h/o 1st Mary Adams Crease, 2nd, widow, Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran
Birth: 1st of four known children, two to adulthood in Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky
View George's ancestry .
George Claibourne Watkins' father, Major Isaac's father was reportedly descended from William Claiborne (c1600-c1679), first Secretary of the new Colony (1626-1634), and his mother, Sarah "Sally" Walton (1745VA-18__KY), sister of George Walton (1741VA-1804GA), signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Georgia, around 1779 married Reverend Joshua Morris moving to Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky with her younger children. Isaac grew to adulthood, a veteran from the War of 1812, married twice, Paulina Thurston (1780VA-1805KY), and Marie Toncray (1793MD-1874AR), birthed young sons by each wife before he signed a bond for a friend who defaulted causing Isaac to pay, costing him dearly.
Later, December 1820 by boat down Cumberland river to Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky where on 30 January 1821 boarded steamboat Frankfort O with father, his second wife and her niece, Miss Jane Eliza Mills (who, six years later, married William Edward Woodruff (1795NY-1885AR)), down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to newly created Territory of Arkansas' White river. They then, by keel boat, went up the Arkansas river, with George falling overboard but saved, arriving 11 March 1821 at a river crossing with a ferry operated by Edmund Hogan (1780NC-1828AR) on the Saint Louis to Texas Red river trail and Military Road to what would become the newly created capital of Arkansas Territory October 1821, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, year following it being surveyed, (half-brother Robert came following year, becoming first Secretary of State in 1836).
It was George's mother, second white women resident, who got her baby brother, Reverend Silas Tracey Toncray, to come to Little Rock July 1824 to create the Baptist church, 1st held 24 July 1824 in her home with hubby the clerk and new "Baptist Meeting Hall", built 1825 as first church building in Little Rock, which he served till 1829 before going to Memphis, Shelby county, Tennessee because of their first born brother Daniel's death. She, following deaths of Silas and his wife, raised their last born, Hulda Tracey Toncray in her home.
They were among the earliest Little Rock's permanent pioneers, finding a small community of huts and a log house, built a two story frame house used as a hotel, opened the first tavern, "Little Rock Tavern" as well as other ventures such as a horse drawn mill, including a farm, He hosted many families on the fourth of July each year at a sit down dinner, one with over a hundred people at the old court house. The town was a river crossing on the Southwest Trail from Saint Louis to the Texas Red river area, also known as a Military Road, also with the Memphis Military road. In 1825 father built their two story frame home, which was demolished in 1880. June 1827 his half-brother Robert was married then in November George's cousin, Jane, married William E Woodruff, the following month his father was shot to death, four years later his mother remarried Reverend William Wilson Stevenson (1797SC-1888CA) March 29, 1831, year Little Rock was incorporated into a city, she having two more known children (1848 raised baby brother's last born).
George was sent off to Litchfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, where his mother's parents were wed, to the law school started by James Gould and Tapping Reeve, where his first law partner was also reportedly schooled, The foundation of his legal education was laid at Yale College, Connecticut. In 1837 he returned from Yale College ripe in scholarly attainments for one so young, and was immediately taken into partnership with Chester Ashley (1791MA-1848DC) who had earlier lost his partner, Robert Crittenden (1797KY-1834MS), appointed first secretary (governor) of new Arkansas Territory by seventh president Andrew Jackson (1767-1745TN), at what now is known as the Rose Law Firm. Married Mary Adams Crease 28 June 1841, second wife being ex-partner's widow, Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran (5th of nine known children of Senator William Savin Fulton (1795-1944AR) in 1855. Before leaving the bench he settled many arrears in business, which he had found on taking the office, and unhesitatingly expressed his views on many important questions, many of which (according to high authority) have never been overruled.
U S Senator Robert Ward Johnson called Watkins "ablest judge who ever sat on our Supreme Bench; a gentleman of great diffidence and sensitive modesty"
Judge Watkins was married, in 1841, to Miss Mary Crease, her death occurring in 1855. His second wife was Mrs. Sophia Curran, a daughter of William S. Fulton.
