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The descendants of this illustrious family begin with Thomas Watkins of Chickahominy (Swift Creek). His third son was Joel Watkins of Woodfork in Charlotte County, was beloved by all. The papers of the late Hon. John Randolph revealed a manuscript written by himself as follows:"On Sunday, the second day of January, departed this life, at an advanced age, belovbed, honored, lamented by all who knew him, Colonel Joel Watkins, of the county of Charlotte and State of Virginia. Without shining abilities or the advantages of an education, by plain, straightforward industry, under the guidance of old-fashioned honesty and practical good sense, he accumulated an ample fortune, in which it is firmly believed there was not one dirty shilling...."