William Watkins Sr (abt. 1819 - 1900)

Born about 14 Dec 1819 in Ohio, USA [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 20 Sep 1900 at about age 80 in Wapello County, Iowa, USA

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Note: Birth year and place are surmised based on knowledge of his wife Rebecca: "...this William was probably born 1820-30 in Ohio. That is based on what I know of Rebecca. Rebecca is a GG aunt of mine. " (from private message received July 5, 2014 by Liz Shifflett)

Biography

William and Rebecca Buckingham Watkins lived in Eddyville Iowa near the sister of Rebecca Martha Jane Buckingham Pettit Williams. They are all buried near each other in the Eddyville Cemetery.

Sources

• Letters and Bible of Martha Jane Buckingham Pettit Williams.

A deed record found in Tuscarawas Co., OH records the sale on 19 Apr 1853, of 200 acres of military land (lots 19 & 20 in the 4th quarter of T8, R1 [Goshen Tp.]) from William to a James WATKINS. His brother Joseph had also sold, on 22 Apr 1851, the same 200 acres (?) of military land to this James WATKINS, who may have been another brother. His father was born in Delaware and mother in Pennsylvania according to the 1880 census. Moved to Monroe Co., IA, sometime around 1856 or 57. In the 1900 census William and Rebecca were living on 5th Street in Eddyville, Wapello Co., IA. Although he was listed as being born in December of 1816, every other census from 1850 on gives an age which would make his birth somewhere around 1819 to 1822. The Return of Deaths book in the Wapello Co. courthouse shows Watkins, Wm., Male, Retired, Born Ohio, Died September 20, 1900 in Eddyville, 88 years, 10 months, 11 days, Consumption, but those age figures for him are suspect as well. Names and birth dates of most of his children are from an old decorative chart made by son-in-law, A. W. SHAFER.