George with Mary, set about busying himself with the publics business, first as Attorney General in 1843 while her father became State Tresurer, George's shoes were filled by brother-in-law John J Clendenin (1813PA-1876AR) who had read law under George Miffin Dallas (1792PA-1864PA), busy as trustee helping to organize first created Arkansas institution for higher learning, Saint Johns' College of Arkansas (1850-1882), in 1853 filled shoes of his wife's older sister's husband, Thomas Johnson (1808MD-1878AR), the 2nd Chief Justice following 1st, Daniel Ringo (1803KY-1873AR), as third Chief Justice of what became the Arkansas Supreme Court, catching up most of the backlog of work before resigning 31 December 1854 to handle law firm's business following death of partner, James Moore Curran (1821AR-1854AR) with Elbert Hartwell English (1816AL-1884NC) becoming fourth Chief Justice (also, after Reconstruction, the 8th).
He partnered with Uriah M Rose (1834KY-1913AR) upon Uriah's 1865 arrivial in Little Rock after a brief stay in Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas from Batesville, Independence county, Arkansas, retiring in 1872, removing to Colorado for health, died at Saint Louis, Missouri on trip home.
George had three sons in the Civil War, himself given a presidential pardon July 1865. He was a zealous Confederate during the war, and three of his sons fought for the Southern cause. His oldest son was promoted from the ranks to the position of lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Arkansas Volunteers, and fought, without receiving a wound, in eighteen hard battles, but, in his twenty-second year, fell at the head of his command, in the battle of Atlanta.
Census: 1850, age 34 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas with 1st wife, her younger sister, two kids & Mary Nowland, he a lawyer with $40,000.
Census: 1870, age 53 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, twice widowed with seven children.
In 1872 Judge Watkins' overtaxed energies gave way, and his friends thought it advisable to give him a change of scene. He was taken to the springs of Virginia and after-ward to Colorado, being attended by his son, Dr. Claibourne Watkins, but his vital forces could not be recruited, and he died in the city of St. Louis, while on his way home, December 7, 1872.
Death: in Saint Louis, Missouri, buried Mount Holly cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas. (Half-brother Dr Robert Anderson Watkins is among those buried in his plot)
Father: Major Isaac Watkins b: 10 APR 1777 in Cumberland, formerly Goochland county, Virginia
Mother: Maria Toncray b: 13 MAY 1793 Williamsport, Washington county, Maryland
Marriage 1: Mary Adams Crease b: 16 AUG 1823 Washington, District of Columbia
Married: 28 JUN 1841 Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Anderson Watkins b: 18 MAY 1842 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Claibourne A Watkins b: 2 MAR 1844 Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Jane Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Walton Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county Arkansas
Louisa Watkins b: 22 DEC 1851 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Mary C Watkins b: about 1855 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Marriage 2: widow Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran b: 4 APR 1830 in Arkansas.
Married: 1855. Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Maria "Lizzie" Watkins b: 16 JUN 1860, Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Georgie Watkins b: about 1863 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Ida Watkins b: about 1865 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Birth: 1st of four known children, two to adulthood in Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky
View George's ancestry .
George Claibourne Watkins' father, Major Isaac's father was reportedly descended from William Claiborne (c1600-c1679), first Secretary of the new Colony (1626-1634), and his mother, Sarah "Sally" Walton (1745VA-18__KY), sister of George Walton (1741VA-1804GA), signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Georgia, around 1779 married Reverend Joshua Morris moving to Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky with her younger children. Isaac grew to adulthood, a veteran from the War of 1812, married twice, Paulina Thurston (1780VA-1805KY), and Marie Toncray (1793MD-1874AR), birthed young sons by each wife before he signed a bond for a friend who defaulted causing Isaac to pay, costing him dearly.
Later, December 1820 by boat down Cumberland river to Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky where on 30 January 1821 boarded steamboat Frankfort O with father, his second wife and her niece, Miss Jane Eliza Mills (who, six years later, married William Edward Woodruff (1795NY-1885AR)), down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to newly created Territory of Arkansas' White river. They then, by keel boat, went up the Arkansas river, with George falling overboard but saved, arriving 11 March 1821 at a river crossing with a ferry operated by Edmund Hogan (1780NC-1828AR) on the Saint Louis to Texas Red river trail and Military Road to what would become the newly created capital of Arkansas Territory October 1821, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, year following it being surveyed, (half-brother Robert came following year, becoming first Secretary of State in 1836).
