Robert George Watkins (1862 - 1941)

Born 12 Jul 1862 in Bahamas

Husband of Mary Blanche (Carey) Watkins — married 19 Jul 1893 (to 1913) in Rock Sound, Eleuthera, Bahamas

Descendants

Died 1941 at about age 78 in Key West, Monroe, Florida, United States [uncertain]

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Robert Watkins is part of a Bahamian family.

Biography

There seem to have been two Robert George Watkins who lived in Key West around the same time. The Robert George Watkins of this biography was born in 1862. He was the son of Israel Watkins and Susan Knowles. He passed away in 1941. ^[1]

Robert George Watkins married twice.

Robert married second Mary Blanche Carey on 19 Jul 1893 in Rock Sound at the residence of William H Carey. Witnesses were George Carey and Israel Watkins. Robert, a farmer, was listed as a widower, and Mary as a spinster.^[2]

By 1910, Robert and Blanch were living in Key West, Monroe County, Florida. Robert was working as a building laborer. The household included three of Blanche's siblings :^[3]

• Robert G Watkins 46
• Blanche Watkins 32
• Venderlane Watkins 3
• George H Carey 34
• Lillian Carey 31
• Inez Carey 14

A Consular Registration application was made by Robert George Watkins on 20 Oct 1917. Robert gave his date of birth as 12 Jul 1862. His wife was listed as Blanch Carey, deceased. The application reports tax he emigrated to the United States about 1884, and had become a resident of Key West, Florida, then was naturalized on 2 Dec 1890. His occupation was a self-employed painter.

There were a couple of errors on the paperwork which was typed by someone: his wife's year of birth was listed as 1885, but actually was 1878. Their daughter was listed as Gwendolyn, but actually was Vendoline.^[4]

In 1918. Robert applied for an Emergency Passport with the American Consulate in Nassau, Bahamas, for him and for his daughter, Vendoline.^[5] This photo is the only known image of Robert and of Vendoline. Emergency passports were often issued when a relative was very ill and indeed Robert and Vendoline look a little sad to the eyes of this biographer.

In 1920, Robert was a widower living in the household of Jabey (Jabez Hiram) Carey, brother-in-law. Robert was working as a house carpenter. His 12 year old daughter, Vendoline was also in the household:^[6] The household included:

• Jabey Carey 36
• George Carey 45
• Eliza Carey 65
• Robert G Watkins 57
• Vendolene Watkins 12
• Albert Carey 10

By 1930, Robert and Vendoline were living in the home of Robert's brother-in-law, George Carey. The household included:^[7]

• George N Carey 55
• Albert H Carey 19
• Robert G Watkins 68
• Vendaline Watkins 22

Robert passed away in 1941. Burial was in the Key West Cemetery, Key West, Monroe County, Florida.^[8] His grave states his birth year as 1862.

Sources

1. ↑ "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VV88-S63 : 25 December 2014), Robert George Watkins, 1941; from "Florida Death Index, 1877-1998," index, Ancestry (www.ancestry.com : 2004); citing vol. 939, certificate number 6624, Florida Department of Health, Office of Vital Records, Jacksonville.
2. ↑ "Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QJDZ-75SB : 9 August 2017), Robert George Watkins and Mary Blanche Carey, 1893.
3. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line],Year: 1910; Census Place: Key West Ward 2, Monroe, Florida; Roll: T624_165; Page: 8A; Enumeration District: 0117; FHL microfilm: 1374178
4. ↑ Department of State, Division of Passport Control Consular Registration Applications, Roll #: 32734_620305173_0251, Certificate: 9750 - 10099, Ancestry.com. U.S., Consular Registration Applications, 1916-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data:Department of State, Division of Passport Control Consular Registration Applications .
5. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line], National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Volume #: Volume 004: Great Britain and Possessions, Passport #14
6. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line], Year: 1920; Census Place: Key West Ward 2, Monroe, Florida; Roll: T625_225; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 92
7. ↑ Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line], Year: 1930; Census Place: Key West, Monroe, Florida; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 2340060
8. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 28 September 2020), memorial page for Robert G Watkins (1862–1941), Find A Grave: Memorial #145076708, citing Key West Cemetery, Key West, Monroe County, Florida, USA ; Maintained by Thomas A Hawkins (contributor 46513232) .