This is a drill-down from the Ramsburystory.

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Richard / Croft / Francis / Arthur

The sons of JCCBP Hawkins

This drill-down from the Ramsbury vicarage story contains what I discovered about the brothers. I was able to find regular on-line hits for the four surviving brothers - or on three of them, at least - in contemporary newspapers, trade and court directories, Google, and in the treasure at the Oxford archives. During my initial research I summarised my findings as a series of notes and extracts from these various sources and I now leave them in that format, since it is the shortest way to fill in the rest of their lives and the quickest way for any family historians to pick up the detail. Please click here to go back to the Families home page.

Richard Berens Bradford HAWKINS 1824-1894

There is a large gap for Richard as a young man. His later life was traceable in detail but where was he in 1851 and 1861? I wonder if he was in the United States? Unfortunately the New York passenger lists are no longer freely available on Ancestry.co.uk and the Ellis Island on-line transcripts do not start until 1890. But in 1885, his youngest brother Arthur wrote a letter to Richard from Canada which suggested he had been out there since the early 1860s. Maybe they had been out there together. Arthur was at home on the 1861 census night but I wonder if he had been pestering JCCBPH to go, and the cautious father had sent older Richard off to set up a base for Arthur? I do not know. But I was able to find the following biographical nuggets, which I show in date order:

• Although his three younger brothers were educated at Marlborough College, Wiltshire, there is no entry for RBB in the Marlborough Register for 1843-1904. Had he already left? His cousins - sons of uncle Bradford - were there too.
• In Woodstock, he had his office in Market Street (1876 Harrods' directory) and his family were at Park Street, in the 1871, 81 and 91 censuses. No trace of him in 1851 or 61 in English census. Only one hit on Google, National Archives has him as Commissioner for Oaths.
• 1855 The London Gazette, 11th April: PARTNERSHIPS DISSOLVED: Henry Crowdy Crowdy [sic] and Richard Berens Bradford Hawkins, of Highworth, Wiltshire, attorneys [Uncle Bradford had collected rent from a Mr Crowdy at Highworth in February 1836 - see his diary on the Rivenhall website - I wonder if he had been instrumental in setting up the partnership?].
• 1863 Dutton, Allen & Co's Directory of Oxfordshire and Berkshire listed RBB as gentry, and as solicitor, registrar of County Court, clerk to County Magistrates, clerk to Board of Guardians, clerk to trustees of Woodstock roads, deputy steward of manor of Woodstock, commissioner for taking affidavits, for taking acknowledgements of married women, and superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages.
• 1868 Edward Cassey's Gazetteer of Berkshire and Oxfordshire listed RBB's official roles in Woodstock as: registrar of the County Court, clerk to the Union guardians, clerk to the magistrates, clerk to the Kiddington Turnpike Trust, Deputy Steward of the Manor of Woodstock, Superintendent Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, clerk to the Burial Board.
• 1869 19 Jan: married Jane S WOODS, Isle of Man. The 1861 Isle of Man census has her, 16, her twin Alice W, and her sister Lucia A, 18, daughters of Charlotte Woods, widow, 58, landed proprietor b Warwickshire. In the 1851 census Charlotte appears as wife of George Augustus WOODS, 62, JP, landed prop. b Douglas IoM; children: Anna Maria 26 b England, Caroline M 24 b England, Rosa Octavia 18 b England, Richard Ambrose 9 b IoM, Lucia Agnes 8, Alice W+Jane Senhouse 6, with governess Sarah Louisa Warner b Ireland and 5 servants. His was a second marriage - first was 1839Q4 Kings Norton, to Charlotte HEPTINSTALL, presumably the mother of the older children.

Post Script 2012: In 2012 we noticed that it was possible to fly from our local airport (outside Gloucester) to the Isle of Man. So of course we did. We started at the Manx Museum because John was researching his father's wartime service there on a radar station, so I set off looking for more about Jane S WOODS. Her older sister Lucia had married Croft HAWKINS in 1866. Croft did spend some time living on the Isle of Man on his army half-pay and this must have been how he met Lucia. The father of both girls was at one time the Master of the House of Keys in Ramsey, and the family lived in at Balladoole House, Rushen (which we flew over on our way home!). I found this photograph of the house in the extensive and accessible archives of the Manx Museum, along with a good deal more about the family wills and Jane's property on the island. She would certainly have been an asset (socially and financially) to Richard in Woodstock. The only HAWKINS sons to marry had, like their father and his father, successfully found and married heiresses.