It was George's mother, second white women resident, who got her baby brother, Reverend Silas Tracey Toncray, to come to Little Rock July 1824 to create the Baptist church, 1st held 24 July 1824 in her home with hubby the clerk and new "Baptist Meeting Hall", built 1825 as first church building in Little Rock, which he served till 1829 before going to Memphis, Shelby county, Tennessee because of their first born brother Daniel's death. She, following deaths of Silas and his wife, raised their last born, Hulda Tracey Toncray in her home.
They were among the earliest Little Rock's permanent pioneers, finding a small community of huts and a log house, built a two story frame house used as a hotel, opened the first tavern, "Little Rock Tavern" as well as other ventures such as a horse drawn mill, including a farm, He hosted many families on the fourth of July each year at a sit down dinner, one with over a hundred people at the old court house. The town was a river crossing on the Southwest Trail from Saint Louis to the Texas Red river area, also known as a Military Road, also with the Memphis Military road. In 1825 father built their two story frame home, which was demolished in 1880. June 1827 his half-brother Robert was married then in November George's cousin, Jane, married William E Woodruff, the following month his father was shot to death, four years later his mother remarried Reverend William Wilson Stevenson (1797SC-1888CA) March 29, 1831, year Little Rock was incorporated into a city, she having two more known children (1848 raised baby brother's last born).
George was sent off to Litchfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, where his mother's parents were wed, to the law school started by James Gould and Tapping Reeve, where his first law partner was also reportedly schooled, The foundation of his legal education was laid at Yale College, Connecticut. In 1837 he returned from Yale College ripe in scholarly attainments for one so young, and was immediately taken into partnership with Chester Ashley (1791MA-1848DC) who had earlier lost his partner, Robert Crittenden (1797KY-1834MS), appointed first secretary (governor) of new Arkansas Territory by seventh president Andrew Jackson (1767-1745TN), at what now is known as the Rose Law Firm. Married Mary Adams Crease 28 June 1841, second wife being ex-partner's widow, Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran (5th of nine known children of Senator William Savin Fulton (1795-1944AR) in 1855. Before leaving the bench he settled many arrears in business, which he had found on taking the office, and unhesitatingly expressed his views on many important questions, many of which (according to high authority) have never been overruled.
U S Senator Robert Ward Johnson called Watkins "ablest judge who ever sat on our Supreme Bench; a gentleman of great diffidence and sensitive modesty"
Judge Watkins was married, in 1841, to Miss Mary Crease, her death occurring in 1855. His second wife was Mrs. Sophia Curran, a daughter of William S. Fulton.
George with Mary, set about busying himself with the publics business, first as Attorney General in 1843 while her father became State Tresurer, George's shoes were filled by brother-in-law John J Clendenin (1813PA-1876AR) who had read law under George Miffin Dallas (1792PA-1864PA), busy as trustee helping to organize first created Arkansas institution for higher learning, Saint Johns' College of Arkansas (1850-1882), in 1853 filled shoes of his wife's older sister's husband, Thomas Johnson (1808MD-1878AR), the 2nd Chief Justice following 1st, Daniel Ringo (1803KY-1873AR), as third Chief Justice of what became the Arkansas Supreme Court, catching up most of the backlog of work before resigning 31 December 1854 to handle law firm's business following death of partner, James Moore Curran (1821AR-1854AR) with Elbert Hartwell English (1816AL-1884NC) becoming fourth Chief Justice (also, after Reconstruction, the 8th).
He partnered with Uriah M Rose (1834KY-1913AR) upon Uriah's 1865 arrivial in Little Rock after a brief stay in Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas from Batesville, Independence county, Arkansas, retiring in 1872, removing to Colorado for health, died at Saint Louis, Missouri on trip home.
