Watkins Family History: Watkin Watkin Watkins Sr.

DATE OF BIRTH: November 20, 1844
PLACE OF BIRTH: Mynyddyslwyn, Monmouthshire, Wales

FATHER: Edmund Watkins
MOTHER: Margaret Watkins

SPOUSE: Margaret Davies
DATE OF MARRIAGE: 1864
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Wales

CHILDREN: Margaret Ann, John William, Mary F.

SPOUSE 2: Mary Jones
DATE OF MARRIAGE: March 7, 1875
PLACE OF MARRIAGE: Sardis Chapel, Pontypridd, Wales (now the only chapel in Pontypridd to conduct its services in Welsh)

CHILDREN: Elizabeth Katherine "Lizzie Kate", Sarah Ann, Dorothy "Doll", Catherine "Cassie" Pearl, Annabelle, Edith Mable, William James, Edmund, Watkin Watkin

OCCUPATION: Coal Miner, Farmer

EDUCATION: Could read and write
RESIDED: South Wales, and Weathersfield Twp. Trumbull County, Ohio

DATE OF DEATH: January 29, 1922
PLACE OF DEATH: Mineral Ridge, Trumbull County, Ohio
BURIAL: Kerr Cemetery, Weathersfield Twp. Trumbull Co., Ohio

ABOUT:

Miners heading off to work, crossing Glamorganshire canal

When he was four, great-grandpa Watkin lost his mother Margaret. She was only 28 and the mother of three little children, six and younger. Watkin's father Edmund had lost his own father in a mining accident when he was just a year old. Edmund remained a widower the rest of his life, never marrying. With no wife at home to care for the children, Edmund and his three little ones, moved in with his widowed mother, Sarah.

And so two years later, on the 1851 Wales census of Cwmnantyrodyn, Mynyddyslwyn, they are recorded as such; young Watkin age six, his little brother John age four, and sister Margaret age eight, living with their father Edmund, a 34 year old widower and "collier" in the home of their 72 year old grandmother Sarah Watkins, a "coal miners widow".

Twenty years later, on the 1871 census for Caerphilly, Wales, Watkin is now married to Margaret (Davies) and the couple resides on Odd Fellows Row. He is a 25 year old coalminer like his father and grandfather. His wife is 23 and hails from Caerphilly in Glamorganshire. They have two children, a daughter Margaret Ann who is 4, and a son John William, age 2. Margaret and Watkin are also expecting baby Mary Ann in August of 1871, but that is still a few months off and so she isn't counted by the census taker. Also living with Watkin is his father Edmund, since his mother Sarah has died sometime after 1861. Edmund is aged 56, a coalminer, and his place of birth is listed as Blaina, Mon(mouthshire).

Two years after the 1871 census, history repeated itself when Margaret died on Dec 21, 1873. She was 25. Watkin and Edmund were left with three small children to raise. It's hard to imagine how they coped with this. Again, his family must have been a tremendous help. Whether it was his brother John or his sister Margaret (also a widow), I don't know, but these unfortunate experiences seemed to have shaped him for the better because as a father and provider, he lovingly supported his own children through their personal tragedies. I do know that Edmund lived with his daughter Margaret for a time, and perhaps Margaret was able to help her brother care for the three little children, she being a widow herself with a son to raise.

Monmouthshire coal mine

Mynyddyslwyn, Monmouth, Wales

Sardis Chapel, Pontypridd Wales

Eventually, Watkin Sr. found happiness again. In March, 1875 (according to the 1910 census) Watkin married Mary Jones at Sardis Chapel in Pontypridd, Wales. Watkin and Mary had three more children born in Wales, Elizabeth Katherine, Sarah Ann and Dorothy.

Coal mining in Wales had always been dangerous, and the tiny towns had become overwhelmed with miners from all over Great Britain. Accidents in the mine happened almost daily, and diseases in the towns were common due to overcrowded conditions. Maybe this is why Watkin, along with his brother John E., decided to emigrate to America in 1880. I remember my dad telling me how his grandfather came over to America first, worked and saved money and then paid for his wife and children to come over from Wales. They came in steerage, not in a nice cabin with a bed and a window, but "the bottom of the boat" as he put it.

Here are the January 3rd, 1881 arrival records of the steamship SS Baltic with Mary and the children. (For a better view, and more about Mary and the childrens journey, see Mary's story.) Mary's name appears third on the list, and the six children following. They are between the ages of 14 and 1 year old. On the the right is the word "Stearage".

