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Watkins-Barber Genealogy of Ginger Perry
Ginger is also a descendant of Enoch Hanson and Cindarilla Barber, which
is the Barber family mentioned in part two of this book.
Jane Thomas Rowland and her husband Arthur Ray Rowland wrote several books
on their ancestors. Jane is a descendant of Sarah Barber and Reese Watkins,
and here is the chapter from a book she wrote in 1998,
GEORGE BARBER, IMMIGRANT ANCESTOR.
From [email protected] Wed Jun 10 17:23:33 1998
Date: Mon, 1 Jun 1998 10:25:53 EDT
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BARBER-D Digest V98 #55
This letter is a follow-up to the discussion regarding who was the wife of
Reese Watkins, Sarah Barber or Martha Patton. The information below is the
first page of a five page letter written by Frank Russell in 1975. I also
have an article which appeared in THE HIGHLANDER which discusses Reese and
Sarah Barber. It is easier from me to make copies and mail them than to scan
this material. If you don't have this information and desire it let me know.
Reese Watkins was my ggggrandfather.
__________________________________________________________________________
Frank B. Russell
101 Locust Street
Moorestown, NJ 08057
WATKINS BARBOUR (BARBER) CAMPBELL
December 12. 1975
Information is that a daughter of Reese Watkins, Sr. (1730-1806) named Sarah
was not included in the volume compiled by Frank B. Russell entitled Reese
Kelso Watkins, His Ancestry and His Descendants. 1973. Further information is
that the wife of Reese Watkins, Sr. not given in the above volume (afterwards
referred to as (1) is Miss Sarah Barbour (Barber).
Sarah Watkins married Levi Campbell in Wilkes County, Georgia ca 1785. Levi
Campbell was the only son and child of Charles Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell
of Wilkes County, Georgia and was born ca 1760 in Virginia. Sarah Watkins was
born in Johnston County. NC ca 1763, proof of her dates and location given
later.
Sarah Watkins and husband Levi Campbell had six children: Benejob (Benjamin),
Philander, Allen, Levi Hampton, Martha, Elizabeth. Land records in Georgia
show that they lived on Long Creek as did Reese Watkins, Sr. (I-pp. 176).
Reese Watkins, Sr. had settled there in 1784 after migration from Wake County.
NC. The reference (I-pp. 176) shows Indian Creek a tributary to Long Creek and
Barbers Bridge. The family departed Georgia for Louisiana shortly after The
Louisiana Purchase by President Jefferson and settled to Vermillion Parish,
Louisiana. Family bible records in my possession of Sarah Watkins and Levi
Campbell fairly well prove their marriage date at 1785 since one child was
born March 4, 1791 (Allen Campbell) and he was the third child. The arrival
date of the Campbell family into Georgia is unknown but it is felt they were
settlers on land they later acquired by grant and deed on Long Creek. Much of
the above information is contained from several branches or
children/descendants of Levi Campbell and Sarah Watkins Campbell.
The history of the Campbell-Watkins-Barber family was prepared by Levi
Stratton Rice, son of Samuel Russell Rice and Martha Campbell Rice. Martha
Campbell as daughter of Sarah Watkins and Levi Campbelll born 10/03/1801 and
died 12/03/1839. Thus Levi Stratton Rice, born January 1820 and died
February 24, 1898, had ample opportunity of securing facts on his
grandparents through his mother (Martha Campbell) and her brothers and
sister. The Rice family bible has been preserved and these dates are
taken from that bible, Xerox copy of it are in my possession. The naming
of the children in these early dates employ the name of Watkins, Barbour
and of course Sarah plus names of other daughters of Reese Watkins, Sr.,
viz. Olive, Martha, Reece (Reace).
The Highlander, Number two gives also a great deal of information
concerning the ancestry of Dr. Lester J. William and the Campbell family
who descended from Elizabeth Campbell, born May 30, 1798 and died
November 17, 1820, and married on March 2, 1813 to Shadrack Porter. She
was daughter of Sarah Watkins and Levi Campbell.
With this background an examination of the early Watkins and Barber
records can be made in Virginia and North Carolina.