George had three sons in the Civil War, himself given a presidential pardon July 1865. He was a zealous Confederate during the war, and three of his sons fought for the Southern cause. His oldest son was promoted from the ranks to the position of lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Arkansas Volunteers, and fought, without receiving a wound, in eighteen hard battles, but, in his twenty-second year, fell at the head of his command, in the battle of Atlanta.
Census: 1850, age 34 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas with 1st wife, her younger sister, two kids & Mary Nowland, he a lawyer with $40,000.
Census: 1870, age 53 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, twice widowed with seven children.
In 1872 Judge Watkins' overtaxed energies gave way, and his friends thought it advisable to give him a change of scene. He was taken to the springs of Virginia and after-ward to Colorado, being attended by his son, Dr. Claibourne Watkins, but his vital forces could not be recruited, and he died in the city of St. Louis, while on his way home, December 7, 1872.
Death: in Saint Louis, Missouri, buried Mount Holly cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas. (Half-brother Dr Robert Anderson Watkins is among those buried in his plot)
Father: Major Isaac Watkins b: 10 APR 1777 in Cumberland, formerly Goochland county, Virginia
Mother: Maria Toncray b: 13 MAY 1793 Williamsport, Washington county, Maryland
Marriage 1: Mary Adams Crease b: 16 AUG 1823 Washington, District of Columbia
Married: 28 JUN 1841 Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Anderson Watkins b: 18 MAY 1842 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Claibourne A Watkins b: 2 MAR 1844 Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Jane Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Walton Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county Arkansas
Louisa Watkins b: 22 DEC 1851 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Mary C Watkins b: about 1855 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Marriage 2: widow Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran b: 4 APR 1830 in Arkansas.
Married: 1855. Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Maria "Lizzie" Watkins b: 16 JUN 1860, Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Georgie Watkins b: about 1863 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Ida Watkins b: about 1865 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
h/o 1st Mary Adams Crease, 2nd, widow, Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran
Birth: 1st of four known children, two to adulthood in Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky
View George's ancestry .
George Claibourne Watkins' father, Major Isaac's father was reportedly descended from William Claiborne (c1600-c1679), first Secretary of the new Colony (1626-1634), and his mother, Sarah "Sally" Walton (1745VA-18__KY), sister of George Walton (1741VA-1804GA), signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Georgia, around 1779 married Reverend Joshua Morris moving to Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky with her younger children. Isaac grew to adulthood, a veteran from the War of 1812, married twice, Paulina Thurston (1780VA-1805KY), and Marie Toncray (1793MD-1874AR), birthed young sons by each wife before he signed a bond for a friend who defaulted causing Isaac to pay, costing him dearly.
Later, December 1820 by boat down Cumberland river to Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky where on 30 January 1821 boarded steamboat Frankfort O with father, his second wife and her niece, Miss Jane Eliza Mills (who, six years later, married William Edward Woodruff (1795NY-1885AR)), down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to newly created Territory of Arkansas' White river. They then, by keel boat, went up the Arkansas river, with George falling overboard but saved, arriving 11 March 1821 at a river crossing with a ferry operated by Edmund Hogan (1780NC-1828AR) on the Saint Louis to Texas Red river trail and Military Road to what would become the newly created capital of Arkansas Territory October 1821, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, year following it being surveyed, (half-brother Robert came following year, becoming first Secretary of State in 1836).
It was George's mother, second white women resident, who got her baby brother, Reverend Silas Tracey Toncray, to come to Little Rock July 1824 to create the Baptist church, 1st held 24 July 1824 in her home with hubby the clerk and new "Baptist Meeting Hall", built 1825 as first church building in Little Rock, which he served till 1829 before going to Memphis, Shelby county, Tennessee because of their first born brother Daniel's death. She, following deaths of Silas and his wife, raised their last born, Hulda Tracey Toncray in her home.
