Christopher Watkins (1650 - bef. 1690)

Born 1650 in Yorkshire, England

Died before 6 May 1690 before age 40 in Lower Hook, Gloucester County, Province of New Jersey

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Biography

Christopher Watkins was born in Yorkshire, England about 1650. The names of his parents are currently unknown. Christopher married Sarah Empson, sister of Cornelius Empson, and migrated to the American Colonies, settling in West Jersey prior to 1 Mar 1687/8 when he served as a Justice.

1687-8 1st d. 1st m. (March). Order of Court, held at Gloucester, Francis Collins, Andrew Robeson, John Wood, Christopher Watkins and Samuel Spicer, Justices, appointing William Roydon as ferryman from the mouth of Cooper's and Newton Creeks to Philadelphia.^[1]

On 1 Jun 1688 Christopher paid bond as the administrator of his brother, John Watkin's estate.

1688 May 7. Watkins, John, of Gloucester Co. Inventory of the estate of (a farm of 340 acres on Berklie River £62.3.0, personal property £24); made by Richard Lawrence, Richard Hickman, Benjamin Tory and Samuel Fotherby.^[2]

1688 Jun 1. Bond of Christopher Watkins, brother of John, as administrator of the estate.^[2]

1688 June 14. [Deed.] Christopher Watkins of Middlehooke, W. J., [West Jersey] brother and heir of John Watkins of the same place dec'd, to Christopher Weatherill of Burlington, tailor, for 1-32 in the First Tenth, except 140 acres, sold by said John, the whole having been bought by him of Obadiah Barlowe of Sheffield, cutler, April 14, 1686.^[3]

John Watkins had been in the colony since at least 1669 (putting his birth before 1658, and probably earlier).

1669 Dec. 20. [Patent.] [Govr Carterett] to John Smith of Woodbridge Scotchman for land in and about Woodbridge, vizt: 1, a house lot of 15 acres, bounded East by Samuel Hale, North by a brook, West by William Compton, South by Strawbury Hill; 2, 5 acres of upland along the highway and West of John Watkins; 3, 7 acres of meadow on Papiack Creek; 4, 120 acres of upland at Whitewood Hill; 5, 30 acres of the Raratan meadows.^[4]

1696 June 11. [Deed] George Hutcheson to Christopher Weatherill for 1 ½ roods in Burlington, fronting on High St. and running half way back to York St., S. grantee; in exchange for a lot of 1½ roods, sold by Obadiah Barley to Christ^r Watkins and by him to grantee.^[5]

It is unknown whether Christopher and Sarah had any children.

1689 10th d. 7th m. (Sept.). Deed. James Read of Muscle Criple in White Clay Creek, Co. of New Castle, Penna., yeoman, and wife Sara, executrix of the last will of her former husband, John Smith, dec'd, to Christopher Watkins of the Lower Hook, Gloucester Co., gentleman, for 300 acres in W. J., bought by said John Smith of Edw. Byllyng et al. March 2, 1676-7.^[6]

Christopher died in Gloucester County before 6 May 1690, when an inventory was made of his estate and sworn to by his brother-in-law, Cornelius Empson.

1690 May 6. Watkin, Watkins, Christopher of the Lower Hook, Gloucester Co. Inventory of the personal estate of (£205-4-5, incl. a box of books, an atlas, sea cards, a sea platt and brass compasses); made by Andrew Robeson, Andrew Robeson junior, Richard Moore and John Oriens. Sworn to by Cornelius Empson. Mem: that there is some estate in England.

1690 Jun 2. Administration on the estate granted to his brother-in-law Cornelius Empson of Pensilvania.

1690 Jun 2. Bond of Cornelius Empson of Newcastle Co., Penna., as administrator. Thomas Gardiner of Groveley, Gloucester Co., and Henry Treadway of Redd Bank, same Co., fellow bondsmen.^[2]

Research Notes

1670 October 10. [Patent] to Daniel Grasie of Woodbridge for: 1, a house lot of 10 acres adjoining John Watkins; 2, 120 acres of upland; 3, four acres of meadow on Papiack Creek on the East side of Strawberry Hill; 4, thirty acres of Raratons meadows, bounded W. by Elisha Parker and John Adams, E. by John Smith Scotchman and skipper Bond (Bun) N. by -----, S. by Raritans R.^[7]

1670 Dec. 20. [Patent] to John Wattkins of Woodbridge shoemaker for: 1, a houselot of 11 acres W. of Daniel Greasie; 2, sixty acres of upland at Langsters Farm; 3, fifteen acres of Raratans meadows, bounded W. by John Smith Scothman, N. by Thomas Augur, E. and S. by the river; 4, six acres of meadow for the accommodation of his house lot in Raratans meadows, bounded N. by the upland in common, S. by a creek, E. by David Mekany, W. by John Whiteheare. Note: "This patent transorted by John Watkins to Hulick Codriack February 27, 1677."^[8]

1670 Dec. 30. [Patent] to John Witcher of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 10 a. next to Nathan Webster; 2, sixty acres of upland W. N. W. along Rehoboth Gannett; 3, six acres of meadow along the Saltpond and betw. Nathan Webster and John Watkins; 4, fifteen acres of Raratans meadows, next to Rehoboth Gannett.