• 1869 The Post Office Directory listed FG and RBB as solicitors in Woodstock.
• 1880 Jackson's Oxford Journal, 10th April:

  WOODSTOCK ELECTION 1880: All persons who have any bills, charges or claims upon Lord RANDOLPH SPENCER CHURCHILL in respect of this Election, are hereby requested to send in such bills, charges or claims, within One Month from the date hereof, to me, the undersigned Richard Berens Bradford Hawkins of Woodstock, gentleman, Lord Randolph Churchill's Agent in that behalf, otherwise (according to the Corrupt Practices Prevention Acts) such Persons will be barred of their right to recover such claims, and every or any part thereof. Dated this First day of April, 1880.

• 1882 Jackson's Oxford Journal, 8th April:

  In the Executorship of the Lady Louisa SPENCER deceased: Persons having any claims or demands against the Representatives of LADY LOUISA SPENCER late of Combe, near Woodstock, deceased, are requested to send full particulars of their claims or demands to myself, the undersigned, Richard Berens Bradford Hawkins, solicitor, Woodstock, on behalf of the Executors, without delay.

• In 1888, R B B H was Deputy Returning Officer, Solicitor, Town Clerk's Office, Woodstock, and issuing nomination forms for the County Council elections.
• 1891 census: family is at: Park Street, Woodstock - Richard 66, solicitor, Jane [wife - absent - visiting Hordley House in Kent], daus Jane Alice Charlotte 21, Lucia Elizabeth Mona 19, Isabel Rose 18; sister Louisa Eliz 64, visiting from Hordley House; resident governess Edith Herdman, 56 (school teacher, overwrote the enumerator); servants Mary Elizabeth Painbeing [illegible] 24, cook; Alice Jane Butler, 25, and Ellen Nichols, 24, housemaids.
• 1893 Jackson's Oxford Journal, 30th December:

  Notice is hereby given that the PARTNERSHIP which has been subsisting between us, the undersigned, RICHARD BERENS BRADFORD HAWKINS, ARTHUR ERNEST WARD and ARTHUR GERALD HIGGS, carrying on Business as Solicitors at Woodstock, in the County of Exford, and at 7 Broad street, Oxford, in the same County, under the style or Firm of "Hawkins, Ward, and Higgs" has been DISSOLVED by mutual consent, as and from the 24th day of June 1892. All Debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said Arthur Gerald Higgs. The Woodstock Branch of the said Business has been carried on, as from the said 24th day of June 1892, by the said Arthur Gerald Higgs [who married RBB's daughter Lucia - see 1901 census], and will be so carried on at Woodstock aforesaid by the said Arthur Gerald Higgs, under the style or firm of "Hawkins and Higgs". The Oxford Branch of the said Business has been carried on, as from the said 24th day of June 1892, and will be so carried on at Oxford aforesaid by the said Arthur Ernest Ward, in his own name only. Date the 25th day of November, 1893.

• 1894 Jackson's Oxford Journal 13 Jan:

  DEATHS: Jan 9 at his residence, Fletcher's House, Woodstock, Richard Berens Bradford HAWKINS, aged 69.

  

  OBITUARY: DEATH OF MR R B B HAWKINS - We deeply regret to record the death, on Tuesday morning last, of the highly-respected Town Clerk of Woodstock, R B B Hawkins Esq, at his residence, Fletcher's House, Park-street, after a very brief illness, aged 69. Quite a gloom was spread over the town on hearing of his rather sudden removal.

  The deceased attended Divine service at St Mary's Church on Sunday morning in apparently good health. We understand that inflammation of the lungs followed by pneumonia was the cause of death. The deceased held various other important offices, being Clerk to the Magistrates, Clerk to the Board of Guardians, and Clerk to the Wootton Highway Board. He had also taken a leading part in the elementary education of the children of this town, having been for ever 20 years Hon Sec of the National Schools, which position he had only resigned a year or two ago. He leaves a widow and three daughters.