They were among the earliest Little Rock's permanent pioneers, finding a small community of huts and a log house, built a two story frame house used as a hotel, opened the first tavern, "Little Rock Tavern" as well as other ventures such as a horse drawn mill, including a farm, He hosted many families on the fourth of July each year at a sit down dinner, one with over a hundred people at the old court house. The town was a river crossing on the Southwest Trail from Saint Louis to the Texas Red river area, also known as a Military Road, also with the Memphis Military road. In 1825 father built their two story frame home, which was demolished in 1880. June 1827 his half-brother Robert was married then in November George's cousin, Jane, married William E Woodruff, the following month his father was shot to death, four years later his mother remarried Reverend William Wilson Stevenson (1797SC-1888CA) March 29, 1831, year Little Rock was incorporated into a city, she having two more known children (1848 raised baby brother's last born).
George was sent off to Litchfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, where his mother's parents were wed, to the law school started by James Gould and Tapping Reeve, where his first law partner was also reportedly schooled, The foundation of his legal education was laid at Yale College, Connecticut. In 1837 he returned from Yale College ripe in scholarly attainments for one so young, and was immediately taken into partnership with Chester Ashley (1791MA-1848DC) who had earlier lost his partner, Robert Crittenden (1797KY-1834MS), appointed first secretary (governor) of new Arkansas Territory by seventh president Andrew Jackson (1767-1745TN), at what now is known as the Rose Law Firm. Married Mary Adams Crease 28 June 1841, second wife being ex-partner's widow, Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran (5th of nine known children of Senator William Savin Fulton (1795-1944AR) in 1855. Before leaving the bench he settled many arrears in business, which he had found on taking the office, and unhesitatingly expressed his views on many important questions, many of which (according to high authority) have never been overruled.
U S Senator Robert Ward Johnson called Watkins "ablest judge who ever sat on our Supreme Bench; a gentleman of great diffidence and sensitive modesty"
Judge Watkins was married, in 1841, to Miss Mary Crease, her death occurring in 1855. His second wife was Mrs. Sophia Curran, a daughter of William S. Fulton.
George with Mary, set about busying himself with the publics business, first as Attorney General in 1843 while her father became State Tresurer, George's shoes were filled by brother-in-law John J Clendenin (1813PA-1876AR) who had read law under George Miffin Dallas (1792PA-1864PA), busy as trustee helping to organize first created Arkansas institution for higher learning, Saint Johns' College of Arkansas (1850-1882), in 1853 filled shoes of his wife's older sister's husband, Thomas Johnson (1808MD-1878AR), the 2nd Chief Justice following 1st, Daniel Ringo (1803KY-1873AR), as third Chief Justice of what became the Arkansas Supreme Court, catching up most of the backlog of work before resigning 31 December 1854 to handle law firm's business following death of partner, James Moore Curran (1821AR-1854AR) with Elbert Hartwell English (1816AL-1884NC) becoming fourth Chief Justice (also, after Reconstruction, the 8th).
He partnered with Uriah M Rose (1834KY-1913AR) upon Uriah's 1865 arrivial in Little Rock after a brief stay in Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas from Batesville, Independence county, Arkansas, retiring in 1872, removing to Colorado for health, died at Saint Louis, Missouri on trip home.
George had three sons in the Civil War, himself given a presidential pardon July 1865. He was a zealous Confederate during the war, and three of his sons fought for the Southern cause. His oldest son was promoted from the ranks to the position of lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Arkansas Volunteers, and fought, without receiving a wound, in eighteen hard battles, but, in his twenty-second year, fell at the head of his command, in the battle of Atlanta.
Census: 1850, age 34 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas with 1st wife, her younger sister, two kids & Mary Nowland, he a lawyer with $40,000.
Census: 1870, age 53 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, twice widowed with seven children.
In 1872 Judge Watkins' overtaxed energies gave way, and his friends thought it advisable to give him a change of scene. He was taken to the springs of Virginia and after-ward to Colorado, being attended by his son, Dr. Claibourne Watkins, but his vital forces could not be recruited, and he died in the city of St. Louis, while on his way home, December 7, 1872.
