Individual Details
William Hawkins
(Abt 1725 - 1799)
Mildred Showalter Farmer, Bites and Pieces of the Hawkins Family Puzzle; p. 8; KY. Historical Society; Frankfort, KY.
Orange County, VA. Court Wills; Will of William Hawkins dated 17 ____ 1799
William Hawkins, son of William Hawkins and Mary______was married to Elizabeth Wall and lived in St. Thomas Parish, Orange County, VA. In 1786, he purchased land on Flat Run joining Craig's Lease. Flat Run was called Wildcat Run in earlier years and most of it was owned by Gov. Spottswood who deeded some of it to his overseer as payment for looking after his affairs while he was in England. The rest was leased. The Hawkins property was obtained from an heir of Spottswood.
William's name appears as a witness on various documents and he was an appraiser who worked in several counties in VA. His signature is on several petitions in Orange County which are printed in a very interesting book called PATRIOTS OF THE UPCOUNTRY by William H.B. Thomas. One of the petitions was a plea to divide the county into separate districts because of the inconvenience travel to the Courthouse cause.
Another petition, signed by William Hawkins, was instrumental in obtaining separation of Church and State after the American Revolution.
When the War of Independence was over, the majority of the Americans became disillusioned with the Church of England for obvious reasons. A law was passed in VA. to give the Church Property to the Protestant Episcopalian Church. Around the same time, tent revivals were becoming appealing to residents of the area who were dissatisfied with the discrimination in the Church of England. Only the wealthiest members were invited to become officers in the Church and even certain pews were assigned to the more influential families. In other colonies, there was a status connection with the location of graves in the Churchyards. In VA. this was not of too much concern as most of the families had their own cemeteries on their plantation. Usually strangers and residents who lived near the Church were buried in the Churchyards. Before the war, membership in the Church was mandatory with fines and punishments given to those who failed to attend. There were residents whopreferred to be Baptists or Presbyterians or Quakers and they resented strongly, their tax money being given to the Episcopalians. William Hawkins' signature appears on several petitions requesting that this law be repealed.
William Hawkins died in 1799 and left a will written in 1789 in which he mentions his widow, Elizabeth, daughter Mary Mankspile, widow of John Watson. His sons were Reuben, Archelous, John, Elisha and William. The property on Flat Run was left to sons Reuben, and Elisha.
Wm, will of 1776 Sons mentioned in his will--William That William was also in Orange Co. and was the father of a large family, had a will (I do not remember the date of it), but had Achilles,
Orange County, VA. Court Wills; Will of William Hawkins dated 17 ____ 1799
William Hawkins, son of William Hawkins and Mary______was married to Elizabeth Wall and lived in St. Thomas Parish, Orange County, VA. In 1786, he purchased land on Flat Run joining Craig's Lease. Flat Run was called Wildcat Run in earlier years and most of it was owned by Gov. Spottswood who deeded some of it to his overseer as payment for looking after his affairs while he was in England. The rest was leased. The Hawkins property was obtained from an heir of Spottswood.
William's name appears as a witness on various documents and he was an appraiser who worked in several counties in VA. His signature is on several petitions in Orange County which are printed in a very interesting book called PATRIOTS OF THE UPCOUNTRY by William H.B. Thomas. One of the petitions was a plea to divide the county into separate districts because of the inconvenience travel to the Courthouse cause.
Another petition, signed by William Hawkins, was instrumental in obtaining separation of Church and State after the American Revolution.
When the War of Independence was over, the majority of the Americans became disillusioned with the Church of England for obvious reasons. A law was passed in VA. to give the Church Property to the Protestant Episcopalian Church. Around the same time, tent revivals were becoming appealing to residents of the area who were dissatisfied with the discrimination in the Church of England. Only the wealthiest members were invited to become officers in the Church and even certain pews were assigned to the more influential families. In other colonies, there was a status connection with the location of graves in the Churchyards. In VA. this was not of too much concern as most of the families had their own cemeteries on their plantation. Usually strangers and residents who lived near the Church were buried in the Churchyards. Before the war, membership in the Church was mandatory with fines and punishments given to those who failed to attend. There were residents whopreferred to be Baptists or Presbyterians or Quakers and they resented strongly, their tax money being given to the Episcopalians. William Hawkins' signature appears on several petitions requesting that this law be repealed.
William Hawkins died in 1799 and left a will written in 1789 in which he mentions his widow, Elizabeth, daughter Mary Mankspile, widow of John Watson. His sons were Reuben, Archelous, John, Elisha and William. The property on Flat Run was left to sons Reuben, and Elisha.
Wm, will of 1776 Sons mentioned in his will--William That William was also in Orange Co. and was the father of a large family, had a will (I do not remember the date of it), but had Achilles,
Events
| Birth | Abt 1725 | Virginia, Orange Co., St Thomas Parish |  | ||
| Marriage | Abt 1749 | Orange, Virginia, British America - Elizabeth Wall | |||
| Will | 31 Dec 1789 | Orange, Virginia, United States |  | | |
| Death | 1799 | Orange, Virginia, United States | |||
| Probate | 20 Oct 1799 | Orange, Virginia, United States | |
Families
| Spouse | Elizabeth Wall (1725 - 1799) |
| Child | William Hawkins Jr. (1750 - ) |
| Child | Reuben Hawkins (1754 - 1812) |
| Child | Elisha Hawkins (1752 - 1833) |
| Child | Archelous Hawkins (1756 - ) |
| Child | Jehu Dryer "John" Hawkins (1756 - ) |
| Child | Mary Hawkins (1758 - ) |
| Father | William Hawkins (1697 - 1776) |
| Mother | Mary Smith ? ( - ) |
| Sibling | John Hawkins (1727 - 1786) |
| Sibling | Benjamin Hawkins (1729 - ) |
Notes
Will
He says that he is sick and weak but sound of mind....His devoted wife is Elizabeth and children William Hawkins, Reuben Hawkins, Elisha Hawkins, Arculous Hawkins, Reuben Hawkins, John Hawkins, daughter Mary Markspile wife of Adam Markspile and formerly the wife of John Wa????It seems to be witnessed by John Whoulfery and William Palmmer
The will seems to have been proved Oct 1799. And on the motion of Reuben Hawkins who made oath according to Law and together with Arculous Hawkins, John Robinson, William, Richard and Daniel Ceokelay (?) his securities intered into and acknowledged their bond in the ???of five thousand dollars...test. Geo C. Taylor
Endnotes
1. Ison/Isham, Michael Ison
2. Turner Publishing Co, complier, Anderson County, Kentucky (Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 1991), 116; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/books?id=nSTjzjDkpRUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false : accessed 23 September 2010.
3. Turner Publishing Co, complier, Anderson County, Kentucky (Paducah, KY: Turner Publishing Company, 1991), 116; digital images, Google Books (http://books.google.com/books?id=nSTjzjDkpRUC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false : accessed 23 September 2010.