George Barber was early in Augusta County, Virginia and on December 13,
1744 he was shown as a purchaser at the estate sale of James Davis,
Augusta Will Book One, page 268. Again George Barber is shown in
Chalkley, Vol. 1, p. 430 on Road Petitions (1745-1748)... Petition by
Inhabitants of Craigs Creek from Henry Holstine to James Montgomery,
signed by among others: George Barber. To further show this area of
settlement please see (1-pp. 142, 141 ____). In a later reference by
Stoner 1962, "A Seed Bed of the Republic, Early Botetourt", p. 172 there
is reference to Barbers Creek as follows: "Major Bailey purchased in
1804 ... 438 acres of land lying on Barbers Creek a branch of Craigs Creek"
DbK 8, p. 458 (Botetourt). These references show that the settlement
area of George Barber was Fincastle Community in Augusta County, VA that
later became Botetourt County.
George Barber died in early 1750 as shown in Augusta Will Book One, page
240, dated May 2, 1750 as Elizabeth Barber was named administrator of the
estate of George Barber. The sureties were John Smith and Robert
Looney. The appraisment of the estate of George Barber was shown July
18, 750, Augusta Will Book One, page 268 when the following neighbors
were chosen to appraise, Terry and Joseph Robinson. Finally in Chalkley
taken from Fee book of Augusta County we see "Elizabeth Barber on Craigs
Creek married to one Patton."
Robert Watkins and family settled in this same area of Augusta County,
Virginia by 1751 as shown by his will drawn in February 1753, 1 pp 143-144.
The subscribing witnesses to that will were Reese Watkins, Robert
Williams, and Moses Watkins. The will shows that Reese and Moses were
sons of Robert and the statement of both show that Robert Williams was
their Uncle. Robert Williams had preceded the Watkins family into
Virginia and his son had been baptized by Rev. John Craig from whom
Craigs Creek was named in 1749. Reese Watkins received a land patent,
surveyed in 1756 and granted in 1757 on Craigs Creek, see document 1-pp.
145, from Governor Dinwiddie.
On December 17, 1753, notes for land purchases were given to Col. James
Patton by Reese Watkins, Phillip Watkins his brother (see 1-pp. 143-144,
Matthew Patton, Robert Williams, and these debts were listed in the estate
settlement of Colonel James Patton, the early Virginia colonizer who sold
land on an installment plan. Augusta County land records do not show
that Reese Watkins went forward with his purchase, the 89 acres by land
patent was his land purchase. It was not sold until 1780 and then by his
brother Phillip Watkins acting as his attorney in fact, Botetourt County,
VA Deed Book 3, page 7, September 18, 1780... Watkins to Taylor. Both
Robert Williams and Matthew Patton did go forward with their purchases:
James Patton to Matthew Patton, B & S March 21, 1754 Augusta DeedBoKok 6,
page 151 and Released on p-52-153. Witnesses to this sale were Robert or
William Patton, Robert Williams (see above) and Jacob Patton. This was
for 266 acres of land on Craigs Creek patented to James Patton November
3, 1754 and all witnessed by Matthew Patton, Henry Holstein, William
Patton; the land was shown acquired by patent November 3, 1750 by James
Patton.
We now see that Matthew Patton, Robert Williams, George and Elizabeth
Barber, and Reese Watkins lived in the Craig Creek Settlement, Fincastle
Community of Augusta County, VA now Botetourt County and near the
present town of Fincastle. Phillip Watkins, brother of Reese, lived on
Lees Branch of Catawaba Creek within less than 2 miles from Fincastle,
VA. It is strongly felt that the Patton that Elizabeth Barber married in
May 1751 was Matthew Patton and this will be developed as we go along.
Reese Watkins and Matthew Patton removed by 1760 to Johnston County, NC.