Death: in Saint Louis, Missouri, buried Mount Holly cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas. (Half-brother Dr Robert Anderson Watkins is among those buried in his plot)
Father: Major Isaac Watkins b: 10 APR 1777 in Cumberland, formerly Goochland county, Virginia
Mother: Maria Toncray b: 13 MAY 1793 Williamsport, Washington county, Maryland
Marriage 1: Mary Adams Crease b: 16 AUG 1823 Washington, District of Columbia
Married: 28 JUN 1841 Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Anderson Watkins b: 18 MAY 1842 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Claibourne A Watkins b: 2 MAR 1844 Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Jane Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Walton Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county Arkansas
Louisa Watkins b: 22 DEC 1851 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Mary C Watkins b: about 1855 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Marriage 2: widow Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran b: 4 APR 1830 in Arkansas.
Married: 1855. Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Maria "Lizzie" Watkins b: 16 JUN 1860, Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Georgie Watkins b: about 1863 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Ida Watkins b: about 1865 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Birth: 1st of four known children, two to adulthood in Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky
View George's ancestry .
George Claibourne Watkins' father, Major Isaac's father was reportedly descended from William Claiborne (c1600-c1679), first Secretary of the new Colony (1626-1634), and his mother, Sarah "Sally" Walton (1745VA-18__KY), sister of George Walton (1741VA-1804GA), signer of the Declaration of Independence and Governor of Georgia, around 1779 married Reverend Joshua Morris moving to Shelbyville, Shelby county, Kentucky with her younger children. Isaac grew to adulthood, a veteran from the War of 1812, married twice, Paulina Thurston (1780VA-1805KY), and Marie Toncray (1793MD-1874AR), birthed young sons by each wife before he signed a bond for a friend who defaulted causing Isaac to pay, costing him dearly.
Later, December 1820 by boat down Cumberland river to Louisville, Jefferson county, Kentucky where on 30 January 1821 boarded steamboat Frankfort O with father, his second wife and her niece, Miss Jane Eliza Mills (who, six years later, married William Edward Woodruff (1795NY-1885AR)), down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to newly created Territory of Arkansas' White river. They then, by keel boat, went up the Arkansas river, with George falling overboard but saved, arriving 11 March 1821 at a river crossing with a ferry operated by Edmund Hogan (1780NC-1828AR) on the Saint Louis to Texas Red river trail and Military Road to what would become the newly created capital of Arkansas Territory October 1821, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, year following it being surveyed, (half-brother Robert came following year, becoming first Secretary of State in 1836).
It was George's mother, second white women resident, who got her baby brother, Reverend Silas Tracey Toncray, to come to Little Rock July 1824 to create the Baptist church, 1st held 24 July 1824 in her home with hubby the clerk and new "Baptist Meeting Hall", built 1825 as first church building in Little Rock, which he served till 1829 before going to Memphis, Shelby county, Tennessee because of their first born brother Daniel's death. She, following deaths of Silas and his wife, raised their last born, Hulda Tracey Toncray in her home.
They were among the earliest Little Rock's permanent pioneers, finding a small community of huts and a log house, built a two story frame house used as a hotel, opened the first tavern, "Little Rock Tavern" as well as other ventures such as a horse drawn mill, including a farm, He hosted many families on the fourth of July each year at a sit down dinner, one with over a hundred people at the old court house. The town was a river crossing on the Southwest Trail from Saint Louis to the Texas Red river area, also known as a Military Road, also with the Memphis Military road. In 1825 father built their two story frame home, which was demolished in 1880. June 1827 his half-brother Robert was married then in November George's cousin, Jane, married William E Woodruff, the following month his father was shot to death, four years later his mother remarried Reverend William Wilson Stevenson (1797SC-1888CA) March 29, 1831, year Little Rock was incorporated into a city, she having two more known children (1848 raised baby brother's last born).
George was sent off to Litchfield, Litchfield county, Connecticut, where his mother's parents were wed, to the law school started by James Gould and Tapping Reeve, where his first law partner was also reportedly schooled, The foundation of his legal education was laid at Yale College, Connecticut. In 1837 he returned from Yale College ripe in scholarly attainments for one so young, and was immediately taken into partnership with Chester Ashley (1791MA-1848DC) who had earlier lost his partner, Robert Crittenden (1797KY-1834MS), appointed first secretary (governor) of new Arkansas Territory by seventh president Andrew Jackson (1767-1745TN), at what now is known as the Rose Law Firm. Married Mary Adams Crease 28 June 1841, second wife being ex-partner's widow, Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran (5th of nine known children of Senator William Savin Fulton (1795-1944AR) in 1855. Before leaving the bench he settled many arrears in business, which he had found on taking the office, and unhesitatingly expressed his views on many important questions, many of which (according to high authority) have never been overruled.
