Lydia Watts

Lydia was not a known daughter of Col. Francis Thornton, Jr. & Mary Thornton, of Powhatan

Her husband was not Thomas Watts, of Lynches Creek South Carolina who married Tabitha.

Family

From https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65073423/thomas-watts and then edited (site has errors)

Thomas Watts, born 1722, son of Francis Watts and Ann, Husband of Lydia

Father of:

1. John Watts (before 1745–1796)
2. Sarah Watts (1745–1837)
3. Thomas Watts (1747–1798)
4. Margaret Watts (b. 1749)
5. Francis Watts (1752–1793)
6. Mason Watts
7. Mary Watts (1759–1850)
8. Bennett Watts (1762–1825)

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Francis Watts’ will was written in Craven in 1753 and proven in Fauquier in 1770. ( source: Ibid).

It names his wife Anne Watts, a son Thomas Watts, and a grandson Francis Watts. The will makes a further provision for his slaves to be equally divided amongst all of his grandchildren.

A separate division of property listing these grandchildren was also filed in Fauquier in 1772. Francis Watts’s grandchildren, apparently in order of birth, were John Watts, Thomas Watts, Sarah Watts who married William Hansbrough, Francis Watts, Margaret Watts, Bennett Watts, Mason Watts, and Mary.Watts. (source: Fauquier County Virginia Will Book One, p. 194

From https://www.geni.com/discussions/185015?msg=1695908

Thomas Watts, Sr. apparently ran an Ordinary near Delaplain Virginia and there are other extant records in Fauquier and environs concerning this man. He did not live in South Carolina.

I don't think Lydia's maiden name was Thornton. Her son Bennett Watts married Susannah Thornton according to testimony given by Bennett Watt's son, (another) Thomas, concerning his father Bennett Watts's Revolutionary War service. Thomas Watts's testimony stated his own mother (Susannah) was a Thornton. This has been misunderstood to mean Bennet's mother (Lydia) was a Thornton. (source: Revolutionary War Pension Application of Bennett Watts R11221 )

The presence of several Lydia B. Watt's in subsequent generations suggest Lydia's maiden name could have been Bennett. But no proof yet.

Lydia was still alive in 1799 when she was the subject of a lawsuit as the widow of Thomas Watts of Fauquier who died in 1769. (source: Glassford and Henderson v. Executor of Thomas Watts). This suit also proves her first name.

(source: https://www.lva.virginia.gov/chancery/case_detail.asp?CFN=061-1799-018)

A copy of Francis Watts's 1754 will and an Inventory of the slaves and "possessions" of Francis in Fauquier in 1754 were recorded in the Fauquier County Will Book a couple pages after his son Thomas Watts, Sr.'s second inventory.in 1770. (source: Fauquier County Virginia Will Book One, pp. 159-161).

John Watts was then named Executor of Francis Watts estate at that time (i.e. 1770). He was apparently the eldest grandson of Francis according to the partition of the slaves referred to previously. (source: Fauquier County Virginia Will Book One, p. 194).

This gives further support to the evidence from Francis's will that Thomas Watts' Sr. was very likely Francis's only son, and that the eight Watts grandchildren listed in that partition were all Thomas Watts' Sr.'s children.