1670 Dec. 30. [Patent] to John Tayler of Woodbridge for: 1, a houselot of 7 a. adjoining Hugh Donn; 2, sixty acres of upland at Langsters Plain, next to John Watkins; 3, fifteen acres of Raratans meadow N. of Robert Vauquellin; 4, four acres belonging to his houselot nad lying on Papiack Creek.^[9]

1685 Dec. 31. Last Will and Testament of [Samuel Guthrie of Woodbridge], sick at the house of Richard Paull in Woodbridge. David Vilant sole heir and executor. Witnesses John Allance, John Watkins. Letters of administration issued to David Vilant of Amboy Perth May 19, 1686.^[10]

1701 Oct. 30. [Deed] Isaac Walker and wife Desire of Woodbridge to Henry Alward, for the following tracts, vizt: 1, 98 acres at Langstaff's Farm or Plain, E. John Watkins, W. . W. the road, S. S. W. the to Piscataway; 2, 17 acres upland, S. E. of the first; 3, 15 acres of Rariton meadows, N. the Commons, S. Robert Vauquelline, W. David McKany and upland, E. Stephen Kent senior.^[11]

1693 April 24. Deed. Wililam Algur of Woodbridge to Benjamin Jones of Jamaico, L. l., for the following lots in Woodbridge, vizt: 1, a house lot of 12 acres on a small neck in the fork of Bradly's Brook; 2, 14 a. adjoining W. and S.; 3, 5 acres of Raraton meadows, E. John Pike senior, N. upland, W. Robert Rogers; 4, 3 acres of meadow, being one half of the lot bought by his father Thomas Alger of John Watkins of Woodbridge, E. John Whether, N. upland, E. the other half, now Gawen Lockhart's, S. the Houselot Creek; 5, 60 a. W. of the houselot, one half of 120 a. patent to his father of March 18, 1679.^[12]

1693 4 March 17. Recorded May 4, 1694. Deed. John Tailler of Woodbridge, blacksmith, to Isaac Walker of teh same place, for 81 acres of upland and meadow, the upland, 66a., at Langstaffs Farm or Plain, betw. John Watkins and the Piscataway road; 15 acres of Rariton meadow, N land in common, S. Mr. Vauquelline, W. David Markany and upland, E. Stephen Kentt senior. ^[13]

1686 Nov. 10. [Mem. of Deed.] William Hickson of Crosswicks Creeks and his wife Mary to John Watkins of Middlehooke in the Fourth Tenth of the Province, for the preceding 140 acres, in exchange for 140 a., part of a 1-31 share, bo't by said Watkins of Obadiah Barlowe.

1686 April 14. [Mem. of Deed.] Obadiah Barlowe, of Sheffield, England, cutter, to John Watkins of Swinflett, Co. of Yorke, bachellor, for 1-32 of a share of W. J.

1685 Nov. 10. [Mem. of Deed.] Jno Watkins, late of Swinflett, England, mariner, now of Middlehook in the Fourth Tenth, W. J., to William Hickson, for 140 acres in the First Tenth, part of the preceding 1-32.

1686 Nov. 11. [Mem. of Deed.] Roger Parke, late of Hexham, now of Crosswicks Creek, to John Watkins of Middlehook, Fourth Tenth, for the preceding 200 acres.^[14]

1687 May 10. Mem. of Deed. William Hickson of Crosswicks Creek to John Chesshire of Shrowsberry, E. J., tailor, for 240 acres in the First Tenth, as bo't of Samuel Taylor Feb. 19, 1685-6 (100 a.), and 140 a. of John Watkins Nov. 10, 1686.^[15]

1688 June 14. [Deed.] Christopher Watkins of Middlehooke, W. J., brother and heir of John Watkins of the same place dec'd, to Christopher Weatherill of Burlington, tailor, for 1-32 in the First Tenth, except 140 acres, sold by said John, the whole having been bought by him of Obadiah Barlowe of Sheffield, cutler, April 14, 1686.^[16]

Sources

1. ↑ Nelson, William, ed.. "Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. In Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. XXI. Paterson, NJ: The Press Printing and Publishing Co. (1899). p. 652.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "Calendar of Wills." In Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, Vol. xxiii. New Jersey Historical Society. p. 493.
3. ↑ Nelson, William, ed.. "Calendar of Records in the Office of the Secretary of State, 1664-1703. In Documents Relating to the Colonial History of the State of New Jersey, Vol. XXI. Paterson, NJ: The Press Printing and Publishing Co. (1899). p. 424.
4. ↑ Ibid. p. 9-10.
5. ↑ Ibid. p. 490.
6. ↑ Ibid. p. 656.
7. ↑ Ibid. p. 14.
8. ↑ Ibid. p. 15.
9. ↑ Ibid. p. 15.
10. ↑ Ibid. p. 73.
11. ↑ Ibid. p. 141.
12. ↑ Ibid. p. 193.
13. ↑ Ibid. p. 211.
14. ↑ Ibid. p. 414-15.
15. ↑ Ibid. p. 416-17.
16. ↑ Ibid. p. 424.