General Notes

The following court case information on Katherine (Pride) Watkins has been generously contributed to AWTP by Mr. Bruce Voelker (bragi1@@aol.com) "Voelker-Wichers Family":

"KATHERINE WATKINS' CASE, 1681.
Henrico County Deed Book, 1677-1692, 192-195

The examination of Katherine Watkins, the wife of Henry Watkins of Henrico County in Virginia had and taken this 13 of September 1681 before us William Byrd and John Farrar two of his Majesties Justices of the County aforesaid as followeth (vizt.)
The said Katherine aforesaid on her Oath and examination deposeth, That on fryday being in the Month of August aboute five weeks since, the said Katherine mett with John Long (A Mulatto Belonging to Capt. Thomas Cocks) at or neare the pyney slash betweene the aforesaid Cokes and Henry Watkins house, and at the same tyme and place, the said John threw the said Katherine downe (He starting from behind a tree) and stopped her Mouth with a handkerchief, and tooke up the said Katherines Coates [i.e., petticoats], and putt his yard into her and ravished her; Upon which she the said Katherine Cryed out (as she deposeth) and afterwards (being rexuced by another Negroe of the said Cocks named Jack White) she departed home, and the said John departed to his Masters likewise, or that way; after which abuse she the said Katherine declares that her husband, inclinable to the Quakers, and therefore would not prosecute, and she being sicke and her Children likewise, she therefore did not make hercomplaint before she went to Lt. Col. Farrass, which was yesterday, morning, and this day in the morning she went to William Randolphs' and found him not at home. But at night met with the gentlemen Justices aforesaid at the house of the aforesaid Cocks in Henrico County in Virginia aforeaid before whom she hath made this complaint upon oath . . ."

"(my note: and here we get the other side of the story)"

"The deposition of John Aust aged 32 yeares or thereabouts Deposeth, that on fryday being the twelvth of August or thereabouts he came to the house of Mr. Thomas Cocks, and soe went into his Orchard where his servants were a cutting downe weeds, whoe asked the deponent to stay and drinke, soe the deponent stayed and dranke syder with them, and Jacke a Mulatto of the said Thomas Cocks went in to draw syder, and he stay'd something long whereupon the deponent followed him and coming to the doore where the syder was, heard Katherine the wife of henry Watkins say (Lord) Jacke what makes thee refreaine our house that you come not oftner, for come when thou wilt thou shalt be as well come as any of My owne Children, and soe she tooke him aobut the necke and Kissed him, and Jacke went out and drawed Syder, and she said Jack wilt thout not drinke to me, who sayd yes if you will goe out where our Cupp is, and a little after she came out, where the said Thomas Cocks negroes were a drinking and there dranke cupp for cupp with them (as others there did) and as
she sett Negroe dirke passing by her she tooke up the taile of his shirt (saying) Dirke thou wilt have a good long thing, and soe did several
tymes as he past by her; after this she went into the roome where the syder was and then came out agine, and between the two houses she mett Mulatto Jacke a going to draw more syder and putt her hand on his codpiece, at which he smil'd, and went on his way and drew syder and she came againe into the company but stay'd not long but went out to drinking with two of the said Thomas Cocks Negroes by the garden pale, And a while after she tooke Mingoe one of the said Cocks's Negroes about the Necke and fling on the bedd and Kissed him and putt her hand into his Codpeice, Awhile after Mulatto Jacke went into the Fish roome and she followed him, but what they did there this deponent knoweth not for it being near night this deponent left her and the Negroes together, (He thinking her to be much in drinke) and soe this deponent went home about one houre by sunn . . ."
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OTHER SOURCES: LDS FHL Ancestral File # 8J3F-GV
AWTP:
"A Carter Genealogy Page" wcarterl@@wwcom.net