Post Script 2011: Fletcher's House is now the home of the Oxfordshire Museum so I went to look at it. Bits of the original house remain - an old staircase and the long hall, and the peaceful garden - but nobody there that day knew anything about the Hawkins family. However, through one of those happy coincidences, the Oxford friend who took us round the museum knew of a 1997 research paper about Fletcher's House and I was very generously given a copy. From this I learned that Richard became the Town Clerk of Woodstock in 1881, and was three times Mayor - so thank you Cynthia.

1901 census for RBB's family:

• Widow Jane is living at High Street, Wincanton, Somerset, age 56, with servants Annie Kate Page, 28 b East Grinstead, and Edith Hunt, 19, b North Cadbury, Somerset.
• daughter Isabel Rosa is living at 11 High Street, Wincanton, Somerset, with husband Charles WRIGHT, surgeon, 38, and dau Marjorie I (4), with cook, two parlourmaids, a housemaid and a nurse (16).
• daughter Lucia Elizabeth M married 1898Q3 to Arthur Gerald HIGGS, solicitor, [b ~1859], living in Park Street, Woodstock, with cook Adelaide Dore, 29, and parlourmaid Elizabeth A Price 36.
• daughter Jane Alice Charlotte - no trace in census index; no birth, marriage or death reg at all on freebmd! Bapt Janie and named as Janie on the 1871 census. Still no trace.

Croft Augustus Charles HAWKINS 1831-1884

• Marlborough College register 1843-1904: Hawkins, Croft Augustus Charles, s. of the Rev. J C Hawkins, Ramsbury, Wilts, b 1832, l. Xmas 1850; Ind Army 1851; Major Bomb. S C 1871, Ret 1871.
• 1851: Allen's INDIAN MAIL and Register of Intelligence for British and Foreign India, China Vol IX Jan-Dec: CADETS for the Bombay Infantry, to rank from the date of his departure from Southampton by the overland route, viz:- Croft Augustus Charles Hawkins, Indus, 20th March.
• 1863: London Gazette 13 Jan: Croft Augustus Charles Hawkins of the 23rd Native Infantry, on 30th April 1860, promoted to Captain
• 1866: married Lucia Agnes WOODS 8 Sept, at St. Mary's Castletown, Isle of Man. [This was Richard's wife's sister. Lucia was bapt at St. Mary's, Castletown 24 April 1843.]
• 1870: The United Service Magazine: Notice from the War Office, Pall Mall, May 6; Commissions signed by Lords Lieutenant: ... Capt Croft Augustus Charles Hawkins, Bombay Staff Corps, to be major. [It was whilst I was trying to find information about the Bombay Staff Corps that I came across this painting - can you imagine what is going through that poor young man's head!]
• In 1871 census: visitor at the York Hotel, Ryde, IoW; Major, Indian Army, with Lucia but no children. Croft had returned to India before his father died in November.
• 1872 Hart's Annual Army List: Croft Augustus Charles Hawkins, Major, Bombay Staff Corps.
• In 1881 was living with Lucia (no children mentioned) as boarders at Croft House, Malew, Isle of Man, describing himself as major retired on half pay, Bombay Staff Corps.
• 1884 Isle of Man - died 20 November. Lucia died at Castletown in November 1893.