U S Senator Robert Ward Johnson called Watkins "ablest judge who ever sat on our Supreme Bench; a gentleman of great diffidence and sensitive modesty"
Judge Watkins was married, in 1841, to Miss Mary Crease, her death occurring in 1855. His second wife was Mrs. Sophia Curran, a daughter of William S. Fulton.
George with Mary, set about busying himself with the publics business, first as Attorney General in 1843 while her father became State Tresurer, George's shoes were filled by brother-in-law John J Clendenin (1813PA-1876AR) who had read law under George Miffin Dallas (1792PA-1864PA), busy as trustee helping to organize first created Arkansas institution for higher learning, Saint Johns' College of Arkansas (1850-1882), in 1853 filled shoes of his wife's older sister's husband, Thomas Johnson (1808MD-1878AR), the 2nd Chief Justice following 1st, Daniel Ringo (1803KY-1873AR), as third Chief Justice of what became the Arkansas Supreme Court, catching up most of the backlog of work before resigning 31 December 1854 to handle law firm's business following death of partner, James Moore Curran (1821AR-1854AR) with Elbert Hartwell English (1816AL-1884NC) becoming fourth Chief Justice (also, after Reconstruction, the 8th).
He partnered with Uriah M Rose (1834KY-1913AR) upon Uriah's 1865 arrivial in Little Rock after a brief stay in Washington, Hempstead county, Arkansas from Batesville, Independence county, Arkansas, retiring in 1872, removing to Colorado for health, died at Saint Louis, Missouri on trip home.
George had three sons in the Civil War, himself given a presidential pardon July 1865. He was a zealous Confederate during the war, and three of his sons fought for the Southern cause. His oldest son was promoted from the ranks to the position of lieutenant-colonel of the Eighth Arkansas Volunteers, and fought, without receiving a wound, in eighteen hard battles, but, in his twenty-second year, fell at the head of his command, in the battle of Atlanta.
Census: 1850, age 34 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas with 1st wife, her younger sister, two kids & Mary Nowland, he a lawyer with $40,000.
Census: 1870, age 53 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas, twice widowed with seven children.
In 1872 Judge Watkins' overtaxed energies gave way, and his friends thought it advisable to give him a change of scene. He was taken to the springs of Virginia and after-ward to Colorado, being attended by his son, Dr. Claibourne Watkins, but his vital forces could not be recruited, and he died in the city of St. Louis, while on his way home, December 7, 1872.
Death: in Saint Louis, Missouri, buried Mount Holly cemetery, Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas. (Half-brother Dr Robert Anderson Watkins is among those buried in his plot)
Father: Major Isaac Watkins b: 10 APR 1777 in Cumberland, formerly Goochland county, Virginia
Mother: Maria Toncray b: 13 MAY 1793 Williamsport, Washington county, Maryland
Marriage 1: Mary Adams Crease b: 16 AUG 1823 Washington, District of Columbia
Married: 28 JUN 1841 Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Anderson Watkins b: 18 MAY 1842 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Claibourne A Watkins b: 2 MAR 1844 Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Jane Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Walton Watkins (twin?) b: about 1846 Little Rock, Pulaski county Arkansas
Louisa Watkins b: 22 DEC 1851 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Mary C Watkins b: about 1855 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Marriage 2: widow Sophia Caroline (Fulton) Curran b: 4 APR 1830 in Arkansas.
Married: 1855. Pulaski county, Arkansas
Known Children
Maria "Lizzie" Watkins b: 16 JUN 1860, Little Rock Pulaski county, Arkansas
Georgie Watkins b: about 1863 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
Ida Watkins b: about 1865 Little Rock, Pulaski county, Arkansas
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