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DAILY POST ATHENIAN/Sesqui-Centennial Edition, June 10, 1969, p. 4-H. From the McMinn County Historical Society of 1969. "Reuben Wilkins, one of the early settlers of McMinn County, came to the county, probably with his wife's family, soon after his marriage to Mary Dorsey on Jan. 28, 1830, in Burke County N.C. Mary Dorsey was the daughter of Dimmon Dorsey Sr. and his wife Althey Duckworth, the daughter of John Duckworth. Reuben settled on land close to the Dorseys in Mt. Cumberland section between Athens and the present Englewood and lived there until he died as a young man on Aug. 9, 1840, leaving his wife and four small children. His brother, Josiah Wilkins, and his father-in-law, Dimmon Dorsey Sr. were the administrators of his estate so evidently Josiah Wilkins also came to McMinn County and stayed a short time. Another brother, Anderson L. Wilkins, was here for a short time and moved on to Hamilton County. Reuben was born in Rutherford County N.C. on Sept. 24, 1804, the
son of Charles S. Wilkins and his second wife Elizabeth Puryear. Charles
Wilkins had moved from Mecklenburg County Va., where he was born on Oct.
4, 1755, in Rutherford Co., N.C. where he was a wealthy plantation owner.
After the death of his first wife he went back to Mecklenburg Co. Va. to
marry Elizabeth Puryear on June 22, 1795, and brought her back to Rutherford
Co. He died there on March 12, 1817 leaving a will in which he named all
of his children by both wives. Elizabeth Puryear was the daughter of Seymour
and Sarah (Royster) Puryear, and the granddaughter of John and Martha Puryear,
all of Mecklenburg Co. Va.
The father of James Wilkins was John Wilkins and his mother was Sarah Avoret, the daughter of Thomas and Sarah Avoret. John Wilkins deeded land to his children in Lunenberg County Va. as early as 1749 so had evidently lived in the part of Lunenburg Co. which was taken to form Mecklenburg Co. in 1765. The children of Reuben and Mary Dorsey Wilkins were: i. Charles S., b. 1 Nov. 1830, died 13 Sept. 1841;John McKamy Wilkins lived in McMinn County all his life and owned the land that had first been settled by the Dorseys and Reuben Wilkins. It is now owned by his grandson, Boyd Wilkins, who has recently removed the additions and weatherboarding which his grandfather had added to the old two story log house (built when the family first came to the county), and incorporated it in his present home." Transcribed by: Bill Bigham (No relation)
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