Descendants of Josiah Watkins and Deborah Wright

1. Josiah⁵ Watkins (William⁴, John³, Thomas², John¹) was born 24 June 1818 in Sussex Co., DE, and died 21 May 1894 in Warren Co., IN. He married (1) Deborah Wright 27 December 1842 in Caroline Co., Maryland, daughter of William Wright and Ellender/Eleanor Dukes. She was born 28 November 1817 in Maryland, and died Unknown. He married (2) Elizabeth J. W. Gowty 28 July 1848 in Sussex Co., DE, daughter of Abel Gowty and Elizabeth Whealton. She was born 14 February 1818 in Maryland, and died         14 May 1891 in Warren Co., IN.

Child of Josiah Watkins and Deborah Wright is:

+ 2 i. Mary Ellender⁶ Watkins, born 9 January 1844 in Maryland; died 13 March 1891 in Lima, Allen Co., OH.

**I am not positive that this Mary Watkins, wife of Oscar Butterfield, was the daughter of Josiah and Deborah.  I've never found that "one piece of evidence" that would prove it, but what evidence I have gathered so far, some of which I've shown below,  seems to indicate that it is a real possibility.  If anyone can shed light on this, please let me know!

2. Mary Ellender⁶ Watkins (Josiah⁵, William⁴, John³, Thomas², John¹) was born 9 January 1844 in Maryland, and died 13 March 1891 in Lima, Allen Co., OH.  She married Oscar Giles Butterfield 10 August 1872 in Unknown. He was born 14 February 1839, and died 9 February 1904.

Notes for Mary Ellender Watkins:

Obituary of Mary Ellender Watkins
The Lima Daily News, Lima, Allen County, OH
Friday, March 13, 1891

THE LAST SAD RITES

The funeral of Mrs. O. G. Butterfield, the particulars of whose tragic death are already well known, was held this morning at 10 o'clock, at the family residence on West North Street. Services were conducted by Rev. J. Francis Davies. A large number of friends and relatives assembled to pay their last sad respects. The local employees of the P.F. and Mr. Butterfield's gang of workmen attended in carriages. Relatives were present from Elida, Van Wert and Middlepoint. The remains were taken to Woodlawn Cemetery immediately after the services, where they were buried in the family plot.

1880 Census - Van Wert, Van Wert County, OH
ED 151, Sheet 15
June 7, 1880

7/7 Butterfield, Oscar       W  M  40   Head  Married  Carpenter      NY  NY  NY
                 Mary        W  F  36   Wife  Married  Keeping House  MD  MD  MD
                 Laura       W  F   7   Dau   Single   At school      OH  NY  MD
                 Florence    W  F   5   Dau   Single      ---         OH  NY  MD
                 Walter Guy  W  M 10/12 Son   Single      ---         OH  NY  MD

An Excerpt from the Will of William Wright, 8 October 1863 Caroline County, Maryland:

"Thirdly, Item I give and bequth unto my dear wife ELENDER WRIGHT to have all my land and house and avery thing that is atacht to said land, ... all the balance to be equally divided among all the rest of my children namely SARAH ANN RINGOD, LEVIN WRIGHT, and my granddaughter MARY ELLEN WADKINS...."

An Excerpt from the Estate Distribution of William Wright, 11 September 1883, Caroline County, Maryland:

To: MARY E. BUTTERFIELD, grand daughter of the deceased and the
      daughter of the deceased's daughter, DEBRA, the one 8th thereof~    15:05 4/8

Found on the IGI -
Florence BUTTERFIELD
Event(s):  Birth: 30 Jun 1875, Van Wert, Ohio
Parents:  Father -  O. G. BUTTERFIELD
              Mother - Mary WATKINS

A note I received from someone named Anita via E-mail, April 1999:

Hi Adina,
The Mary Ellen Watkins that was married to Oscar Giles Butterfield was born
1/9/1844.  They married 8/10/1872 and Mary died 3/11/1891.  She is buried in
Woodlawn cemetery in Lima, OH.  Mary died in a house fire caused by an
explosion of the stove.  She had five children but was predeceased by two of
her children and only two, Laura and Harry, made it to adulthood.
Mary Ellen was the second of three wives to Oscar.  I know that Oscar was
born in Watertown, NY and that he and his family moved to Van Wert County, OH
sometime before 1872.  After he and Mary married they moved to Allen County,
where they both are buried.