- Parents
- Westly Hawkins 17??-?
- Sarah unknown 17??-?
John Hawkins
1796-1867
John Hawkins was born in about 1796 in Great Paxton, Huntingdonshire. He first appears in July 1797 when his parents Westly and Sarah Hawkins take him to the parish church to be baptised.
By 1815, John reappears in church records in Witchford, Cambridgeshire, when he marries Jane Dunham. At this point he is illiterate, and he signs his name on the marriage register with a cross.
John worked as a labourer for most of his life, and with Jane he settle down in Witcham where they have eight children between 1818 and 1840. Sadly, their daughter Mary died when she was 9 years old in 1844. The event is recorded in the Witcham burial records as "Burnt to death in the absence of her Mother. Buried by coroner's order".
On the 1851 census, John and the rest of his family are described as living 'Wardy Hill Way' - most likely describing a direction more than an actual place, and I assume that the family lived in the fenland between the two villages.
As a widower on the 1861 census, John (claiming to be aged 69yrs), is a lodger with Thomas and Susan Sykes.
He appears to die in December 1867 at 'Ely Union', aged 72yrs.
Further Details
Born:
About 1796, Great Paxton, Huntingdonshire.
Baptised:
July 1797, Great Paxton, Huntingdonshire.
Married:
- Jane Dunham (1793-1859) on 12th July 1815 at Witchford parish church, Cambridgeshire.
Children:
- John Hawkins (1818-1898) married Ethel Rowell (1821-1871)
- Sarah Hawkins (1820-1882) married William Gothard (c1816-1887)
- Thomas Hawkins (1822-1854)
- William Hawkins (1829-?)
- Joseph Hawkins (1830-?)
- Mary Hawkins (1834-1844)
- Wesley Hawkins (1837-?)
- Hannah Hawkins (1840-?)
Census:
- 1841: 45yrs, Silver Street, Witcham.
- 1851: 60yrs, Wardy Hill Way, Witcham.
- 1861: 69yrs, Back Street, Witcham.
Died:
December 1867 at Ely Union, Cambridgeshire, aged 72yrs.
Buried:
30th December 1867, Witcham, Cambridgeshire.