Col. Philemon Waters

Since these stories are of public record already and have been for some 200 years this is written not to hurt anyone, but to help clear the mystery of our ancestors and to show they were human just as we are today. They made their mistakes in life as well as their good deeds.

When Col. Phil Waters was an old man in Newberry County, South Carolina a lawsuit was brought against him by one Elizabeth Hardin. She claimed to have married him and bore him a daughter in Prince William County, Virginia in their youth. Samuel Farrow ( Col. Phil's first cousin ) was a lawyer and defended Col. Phil. It was never brought to court as Elizabeth Hardin signed a confession and said the daughter had been born some 5 years after she was with Philemon Waters and she named another man as the father.  In my research in Prince William County, Virginia I found in the court records that indeed Col. Phil and Elizabeth Hardin were called " man & wife" in the court records. They were hauled into court several times, once for operating a whiskey still without a license. Elizabeth Hardin admitted that Col. Phil was very drunk when they " married" and by him not knowing what he was doing that the " marriage " was not legal and she released him from it. It was at this time that Col. Phil moved to Charleston, South Carolina.

Prince William County ,Virginia Order Book 1761 - 1763
6 December 1762
( Sparacio Book, page 8

Waters to be bound to Wickliff
Ordered the Churchwardens of Dettingen Parish bind out William Waters, son of Philemon Waters, Junr. and Elizabeth, his wife to Robert Wickliff who is to teach him to read and write and learn him the Trade of a Ship's Carpenter, the said Elizabeth consenting thereto. ( Col. Phil is called Junr. here because Philemon Waters I had died c June 1753.)

Note: I don't want one stone thrown at these two stories. There's not a one of us worthy to cast that stone. They were human and we are human today and we all, from Phil & Thomas to you & me beg God's forgiveness for our mistakes.

Another bit of information that has come to light is the marriage date of Col. Phil and Mary Berry. In South Carolina Marriages 1688 - 1799, page 262 by Brent Holcomb.
"Philemon Waters and Mary Bary married 4 April 1762 in St. Phillips Parish, South Carolina." This is Charleston, South Carolina. The only explanation for this is that they first married in a civil ceremony, then the 1762 marriage is a church marriage. Their first child was Bordroyne Waters was born in 1760.

 

Prince William County, Virginia Order Book 1762 - 1763

6 December 1762

Page 390

Waters to be bound to Wickliff--Ordered that the church wardens of Dettingen Parish bind out William Waters, son of Philemon Waters, Junr. and Elizabeth his wife, to Robert Wickliff who is to teach him to read and write and learn him the Trade of a Ship's Carpenter, the said Elizabeth consenting thereto.

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