Henry Hawkins

                         Compiled by Mary Ann Nichols (nichols3@leo.infi.net) 

Henry Hawkins was born July 1837 in Alabama and is believed to have died around Ragland, Alabama between 1900 and 1910. He married (1) Nancy Fortner;  (2) Martha "Nettie" D. Shanks; and (3) Anna Eliza Shanks (October 01, 1867 ) in Lowndes Co., AL.  His first two wives died in Lowndes County, AL.

Henry is found in the 1850 Lowndes Co, AL census with his parents, in the 1860 Lowndes, and in the 1866 State of Alabama Census - Lowndes County; the 1870 Etowah County, AL, and 1880 & 1900 St. Clair Co, AL censuses in the Greensport area.

In the Civil War he served as a Pvt. in Co. D.-- 5th Batt'n, Hilliard's Legion, Alabama Volunteers and Co. D., 10 Confederate Cav. (which was formed from Hilliard's Legion). After the Civil War, Henry Hawkins and family, and his in-laws, William W. Shanks and family moved to the Gadsden, AL area. Henry's occupation was described as "dockkeeper" and he worked on Lock 2, near Greensport.

The children of Henry and his first wife, Nancy Fortner, were:

    i. Oliver Hawkins b abt 1858 in Alabama;

    ii. Georgianna Hawkins b abt 1860 in Alabama, and married G. F. Canterberry on February 7, 1878 in St. Clair County, AL; 

    iii. James T. Hawkins b abt 1861 in Alabama, and married Mary Kerr on August 1,1880.

Nancy died during the Civil War.

Henry's second wife apparently died shortly after their marriage.

The children of Henry and his third wife, Eliza, were:

    i. Mary J. "Mollie" Hawkins born September, 1868.  She was unmarried.

    ii. Emma Cora Hawkins born January 1, 1871 in Etowah Co, AL married 1st to James Michael Zellner on March 21,1890 in St. Clair County, AL and married 2nd  to John Morgan Steward.  She died May 18, 1946 in Southside,AL.

    iii.  Minnie Moore Hawkins, born January 30,1874 in St. Clair County, AL, married Silas Edward Cox on November 25, 1908 and died November 2, 1948 in Gadsden AL.

    iv. William Henry "Bill" Hawkins was born March 18,1874 in St. Clair County, AL.He married Jennie Nash on June 8, 1901.

    v. John L. Hawkins, born January 1, 1877 in St. Clair Co, AL, and died in 1885 in Greensport, AL

    vi. Alice Eugenia Hawkins, born December 24, 1878 in Etowah County, AL, married to Sidney Johnson Cox on June 9, 1901 in St. Clair County. She died June 27,1954 in Montgomery, AL. (Minnie & Alice are said to have married cousins).

    vii. Georga F. Hawkins was born March 23, 1883 in St. Clair Co, AL and married Martha Frances "Mattie" Wynn. George died on January 24, 1970.

    viii. Bobby & Johnny (twins) Hawkins were born 1885, and said to have died young.

Henry was the youngest child of Stephen and Mary Etheridge Hawkins of Lowndes County, AL. Stephen is found in early Conecuh and Lowndes County censuses.

Children of Stephen Hawkins and Mary are:

    i. John Hawkins, born Abt. 1812. He married Tarrassy Whittle January 13, 1835 in Lowndes County, Alabama.

    ii. Thomas Hawkins, born Abt. 1815; died Abt. 1863. He married Martha Adams on August 27, 1838 in Lowndes County, Alabama. 

    iii. William Hawkins.

    iv. Mary Ann Hawkins.  She married John Z. Adams and moved to Texas.

    v. Fanny Hawkins. She married Nathan F. Holladay (1850 Lowndes #766).  He died either during or shortly after the Civil War due to injuries.  She and the children moved to Etowah/St. Clair area.

    vi. Sarah Hawkins, born 1817 in GA. She married James M. Acreman August 18, 1841 in Lowndes County, Alabama. (1850 Lowndes Co. AL census)

    vii. Stephen Marrow Hawkins, born April 11, 1821 in Mt Willing, Lowndes Co., died June 15, 1903 in Mt.Willing, Lowndes Co., AL. He married Sarah Whittle October 07, 1841 in Lowndes Co.,

    viii. Eliza Hawkins, born 1824 in Lowndes Co., AL. She married (1) John Adams October 15, 1839 in Lowndes County, Alabama, and (2)Warren Williams (she's listed as Eliza Williams in her father's will)

    ix. Martha Jane Hawkins, born September 22, 1834 in Lowndes Co., AL; died May 22, 1902 in Lowndes Co., AL. She married James H.Holladay on November 21, 1850 in Lowndes Co., AL.

    x. Henry Hawkins, born July 1837 in Alabama; died in Ragland, Alabama. He married (1)Nancy Fortner  (2)Martha D.Shanks; (3)Anna Eliza Shanks October 01, 1867 in Lowndes Co., AL.

Obituary found in "Butler County in the 19th Century" by Marilly Davis Hahn.

    "Stephen Hawkins died in Manningham 18 March 1875; aged 87 years. He was a member of the Missionary Baptist Church 49 years." The will of Stephen Hawkins, dated 18 Dec. 1869 (Lowndes Co., Al.)was filed in 1876. Named in this will are his wife, Mary and children: John Hawkins, Thomas Hawkins' estate, Stephen M. Hawkins, Wm Hawkins, Henry Hawkins, Sarah Acreman, Eliza Williams, Martha Holladay, Mary Ann Adams,and Fanny Holladay. 

Stephen Hawkins' father was Thomas Hawkins of Conecuh and Lowndes Counties, AL. Thomas Hawkins was born January 10,1757 in Virginia (on the waters of Nottaway River) and died October 05, 1849 in Lowndes County, Alabama. His son reported in his pension application that his parents married about 1790 and she died in 1803. He had no widow at the time of his pension application. Thomas filed a pension application in Conecuh for Revolutionary Service while living in Union District, SC. Children were listed. Date & place of birth and death were given by John, his son. He had to continue filing after his death, as his
first application was rejected. Thomas said he was born on the waters of Nottaway River, Virginia. He served in Cpt Brandon's Reg't and fought in King's Mountain, & Cowpens and served for several years. The children named in this application were: Fanny Hawkins; John Hawkins; Calvin Hawkins(1830 & 1850 Henry Co., AL censuses); Stephen Hawkins, born Abt. 1790 in Georgia or SC; died March 18, 1875 in Manningham,Butler Co, Alabama; Wiley Hawkins (1840 Lowndes Co,
AL census); and William Hawkins, born January 01, 1800 in GA. and believed to be the William who married Anna Shanks May 15, 1837 in Lowndes County, Alabama (1840 Lowndes Co census). Thomas left a will in Lowndes County, AL. 

**Note:  More information on Thomas and Stephen has been posted under Lowndes and Conecuh Counties, Alabama.