Hawkes Family Genealogy Page
This page is currently under construction. Here is some sketchy information about this ancestor and his descendents:
John Hawks came to Dorchester, MA 1630 in Winthrop's
fleet, and then to Windsor, CT in 1640 as one of the founders. Ecclesiastical orthodoxy led him, along with his wife Elizabeth Browne, to move to Hadley, MA in 1659 again as one of the founders.
Adam Hawkes of Saugus was apparently a brother, and the two came to New
England together. John Hawks/Hawkes was born in England and died 30 Jun 1662 in Hadley,
MA.
John's wife, Elizabeth Browne, was a niece of Nathaniel Ward, an
original settler of Hartford, CT. Nathaniel Ward was the son of Edward Ward of Little Wrathing, Suffolk
Co., England. On 9 Jan 1620, Edward made his will, proved at Ipswich 7 Mar 1620. He
provided for his wife Judith and his children Nathaniel, Edward, Lydia, Mary, Rebecca
and Susan.
Susan Browne, widow of Robert Browne of Ipswich, made her will 22 Mar 1626, proved
24 April 1627. She remembered her mother Judith and both of her sisters, Rebecca Ward
and Mary Cutting, as well as "Elizabeth Browne, daughter of my brother-in-law William
Browne." As Lydia Ward was the fourth sister, it was she who married William Browne
and their daughter Elizabeth was the niece of Nathaniel Ward (of Hartford). Elizabeth
Browne married John Hawks in about 1642.
John & Elizabeth's children were all born in Windsor. At a meeting held at Nathaniel
Ward's house in Hartford, 18 Apr 1659, John was among those present who signed the
agreement to remove from Connecticut to Massachusetts. They moved to Hadley, MA
around 1660. John died suddenly and was buried 30 June 1662 in the Hadley Cemetery.
Elizabeth married 2) Robert Hinsdale as his second wife about 1668.
The marriage was an
unhappy one and they soon parted, and she returned to her home in Hadley. At a court
held 30 Mar 1674 they were "presented for living assunder contrary to law," also charged
"with lacivious and wanton carrage." On examination Elizabeth refused to answer, and it
appears that she was cleared of any wrongdoing. Robert Hinsdale said he "did it as being
her head and having the rule of her in the pointe and that he did it for her correction of her
disorder towards him." Although he was a respected man in the community, the court held
he had "broken the perfect rule of divine law and the law of the Colony in the intent if not
in the letter in the first living assunder," and ordered him "whipped ten stripes on the naked
body;" and imposed a fine for which his sons became responsible and which the court
refused to remit after his tragic death. They moved to Pocumtuck (Deerfield), MA where descendents of both were already living. Robert
was killed, along with three of his sons, with Captain Thomas Lathrop, on September 18, 1675 in the ambush at Bloody Brook, MA.
Elizabeth married 3) Thomas Dibble of Windsor, CT on 25 June 1683; and she died in Windsor on 20 Sept 1689.
Children of John Hawkes and Elizabeth Browne:
1. John
2. Nathaniel (died young)
3. Elizabeth, m. 1) Joseph Gillett, 2) Nathaniel Dickinson
4. Anna, married Thomas Hastings
5. Isaac, drowned at age 8
6. Mary, m. 1) Experience Hinsdale, 2) John Evans
7. Joanna, m. William Arms
The information on the marriage of Elizabeth Browne Hawkes and Robert Hinsdale was based on the book, "John Hawks, a Founder of Hadley, Massachusetts."
Other Sites of Hawkes Researchers:
Genforum -- Hawkes Queries
Adam Hawkes Family Association
Page updated May 15, 2009
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