John Hawkins
(1799-1867)

John Hawkins' origins are unclear, but his first confirmed appearance in records is when he married Jane Dunham at Witchford, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1815.

John and Jane settle initially in Jane's native Witchford, but by the time of their second child Sarah, they'd moved to nearby Witcham. They'd stay here and raise a further seven children.

Sadly in 1844, tragedy struck when their 9 year old daughter Mary died by what the Coroner describes as 'burnt to death in the absence of her mother'. This must have been a harsh blow to the family.

By 1861, John, now a widower at 69 years old, is still living in Witcham, but with his son-in-law Thomas Sykes and his married daughter Susan.

John died at the Ely Union Workhouse in December 1867, eight years after the death of his wife Jane.

Life Events

Born

• circa 1799 possibly at Witcham, Cambridgeshire, or Great Paxton, Huntingdonshire, England

Married

• Jane Dunham (1793-1859) on 12th June 1815 at St. Andrew's Church, Witchford, Cambridgeshire, England.

Children

• John Hawkins (1818-1898) married Ethel Rowell (1821-1871)
• Sarah Hawkins (1820-1882) married William Gothard (1816-1887)
• Thomas Hawkins (1822-1854)
• Susan Hawkins (1825-?) married Thomas Sykes (1824-?)
• William Hawkins (1829-?)
• Joseph Hawkins (1830-?)
• Mary Hawkins (1834-1844)
• Wesley Hawkins (1837-?)
• Hannah Hawkins (1840-?)

Census and Residence

• 1841: 45yrs, Silver Street, Witcham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1851: 60yrs, Wardy Hill Way, Witcham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1861: 69yrs, Back Street, Witcham, Cambridgeshire, England.
• 1867: 72yrs, Ely Union Workhouse, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.

Employment

• 1851-1861: Agricultural Labourer

Death

• December 1867 at Ely Union Workhouse, Ely, Cambridgeshire, England.

Burial

• 30th December 1867 at St. Martin's Church, Witcham, Cambridgeshire, England.