Notes on Margaret Watts

On Jan. 8, 1723-4, Margaret Strother, wife of Wm. Strother, Jr., gave a power of attorney to loving brother Benjamin Strother to convey dower. This was Margaret Watts, wife of William, and the power of attorney fixes definitely the fact that Benjamin was a son of William Strother (Owen, William Strother of VA, 1898, pp. 6).

1735 COURT: Caroline Co, VA, Willam Strother, decd, Margaret Strother, exer.

Margaret then married (2) John Grant. In March, 1737, she asked for a reapportionment of the estate of her late husband, and Hancock Lee, Abram Kenyon, and John Grant were appointed to make it and to set aside to her one seventh of the estate. On Nov. 3, 1738, Anthony Strother qualified as "guardian of Elizabeth, Agatha, Margaret, Ann and Jane," five of the children of William Strother decd, and gave bond to pay five sevenths of the debts of said William. Some have said that she was the great grand aunt of President James Monroe. This is incorrect in that her sister Jane Watts was just the wife of a 1st cousin twice removed (Owens, William Strother of VA, 1898, p. 8).

Her brother, John Watts, in his will referred to his sister, Margaret Grant. (1754 WILL: Westmoreland Co, VA, dtd 4 Nov 1749, proved 27 Mar 1954). 171


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