Person:John Hawkins (150)

1767, May 30: Get Certificate to Newberry County, South Carolina, Bush River MM.

1781, May 22 - June 18: John Hawkins stood guard over a wagon train at the Siege of 96 in western South Carolina during the Revolutionary War per "Marion’s Men" by William Willis Boddie.

1793: John's certificate from VA to SC was withheld because he paid the Militia fine. He went to SC anyway. He, Mary, and eleven of their thirteen children were received on their own request at Cane Creek, SC in 1793. [Hinshaw, 6:504, Fairfax MM, VA]

1793: From the will of John’s father James, 1715-1793, “Item 3. I likewise give and demise unto my son John Hawkins two tracts of land; one tract of one hundred acres, and the other tract containing one hundred and eighty; both tracts adjoining the said John Hawkins land; to have and to hold to him, his Heirs and assigns forever.,” [John had a 100 acre plat next to his father’s 400 acre plat, shown in Map 2 of the Land Grant Maps published for the Union County, SC Historical Foundation 1976. Adding this inheritance made a 380 acre square centered at N 34º 34’00” & 81º 27’ 48” W, 1.82 miles bearing 181º from Carlisle, SC.] By his death, John possessed the land & saw/grist mill on the Tygre River that he left to his son Nathan.

1805, 2, 11: Cane Creek, SC MM, John & fam gct Miami MM, Ohio. (Hinshaw, 1:1061)

1805: From "Hawkins File," Indiana State Library, we are told that about 50 wagons (40 families) left South Carolina in 1805 at one time. Each family had their covered wagon and all their belongings.

Old correspondence tells us (from Henry Milhouse) "it took 5 weeks and 5 days for the trip to Miami Country - the roads were worse than expected - much wet weather - most of the people were unwell at times." We are told that Indians carried a few old men across their territory - saying "they were Penn's men - and were to old to walk." Several Hawkins families came to Ohio in the above mentioned caravan and soon afterwards.

1807: The John Hawkins land in Indiana is described by a certificate of entry, dated July 1, 1807, granting the northeast quarter of section 33, Township 14, range 1 West (161.42 acres) to John Hawkins. To this was added soon thereafter the northwest quarter of section 34 (160+ acres), then 60 additional acres from the southeast quarter of section 33, and 80 acres in the Southwest quarter of section 34, adding up to 460 acres, now within the city limits of Richmond, Indiana. [Carl Henry Hawkins files]

1807.11.14 Power of Attorney: Know all men by these present that I John Hawkins Senior in the State of South Carolina, Union District for divers good causes & consideration we hereunto moving have made ordained constituted and appointed my trusty friend and Brother Isaac Hawkins of the State and District aforesaid my true and lawful attorney for me in my name and to my use to sell my land and make good and lawful rights as I myself could do if I myself were formally present and by thou presents granting to my said attorney my sole authority to take possession and follow such legal courses for the recovery receiving and obtaining the same as I myself might do or could do were I personally there present and upon rut of the same acquittance and other sufficient discharges or me in my name to make sign seal & deliver, as also one attorney or attornies under him to substitute or appoint & again at his pleasure to make and further to do perform or execute for me and my name all and singular thing or things which shall of may be necessary touching & concerning the said premises as fully and certainly as I the said John Hawkins in my own person ought or could do in & about the same ratifying allowing and confirming what so ever my attorney shall lawfully do or cause to be done in and about the execution of the premises by virtue of thou presents - In witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal the 14th day of November in the year of our Lord 1807 ~ in the presence of us Wm Hobron, Levy Hollingsworth.

Recorded 30 Dec 1810
John Hawkins
Mary W (her mark) Hawkins

[Transcript from document scan by Phillip A. Hawkins 12 August 2015.]

1809.09.30, White River, IN MM - John & s, William, rocf Cane Creek MM, SC.
1809.10.28, White River, IN MM - Mary & ch, Ann, Rebeckah, Tamar & Lydia, rocf Cane Creek MM, SC.

1810.01.28 Appointed to comm.: Wayne Co., In., Whitewater MM. [Source: Gene Cordell, Indpls., IN]

1810: John Hawkins and/or John Junior built the first Hawkins sawmill in Wayne County, Indiana. John’s father James Hawkins with the help of his eight sons had operated a grist and sawmill on the Tyger River in Union County, South Carolina for a number of years - therefore, the family was very familiar with the sawmill business. The site of the mill was located in what is now Glenn Miller Park in Richmond, Indiana.

[From files of Carl H. Hawkins]

Will of John Hawkins Sr. (1744-1816)
Recorded - Wayne County, IN, Book 1 -13, Proven - March 5, 1816

Be it known unto all Christian people whom these presents may concern. That I, John Hawkins being weak in body but calling to mind the mortality of this life and being desirous of settling my affairs while life and health permits - do make ordain and constitute my last Will and Testament in the following manner:

First I desire that my Body be buried in a plain, decent and Christian manner at the direction of my Beloved wife. My funeral charges and just debts shall] be paid and discharged with all convenient speed after my decease.

Second: I give and bequeth unto my son Nathan Hawkins a tract of two-hundred acres of Sand more or less in South Carolina on the branch of the Tyger River called Long-Rung, to have and to hold by him and his heirs and assignees forever.

