Sergt. JACOB FRENCH (Lieut. William1), born in Cambridge, March 16, 1640; lived in Billerica, on the "east road," near his brother John. His house was one of the "garrisons" of 1675, and was probably the same venerable brick-lined building which was occupied by James Fletcher in 1879, and of which a cut is given in Hazen's History of Billerica. He was a sergeant in the militia. He married 1st, Sept. 20, 1 665, Mary Champney, daughter of Richard Champney, ruling elder of the Cambridge Church. She died April 1, 1681, and he married 2d, July 30, 1685, Mary Convers of Woburn. She died June 18, 1686, and he married 3d, Mary , who was drowned June 9, 1709. He married 4th, Ruth ,who died Nov. 6, 1780. He died May 20, 1713.
DEATH: Died in childbirth, baby daughter died also.
The following is a letter forwarded to me by my brother Ben:
David Cook
2139 S. Broadmoor Street
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109
Email: david.r.cook@m.cc.utah.edu
Phone: (801) 467-2576
Ben Farr Jr.
2915 Pioneer Road
Slaterville, Utah 84404
November 13, 1996
Dear Ben,
I received your address from your father. I've been doing research on one of our common ancestors, William Watkins and Mary Ford and their family. In my research the only family group sheet I found submitted at the genealogy library was by your father. In talking with him mentioned that I should get in touch with you. On the group sheet your father put as a source a Bessie Oram from Ogden #2 Chimes Circle. I have tried unsuccessfully to locate her also.
On the Ancestral Fite at the genealogy library, it lists the parents of William Watkins as Samuel Watkins and Elizabeth [Williams]. This genealogy is incorrect. A lady in Logan hired a professional genealogist who did some poor work. I have been able to document that this Samuel Watkins and Elizabeth Williams are not the parents of William Watkins. John Denhalter, who is also working on this genealogy has found the same.
Legend has it that William and some of his brothers came from Wales to England. William was married in Banwell, England to Mary Ford. Legend also has it that her father was a local vicar and that he worked for her father. Apparently her father was against the marriage, but we know few facts about her family either. William Watkins did own a home in Banwell and had a large family. I believe we both descend through his son Richard Watkins who maried Ruth Hamblin.
If you have any information on this family I would be most appreciative and would welcome hearing from you. I will enclose a group sheet of the information I have. If you would like to know sources let me know and I can send them.
Sincerely,
David Cook
Subject:
Re: Trip
Date: Tue, 1 Dec 1998 17:59:33 -0700
From: "Dave and Krisitn Cook" dkcook@sisna.com
To: "Tim Farr" tf@srjh.emery.k12.ut.us
CC: "Rob and Becky Cook" robc@sisna.com
Tim,
The trip was good. It was great to see all these cities. You asked about Edward Watkins, which Rob put under the caption of the picture of the Ships Inn. The tradition is as follows. Five brothers, William Watkins included, came from Wales to Banwell. We know some of William such as he was a coachman and married his employer's daughter, Mary Ford and raised a large family in Banwell. We descend through his son Richard Watkins who married Ruth Hamblin. As I was researching land records in Banwell I noticed that around the same time period of William Watkins (he owned a house), an Edward Watkins is listed as paying taxes for a hotel called the Ships Inn. If you follow the tradition this would most likely be a brother to William. I have no solid proof other than the land records. Edward is also listed in some of the city records I believe as a warden and constable. The documentation is with the notes on William Watkins I previously emailed to you. We were surprised to see the Ships Inn still standing. It has been in use from the late 1700s up until a couple of years ago. It was boarded up but the signs are still outside. While in Banwell we asked around town about any Watkins but found no one with that surname. There was one lady but she had just moved there a couple of years ago. We also searched the parish cemetary, and found a few Ford's listed. Some more facts will have to surface before we can make a good match. None the less it was fun to see the town and meet some of the people.
Take it easy,
Dave Cook
Any more questions let me know. My cousin Rob has been working on the web design of the Watkins histories. They have been scanned and edited. He should have them online before long. He is a photographer and does a great job with the pictures and web design. I also got an email from a descendant of William Watkins from Norfolk, England yesterday. He had no new information but it was nice to hear from a relative.
Banns of Marriage Somerset, Banwell, England Dates 1770-1810 Marriages, Source No. 1597208 Item 9, the banns read, "Marriage of William Watkins and Mary Ford both of Banwell" and is signed by a reverand and a doctor. The marriage is also found in this source and reads similar to the banns.
Burial 1813-1866 of Banwell, Somerset, England Source No. 1517682 Item 3, the record reads "Mary Watkins, abode Banwell Feb 10th, 1827 Age 77." Bishop Transcripts 1814-1836 Banwell, Somerset, England Source No. 1278896 items 15-17, record also places death at Age 77.
Notes on a pedigree chart for her son, Charles Watkins and Sarah Whitney, it states that Mary Ford lived at Max-Mills near Winscombe Somerset England. Legend also has it that when she married William she was disinherited by her father. William was employed by her father as a coachman. Her father was a vicar. Birth: Wrington Parish Records Film No. 1526776 item 32, the record reads: "Mary daughter of John and Mary Ford Oct 22."
DEATH: Age 77.
RUTH HAMBLIN WATKINS' CONVERSION TO THE L.D.S. CHURCH
She had been deaf for three years when the Elders came to her home and asked if they might use her home for holding a meeting. After explaining who they were and that they had a message for the people, she said yes she liked anything that was good and would open her doors and invited the neighbors to hear what they had to say. They asked her to take a front seat; because of her deafness, they thought she might be able to hear some of their talk. After the meeting was over, the Elders asked her if she had heard any of it, and she said, "I have heard every word distinctly," and asked for baptism. Her husband was afflicted with paralysis and was forced to use crutches, and when he was converted and asked for baptism, the Elders told him that he could not expect to be healed and made well unless he had sufficient faith; so when he was ready for baptism, they ordained Ruth Hamblin's son an Elder. He was by a former husband named Richard Watkins, my great-grandfather so he would be able to help in the baptism because of ____ condition. After the baptism, they brought him his crutches. He walked out of the water and all the way home without the aid of anyone or the crutches. Next morning he walked down to his shop; he was a cooper by trade. He made a bucket and carried it in his hands and swung it around and declared to all the people that he had been healed by the power of the Lord and through his faith. Through this testimony many people in England were converted to the Church.
Scanned and edited by David Cook and Sherrie Markman, Sept 1998.
CENSUS: Ruth Bartlett age 40, husband James Bartlett age 35. Children: John Watkins age 12, Thomas [Henry] Watkins age 10 and Charles Watkins age 9.