Individual Details

Marriage

Rebecca Butler and Isaac Arnold were the witnesses on John1's will. It is postulated that since Rebecca and her sons were involved prominently with John1 that it is thought his wife is Butler. Also a phrase in John's will "now wife" has some thinking there is at least one previous Mrs. John1. Some people have proposed Christian Waugh, widow (w) of John Waugh -- now that's interesting I (Janet S.) looked into this and found Christian may not have been widowed until 1702 and she didn't die until I think 1720 - so does not seem probable, but in looking Waugh up, it came up he had a wife named Elizabeth Hawkins who was married to a John Hawkins. I have not pursued that any further - may be somebody else has something on this??
Peter Butler, Rebecca's deceased husband, in 1690s I believe. Nothing else on Butlers has been found, though I am in touch with a descendant of James. Also someone proposed Melungeon for Butler origins, but I didn't find anything to tie this for sure.
Also a note should be made that a John Hawkins, a Bristol merchant, died in Caleb Butler's home in Westmoreland Co. in 1702; Caleb Butler is the father of Jane Butler who married John Washington, GF of the Geo. Washington.
Also the land John1 had was part of the land grant of John Washington.

Will

TRANSCRIPT OF JOHN HAWKINS WILL
@Janet Shahmiri,2012

In the name of God Amen January sixteenth 1715, I John Hoakins of Hanover Parish in the county of Richmond County in Virginia being of good and perfect (sense) and memory Thanks be to God do make his my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say first I bequeath my soul and spirit into His hands of His Almighty God my heavenly Father by whom of His mercy and only free grace I entrustt to God saved and redeemed into Eternal rest through the death of my only savior and redeemer, Jesus Christ in whose presious blood I sett the whole and onley hope of my salvation my wretched body in hope of a joyful ressurection committ to his earth to be buried with such charges as itt shall please my Executoir hereafter named.

My now wife Elizabeth Hoakins being att this time very sick abd weak, my will is that if it shall pleas Almighty God to restore her to her former health that she would have all and every part of my estate to dispose of as she shall think fitt, paying all my debts. But in case my wife should dye before my debts are paid and my creditors satisfied, I desire that my freeman John Suttle Jr. which now liveth with me doo remaine and liveth upon this plantation whereon my family now liveth and to make a crop of corn and tobacco and to all my three sons two full shears that is my son William, my son John, and my son Benjamin to have two full shears of corn and tobacco. John Suttle to make (use) of my horse and mare to plow and all other needful (things) for use of the plantation and the said Suttle to have one third part of the wheat that is on the plantation and to have one third part of the charge as to repairing and chaffing the mare. 

My will is that Richard Butler and James Butler do take into their care and custody of my six children, but in case Henry Wood doth think fit to take my son William, I desire he may have him, provided he will learn him the trade or calling of (plasterer) and that William do serve the said Henry until he shall arrive the age of 21 and the said Henry to give the said apprentice a suit of clothes sufficient for one of his place and calling at the time of his freedom.

And that the said Richard Butler do take my son John and my daughter Sarah, and my daughter Elizabeth and that my son John do live with the said Richard Butler until he shall arrive at the age of 20 years and that my daughter Sarah and my daughter Elizabeth do also live with the said Richard until they shall arrive at age 18 or the day of marriage.

My will is that James Butler take into his custody and care my son Benjamin and my son James and that they remain and live with him until day they arrive to the age of 20 years.

And my will is that all and every part of estate, stock, and moveables be equally divided among all and every one of my children, sons and daughters each to have an agreed part at the time of their freedom and the said Henry Wood, Richard Butler, and James Butler taking the children as afoyresaid and likewise the proportioned part of my estate after this present year.

An for my present crop of tobacco and corn which is now at Colonel Page's quarters and likewise the tobacco which is now on the plantation, which my wife and family now liveth, it may be disposed of for paying my debts and satisfying my creditors.

And I desire that every one of my children may have a sufficient suit of clothes at the time of their freedom. I do make and appoint my loving friend Isaac Arnold my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament, and in confirmation therefore I hereunto ..... by hand and fixed my seal the day of month and year first within written.
John (F)* (H) Hawkins (seal)
Isaac Arnold
Rebecca Butler 
John Suttle
Huhi
This will was proved in Richmond County Court the 7 March 1715 by the oaths of Rebecca Butler and John Suttle, two of the witnesses thereto and admitted to record. Teste M. Beckwith, C. Cur.

(WILL OF JOHN HOAKINS, dated 1/16/1716, proved 7 March 1716. Richmond Deed Book 3)

*this mark looks like an “I” with a line in the middle.




...his children were to be raised by James and Richard Butler (only James Butler died shortly thereafter and Richard raised them) except for Wm1 -- he was to be apprenticed to Henry Wood (who later married Sarah Hauxford Willis Wood Hudson Turberville - who is Sarah Willis' mother and Sarah m. Ben1). Ben1 was executor of Richard Butler's will in 1735. By 1736 Ben1 joined his brothers Wm1 and John1 in OC in the area of Chestnut Mts (Clark Mts now). There are several court orders in the Richmond Co., VA (which is where we find John1 and his children) before 1715 and then after his death about his estate. Rebecca Butler and Isaac Arnold were the witnesses on John1's will.

Probate

March, 1715: We Francis Slaughter, Benjamin Strother and George Green did 16 March aforesaid meet at the house of John Hawkins deceased and did also then and there appriased all and singular the estate of the said John Hawkins in money, which was presented to our view as the following articles showeth:

Partial List:

To a feather bed, rug, blankets, and bolster /3 pounds

To a bed, rug, 3 blankets, and bolster/ 1 pound

To 20 yards of silk/ 1 pound & 5 shillings

To 3 ells of Holland/ 10 shillings & 6 pence

Remainder in articles of dress and household stuff, all it together with the above totalling/ 25 pounds & 10 shillings & 11 pence

Tobacco and livestock/ 58 pounds odd

TOTAL: 78 odd pounds

(Richmond County Wills & Inventories:271-272)

Death

John1 Hawkins and Elizabeth (Butler?) died in an epidemic.