Third: It is my will that all other of my South Carolina Sands be sold and the money equally divided between my wife and our eight children here named -James Hawkins, Martha Comer, Mary Comer, Sarah Cook, Ann Hawkins, Rebecca Hawkins, Tamar Smith, and Lydia Wright

Fourth: I give and bequeath unto my Beloved wife, eight head of cattle and all my household goods - and it is my will at her decease that what is left shall be divided amoungst all my children (12 named throughout the Will)

Fifth: I give unto my son William Hawkins two-hundred and fifty acres laying on the West- River of Wayne County and also one wagon with all the utensils belonging to the plantation.

Lastly: I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my sons, Amos Hawkins and John Hawkins to be the executors of this my last Will and Testament - dissallowing and revoking all other Wills by me made -and confirming this only to be my last Will and unto this set my hand and seal

Signed John ((X)) Hawkins Sr.
Witnesses: Jacob Jessop, William McClain, Isaac Jessop

[Sons not named in the will were Jacob, Amos, &John.]

The location of John & his wife Mary's burial location is not known.

"At the time of John's death the snow is said to have been very deep and because of this they could not take his body far to bury it, therefore, he was buried close by in an unmarked grave." [Source: Hawkins Family Records, Vol. II, #8 by Carl Hawkins, May 01, 1970.]

OTHER CAUSES OF QUAKER EXODUS FROM THE CAROLINAS [Source: Hawkins File, Indiana State Library]

Some of the country in the Carolinas is rather rough farming country - the uplands are hilly, some places poor and stony - mostly impossible to cultivate and non-productive, - the creeks and branch** have narrow strips of bottom land which are subject to floods.

Families were large and the younger generation needed land to cultivate, grazing land for stock and land for homes. Then some portion of the land was tied up by large land holders (land grants kept In the original family) - plantations with many slaves.

In 1795 a great flood raged through the Carolinas - with losses of property and livestock. In 1798 came another destructive flood.

Communication was slow - but eventually the people did hear about "Congress Lands." In 1796 setting aside, various tracts of lands which were to be sold by officials of the Government, and known as "Congress lands' - this land was called Northwest Territory and included what is now the State of Ohio.

Many Quakers began to talk of the prophecy of a great war (within the lifetime of the children then born) during which many a son like those in the Apocalypse would flee to the mountains to hide themselves. There was talk - and the Carolinas began to fear a black uprising - killing many whites who had remained in the slave states* Stories also circulated that the Carolinas would become arid (as the desert of Arabia).

Scouts - prospectors from different settlements (usually two or three from each settlement) - banded together and went on horseback across the country from their homes in search of new lands for their families and friends, Nearly all were Quakers by faith. Usually such exploring ventures employed a frontier guide. Usually they were satisfied after many weeks of exploring that their friends would be pleased with the country in southwestern Ohio. An account of such a scouting party from Randolph County, North Carolina tells us that before reaching home one member of the party (Martin Davenport) became sick and soon died of the fever, yet this exploring party, like nearly all, returned home and reported very favorably. Communities soon became aroused - to get a home "Out West".

In 1803 several families from Cane Creek, South Carolina left for Ohio (transferring their Quaker membership to Westland, Pa. MM - the closest meeting to their proposed home). Scouts made several, trips back and forth to what they called Miami Country - glowing reports came back to Carolina - good land - timber - prospect for water power - building stone - good spring water - natural drainage - game - etc. - away from slavery.

Miami MM was opened 13 Oct 1803 at Waynesville, Ohio. This was quite an Inducement for other Quakers since they desired to live close enough to go to church twice a week. Even when several Quakers lived close together - this made good prospects to get their own Meeting - and land near a Quaker Meeting often brought some premium. Soon other meetings were opened Caesars Creek, Fairfield, Fall Creek, etc.

It is said 'the people from the Carolinas started to Ohio (Miami Country) almost in panic and in great numbers, The panic exodus caused land values to drop - some land in the Carolinas sold for $3.00 to $6.00 per acre - far below its value - yet the Quakers sold out and continued to move in ever increasing numbers until few Quakers were left, The Cane Creek (S.C.) exodus was so nearly complete - that the last members apparently had no one to leave the Meeting record books with - so they carried then to Ohio The man's record books were, used in Ohio for a time - but the women' books were carried all the way to Whitewater country (Wayne Co. Ind.) - where they remained in the custody of Whitewater Meeting for over 100 years. Sometime probably in the mid 1920s these women's Cane Creek record books were sent to the Carolina Yearly Meeting.

John and Lydia Hawkins had each been secretary of their respective meetings - and some thought they carried the books, however there are a number of entries (transfers from Cane Creek) after they left - so it seems the books were brought north by some other persons - who could find no one to leave them with. Cane Creek Meeting was discontinued in 1808 for lack of members.

1.   VA - FAIRFAX MONTHLY MEETING, in Hinshaw, William Wade; Thomas Worth Marshall; and John Cox. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. (Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States: Edwards Brothers, 1936-1950)
   6:504.

   [John's certificate from VA to SC was withheld because he paid the Militia fine.]

2. ↑ SC - CANE CREEK MONTHLY MEETING, in Hinshaw, William Wade; Thomas Worth Marshall; and John Cox. Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy. (Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States: Edwards Brothers, 1936-1950)
   1:1061.

   HAWKINS.
   1805, 2,11. John & fam gct Miami MM, Ohio.