By Teresa Martin Klaiber 2020
There
is a slew of Virginia Hawkins researchers.
There is tons of information and documentation of many of the Hawkins
families of Spotsylvania, Orange and surrounding counties in Virginia. 100% of researcher postings and publications
either ignore James Hawkins or state he died young. In actuality he lived approximately 68 years. Yet there is so much more information this
compiler needs to compile a proper biography.
James
Hawkins birth is estimated, by this compiler, as 1718 in Spotsylvania County,
Virginia. He is this compiler’s seventh
great grandfather. Some place his birth
between 1720 – 1722. I based the
estimate on his appointment as constable 7 Nov 1739[i]
placing him about 20 years of age. I
have mentioned him before in another article concerning his
granddaughter, Lucy, wife of John Martin written May 2017.
James
Hawkins is one of nine children of Nicholas Hawkins (1695-1754) and wife
Elizabeth Long. There is substantial
evidence of Nicholas and Elizabeth’s life.
James
first appearance in court records appears to be the constable appointment replacing
William Miller in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. Miller received land from John Miller of Essex
County, his father, on the branches of
the Massaponnax in 1737[ii].[iii] The 1739 court order does not explain why he
was replaced by Hawkins.
It
is also about 1739 - 1740 that James Hawkins has a child (either male or female)
who later becomes the parent of Lucy that marries John Martin. We can safely
assume that if James Hawkins officially married, he did so in his 20’s. While a few Parish records for St. George
exist, the required marriages are lost.
James
along with brother’s Nathan and Alexander Hawkins along with William Martin[iv]
witness Nicholas Hawkins purchasing 200 acres in St. George Parish,
Spotsylvania, 26 April 1743, from William Lindsey.[v][vi]
The 200 acres was on the north side of the River Po. The north side of the River Po fell within
Essex prior to the formation of Spotsylvania.
On
4 Jun 1745 Nicholas Hawkins made a deed of gift to his son, James Hawkins, of
100 acres in St. George Parish along with the gift of one negro.[vii] Crozier gives no further details but the
Embry Spotsylvania Index describes the 100 acres as being on “Jarmanah” (Germanna)
and Chiswells Mine Roads adjacent Francis Smith and Owen Thomas. This may the 100 acres sold by John
and Lucy Martin to James Marye[viii]
simply described as on the Old Mine Road in April 1780. To date this compiler has not seen a transfer
of the 100 acres from James Hawkins.
James
does not appear in Spotsylvania records for another seven years. And we all know a lot can happen in seven
years. When he does appear, he provided security for Nicholas Hawkins
guardianship of Elizabeth Long, orphan of Samuel Long (July 1752). By December Thomas Haydon[ix]
stepped in as security, replacing James Hawkins. There is no explanation in the change of
security.
James
Hawkins father died before May 1754 leaving sons Nicholas, Nathan and James
“land each now lives on”[x]
in his will in St. George Parish, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
James (estimated age 43) has granddaughter Lucy born 3 December 1761. At this point in research this compiler
cannot determine if James is her paternal or maternal grandfather. DNA supports
her Hawkins heritage.
James
Hawkins appears again in records in a court case, when he and William Ellis provided
bail for Nicholas Hawkins in Chew Jr. vs Hawkins Jr. 5 July 1758.[xi]
William Ellis is the father of Elizabeth Ellis that married John Hawkins son of
Nicholas Hawkins Sr. and Elizabeth Long.
The Nicholas Hawkins in the court case is the brother of James and John
Hawkins.
Lucy,
granddaughter of James Hawkins marries John Martin of Spotsylvania County,
Virginia circa 1779. Their first child,
great grandson of James Hawkins, is James H. Martin born the following
year. Most likely this first son was
named for James Hawkins and the middle initial H. is possibly Henry for the
paternal great grandfather viz. Henry Martin.
Or could his middle name be Hawkins?
So many researchers like to tag middle names without written
documentation. James shall be eternally James H. Martin without further
evidence.
When
James Hawkins was 66 he witnessed the deed of Mary Pollet along with his
granddaughter Lucy and her husband John Martin.[xii] James appears for jury duty 6 March 1787 in
Spotsylvania County.
Hawkins
died between 26 February 1786 and 27 April 1786. His will was written in St. Thomas Parish,
Orange County, Virginia. He gave all his
real and personal property To Thomas Stevenson “for the trouble I have given at
his house …” and two slaves to his granddaughter Lucy Martain wife of John
Martain of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Witness to the will were James Stevenson, John Stevenson and Johnny
Scott.[xiii]
This
compiler wonders how long James resided with Thomas and Mary Hawkins Stevenson[xiv]/Stephenson. Mary Hawkins Stevenson was the niece of James
Hawkins. Her father was Nathan Hawkins who had married Catharine Ann Haydon[xv]
and brother to James.
James
Hawkins will was submitted to court by John Martin and Thomas Stevenson, acting
as executors 27 April 1786.[xvi] Johnny Scott and James Stevenson gave
testimony. A final inventory was made 28
December 1786, consisting of Negroes Boson and Hannah, one feather bed and
furniture. The inventory was presented
by John Martin as one of his executors.
There is no mention of remaining lands.
There
is virtually no court record hinting at the personal life of James Hawkins. Was
he married? Did he have other children? If so were all deceased and only one
grand child remaining by the time of his death?
Was Lucy raised by her grandfather?
Any one with documentation, or incite concerning this missing generation
please feel free to contact the compiler: deliverancefarm@gmail.com
[i] Spotsylvania
County, Virginia, Order Books 1738-1749, page 63, 1739; Clerk's Office,
Courthouse, Spotsylvania, Virginia.
[ii] The Hord Family of Virginia: A
Supplement to the Genealogy of the Hord family, p. 49
[iii]
Wm. Millers mother has said by some to be Mary Hawkins but there is no
documentation to prove.
[iv]
Martin, William s/o Henry and Jane Martin
[v]
Crozier, Wm Armstrong. Virginia County Records Volume I Spotsylvania County
1721-1800. Genealogical Publishing, Baltimore, MD. 1978
[vi] Lindsey
purchased the 200 acres from Larkin Chew in 1722 from Chew’s grant. Larkin Chew
sold 300 a in St. George Parish to Henry Martin in 1724.
[vii]
Virginia, Spotsylvania. Dbk D
[viii]
William
Armstrong Crozier, Virginia County Records Volume I Spotsylvania County
1721-1800 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1978),
page 352. Embry gives further details.
[ix]
Thomas Haydon daughter Margaret m Benj. Leavell. Edward Leavell b 1755 s/o Benj and Margt.
married Elizabeth Hawkins d/o Nathan and Catherine Ann Haydon Hawkins.
[x]
Virginia, Spotsylvania, Wbk B p 198
[xi] Spotsylvania
County, Virginia, Order Books , 1758; Clerk's Office, Courthouse, Spotsylvania,
Virginia.
[xii]
Mary married 1 a Penny, 2 John Skeaths, 3 John Pollett. Va dbk K p 254. The property ended up in hands of her son
John Penny.
[xiii]
Virginia, Orange Wbk 3 page 105
[xiv] Stevenson’s
later migrate to Madison County, KY
[xv]
Catharine Ann Haydon d/o James Jarvis Haydon and wife Mary Jones
[xvi] Orange
County, Virginia, Minute Books film 007897259, vol 2 p 355, 27 Ap 1786; , .
