Philemon Waters Sr. (abt. 1680 - bef. 1753)

Born about 1680 in England

Died before 25 Jun 1753 before about age 73 in Prince William, Virginia Colony

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Biography

No record has been found of Philemon Waters, Sr., before 1701 when he appears as an adult (at least 21 years old) in a document on October 24, 1701 in Essex County, Virginia. He is listed as one of the persons transported to America by Mr. William Tomlin. This indicates he must have been born in England ca. 1680.^[1]

No evidence has been found regarding his parents or exact birth-place. Many family genealogies link him to the William or Thomas Waters family whose ancestor emigrated to Hampton, Virginia, ca. 1620. They were wealthy planters and merchants. However, a 18th Century lawsuit over this family's significant inheritance never mentions Philemon Waters as a son or nephew, making it all but impossible that he was a close relative.^[2]

Still, Philemon Waters, Sr., was not an indentured servant or a poor man. In 1711, the same year his son, Philemon II was born, Philemon Sr., is mentioned as a landowner in Stafford County. In 1722 he is listed as owning 403 acres on the Cedar Run Branch of the Occoquan River in Stafford County. This was Overwharton Parish where in 1724 Philemon Waters was credited with owning 12,312 tobacco plants, a sizeable plantation. The same document states he had two sons: Philemon II, age 13 (b. 1711) and Thomas, age 10 (b. 1714).^[3]

Philemon Waters, Sr., married a woman named Mary, Maiden Name Unknown, in about 1708 as his first child, Mary, was born in 1709. She married Edward Askins. Their child, Philemon Askins, was mentioned in a 1730 deed by his grandfather. Mary and Philemon had these children:^[4]

1. Mary WATERS b: ABT 1709, Overwharton Parish, Stafford, Va.
2. Philemon II WATERS b: 8 Oct 1711 in Stafford Co., Virginia
3. Thomas WATERS b: 1714 in Stafford County, Virginia
4. Lydia WATERS b: 16 Apr 1720 in Stafford County, Virginia
5. John WATERS b: ? ; d. 1762 in Prince William Co., Virginia
6. Sarah WATERS b: ?; m. William Tacquett.

Mary (Unknown) Waters died sometime after the birth of her daughter Sara, ca. 1728. Philemon married again, this time to his neighbor's widow, Catherine Newport. She would be Executrix of his Will and remarry a third time as by 1768 she was called Catherine Smith in a deed transfer. Philemon Waters Sr. died in June 1753; his Will was proven June 25, 1753 as follows:^[5]

"The Last Will & Testament of Philemon Waters, dec'd was presented in court by Catherine Waters, the Executrix therein named who made oath thereto and being proved by the oaths of Sarah Tackett, John Metcalf, and William Tackett the subscribing witnesses is admitted to record and the Executrix having performed what is usual in such cases. Certificate is granted her for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form."

Philemon was born about 1680. Philemon Waters ... He passed away after 1753.^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ The book "Cavaliers & Pioneers," Vol. III, Page 49 says: Mr. William Tomlin, 191½ acres, Essex County, on S side of Rappa River: beg. on Ceeder [sic=Cedar] Point on N side of the mouth of Gelson's Cr., cor. of land of Maj. Gelson, dec'd; c. 24 Oct. 1701, page 379 (Patent Book 9) Trans[portation] of 4 pers., Wm. Hingland, Wm. Kelley, Phillmond [sic=Philemon] Waters, John Carey. Cited on: Notes for Philemon Waters I
2. ↑ Waters/Shelton Family Tree
3. ↑ The Register of Overwharton Parish, Stafford County, Virginia, 1723 - 1758, pg. 155. Cited on same source as last note
4. ↑ Notes for Philemon Waters I
5. ↑ Order Book 1753 -1757; 25 June 1753, Prince William County, Virginia. Cited in: Waters/Shelton Family Tree
6. ↑ A source for this information is needed.

See also:

• Waters/Shelton Family Tree

• Notes for Philemon Waters I

Acknowledgements

• WikiTree profile Waters-380 was created through the import of Beaman Family Tree.ged on 31 March 2011.