Francis Watkins (abt. 1650 - 1696)

Born about 1650 in England [uncertain]

Descendants

Died 11 Apr 1696 at about age 46 in Baltimore, Province of Maryland

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Biography

Francis Watkins was a Maryland colonist.

Francis Watkins was born about 1650 in England. No birth record for Francis Watkins has been found in Maryland. His birth is an estimate. According to Maryland Patent records, Francis Watkins was transported to the Maryland colony in 1671 by Richard Ewen who also claimed rights for transporting Mary Davis at the same time. ^[1] This record may apply to another man with the same name, but there is another record stating:

Francis Watkins of Baltimore County demands rights to 200 acres of land for importation of: himself, George Hoppon, Mary Jones and Elizabeth Combes legally proved 13 MAY 1680.^[2]

Baltimore County

By 1681 Francis was married and living on a plantation in the Middle River area of Baltimore County. He was listed on the Baltimore County Tax list of 1692 living on a plantation with Michael Gormocon, Edwd. Cantwell and Edmond Moore on the north side of the Patapsco River. By the time of the 1694 tax list Francis was still living with Edward Cantwell and Edmond Moore.^[3] Francis Watkins was living in Baltimore County by 1681 when Thomas Long conveyed to him a 185 acre tract called Hopewell for the natural affection he held toward his wife's daughter, Christiana Wright, who was now married to Francis Watkins. ^[4]

Property

Francis owned two properties that were given as gifts. The first was given on 7 JUN 1681 by Major Thomas Long of Baltimore when he conveyed to Francis Watkins of the same county for the natural affection he felt towards the husband of his wife’s daughter, Christiana Wrights, a 185 acre tract called Hopewell. ^[5] Ten years later, on 17 MAR 1691/92 Christopher Bembridge of Baltimore County conveyed to Francis Watkins of the same county as a gift a 111 acre tract of land called Long Port bordering a tract called Hopewell that formerly belonged to Thomas Long and located near the western branch of Middle River. In 1708 Micheal Gormocon & Dorothy Geford made oath that they saw Bembridge sign the deed voluntarily to Francis Watkins so there might have been a question about the gift later.^[6]

On 18 May 1695 Francis claimed 200 acres of land using the Maryland Patent process on the north side of Back River near Duck Creek which tract he called Sisters Hope.^[7]

Marriage and Children

Francis was married first to Christiana Wrights by 1681. Whether this was her surname at birth or she was a widow is not known. At the time of his death, Francis was married to a woman named Mary. Francis was the father of four children who were named in his will.

1. Francis Watkins b. abt. 1682
2. Samuel Watkins b. abt. 1684
3. Margaret Watkins b. abt. 1686
4. Christiania Watkins b. abt. 1688

Death

Based on the document recorded among Maryland wills dated 11 April 1696, Francis Watkins declared his dying wishes on his death bed in front of witnesses who testified in front of John Ferry, one of the justices of Baltimore County. Elizabeth Fondalll aged about 50 years was the witness who saith that she heard the said Francis Watkins declare on his death bed:

• he gave his dwelling plantation to his wife and then after her death to his son Francis Watkins.
• his tract of land in Gunpowder to his son Samuel Watkins.
• the tract he last took up lying on Back River to be divided between his two daughters, Margaret and Christiana Watkins.
• to my wife Mary a mourning suit and her own riding horse.

The following witnesses also declared the same: Edward Cantwith aged about 41, Lidia Henden aged about 21 and John Haws aged about 33.^[8] He left a nuncupative will.^[9]

Francis served in the Lower House of the Maryland Legislature from 1692-1696.

Sources

1. ↑ Maryland Patents Liber KK folio 440
2. ↑ Maryland Patents Liber WC 2 folio 150 [msa..maryland.gov]
3. ↑ Wright, F. Edward. Inhabitants of Baltimore County 1692-1763. Westminster, MD: Willow Bend Books 1999
4. ↑ Baltimore County Land Liber IR AM folio 121
5. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber IR AM folio 121 [mdlandrec.net]
6. ↑ Baltimore County Deeds Liber RM HS folio 611
7. ↑ Maryland Patents Liber C 3 folio 501
8. ↑ Prerogative Court wills of Maryland Liber 7 folio 197[1]
9. ↑ Barnes, Robert W. “Baltimore County Families, 1659-1759” Baltimore, MD: Clearfield 1989.