 in Wilkes, Oglethorpe or Clarke County, GA. (I understand that it was possible to have lived in the same house and over a period of 30 years to have lived in all three counties.) Keziah Campbell remains one of my challenges as to her parentage and siblings. There is a book written by Levi Stratton Rice, "The Campbell, Watkins, Barber Family" which when found may provide the answers sought.
Benjamin had one sister, Mary, who married a Thomas Angle. There were two brothers, Phillip who never married, and Reese Watkins, who married Eleanor Young Harris. Many of Reese and Eleanor's descendants are still to be found in the Greater Atlanta Area. Some months ago, while researching in the Atlanta Historical Library, I met Robert C. Watkins, Jr. He is a great-great-great-grandson of Moses and is about the same age as Howard. Since that meeting I have researched this branch of the family and they include some illustrious cousins. The most notable being Edgar Watkins who was a federal judge.
We believe Benjamin married twice. I have a record of his marrying Elizabeth Caroline Center 19 November 1820. Elizabeth died in 1822 without any issue. He then married Hannah Lassetter in 1830 in Campbell County. Hannah was the daughter of Benjamin Lassetter who was featured in Vol. I, No. 2. Records show that Benjamin was part Indian.
Children of Benjamin T. and Hannah Lassetter Watkins with their spouses follow:
Jefferson McDonald Watkins 1825/1907
Nancy H. (Watkins) Bryant
Thaddeus Duncan Watkins 1827/1862
Rebecca (Watkins) Floyd
William Wynn Baggett Watkins 1830
Julia T. (Watkins) Neal
Permelia Olive Watkins 1832
Emaline Campbell Watkins 1833/1927
Henry Monroe Head
John Hill Watkins, MD 1836/1903
Etta Belle (Watkins) Bedell
Julius Cicero Watkins 1838/1927
Claramond (Watkins) Camp
Louisa Jane Watkins 1840
Sarah Ann Elizabeth Watkins 1842
Whitefield Attaway
Keziah Mary Ann Watkins 1845
Reese Phillip Watkins 1846/1927
Alabama Missouri (Watkins) "Bamma" Richards
Robert Orr Watkins 1849/1893
Benjamin Camp Watkins 1850
They had a total of thirteen children, many of whom are buried in Sardis Baptist Church Cemetery at Palmetto, Fulton County, GA.
Little is known of Benjamin’s boyhood days. Since his father Moses married Elizabeth Angle on 7 December 1814 and Reese, the youngest child, was born in 1807, one might speculate that Benjamin's mother died when he was in his early teens. It is possible that Benjamin traveled to Alabama with his father and Uncle Phillip, as mention of this appears in some documents I have read. This trip took place prior to the marriage to Elizabeth and it might have been Benjamin's introduction to the Indian Lands from which Coweta, Carroll, Campbell and Douglas Counties were carved.
Benjamin, in any case, had returned to Oglethorpe County where he married Elizabeth Center on 19 November 1820. Less than two years later he was a widower.
A cousin, Paul Marczynski, whom I met on Prodigy, provided me with information which proved that Bengu (Benjamin) was one of the first settlers of the 8th District, Coweta County, GA. This move by Benjamin was after the death of Elizabeth Center and probably was around 1824-25. While the documentation necessary to prove this conjecture has not yet surfaced, I believe the land upon which he settled was located on County Line Road which eventually became a part of Campbell County.
Benjamin was a man of many interests. He was a farmer, land speculator, and Justice of the Peace. Many records exist that show he officiated at numerous marriages. Likewise, there are records of where he settled disputes, recorded land purchases and certainly was a man of prominence. Recently we have discovered that he was a veteran of The War of 1812. A metal marker so designating him as a War of 1812 veteran has been found near his tombstone.
One record I have is a map showing land owned by Benjamin which seemed to begin at Goodes and ran down both sides of Hutchinson Ferry Road to the Chattahoochee River. I have decided to include this map in this edition. In the copy of Benjamin's will you will note that he left land to only Keziah Ann and John Hill. Perhaps the reason no other children are listed is that Benjamin had already given land to them.
In Savannah there is a man named William Watkins Byram. He and I both are members of Rotary and have become friends. When we first met I asked where he had gotten such an outstanding middle name. He said he was named after his great-grandmother, Lola Watkins. My next question was where she was born. He stated Palmetto, GA. Imagine his surprise when I stuck out my hand, called him cousin, and told him why! His great-great-grandfather was John Hill Watkins, MD, one of the two children mentioned in Benjamin's Will.
An interesting addition to this story is that the mother of the second wife of Basell Smith, Margaret Amanda Atchison, was Dicey Byram. Dicey was the daughter of James Byram who is William W. Byram's great-great-grandfather. So we are cousins on both sides.
There remains a great deal of research that needs to be done on Benjamin T. As was the case with some of his forebears, we have not been able to find if he were a church member. We have been able to determine that he was a relatively wealthy man for his day. Only one other person is listed as being worth more than Benjamin in a mid-1800 census. So far no Will has been found for Moses Watkins so we do not know if Benjamin inherited anything from his father.
Amazing, isn't it. A man without much of anything other than a desire to become could during his lifetime with his wife raise 13 outstanding children, earn a reputation as a fair and honorable man, and amass what was a fortune for his day.
