Philemon Waters I
c 1680 - 1753

Philemon Waters I was born c 1685 place unknown. Philemon's father & Mother are unknown at this time. It has been written and said by many that he was a descendant of Edward & William Waters. He is not of that family as proven by a lawsuit which will be given at the end of this web site. He was about the same age as the 6 sons of William Waters, but he was not one of the sons. Nor was he a grandson. The first appearance of Philemon Waters I was in 1701. In Cavaliers & Pioneers, Vol III, Page 49 we find the following entry:
" Mr. William Tomlin, 191½ acres, Essex Co., on S side of Rappa. River: beg. on Ceeder Point on N side of the mouth of Gelson's Cr., cor. of land of Maj. Gelson, dec'd &c 24 Oct. 1701, page 379 ( Patent Bk. 9 ) Trans of 4 pers. Wm. Hingland, Wm. Kelley, Phillmond Waters, John Carey."

The next appearance of Philemon Waters I was in 1711. In the Virginia Northern Neck Grants 1694 - 1742, Page 52. " Henry Philkins & Lewis Renoe of Stafford Co., Wrnt. 19 Oct. last ( 1711 ). Philkins assigned his right to James French of said Co. 22 Jan. last ( 1711 ). French assigned same to Philemon Waters of sd. co., 15 March last ( 1711) Reno & Walters returned Surv. by Mr. Thomas Hooper, 466 acres of land on Occaquan River, adj. Lewis Reno & Lewis Tacquett, Philemon Walters in Stafford Co., 30 June 1712." The new year began on April 1st and ended on March 31st prior to 1750. Waters was often mispelled in the early days as was all names, Waters, Watters, Walters, etc.

Listed below are other entries for Philemon Waters I.

Northern Neck Grants 1694 - 1742, Page 58.
Mary & John Tacquet of Stafford Co., 226 acres on Occaquan River adj. Lewis Renoe & Lewis Taquet, Lewis Renoe & Philemon Waters. Wrnt. 14 August 1714. Mr Thomas Hooper surveyed . 28 Feb. 1714/15.
Page 73
Philemon Waters of Stafford Co. 403 acres on Ceader Run Br of Occaquan in Stafford Co., Wrnt. 19 Feb. last ( 1722 ) Surv. by Capt. Tho's. Hooper 20 Feb. last ( 1722 ) Adj. Capt. Thos. Harrissen & Tho's. Whitledge, Chappawamsick Cr. , Maurice Lynah, near Tacquett Run. ( See A-12 Brenton Grant ) 5 April 1723.

One of the most important finds is the one below.
" The Register of Overwharton Parish, Stafford Co., Virginia, 1723 - 1758.
Page 155. In this Parish Register Book is a list of: " Tenders of Tobacco in Overwharton Parish 1724. On page 160 is the household of Philemon Waters I. The number of tobacco plants you were allowed to plant depended upon the number of people in the household able to work them. Names with no age means they were over 16 and tithables. Males under 16 had their ages given. This # meant years.

Philemon Waters----12,312 plants
William Rice
Philemon Waters, Junr. --13 # ( years )
Thomas Waters--10# ( years )

Philemon Waters, Junr. was born 8 October 1711 according to the old manuscript  found in Houston, Texas over 100 years ago, in the possession of a Mrs. Marrast, a descendant of "Ferry Phil" Waters. The Tobacco Growers Census of 1724 is proof that shows the old document was correct. Thomas. Philemon Waters I's second son was Thomas and born in 1714 and was10 years old in the 1724 Tobacco Grower's Census.

Northern Neck Grants 1692 - 1742, Page 83
Philemon Waters of Stafford County, 586 acres in said co. on Cedar Run adj. Lewis Renoe, Lewis Tacquett, Henry Halley, Maurice Lynah. 8 Feb. 1725. ( Note:
Philemon Waters I was my 5th Great Grandfather & Henry Holley II was my 6th Great Grandfather)
 

Page 88
Leonard Helmes of Stafford Co., 402 acres in Stafford County on Ceader Run adj. Richard Tedwell, Thomas Whitledge, Philemon Waters. 25 Jan. 1726.

Page 96
Philemon Walters of Stafford Co., 122 acres in Stafford Co. on a branch of Quanticot adj. Sam'l. Jackson. 25 Feb. 1728-29.

Page 125
John McMillan of Pr. William Co. ( Pr. William had been made from Stafford in 1731.) 400 acres in Prince William on Quantico Brs. adj. Philemon Waters, Francis Jackson. Surv. by Mr. John Warner, 30 May 1739.

Page 134
Rev. Dr. Charles Green of Pr. William Co. 600 acres in Pr. William Co. on br. of Cedar Run of Quantico, Surv. by Mr. George Byrnes. Adj. Henry Halley  (Holley ) dec'd, Philemon Waters the elder, Mr. Threlkeld, Philemon Waters the younger, John McMillan, Philmon's Branch. 12 June 1741. ( Note . This is Philemon Waters I and Philemon Waters II or Junr. Still later in the early 1750's the court records speak of Philemon Waters the eldest, Philemon Waters the younger and Philemon Waters the youngest. The youngest being Col. Philemon Waters III, which we all know well--Col. Phil of South Carolina.
Page 141
William Moore of Pr. William Co. 190 acres in said co. adj. William Halley (Holley ), William Spillers, Henry Halley  (Holley ), John Tacquet, Philemon Waters, Cedar Run Rd., Richard Wright, William Halley ( Holley ) dec'd. now, Thomas Chilton's, Henry Halley ( Holley ) dec'd now. James Granch ( French ? ), & Leonard Hornby's. Surv. by Mr. John Warner. 21 Jan. 1740.

Philemon Waters I married Mary ____? about 1707 as their first child was born c 1709. Not all of their children are known due to the destruction of the Stafford & Prince William County records. Philemon Waters I was a very active person in Pr. William County. He gave land for the second court house in 1742. There is a historical marker marking as near the spot as they can since the land that Philemon owned is now Quantico Marine Base, United States Marines.