Proof of that is in records of Court of Pleaes and Quarter Session, Third
Tuesday, July, 1761, order 68-36 when a road jury was appointed as
follows: "Road leading from ye house of John Gyles Thos. to Johnston
County Court House be altered making a new road...." Among others on the
jury were Reese Wa(torn) Watkins and Matthew Patton. Other references
to Reese Watkins, same Court, were order #216, April 16, 1765; order
219, July 16, 1765, and January 21, 1766 order 230. Wake County, NC was
formed from Johnston County, NC in 1770 and the area where Matthew Patton
and Reese Watkins lived fell within the borders of the new County.
Matthew Patton sold his land on Craigs Creek, Augusta County, VA on April
24, 1767 to William Rowland, recorded Augusta County Deed Boook 13, page
500. The deed recites that Matthew Patton was from Johnston County, NC
and sold 275 acres with witnesses Frances Smith, William Patton, Patrick
Sharkey.
Robert Williams sold his 275 acres on Craigs Creek, Augusta County, VA on
July 8, 1763, Augusta Deed Book 12, page 177 to William Walker of
Bedford County, VA. Robert Williams was stated to be of Orange County, NC
in the deed recitation, and the land was acquired on December 17, 1753
from Col. James Patton. Reese Watkins as shown did not sell off his land
on Craigs creek at his departure and perhaps left it in the control of
his brother Phillip Watkins.
Matthew Patton and family departed from Wake County NC for Wilkes
County, GA where on November 16, 1773 he acquired 200 acres on Broad
River, Wilkes County, see Early Records of Georgia Vol. 1, Wilkes
County. Reese Watkins did not depart form North Carolina until he sold
of his land, see #1-pp 147-148 and pp-12, in 1784. There he settled in
Simston District, Wilkes County, see 1 pp-176, which later became
Oglethorpe County, GA.
One branch of the Barber family is treated in the volume by David W.
Morgan entitled "Captain George Barber of Georgia". George Barber is no
doubt the son of the George Barber who died in 1750 in Craigs Creek,
Augusta County, VA and who's mother it was that married Matthew Patton.
George Barber married in 1766 to Margaret Watkins, sister of Reese
Watkins who was named in the will of 1753, 1-pp 143-144 and the volume by
David W. Morgan gives full treatment to this aspect of the
Barber-Watkins relationship.
Two of the daughters of Reese Watkins, Sr married in Wake County NC in
1778 as shown by marriage bonds of Wake COunty as follows:
Elizabeth Watkins married Sill Johnson
Wake County, NC
December 10, 1778
Reese Watkins, security
Martha Watkins married Christoper Orr
Wake County, NC
August 27, 1778
Bible records of Martha Watkins Orr show that she was born March 16,
1761, see pages 12 and 13 of reference 1. In order of birth no doubt
Elizabeth was the first child and her mother was no doubt Sarah Barber
Watkins, a daughter of Elizabeth and George Barber, who died in 1750 and
who's wife remarried in 1751 to Matthew Patton.
Matthew Patton drew his will in Oglethorpe County, GA on April 20, 1799
and named as executors: Christopher Orr (who married Martha Watkins, see
above) and George Barber with William Henderson. It was probated in
1806. His wife preeded him in that she was not mentioned in the will.
George Barber died in 1822 Oglethorpe County, Georgia and Margaret
Watkins Barber died in Henry County, Georgia, see page 6 of "Captain
George Barber of Georgia, David W. Morgan, 1975.
Reese Watkins died ca 1806 and there is no record found to date that
Sarah Barber Watkins, his wife, outlived him. Both, however, appear on
the 1800 census of Oglethorpe County, Georgia age over 45, along with
their son, Reese Watkins, Jr. Wills are not extant and there is no
Oglethorpe COunty record of an estate administration of either.
Thus proves the familes of Watkins, Barber, Patton lived together on
Craigs Creek in Augusta County, VA, in Johnston and Wake Counties, NC and
in Wilkes and Oglethorpe County, Georgia. No Johnston County record of
the Campbell family or Wake County has been located and it is not known
if they came directly to Wilkes County, Georgia or did in fact stop
off after the War of the Revolution coming down from Virginia.
