James Rives/Reeves Watkins was born on the 28th of February 1828 in Nutbush Township in Warren County, North Carolina to John Watkins and Mary Rives/Reeves. He married Martha Talley on the 22nd June 1853 in Warrenton, North Carolina. She was born on the 19th of March 1839 in Warren County, North Carolina to Travis Talley and Sally Wright. Martha died on the 29th of June 1901 in Judkins Township in Warren County, North Carolina. James Rives Watkins died on the 12th of October 1907 in Warren County, North Carolina. He was a Confederate soldier who served in Co. G, 43rd NC Reg. “He was wounded and captured at or near Silver Spring, Md., hospitalized at Washington, D.C., confined at Old Capitol Prison and transferred to Elmira, N.Y. before being paroled in 1865 and transferred to the James River in Virginia for exchange.”
Headstones in Warren Plains Methodist Cemetery
They had at least 9 children who were all born in Warren, North Carolina:
1. Mary Agnes Watkins (24 May 1854-) who married Benjamin S Walker on 19 Apr 1871.
2. James William Watkins (23 Mar 1856-) who married Josephine S Owen on 21 Oct 1878 and had at least seven children (Emma Josephine Watkins, Mattie Eugene Watkins, Blanche Watkins, Irene Watkins, James Watkins, Jinnie Watkins, Earnest Watkins).
3. Martha Travis Watkins (21 Mar 1860-) who married Robert Smith and had at least three children (Clarence Smith, Myrtle Smith and Pearl Smith).
4. Sarah J Watkins (26 May 1862-o1 Aug 1929) who married Lewis Stegall and had at least two children (Herbert James “Herbie” Stegall and Lillian Stegall).
5. Francis H Watkins (4 Apr 1864-) who married John Rainney on 16 Aug 1888 in Warren, North Carolina and had at least one child (Levia Rainey).
6. John F Watkins (6 Mar 1866-) who married Hattie W Falkner and had at least one child (Mary T Watkins).
7. Lulu W Watkins (20 Aug 1870-14 Jan 1948) who married Robert Lee Currin on 19 Dec 1892 and had at least three children (Nora Lee Currin, Stella Jane Currin, and Florence Currin).
8. Thomas Reeves Watkins (4 Dec 1872-) who married Annie Stiff and had at least one child (Elizabeth Watkins).
9. Olivia Vertine Watkins (2 May 1876-15 Mar 1962) who married Thomas Judkins Stallings on 10 Apr 1899 and had at least seven children (Arline Vastine Stallings, James Tasker Stallings, Myrtle Olivia Stallings, Ruby Stallings, Selma Stallings, Thomas Wallace Stallings, Erma Earl Stallings).
Census Records:
1850: See parents
1860: Cannot find them
1870: James R Watkins is 42 and a farmer with real estate valued at 1850 and a personal estate of 575. Martha Watkins is 32 and keeps house. Mary Watkins is 16, James Watkins is 14, Martha Watkins is 10, Sarah Watkins is 8, Francis Watkins is 4 and John Watkins is 2. Also living with them is Jesse Carroll a 16 year old black farm laborer who cannot read or write.
1880: James R Watkins is 53 and a farmer. He also had a loss of leg listed in the record. Martha Watkins is 41 and keeps the home. Martha Watkins is 20 and is at home, Frances Watkins is 14 and also at home, John Watkins is 12 and works on the farm, Lulu W Watkins 10 and also at home, Thomas R Watkins is 8, and Nancy O.V. Watkins is 4.
1900: James R Watkins is 73 and a farmer. Martha Watkins is 61.
I was excited to find your wordpress site with the photos of James R Watkins and Martha Talley’s graves in Warren Plains. Thanks for sharing! Holly