Thomas watkins (B: around 1740 D: 1809 Mecklenburg va, age 69) Married to Elizabeth
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- Thomas Watkins had slaves and owned 10 horses, some cattle, hogs, pigs, geese and sheep.
- Slaves acquired by Thomas Watkins stayed with his family a long time
- Names of Slaves of Thomas Watkins Sr/JR per Property Tax List Records 1782-1805 Dates below reflect time period with Watkins Family 1767-1799 Ben Ben
- 1767-1805+ Roger Roger
- 1804-1810+ Rhoda Rhoda
- 1800-1803 Viney, 1787 Andrew (1) , 1804 Cena
- Roger, Dolly, Rhoda, Andrew, Phyllis, Abraham (young boy), and Willie (young boy).
- Aggy, Daniel, Osmond, Charles, Dick, John, Peggey, Pleasant, Big Bob, Little Bob, Matildy, Harriet, Major, and Jacob son of Lucy and Jacob
- Thomas Watkins lived in Precinct 1.
- Long Grass Plantation in Mecklenburg VA
- Major Elijah Graves (Revolutionary War Soldier) was murdered by his slaves
- Just southwest of Clarksville VA was the home of the Thomas Watkins family
- Thomas Watkins had farmland near the river. The 50,000 acre lake you see in the map did not exist until the Kerr Dam was built in 1952.
Prestwould Plantation Mecklenburg County's most famous plantation built by Sir Peyton Skipwith and his wife Lady Jean Skipwith in 1794 and located 4 miles north of Clarksville. Land Patents and Grants in Colonial Virginia The King "owned" the English colonial claims in North America until he specifically granted rights to others, but he received no income from unsettled lands. It was in his interest to dispose of the colonial lands and encourage settlement. In 1632, King Charles I carved Maryland out of the lands defined as "Virginia". In 1663, he created the proprietary colony of Carolina, rewarding other friends and establishing a new southern boundary for Virginia. With these exceptions, however, other land grants were issued to individuals and to organizations from the king's officials in the colony. After 1745 groups of politically-connected individuals established land companies to speculate in unsettled lands. Large tracts of lands were granted to individuals who promised to increase settlement on the frontier. The largest grant of land in the Mecklenburg area was to Col. John Ruffin and Col. John Baker in 1755 for 13,912 acres. The population in 1748 of the area now Mecklenburg County was less than eight hundred people (based on the Cumberland Parish Tithe List). Hundreds of patents were issued during the next twenty years for land in the area. Many of the larger grants were patented by people who never resided in the county selling their land after being surveyed into smaller tracts. This made the land very inexpensive. In 1765, Thomas Watkins bought 450 acres on Allens Creek for only 100 pounds and 300 acres on Mitchells Creek for 100 pounds. In 1768 he bought the 450 acres of land which became his home on Beaver Pond and Grassy Creeks for 160 pounds. Thomas must have already had or acquired slaves as soon as he came to Mecklenburg because: On August 10, 1767, the Court ordered that Thomas Watkins, Roger, Ben, Dolle, Patt, (slaves), and John Watkins and 750 acres of land be added to the list of tithables taken by John Potter. John may have been brother of Thomas? George Watkins (son of Thomas Sr) bought 386 acres on Grassy Creek adjoining the property of Thomas Watkins in 1784. George sold 186 acres of this land to Joseph Watkins his brother in 1800. Thomas Watkins Sr willed his land of 450 acres to Eleanor (wife of deceased Thomas JR 225 acres) and Joseph his son (225 acres). Thomas Wadkins (misspelled on census) appears as Head of Household (Mecklenburg County VA) in the 1st Census of the United States in the Year 1790 (Federal Records lost for Mecklenburg Virginia(1790,1800 and 1810) so 1782 State Census was used for 1790 Federal Census) (Shows Thomas Watkins Household of 9 Whites and 5 Black slaves) Thomas Watkins also appears on the 1782 Mecklenburg County Land Tax List as owning 900 acres of land which would be the land he acquired in 1765 on Allen’s Creek and in 1768 on Beaver Pond Creek. The 300 acres on Mitchell's Creek was sold in 1768. The land on Allen’s Creek was sold in 1804. The 450 acres on Beaver Pond Creek