We can surmise that Mary and the children safely made it to Ohio and reunited with Watkin in Mineral Ridge. Once settled in with his family around him, (his father Edmund even joined him in 1882) life continued. Soon six more children were added to the family. Catherine "Cassie" Pearl, Annabelle, Edith Mable, William James, Edmund, and finally, our grandfather Watkin Watkin, all born in Mineral Ridge. In 1900, daughter Dorothy "Doll" passed away suddenly and Watkin and Mary took in her son, grandson Watkin Simons, whom they raised to adulthood. I have not discovered why his father did not raise him, because he remarried and had other children, however things seemed to have worked out because "Watty" and grandpa, Watkin Jr. of course became close companions.

In 1909, suffragette Harriet Taylor Upton featured Watkin Sr. in her book: "A Twentieth Century History of Trumbull County Ohio" ... she writes on pg. 116

"Watkin Watkins, a farmer and gardener whose pleasant farm home is situated within Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, and who is one of the present trustees of that township, was born in South Wales November 20, 1848. He was reared and educated in his native land, coming to America in 1880 and locating at Mineral Ridge, Ohio. He engaged in coal mining in the Weathersfield shaft, where he was employed until the coal supply gave out, when he took a more healthful occupation — that of gardening and small fruit culture. He makes a specialty of the combinate raspberry and strawberry, he being the only man who has such fruit. He has eleven acres set out to fruits.

Mr. Watkins was married in 1876 to Mary Jones, a native of South Wales, where they were married. They have reared a family of twelve children, eleven reaching maturity and still living. They are as follows: Margaret, wife of William Farborn, of Mineral Ridge; John, of Niles, Ohio; Mary Ann. wife of John Kiley. of Youngstown : Elizabeth, wife of William Farr, of Niles, Ohio; Sarah, wife of Charles Laurence; Catherine, wife of Luke Daily; Anna Belle, wife of Edward Stutlar : Edith, William, Edmond and Watkin, all single. Besides this family. Mr. Watkins has a grandchild, Watkin. whom the grandparents are raising.

Politically, Mr. Watkins is a stanch Republican who has always been interested in our form of government and the execution of every wholesome law. Among the local offices he has held are those of school director, which he held six years, and president of the board. He was also marshal of Mineral Ridge one term. He was first appointed trustee to fill a vacancy made by the election of John Leitch to the office of commissioner. He was then elected to the position of trustee at the annual election. He has been a representative to ten state conventions of the United Mine Workers of America, and in the convention that elected the great leader Mitchell, Mr. Watkins was prominent in the settlement of the strike question among the miners. His opinion and suggestions were largely the means of settling the great strike."

The great strike she refers to would be the Great Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902. The Union leader representing the miners was John Mitchell, and a supporter of his was "A Mitchell Man". I read once, that this great strike equalled the oil embargo of the 1970's. Roosevelt was called upon to settle it, and the National Guard was called in to quiet the miners and company "police" in Pennsylvania. It's quite an interesting story that great-grandfather Watkins was involved in.

All in all, I feel like great-grandpa Watkin had a tremendously adventurous life, with tragedy balanced by love, and family. He was obviously a man of character and fought for the downtrodden by standing with miners asking for a decent wage and a livable workday. He was faithful to his church, and his traditional ways in continuing to speak the language of his fathers. He took care of his family, and neighbors. On Monday, January 30th, 1922, The Niles Daily News, reported his death as such:

"On Sunday morning at five o’clock death claimed a respected citizen of the village in the personage of Watkin Watkins who had resided here for over forty years. He was born in South Wales Nov. 20 1844, and came to this country 42 years ago. He followed the occupation of coal mining for many years and for the past several years has cultivated a truck farm and fruit orchard also choice berries.
He was a member if the Welsh Congregational Church and always present at the services when it was possible for him to be there.
For many years the deceased suffered from asthma and that with other complications caused his death.
Besides his widow he is survived by the following children: Mrs. John Kiley of Youngstown. Mrs. William Farr of Meca, Mrs. Chas. Lawrence, Mrs. Edward Stotler and Watkin Watkins, Jr., of Niles, William Watkins of Salinville, Edward Watkins of Evansville, Mrs. William Fairburn, Mrs. Luke Daley and Mrs. Romeo Morgan of this place.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at two o’clock from the Welsh Congregational church at this place. Internment will take place at Riverside cemetery."

Here are a few pieces from the Niles Daily News from February 2, 1922.