Notes
Note N2873
Index
Lewis Watkins died a Union captain in the Civil War. His obelisk grave marker still exists on land located on the original family farm, now a small rural-suburban development. John Watkins spoke with the man who purchased the last parcel of land owned by a Watkins and who at one time saved Lewis' grave marker from a collector wanting to purchase it. Other Watkins graves are located adjacent to Lewis'. However, their markers are long-gone. John had a video made with a Civil War historian who narrated as he guided me across the battlefield upon which Lewis was mortally wounded in August of 1864. His regiment, the 85th Pa Volunteer Infantry, suffered poor generalship throught their war-long service.
Lewis served as Captain of Co E, 85th Pennsylvania Volunteers. He died at Ft. Monroe, Va on Sept 26, 1864 of wounds. He enlisted 1 May 1863 at Folly Island, SC in Co E, 85th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, to serve 3 years, or the duration of the war, and was mustered into service as a Captain on the 1st day of May, 1863 at Morris Island, Ill, in Co 3, 85th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers. On the Muster Roll of Co E of that Regiment for the months of Sept and Oct, 1864, he is reported "Died Sept 26th of wounds recieved Aug 14, 1864 at Deep Bottom, Va" Cause of death was Pyaemia following these wounds.
Notes
Note N2874
Index
1850 Census lists NC as birthplace.
Notes
Note N2875
Index
Richard as a youth learned the carpenter trade. He was a man most astute in his business dealings. Among his first profitable ventures was the leasing of the only ferry across the Monongahela River between West Brownsville and Brownsville. You can find Brownsville on a map of southwestern Pa. From Brownsville, go in on US Rt 40 to its intersection with Rt 88. Near there is the former Watkins family farm and many former farms and enterprise locations subsequently established by Watkins children, including Cornelius. Richard's ferry was leased from the Gillepspie family. He handed this farm over to Cornelius. He next bought a farm fronting the Monongahela River at the present site of the tiny community of Denbo. On this farm he built a stone house. This is the farm he gave to his son Solomon. On this farm was a grist mill operated by water power near the site of Rainbow Gardens on Rt 88. Richard also operated a saw mill on this farm, run by steam power.
Notes
Note N2876
Index
The 1850 and 1860 Washington county census both give ages that indicate a birthyear of 1830.
Daughter Emma's death certificate gives Sarah's birthplace as Maryland.
Notes
Note N2877
Index
Surname WATKINS appears on daughter Emma's death certificate. This answers some questions about the relationship of the WATKINS name to the Chrissingers. However, it is not clear if Sarah was related to Lewis Watkins, husband of Mary E Chrissinger. My research indicates that Watkins surname was present in Washington county since at least the War of 1812. One John Watkins was an early resident of Monongahela city, which was on up the river a ways in the county. There are references to an Ann Watkins, sister of "the late Elias and John Watkins" who was the first wife of Abraham Van Vorhis, a well known Washington county resident. Elias Watkins apparently owned a foundry in Monongahela City. There are also references to a John Watkins of Richmond in Ray county, Mo as having been a member of the "Williamsport Rangers" during his time in Washington county.
Said to have been of Welsh descent, by LuLu Hanna. Lulu also wrote that Sarah "was orphaned at an early age, made her home part of the time at least, with a brother in Wheeling, West Virginia. Did dressmaking and other sewing before married. One of her brothers started out in the 1849 gold rush but never got to California. Some sort of accident happened to him on the way (fell from a wagon or something) anyway died on the trip.
So here is some circumstantial data based on research at the start of 2017 about how Sarah Watkins fits into the family tree. After a review of all the Watkins families that lived in the area, the family of Elias Watkins catches my eye. Elias had a son Thornton, who headed to California in 1852 to participate in the gold rush. Thornton never made it there due to an accident on the way. Could this be the brother that Lulu wrote about. Elias himself passed away in 1834. If Sarah was one of Elias' daughters, she would have been orphaned at a young age as Lulu says. Finally, another of Elias' sons, John, went to Parkersburg, West Virginia to farm. Parkersburg is about 90 miles from Wheeling, so is John perhaps the brother that Sarah stayed with for a few years? This is all circumstantial, but maybe it is how Sarah fits into the Washington County, Pennsylvania Watkins clan.
"Mrs. Sarah Chrisinger of Burlington, Iowa is here visiting her daughter, Mrs. S.T. Hartzell."--17 November 1898, Sedan (KS) Lance