Rachel Watkins Cain



Rachel Watkins
Born:
 June 20,1792 Maryland
Marriage:
 July 6, 1815 Lietchfield, Grayson County, Kentucky united to John N. Cain
Death:
June 29, 1879 Montgomery County, Illinois
Parents:
Isaiah Watkins and Rachel Leggett
In 1810 Isaiah and Rachel Watkins are enumerated in the very first census record of Grayson County, Kentucky.  Census records before 1850 do not offer each household members name, relationship to the household head, or birthplace.  The 1810 Grayson County census record below reflects names in bold print based on what is believed to be the accurate account of the household at that time.  The original record does not offer the household members given names.
Isaiah Watkins Census Record of 1810 household members transcribed as their relationship to Rachel Watkins Cain:
Males under 10 (1) Isaiah Jr.(brother), Males 10-15 (1) James L.(brother), Males 26-44 (1) Isaiah (father), Females under 10 (3) Matilda and 2 Unknown (sisters), Females 10-15 (2) Rachel and Susannah (sisters), Females 45 and upward (1) Rachel (mother)
Note:
According to this record Rachel (mother of Rachel Watkins Cain) was older than Isaiah Watkins, though later records will prove the age difference was not significant.  This record enumerates Susannah and Rachel as 10-15 years of age.  Later records offer that Susannah was born in 1888 and Rachel was born in 1792.  The two should be listed as a female household members 16-25 years of age.  Census records were not intended to be used for genealogy purposes and are laden with mistakes.  Susannah Watkins married Josiah Rhoads on December 12, 1812.
 John N. Cain served in the War of 1812 from November 15, 1814 until May 15, 1815.  He was a Private in Captain William Gannaway's Company of the Kentucky Militia.
His pension application can be seen below:
This record is invaluable because it not only offers the maiden name of Rachel, his widow, it also offers their marriage date, marriage location, and the death date of John. N. Cain.
Known Children of Rachel Watkins Cain:
Unknown Male
Born:
 1815-1820
Unknown Female
Born:
1815-1820
Unknown Female
 Born:
1815-1820
Mary Ann Cain
Born:
December 17, 1822 Grayson County, Kentucky
Marriage:
 June 21, 1849 Illinois, Christopher J. Miller
Died:
November 21, 1878 Jersey County, Illinois
Nancy Cain
Born:
 About 1824 Grayson County, Kentucky
Matilda Cain
Born:
About 1827 Grayson County, Kentucky
Marriage:
February 11, 1849 Noble Perry Johnisee Jersey County, Illinois
Died:
1870-1876 Jersey County, Illinois
Edith Cain
Born:
About 1829 Grayson County, Kentucky
Marriage:
July 5, 1849 Jersey County, Illinois united to James Allen Miller
 Manerva Cindicia Cain
Born:
October 2, 1831
The 1820 Grayson County Census Record for John N. Cain transcribed:
Males under 10 (1) 1 Unknown, Males of 26 and under 45 (1) John N., Females under 10 (2) 2 Unknown, Females of 26 and under 45 (1) Rachel
The 1830 Grayson County Federal Census for John Cain:
Males 5-9 (1) 1 Unknown, Males 30-40 (1) John N. Females under 5 (2) Matilda and Edith Females 5-10 (2) Nancy and Mary Ann, Females 10-15 (2) 2 Unknown, Females 30-40 (1) Rachel
The 1840 Jersey County, Illinois Federal Census for John N. Cain (censused as Crane):
Males 15-20 (1) 1 Unknown Males 40-50 (1) John N., Females 5-10 (1) Manerva Cindicia Females 10-15 (2) Matilda and Edith Females 15-20 (2) Nancy and Mary Ann Females 20-30 (1) 1 Unknown Females 40-50 (1) Rachel
The 1850 Jersey County, Illinois Federal Census for John N. and Rachel Cain below:

Note:
Rachel Cain is listed as born in Maryland on all records that require her place of birth including her death record.  Those records offer evidence that the uniting of Isaiah and Rachel Watkins of Grayson County, Kentucky was established before their migrating west to Kentucky and also establishes their movement took place after 1792.  Isaiah Watkins is listed on the Hardin County, Kentucky in the year 1800.   The 1850 Census record notes that Rachel Cain was blind.  This record also offers that 5 of John and Rachel Cain's 7 children have left the household by this time.
In 1810 Grayson County, Kentucky have three Watkins' households listed.  Isaiah Watkins, John Watkins, and James Watkins.  Evidence exists to confirm that James and John Watkins were both sons of Revolutionary War Soldier Samuel Watkins born in Maryland 1747.  Samuel Watkins had acquired land for his service in the war where he had served under George Rogers Clark.    By the year 1820 both sons (plus a few of Samuel Watkins' sons not listed on the 1810 Grayson County Census) remove to Illinois.  Some stories note this migration took place before the War of 1812.
See the post for Samuel Watkins for more details. 
Though there is not definite evidence to prove that Rachel Watkins Cain was the daughter of Isaiah Watkins and Rachel Leggett, enough documentation is available to support the high probability.
1. Her given name "Rachel" probably named in honor of Rachel Leggett Watkins.
2. She married in Grayson County, Kentucky, created a family there, and removed to Illinois at the same time as Matilda Watkins Jolly and Susannah Watkins Rhoads (sisters) all migrating with their families after the deaths of their parents.
3. She offers her daughters names familiar to the family including Matilda, Cynthia (Cindicia), and Manerva.

Rachel Watkins Cain died 1879 in Montgomery County, Illinois.  She would have been 87 years old.

Your Comments Are Appreciated!
1forevermore.sw@gmail.com