Silas Watkins

✦ direct ancestor — my children's 4×-great-grandfather · Jarrell line, the Woodall–Ramsay side — their mother's people

Marriage & children

Records behind this page

1850 and 1860 U.S. censuses, population schedules, Jefferson County, Georgia, household of Silas Watkins (FamilySearch index entries; images not opened)

1860 census, 83rd District, Jefferson Co., Ga., p. 339, FamilySearch 1:1:MZM2-JBC; 1850 census, Jefferson Co., Ga., FamilySearch 1:1:MZYT-K14

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[FamilySearch INDEX ONLY, read 12 Oct 2026 (register K1013); the images were not opened.] 1860: Silas Watkins, born about 1811, North Carolina; Cealy, 40; Elizabeth C., 18; Mills B., 16; Martha A., 14; Silas I., 12; John E., 8; Henry A., 6; William G., 5; Cealy C. V., 3. No Eben (the enumeration date was not checked). 1850: Silas Watkins; Celia, 31; Elizabeth, 8; Mills B., 7; Amanda, 5; Ira, 3.

1870 U.S. census, population schedule, District 83, Jefferson County, Georgia, page 41 (NARA M593; image via FamilySearch)

1870 census, District 83, Jefferson Co., Ga., p. 41, dwelling 367, family 402, Silas Watkins; FamilySearch 1:1:MC3Z-CWT

[Read on the image 12 Oct 2026 (register K1012): names, ages, occupation and birthplace. No relationship column in 1870.] Silas Watkins, 59, farmer, born North Carolina; Clarra, 50, keeping house; Elizabeth, 28; Silas J., 23; John E., 20; Henry A., 17; William G., 15; Viana C., 13; Ebenezer [middle initial T. or Y.], 10.

1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Wadley, Jefferson County, Georgia, enumeration district 65, sheet 257A (NARA T9; image via FamilySearch)

1880 census, Wadley (ED 65), Jefferson Co., Ga., sheet 257A, household of Silas Watkins; FamilySearch 1:1:M8GC-PYH

[Read on the image 12 Oct 2026 (register K1011): names, ages and the relationship column; the birthplace and parent-nativity columns taken from the FamilySearch index only.] Silas Watkins, 65, farmer; Rebecca, 60, Wife; Lizzie, 30, daughter; William, 24, son; Vianna, 21, daughter; Ebin, 18, Son. Neighbouring household: Henry Watkins, 30, and Hettie, 26.

Georgia, County Marriages, Jefferson County, page 280: Silas Watkins and Celia Fokes, 29 November 1840 (FamilySearch index entry; image not opened)

Jefferson Co., Ga. marriages p. 280, Silas Watkins x Celia Fokes, 29 Nov 1840; FamilySearch 1:1:FWHK-D32

[FamilySearch INDEX ONLY, read 12 Oct 2026 (register K1014); the register image was not opened.] Groom: Silas Watkins. Bride: Celia Fokes. Date: 29 November 1840. Jefferson County, Georgia, page 280.

Jefferson County, Georgia, Clerk of Superior Court, Deeds 1884-1885, page 740: deed of gift, Silas Watkins to his son Eben T. Watkins (image via FamilySearch, film-group ark 3:1:3Q9M-CSYH-L3P3-R)

Jefferson Co., Ga. Deeds 1884-1885 p. 740, Silas Watkins to Eben T. Watkins, recorded 26 Feb 1885; FamilySearch image 410 of 417

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[Read on the image 12 Oct 2026 (register K1010), in full. The FamilySearch full-text transcript was used only to find the page; its "1852" is a machine misreading.] I (Silas Watkins) ... for and in consideration of the heirship of my son Eben T. Watkins do this day February 9th 188[2 or 5 - the last digit is unclear] give, grant, and confirm unto the said Eben T. Watkins one tract ... sixty five acres ... adjoining lands of S. J. Watkins, H. A. Watkins, W. G. Watkins and the said Silas Watkins ... so that neither I nor any of my other heirs ... shall have any right. Signed Silas Watkins (LS). Witnesses: W. G. Watkins, William Paul (his mark), White Hall (his mark). Oath of Wm. G. Watkins. Recorded Feb 26 1885.

Research notes

Working notes from the research, kept verbatim — what was read, what it proved, what stays open. Many open with a line grading the parentage; what the grades mean.

Research note · 12 Oct 2026

AUDITED 12 Oct 2026 - SILAS WATKINS (1 Mar 1811 - 18 Nov 1888), farmer, born in North Carolina, of Jefferson County, Georgia; buried at Colemans Chapel near Wadley (Find a Grave index, K1014). He married Celia Fokes in Jefferson County on 29 Nov 1840 (marriage index, K1014). He appears in the 1850 and 1860 censuses (index only, K1013), in 1870 in District 83, aged 59, born North Carolina (K1012), and in 1880 at Wadley, aged 65 (K1011). By a deed of gift recorded 26 Feb 1885 (Jefferson County deeds 1884-1885 p. 740, K1010) he gave sixty-five acres to "my son Eben T. Watkins". The land adjoined his sons S. J., H. A. and W. G. Watkins, and the deed was witnessed by W. G. Watkins. Only [3420] Eben is attached as his child in this tree. His parents are unknown.

Elsewhere

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