Another UPDATE: Andrew Bowser..aka Watkins did not die during the Civil War. He just never went back home. He was living in Monroe County, KY with other allied families who left Washington/Sullivan Counties. Andy and his family later relocated to Clay (formerly Jackson County) TN where his granddaughter married into my Smith/Denton line from my mother's father's side, making them my double cousins.
UPDATE: William E. Jones, born 1784 in Botetourt, VA and died 1860 in Sullivan County, TN was the father of Jennie's children.
According to local legend in TN, Jennie was married to no one, and she had all of her children with William "Billy" Jones, with the exception of her first born Andrew Bowser, who later changed his name to Watkins.
One of Jennie's daughter's death certificate names her mother as Jennie Watkins and father as William Jones.
The real proof though is DNA. One of our Watkins second cousins tested his Y-DNA. It matches that of a Jones descendant.
In addition, we don't know where Jennie is buried. Minnie is not Jennie. Minnie McClain was the niece of his second wife, Delcina Nelson, who along with her two sisters, were living with Rufus and Delcina. Minnie was three years old when she died a year before Rufus.
Rufus was my great-great grandfather. His mother was Jane "Jennie" Watkins and father was William Jones. Rufus and my great-great grandmother Margret Bruner divorced.
Rufus was likely conscripted into the Confederacy. His older brother Andy escaped to Kentucky and joined the Union. Andy never came back home. Rufus later switched over to Union side.
UPDATE: William E. Jones, born 1784 in Botetourt, VA and died 1860 in Sullivan County, TN was the father of Jennie's children.
According to local legend in TN, Jennie was married to no one, and she had all of her children with William "Billy" Jones, with the exception of her first born Andrew Bowser, who later changed his name to Watkins.
One of Jennie's daughter's death certificate names her mother as Jennie Watkins and father as William Jones.
The real proof though is DNA. One of our Watkins second cousins tested his Y-DNA. It matches that of a Jones descendant.
In addition, we don't know where Jennie is buried. Minnie is not Jennie. Minnie McClain was the niece of his second wife, Delcina Nelson, who along with her two sisters, were living with Rufus and Delcina. Minnie was three years old when she died a year before Rufus.
Rufus was my great-great grandfather. His mother was Jane "Jennie" Watkins and father was William Jones. Rufus and my great-great grandmother Margret Bruner divorced.
Rufus was likely conscripted into the Confederacy. His older brother Andy escaped to Kentucky and joined the Union. Andy never came back home. Rufus later switched over to Union side.
Another UPDATE: Andrew Bowser..aka Watkins did not die during the Civil War. He just never went back home. He was living in Monroe County, KY with other allied families who left Washington/Sullivan Counties. Andy and his family later relocated to Clay (formerly Jackson County) TN where his granddaughter married into my Smith/Denton line from my mother's father's side, making them my double cousins.
UPDATE: William E. Jones, born 1784 in Botetourt, VA and died 1860 in Sullivan County, TN was the father of Jennie's children.
According to local legend in TN, Jennie was married to no one, and she had all of her children with William "Billy" Jones, with the exception of her first born Andrew Bowser, who later changed his name to Watkins.
One of Jennie's daughter's death certificate names her mother as Jennie Watkins and father as William Jones.
The real proof though is DNA. One of our Watkins second cousins tested his Y-DNA. It matches that of a Jones descendant.
In addition, we don't know where Jennie is buried. Minnie is not Jennie. Minnie McClain was the niece of his second wife, Delcina Nelson, who along with her two sisters, were living with Rufus and Delcina. Minnie was three years old when she died a year before Rufus.
Rufus was my great-great grandfather. His mother was Jane "Jennie" Watkins and father was William Jones. Rufus and my great-great grandmother Margret Bruner divorced.
Rufus was likely conscripted into the Confederacy. His older brother Andy escaped to Kentucky and joined the Union. Andy never came back home. Rufus later switched over to Union side.
UPDATE: William E. Jones, born 1784 in Botetourt, VA and died 1860 in Sullivan County, TN was the father of Jennie's children.
According to local legend in TN, Jennie was married to no one, and she had all of her children with William "Billy" Jones, with the exception of her first born Andrew Bowser, who later changed his name to Watkins.
One of Jennie's daughter's death certificate names her mother as Jennie Watkins and father as William Jones.
The real proof though is DNA. One of our Watkins second cousins tested his Y-DNA. It matches that of a Jones descendant.
In addition, we don't know where Jennie is buried. Minnie is not Jennie. Minnie McClain was the niece of his second wife, Delcina Nelson, who along with her two sisters, were living with Rufus and Delcina. Minnie was three years old when she died a year before Rufus.
Rufus was my great-great grandfather. His mother was Jane "Jennie" Watkins and father was William Jones. Rufus and my great-great grandmother Margret Bruner divorced.
Rufus was likely conscripted into the Confederacy. His older brother Andy escaped to Kentucky and joined the Union. Andy never came back home. Rufus later switched over to Union side.
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