Gassaway Watkins (abt. 1756 - 1840)

Born about 1756 in Anne Arundel County, Province of Maryland

Ancestors

Husband of Eleanor (Claggett) Warfield — married 22 Apr 1803 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Descendants

Died 14 Jul 1840 at about age 84 in Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

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Colonel Gassaway Watkins served with 1st Maryland Regiment (1776), Continental Army during the American Revolution.

Gassaway Watkins is an NSSAR Patriot Ancestor.
NSSAR Ancestor #: A122287
Rank: Captain

Gassaway Watkins is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A122287.

Biography

Gassaway Watkins was born in 1752 in Anne Arundel, Maryland, son of Nicholas Watkins (1722 - 1758) and Ariana (Worthington) Ijams (1729 - 1769).

Military Service

According to both DAR records and his Find A Grave memorial, Gassaway Watkins was born in 1752, in Anne Arundel county, Maryland and died July 14, 1840, in the Howard District of Anne Arundel county, Maryland. He was named for his famous ancestor, Colonel Nicholas Gassaway (1634-1691) who was a colonial military and political leader and justice in early Maryland. ^[1]

Gassaway held several ranks, during the American Revolutionary War. He was an enlisted man, who attained the rank of Sergeant. He also became an officer and held the ranks of Ensign and Lieutenant, and served in Captain Patrick Linn's unit under the regimental command of Colonel Smallwood. During the war, he attained the rank of Captain and received a pension S*W15857 ^[2]

There are many applications for membership in the DAR by his descendants. ^[2]

First Marriage

His first wife was Sarah Jones. There are no children of his first marriage.

Second Marriage

He married secondly, Ruth Dorsey by whom he had seven children.

Third Marriage

Gassaway married Eleanor Claggett (1783 - 1871) on 22 Apr 1803 in Baltimore, Baltimore. He had an additional ten children by this marriage.

1. Eleanor Clagett (Watkins) Warfield
2. Margaret Gassaway (Watkins) Warfield
3. Albina Charlotte (Watkins) Clark.

Slave Holder

Among his slaves was Oliver Cromwell Gilbert, born [[Kelly-30598|Oliver Cromwell Kelly.

Death and Burial

Gassaway died July 14, 1840 in Baltimore aged ~88. He is buried in the Watkins Family cemetery, in Ellicott City, Howard county, Maryland. An extensive amount of information regarding this family, including a photograph of the estate he named "Walnut Grove" may be found on his Find A Grave memorial here: Find A Grave: Memorial #46979378 ^[3]

Sources

1. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Gassaway
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR Genealogical Research Databases, database online, (http://www.dar.org/ : accessed February 6th 2022), "Record of Col. Gassaway Watkins", Ancestor # A122287.
3. ↑ Burial site of Gassaway Watkins, Find A Grave: Memorial #46979378

• Maryland State Archives, Biographical Series: Col. Gassaway Watkins

• Gassaway Watkins Notes

• U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 Author: Ancestry.comAPID: 1,2204::0 Volume: 6; SAR Membership Number: 1192 APID: 1,2204::11096

• Ancestry Family Trees Publication: Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Page: Ancestry Family Tree Data: Text: https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/71861408/family