Evan Watkins

• Sex: M
• Born: 1710 in New Castle, Delaware
• Died: 1764 in Frederick County, Virginia
• Notes:From the book "The Great Wagon Road"by Parke Rouse, Jr.
  page 68-69:
  
  "Titled "A Map of the Inhabited part of Virginia, containing the whole Province of Maryland, with Part of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Carolina," it showed the Great Wagon Road from the Pennsylvania crossing, the Potomac at WATKINS' FERRY (later Williamsport) into Virginia."
  
  "The Virginia Assembly in 1744 ordered a ferry kept on the Potomac, where the road crossed by a shallow ford from Maryland into Virginia. The act specified that it be "On Potomac river from
  EVAN WATKINS landing opposite to the mouth of Anagochego creek to Edmund Wade's land in
  Maryland, the price for a man 3 pence and for a horse 3 pence."
  
  WATKINS FERRY made the Potomac crossing safer and faster. Soon the growing movement southward justified a larger boat, which could transport wagons as well as horses and cattle.
  Ferryman EVAN WATKINS was kept very busy from dawn to dusk poling his boat back and forth across the river. As trade grew he expanded his services and became a prosperous figure, well known to travelers along the road. He typified the ferrymen who became prominent and prosperous along the early road.
  
  WATKINS and his wife Mary had settled by the Potomac about 1741. WATKINS first built a one-room cabin. As his family grew, he added to it, renting beds overnight to travlers. He also built a forge to make hardware and implements and a riverfront store to supply travlers. His ledger book listed ferriage rates, blacksmithing charges, and prices for such refreshments as wine slings, toddies, and "ciderloy." WATKINS FERRY in time be came Light's Ferry, then Lemen's Ferry and finally William's Ferry.
  
  Eventually, the site became Williamsport, Maryland."
  
  ====================
  Frederick County Fee Book, signed by the Sheriff, Meredith Helm, dated January 17, 1754
  Col. James Wood Clk of Court
  [This is a list of the first settlers in Old Frederick County, with the fees assessed in pounds
  of tobacco, the medium of exchange.]
  On this list dated 1744:
  
  Evan Watkins 40 pounds
  =====================
  
  Evan Watkins signed his will by his mark X on May 2, 1764. It was probated August 6, 1765. It names seven children. All seven of these children were born in Old Federick County, Virginia. The area now is Berkeley County, West Virginia.=====================

Father: Peter Watkins, b. ABT. 1680 in Wales
Mother: Mary Griffith, b. ABT. 1685 in New Castle, Delaware

Family 1: Mary, b. ABT. 1717 in North Carolina

1. Thomas Watkins
2. Evan Watkins, Jr., b. 1731
3. Peter Watkins, b. 1733 in Old Frederick County, Virginia
4. Jean Watkins
5. Ann Watkins
6. Eleanor Watkins
7. David Watkins
8. David Watkins

http://www.watkinsfhs.net/cgi-bin/igm2/igmget.cgi/n=marti?I0620