remained in the Watkins family after the death of Thomas Watkins Sr. Thomas Watkins had slaves and owned 10 horses, some cattle, hogs, pigs, geese and sheep. One bay mare was called Bonny and left to his daughter Elizabeth in his will. Thomas Jr had a black mare named Creeping Jeffress. Thomas Watkins and his family were most likely tobacco farmers and raised grains like wheat and oats as well as vegetables like corn, beans, peas, carrots, and cabbage to eat. They also raised pigs, cows, chickens and other fowl for food. Sheep were raised for wool which could be spun into yarn and then knitted or woven into cloth. Deer, wild fowl, and other game were hunted to supplement the family diet. On the 1782 tax list Thomas Watkins Sr had 20 cattle, 10 horses, and 5 slaves Slaves acquired by Thomas Watkins stayed with his family a long time: On August 10, 1767, the Court ordered that Thomas Watkins, Roger, Ben, Dolle (slaves), be added to the list of tithables. Most of the slaves stayed in the Watkins family after the death of Thomas Sr. and Thomas Jr. Names of Slaves of Thomas Watkins Sr/JR per Property Tax List Records 1782-1805 Dates below reflect time period with Watkins Family 1767-1799 Ben Ben probably died as an old man in 1799 while living with Watkins family 1782-1810 Pyillis Phyllis, Abraham(2) (young boy), and Willie (young boy) were sold in 1810 Estate sale of Thomas Sr to Brown and Jarriot Avery – Abraham and Willie were probably her children 1767-1805+ Roger Roger was willed to Joseph Watkins by Thomas Watkins Sr 1767-1805+ Dolle (Dolly) Dolly was willed to Daughter of Thomas Sr-Elizabeth Watkins. 1802-1810+ Andrew(2) Andrew was acquired by Elizabeth Watkins in 1810 Estate sale of Thomas Sr. First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16 1804-1810+ Rhoda Rhoda was acquired by Joseph Watkins in 1810 Estate sale of Thomas Sr. First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16 1783 Tiller, 1791-1792 Frank: First appeared on tax list as over 16 1783-1787 Ned(1), 1783 Jime, 1784 Edmund, 1785 Simon, 1786-1787 Tom: First appeared on tax list as under 16 1798-1800 Ned(2), 1800-1803 Viney, 1787 Andrew(1), 1804 Cena: First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16 xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 1773-1808 Abram(1) Sold 1808 - First appeared on trust deed in 1773 as being about eight then on tax list as under 16 in 1782, moved to over 16 in 1784 1793-1805+ Biddie First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16, moved to over 16 in 1797 – Born abt 1781 1799-1805+ Gloster First appeared on tax list as over 16 1798-1808 Ephraim(female) Sold 1808 - First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16, moved to over 16 in 1803 Born abt 1787 1799-1805+ China or Chrisy First appeared on Tax list as over 12 under 16, moved to over 16 in 1802 Born abt 1786 Glauster and Biddy were willed by Thomas Jr. to his wife Eleanor. Names of Slaves owned by Thomas Watkins Sr. (per his will written 1805): Roger, Dolly, Rhoda, Andrew, Phyllis, Abraham (young boy), and Willie (young boy). Names of Slaves owned by Thomas Watkins Jr. (per inventory of his estate 1801): Abraham, Glauster, Biddy, Ephraim, and Chrisy. Names of Slaves owned by Joseph Watkins (per his Will 1839): Aggy, Daniel, Osmond, Charles, Dick, John, Peggey, Pleasant, Big Bob, Little Bob, Matildy, Harriet, Major, and Jacob son of Lucy and Jacob. Slaves left to Sally Mills Watkins (Aggy and Daniel) in will of her father John Mills were also mentioned in will of Joseph Watkins. ALL of the slaves of Joseph Watkins were willed to his family and not sold. Thomas Watkins Sr willed his land of 450 acres to Eleanor (225 acres) and Joseph his son (225 acres). Eleanor Watkins (wife of deceased Thomas JR) had 9 slaves per 1820 census. Joseph Watkins had 8 slaves per 1820 census. Taking into account the 8 slaves of Joseph above and the 9 slaves of Eleanor, it is assumed that they became bigger farmers than Thomas Sr had been. Eleanor had 3 sons and Joseph had 4 sons. Joseph Watkins had 16 slaves when he died in 1839. 
In the year 1782, 91% of the white population in Mecklenburg was of English and Welsh ancestry. The white population was 6397 and slaves 4927. 