This close family association over a period of over 50 years plus
prepared history of a great grandson of Reese Watkins, Sr. prepared
without benefit of the public records above shown can only lead me to the
conclusion that Reese Watkins did marry a Sarah Barber who was daughter of
George Barber, Sr. who died in 1750 and wife Elizabeth _____ who in fact
remarried in 1751 to Matthew Patton. Added to that information is the
naming of descendants of Sarah Watkins Campbell as Sarah Barbour Rice
incline me to the belief that the mother of Sarah Watkins was Sarah
Barbour (Barber) Watkins. The naming of the children of George Barber
of Georgia; the use of the sisters of Sarah names by the children of
Sarah, viz. Olive, and Martha,. Levi Stratton Rice who wrote the history
names three of his children as follows: Russell Watkins Rice; Martha
Olive Rice; and Reece Allen Rice. Martha Campbell, daughter of Sarah
Watkins Campbell, (daughter of Reese) married Samuel Russell Rice and names
Children: Samuel Watkins Rice, Sarah Barbour Rice, and Martha Orr Rice.
The Highlander says that a sister of Sarah Watkins married an Alexander
Allen of Georgia and who's son became governor of Louisiana, Henry
Watkins Allen. This will have to be researched, as there are no records
on hand to indicate such a marriage; nor is there information to indicate
a relationship to Susannah Watkins to Samuel Rice as his second wife, the
article says a cousin.
Research in Albermarle and Orange County, Virginia may offer further
information on the Barber family. The conclusion is as follows:
1) Sarah Watkins Campbell was a daughter of Reese Watkins.
2) The wife of Reese Watkins was Sarah Barber, married by 1757 and she
was considerably younger than he and born 1740-42
3) That Sarah Barber was daughter of George Barber, Sr and wife Elizabeth
Samuel Rice son of Samuel Rice and Fannie Russell, born Feb 10th 1744 Agnes Moseby wife of Samuel Rice born May 19th 1748 Susanah Watkins 2nd wife of Samuel Rice birth _____(can't read) Sarah Stratton 3rd wife of Samuel Rice born Feb 10th 1758 John Rice son of Samuel Rice and Agnes Moseby born June 16th 1773 Samuel Russell Rice son of Samuel Rice and Sarah Stratton born Oct 31st 1787 Samuel Rice and Agnes Moseby married July 15 1772 Samuel Rice and Susanah Watkins married Jan 23rd 1775 Samuel Rice and Sarah Stratton married May 1, 1778? Samuel Russell Rice and Martha Campbell married Feb 3rd 1819 Samuel Rice died Dec 24th 1883 Agnes Moseby died Apr 29th 1774 Susanah Watkins died Dec 22nd 1775 Sarah Stratton died Nov. 24th 1828 Sarah Barbour Rice died Aug 5th 1838 Martha Campbell died Dec 3rd 1839 Samuel Watkins Rice died Apr 10th 1840 Elias Russell Rice died Dec 1st 1843 Erastus Baugh Rice died March 19th 1853? Levi Stratton Rice died Feb 24th 1898 Martha Orr Rice died Lorenzo Campbell Rice died Oct 8th 1910 Children of Samuel Russell Rice and Martha Campbell ------------------------------------ Levi Stratton Rice born Jan 5th 1820 Samuel Watkins Rice " Nov 8th 1821 Sarah Barbour Rice " Aug 15th 1823 Elias Russell Rice " Sept 10th 1825 Lorenzo Campbell Rice " June 9th 1828 Erastus Baugh Rice " Feb 21st 1831 Sophronia Terzell Rice " Feb 15th 1833 Cornelius Larwps? Rice " Aug 15th 1835 Martha Orr Rice " Jan 17th 1838?
