Individual Details

Jonathan Watkins

(1758 - 8 Dec 1843)

Jonathan came to Ohio from Pennsylvania sometime after the Revolutionary War. The "History of Hocking Valley, Ohio" states - "In the early part of 1797 a considerable number of emigrants had arrived at Marietta, eager to obtain lands on the most favorable conditions, and were induced by General Putnam to come to the college lands. Among these were Alvan Bingham, Silas Bingham, Isaac Barker, William Harper, John Wilkins, Robert Linzee, Edmund, William and Barak Dorr, John Chandler and Jonathan Watkins. They made their way down the Ohio and up the Hock-hocking in large canoes early in the year 1797. Having ascended as far as the attractive bluff where the town of Athens now stands, they landed and sought their various locations. A few of them fixed on the site of the present town, but most of them scattered up and down the adjacent bottoms."
The area where Jonathan first settled was originally Middleton Township, Washington Co., Ohio. He is listed there in the 1800 federal census, and in 1803 in the state census. In 1805 this area became Athens Co., Athens Township.
After a few years, in 1803, he moved farther north in Athens Co. to what is today Trimble Township. An early story of this area recounts how Jonathan Watkins was a blacksmith, but like most of the early settlers, occasionally engaged in hunting. He shot a buffalo soon after settling in Trimble, and broke its fore leg. He pursued the animal, thus crippled, from Green's run in Trimble Township, across Wolf plains, and over the Hockhocking some distance, but failed to capture it (Walker, 523).
He served as a justice of the peace in 1808. He served as a trustee of Athens Township in the Dec. term, 1809 and in the Aug. term, 1811. In 1824, his wife Elizabeth died at 52 years old. She was buried in a small country cemetery 1 mile north of Millfield.
Walker's History continues, "In 1825 Jonathan Watkins built a mill at the village first known as Oxford, but since called Trimble. It was at first only a saw mill, but after two or three years, a grist mill was connected to it. This mill continued to be the principal one in the township till 1865, when it was destroyed by fire."
Jonathan married Mrs. Deborah Dennis in 1826, the widow of Joseph Dennis.
In 1831 and 1837, Jonathan served as a Trimble Township trustee. Trimble Township had formed in the late 1820's, with the first election of officers in 1827.
Jonathan applied for a pension for his service in the American Revolution on May 9, 1833, which he received. His will was written in 1842 and entered into the court records in February 1844. He probably died late 1843 or early 1844.
( The above notes are from research by Clyde Hood )