In 1790 the slave population ratio to white males over 16 was approx. 4 to 1 For the 1782 Tax census Mecklenburg County was divided into 8 Precincts. Thomas Watkins lived in Precinct 1. Precinct 1 and 2 was all of Mecklenburg County below the Dan and Roanoke Rivers to the North Carolina border. At this time, there were 169 families in Precinct 1 owning 508 slaves. The ownership of slaves was as follows: Precinct 1 Families (169) 90 43 22 13 1 Number of Slaves Owned (508) None 1-4 5-10 11-30 31-45 Precinct 2 Families ( 68 ) 38 4 11 12 3 Number of Slaves Owned (380) None 1-4 5-10 11-30 31-45 Thomas Watkins was listed with 5 slaves in 1782. Neighbors with property adjoining Thomas Watkins per deed records:  
Long Grass Plantation The largest slaveholder in Mecklenburg Precinct 1 in 1782 was George Tarry with 39 slaves. George built Long Grass Plantation in Mecklenburg VA in early 1800’s on 2000 acres of land. Nephew of George Tarry was George Tarry Taylor born 1802 in Mecklenburg VA, and died 1885 in Tipton Co, TN. He married Mary Goodloe Somervell 1825 in Mecklenburg VA .She was born 1805 in Mecklenburg VA, and died 1858 in Tipton Co, TN. William Royster (neighbor of Thomas Watkins) was the father of Clark Royster, the founder of Clarksville, VA incorporated in 1818 on 100 acres of land. For the history of Clarksville, we must start with William Royster. He first acquired land here in 1752. His first act was to establish a ferry. The next logical step was to provide lodgings and food for the customers of his ferry. Mecklenburg was still a remote outpost in the 1750’s. After a long day of travel and a worrisome trip over the river, a good tavern, or ordinary in the parlance of the day, would be a welcome stop on a journey. Royster’s Ordinary flourished, and was a focal point for the community. Major Elijah Graves (Revolutionary War Soldier) was murdered by his slaves. April 1799, a petition of numerous citizens of Mecklenburg county for the pardon of two negro men named George and Jack, the property of Elijah Graves, convicted in the Court of said county of the murder of their master, the said Graves, for which another negro man named Nathaniel had also been convicted by said Court and executed; the evidence on the trial having failed to show any further participation in the murder by George and Jack than their helping to conceal the body. 
Current Day Map of Mecklenburg County VA Just southwest of Clarksville VA was the home of the Thomas Watkins family. Clarksville was the first incorporated town in the county of Mecklenburg in 1818 and was not yet a town when Thomas bought his land in 1765. By 1832, Clarksville was recognized as one of the fastest growing towns in Virginia. By 1848, Clarksville was known as a major market for leaf tobacco and a tobacco-manufacturing center. Large shipments of tobacco were exported to Europe. The Dan and Staunton rivers represented the two major rivers within the region, which merged to form the Roanoke River. Thomas Watkins had farmland near the river. The 50,000 acre lake you see in the map did not exist until the Kerr Dam was built in 1952. Mecklenburg County Virginia was formed in 1764-65, from the part of Lunenburg that was Saint James Parish. Saint James Parish was formed in 1761 when Cumberland Parish was divided. Lunenburg formed 1746 from Brunswick County and Brunswick County was formed 1720 from Isle of Wight, Prince George, and Surry Counties, Virginia. 1870 Map of Mecklenburg County Virginia which shows names of families. On the internet you can click on a number and see a very detailed map of each section–The Watkins home site was in the lower right hand corner of section 9 and upper right hand corner section 13 which is where Beaver Pond Creek is located. The map shows the name Watkins on the land in this area. The Dan and Staunton Rivers are in right corner of section 9 and change to the Roanoke River in section 14-16. Taylor’s Ferry is in Sec. 14. Clarksville the town is in bottom left hand corner section 10. The current day Dam is at top of section 15 at historic Buggs Island location.  
Section 9 Section 13 showing land still owned by Watkins family in 1870 (Center of Map)   
Clarksville and John H. Kerr Reservoir (Buggs Island Lake) today. The lake is the largest lake in Virginia and one of the most scenic in the south. Clarksville is the only incorporated town on this 50,000 acre lake. The lake did not exist until the Kerr Dam was built in 1952. Watkins Land was on Beaver Pond Creek and extended to Grassy Creek. The land was about 3 miles from Clarksville. The above map shows Beaver Pond Creek Start, extends to BPC 2, to BCP 3, to BPC End into Grassy Creek. The map overlay in yellow is present day Beaver Pond Creek Wildlife Management Area which is 720 acres. Thomas Watkins had 450 acres on Beaver Pond and Grassy Creeks and George Watkins (his son) had 386 acres on Grassy Creek giving a total of 836 acres. Therefore the map gives the ability to see that the Watkins Land was about the size of Beaver Pond Creek WMA.
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