? bell, a Revolutionary pen__mer, was living in Morgan CO. as late ? file. Will Book A. and that of another George either of whom may ? abeth's father. The will of Sarah D. Campbell (Book A) ___harter Campbell, George Campbell, Jr., ___orter F. Campbell and Elizabeth Porter's wills are all recorded in Book 3. Grandfather Rice's second wife Susan Watkins was a cousin to Grandmother Sarah Watkins Campbell. Our maternal grandfather Levi Campbell was the son of Charles Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell (cousins), both pure Scotch blood. In his old days he married an old widow of many sons and daughters, and lived on Grandfather's place, was a native of Virginia and the most I remember of him was that he was in active service during the whole of the Revolutionary War. He was entitled to a pension but failed to make application during his life. Uncle Allen told me many anecdotes of them, quite interesting, he was a typical old soldier. Grandfather Levi Campbell was the only issue, born in Georgia. He was a very powerful man, naturally combative, had frequent pugilistic encounters with his neighbors. He was an intelligent, energetic farmer, provided abundantly for his family and accumulated property, his children were reared to industry and thrift from the beginning. He was a worshiper at the shrine of the Cup, hence you may account for the love of the ardent in his descendants. He first came to Louisiana to examine the country before moving his family, returned on foot through Florida with two or three companions, in crossing a ferry in Ala. the ferryman was quite abusive to the travelers, none of whom replied to him while crossing, the man was pugnacious as the saying is "was spoiling for a fight", but when the boat landed Grandfather bounced him. He soon discovered he was not the champion he had thought. Never heard whether he recovered, the travelers left him for dead they did not tarry in that part. Grandfather was straightforward in his dealing with others, and required the same from them. H e settled where Galloway Campbell now lives. Afterwards he moved to what is now called Rice's Cove, where he died. The same tract was sold to Trehan. Grandmother's name was Sally Watkins, daughter of Reace Watkins and Miss Barbour, have forgotten given name of Georgia. The former was a sensible Welshman, spoke English imperfectly, lived to be very old. Grandmother must have been a beautful young woman, for at the age of about 60 years, as I remember she had keen blue eyes, was tall and willowy, with the most dignified and graceful movements I ever saw. She was a very Queen in appearance and what made it more pleasing to one was that she seemed to be unconscious of it all. Undoubtedly she got her beauty from the Welch, for her mother's family was not noted for female beauty. They were of Dutch origin. Dark hair, eyes and complexion. I saw several of the branch of that family in Kentucky. I am satisfied that Henry Watkins Allen, Governor of Louisiana, known as the fighting governor, was a descendent of Alexander Allen of Georgia, whose wife was Grandmother's sister. Governor Allen lost a leg in the Lost Cause and died in Mexico. Our mother was the daughter of Levi Campbell and Sarah Watkins of Oglethorpe County, Georgia and moved to Vermillion Parish when she was a child. Taken from the old family history just as it was written by my oldest Uncle, Levi Rice. My Uncle Levi Rice their first child who wrote this family history was born in 1820.
Dr. Lester J. Williams was born Nov. 19, 1880, married Oct. 10, 1906 Miss Mayme Steele, reside in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Dr. Williams is a prominent and beloved Physcian; son of Austin de Willoughby Williams born about 1858, d. June 24, 1902, residence Baton Rouge, LA, married Margery C. Porter b. July 30, 1878. Margery C. Porter was daughter of Judge James Monroe Porter b. Aug. 25, 1819, d. Jan. 3, 1870, m. 2 about 1859, Rebecca Esther Taylor, b. Dec. 26, 1835, d. Feb. 22, 1910, residence Opelouses, LA. James Monroe Porter was the son of Shadrach Porter b. March 10, 1730, d. July 17, 1827, m. March 2, Elizabeth Campbell b. May 30, 1798, d. Nov. 17, 1820.. Elizabeth Campbell was the daughter of Levi Campbell b., d., married Sarah Watkins of Wales, b., d., daughter of Reace Watkins and his wife Miss Barbour, (all children of this marriage were born in Oglethorpe County, Georgai. The Campbells and Porters came to Vermillion Parish, Louisiana from Oglethorpe County, Georgia). Levi Campbell was the son of Charles Campbell a soldier of the American Revolution of Virginia, married his cousin Elizabeth Campbell. Campbell Notes Sent by Dr. Lester J. Williams Compiles by by Mrs. Edgar L. Smith of Washington, Georgia Oglethorpe County GA, was made from Wilkes Co. 1793 - a small part of Oglethorpe was added to Clarke prior to 1801, when Clarke Co. was organized, Oglethorpe also gave territory to Greene Co. 1799