Notes -
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Matthew's father was Jonathon Watkins who served in the Revolutionary War in the infantry and on a privateer (licensed pirate) ship. His service is well documented. "
per Robert Haag
~~~~~~~~~~~
Jonathan Watkins - Pennsylvania; Privateer
Born 1761 Died 1844
Married 1st Elizabeth Hanning
Married 2nd Deborah Dennis (widow)

There is other data in "The Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy Vol.
4. Check Athens Co., OH

Jonathan Watkins, Sr. born 1761 near Valley Forge, PA.
Died 1844, Athens Co., OH. Father Wilbert Watkins. Do not know the name
of Wilberts wife. Jonathan had a second wife by the name of Deborah
Dennis. His first wife was Elizabeth Hanning born 1772. Died 21 Aug 1824
in OH. Buried in old burying ground 1 mile north of Milfield, OH.
Children: Mary, b. 5 Oct 1792 in PA, died 8 Jun 1852, Athens, OH. Buried
Concord Cem. Athens, OH, married 1810 in OH; Elizabeth b. PA, married
Samuel Hutchinson in OH; Anna, born before 1800, married a Cousins man, in
OH; Matthew, born before 1800, married Lucy Alderman on 10 April 1817,
Ames Tw, Athens, OH; Jonathan Jr., born Feb 1800 in OH, married Betsy
Newton after 1818; Elisha Watkins, born 1806 in OH married Margaret
Phillips, 26 May 1830; James born 3 Jan 1808.

Excerpt from letter written in 1922 by Thomas H. Blakemore to his cousin Maud:
....The next day I went to the Post-Dispatch to see Wm. Kelsoe and he seemed to be much entertained with my account of our trip especially the part relating to you and your brood. He knew your father well. He told me that our great-grand-father's name was Jonathon Watkins, that he had several brothers (I think I can remember you grandfather speaking of his Uncle Enoch Watkins) and that he had married a German woman, by whom several boys and girls were born. I think the Uncle Enoch was one of his sons. He was in the Revolutionary War and died at the age of 103 and was buried in Athens Co...

Events

Birth	1758	near, Valley Forge, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States
Military	Jan 1778	Pennsylvania, United States
Marriage	27 Jan 1785	Martha A Elliot
Marriage	27 May 1791	Elizabeth Haning
Census (family)	Bet 1800 and 1803	Middletown Township, Washington, Ohio, United States - Elizabeth Haning
Census (family)	1820	Dover Township, Athens, Ohio, United States - Elizabeth Haning
Marriage	21 Nov 1826	Athens, Ohio, United States - Mrs. Deborah Dennis (widow)
Census (family)	1830	Dover Township, Athens, Ohio, United States - Mrs. Deborah Dennis (widow)
Census (family)	1840	Dover Township, Athens, Ohio, United States - Mrs. Deborah Dennis (widow)
Will	18 Aug 1842	Dover Township, Athens, Ohio, United States
Death	8 Dec 1843	Athens, Ohio, United States

Families

Spouse

Mrs. Deborah Dennis (widow) (1760 - 1844)

Spouse	Elizabeth Haning (1772 - 1824)
Child	Mary "Polly" Watkins (1792 - 1852)
Child	Daniel Watkins (1794 - 1831)
Child	Matthew Watkins (1795 - 1868)
Child	Margaret Watkins (1798 - )
Child	Jonathan Jr. Watkins (1800 - 1861)
Child	Elijah Watkins (1803 - 1877)
Child	Elizabeth "Betsey" Watkins (1805 - )
Child	Elisha Watkins (1806 - 1876)
Child	Anna Watkins (1808 - )
Child	Isaac Watkins (1809 - 1845)
Child	James Watkins (1811 - )
Child	Joseph Watkins (1814 - )
Child	Thankful Watkins (1820 - )

Spouse	Martha A Elliot (1758 - 1789)
Child	Abigail Watkins (1786 - )

Father

Wilbert Watkins ( - 1775)

Notes

Will

Court of Common Pleas, February Term A.D. 1844

The last Will and Testament of Jonathan Watkins late of Athens County deceased, was this day brought before the Court was proved by the oaths of Samuel Carter 2nd and Benjamin Brown the subscribing witnesses thereto, whose examinations were reduced to writing. And it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that the said Jonathan Watkins at the time of executing said Will, was of full age and of sound mind and memory and not under any restraints. It is ordered that the Said Will and the proof so reduced to writing, be recorded. And it is further ordered that letters Testamentary be granted to A. P. Brown, the Executor named in said Will who thereupon gave bond with David Richmond and Leonidas Sewett security to the acceptance of the Court in the penal sum of $600 conditioned according to law. And it is further ordered that Alanson Courtney, Benjamin M. Brown and John Smith appraise the personal property of said deceased.

Will
I, Jonathan Watkins of the Township of Dover in the County of Athens and State of Ohio do make and publish this to be my last Will and Testament. I give and bequeath to A. P. Brown of Athens of said County all my Estate both Real and personal in trust for the uses and purposes following, to wit:
1st. That the said Trustee shall from the proceeds of the same pay all my just debts, funeral charges and the expenses of administration.
2nd. That he shall permit my beloved Wife Deborah Watkins to have, use and enjoy the house and ground of Lot of about 13 acres where we now reside, set off to her as Dower from the Estate of her former husband Joseph Dennis deceased and all my household and farming utensils without Sale unless necessary for the payments of debts and as much money or other property as may be necessary for her comfortable support during her natural life.
3rd. That he shall keep at interest all moneys arising from the sale of property or collection of debts and not required for the purposes above mentioned and that at her death he shall pay over to my Daughters Elizabeth Hutchinson and Ann Cousins any moneys or property which may remain in his hands after the payments and uses above provided in equal amounts.
I hereby constitute and appoint the said A.P. Brown Executor of this my Last Will and Testament with full power to sell and convey Real and personal Estate should the same be necessary.
In testimony whereof shown hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of August A.D. 1842.

Jonathan Watkins seal

in presence of us Witnesses
Benjamin Brown
Samuel Carter 2nd

Samuel Carter 2nd and Benjamin Brown make oath and say that Jonathan Watkins, The Testator, signed the paper writing now produced in Court in their presence, that the said Testator, signed the paper writing now produced in Court in their presence, that the said testator declared the same to be his last will and Testament, that he was of lawful age, of sound disposing mind and memory and under no restraint. And that they signed the same as witnesses at his request, in his presence and in the presence of each other.

Taken and reduced to writing
in Open Court

Samuel Carter 2nd
B. Brown

Individual Details

Jonathan Watkins

Events

Families

Notes

Birth

Military

Census (family)

Census (family)

Marriage

Census (family)

Census (family)

Will

Death

Endnotes