Benjamin T. Watkins is buried behind the barn on property presently owned by the children of Phillip Watkins. Property located on Hutchison Ferry Road, near Sardis Baptist Church about six miles from Palmetto.
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Benjamin Templeton Watkins log Cabin Photos
Source: Carole Ann Lassetter Harper The photo was taken at the log cabin's original location in Chattahoochee Hills, Ga. |
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Cherokee Removal
Source: http://www.murraycountymuseum.com/adobe/Cherokee_Removal_02nov2011.pdf
Fort Cumming (Lafayette, Walker County) Sources for Ft. Cumming in Lafayette were varied and included the National Archives records of the quartermaster’s department, the governors’ correspondence at the Georgia Department of Archives and History, the combined records of Cherokee removal on microfilm at the National Archives Records Administration, and the Special Collections Department of the Woodruff Library at Emory University, Atlanta.
Emory houses the records of Benjamin T. Watkins, commander of a company of Georgia infantrymen stationed at Ft. Cumming. Watkins was previously unknown in the story of Ft. Cumming, and the discovery of his papers has added immeasurably to our understanding of events at the site.
Although Farris generally is recognized as commander at Ft. Cumming, another militia captain also held a position of responsibility and actually assumed command for a brief period. On May 7, 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins of Campbell County was ordered by the governor to serve as captain of a company of drafted men and report to New Echota.cccx Over the next several days, Watkins received camp and garrison equipage for 75 men and apparently was directed to Ft. Cumming.
On June 9, Floyd learned that Farris was absent without leave and planned to arrest him when he returned to his post.cccxii As problems developed at Ft. Cumming in Farris’s absence, Watkins assumed command. On June 9, Watkins wrote that he had arrested Lewis W. Fretwell of the horse company for intoxication, abusive language “for the purpose of riot,” rioting, disrespectful language to officers and men, and attempted murder. As post commander, Watkins requested instructions from Floyd regarding discipline as well as the resolution of a complaint about one of the post’s horses.cccxiii The following week, Floyd officially appointed Watkins as commander during the period of Farris’s arrest.cccxiv Since most of the prisoners had been sent from Ft. Cumming by June 9, it seems likely that Farris left the post at that time and put Watkins in charge. On June 18, Watkins was ordered to headquarters, presumably for discharge.cccxv His absence from all Ft. Cumming records other than his own serves as a caution for researchers at every level.
cccx Orders, Headquarters Georgia, May 7, 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins Collection, Mss. 717, Box 1, Folder 3, Special Collections, Woodruff Libraries, Emory University, Atlanta. cccx Orders, Headquarters Georgia, May 7, 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins Collection, Mss. 717, Box 1, Folder 3, Special Collections, Woodruff Libraries, Emory University, Atlanta.
Source: http://www.murraycountymuseum.com/adobe/Cherokee_Removal_02nov2011.pdf
Fort Cumming (Lafayette, Walker County) Sources for Ft. Cumming in Lafayette were varied and included the National Archives records of the quartermaster’s department, the governors’ correspondence at the Georgia Department of Archives and History, the combined records of Cherokee removal on microfilm at the National Archives Records Administration, and the Special Collections Department of the Woodruff Library at Emory University, Atlanta.
Emory houses the records of Benjamin T. Watkins, commander of a company of Georgia infantrymen stationed at Ft. Cumming. Watkins was previously unknown in the story of Ft. Cumming, and the discovery of his papers has added immeasurably to our understanding of events at the site.
Although Farris generally is recognized as commander at Ft. Cumming, another militia captain also held a position of responsibility and actually assumed command for a brief period. On May 7, 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins of Campbell County was ordered by the governor to serve as captain of a company of drafted men and report to New Echota.cccx Over the next several days, Watkins received camp and garrison equipage for 75 men and apparently was directed to Ft. Cumming.
On June 9, Floyd learned that Farris was absent without leave and planned to arrest him when he returned to his post.cccxii As problems developed at Ft. Cumming in Farris’s absence, Watkins assumed command. On June 9, Watkins wrote that he had arrested Lewis W. Fretwell of the horse company for intoxication, abusive language “for the purpose of riot,” rioting, disrespectful language to officers and men, and attempted murder. As post commander, Watkins requested instructions from Floyd regarding discipline as well as the resolution of a complaint about one of the post’s horses.cccxiii The following week, Floyd officially appointed Watkins as commander during the period of Farris’s arrest.cccxiv Since most of the prisoners had been sent from Ft. Cumming by June 9, it seems likely that Farris left the post at that time and put Watkins in charge. On June 18, Watkins was ordered to headquarters, presumably for discharge.cccxv His absence from all Ft. Cumming records other than his own serves as a caution for researchers at every level.
cccx Orders, Headquarters Georgia, May 7, 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins Collection, Mss. 717, Box 1, Folder 3, Special Collections, Woodruff Libraries, Emory University, Atlanta. cccx Orders, Headquarters Georgia, May 7, 1838, Benjamin T. Watkins Collection, Mss. 717, Box 1, Folder 3, Special Collections, Woodruff Libraries, Emory University, Atlanta.
Benjamin T. Watkins - Will
Source: Ancestory.com
Source: Ancestory.com