Francis Goodlake HAWKINS 1834-1897

• Marlborough College register 1843-1904: HAWKINS, Francis Goodlake, s. of the Rev. J C Hawkins, b 1834; l. Xmas 1850
• 1857 The Solicitors' Journal and Reporter: Candidates who passed the examination: Francis Goodlake Hawkins, articled to Richard B B Hawkins and J T White.
• 1858 Jacksons Oxford Journal, 6th November: WOODSTOCK, ... in the presence of the Mayor and other members of the Corporation, Francis Goodlake Hawkins, Esq was elected a Freeman and one of the Common Council of the borough.
• 1863 Dutton, Allen & Co's Directory of Oxfordshire and Berkshire listed Francis Goodlake Hawkins, Esq, as Gentry, and as solicitor at Woodstock, clerk to borough magistrates, deputy registrar of County Court, and deputy superintendent registrar of births, deaths and marriages.
• 1868 Edward Cassey's Gazetteer of Berkshire and Oxfordshire listed Francis Goodlake Hawkins, Esq, as Gentry, and as solicitor, in Woodstock.
• 1869 The Post Office Directory listed FG and RBB as solicitors in Woodstock.
• On 17 Aug 1870 FGH was one of the witnesses to the will of his father's sister, aunt Isabella Glencairn HARRIS at Ryde, IoW
• 1871 JCCBP's will has an extraordinary clause. Having appointed RBB and CACH and JB as trustees for Francis and Arthur, he insists that they retain control of Francis' inheritance and imposes many restrictions, but says ...
  • But with power to the said trustees in their discretion to apply the whole or any part of the principal of the said trust paid during the lifetime of the said Francis Goodlake Hawkins to or for his preferment or advancement in the world
  • or to or for his care, restraint or other treatment which the state of his health or other circumstances in the opinion of the trustees may render expedient

This is quite extraordinary. Francis apparently had an official role to play in Richard's legal business in Woodstock, but was that just a front? His father's will clearly suggested that he should not be trusted directly with any money and he had to repay loans made by his brothers. In fact, his father specifically left him an immediate cash bequest of £500 when the other brothers got £200, presumably to pay his debts. Was he a gambler? a heavy drinker? He never married and moved to Ramsgate with his sisters when they left the vicarage. I can find no reference to him as a lawyer in Kent after 1871. Another unhappy man.

Post Script 2014 Even more extraordinary: In the Rescued Papers of William Cowle I found documents written by Richard HAWKINS and William Cowle's solicitor Wilberforce HEELAS, who was tasked with ensuring that the purchase of The Field estate went smoothly. Disentailing the estate was Richard's problem, and he quickly organised that with his siblings. But Richard must have wanted very much to clear this slur on his brother's character. So he asked Wilberforce HEELAS to visit Woodstock, give a professional opinion of Francis's legal work. In March 1873, Mr HEELAS wrote a Declaration that Francis was of sound mind, and Richard wrote a Declaration of his brother's mental fitness. Both documents were stored in an envelope labelled "NOT TO BE SHOWN". I think it is time they were.

• 1895 Death registered Thanet district, Kent, Q1 - died at Hordley House where he was still living with his surviving sisters.

Arthur HAWKINS 1837-1897

• Marlborough College register 1843-1904: Hawkins, Arthur, s. of the Rev J C Hawkins, Ramsbury, Wilts, b Sept 20 1837; l. Xmas 1852. J.H.
• In 1851 census was at school at Marlborough College.
• In 1861 was back at Ramsbury, no occupation given.
• 1861: Jackson's Oxford Journal, 17th August:

  BOROUGH OF WOODSTOCK I the undersigned Edward Prescott, Mayor of the Borough of New Woodstock, in the county of Oxford, and as such the Returning Officer of the said Borough, do hereby give Pubic Notice that I have appointed ARTHUR HAWKINS of Ramsbury, in the county of Wilts, Gentleman, to be the Election Auditor, or Auditor of Election Expenses, to act at any Election or Elections of a Member or Members to serve in Parliament for the said Borough, for and during the year now next ensuing, and until another appointment of the Election Auditor shall be made. EDWARD PRESCOTT, Mayor, Woodsock, August 10, 1861.

• 1881: I thought at first he was back - Jackson's Oxford Journal, 15th January

Then nothing. All I knew from David Nash was that Arthur had died in Canada. My Ancestry.co.uk subscription does not cover Canada although it allows a peek, and I found intriguing but inaccessible hits on the Canadian 1891 census, death records, and immigration and border crossings. I emailed a fellow researcher who lives there to see what she could find. She sent me the following image from the 1891 census for an Arthur Hawkins with the same year of birth and in the right part of Canada. I can not say that it is the same man but it would be pleasing if it were. This Arthur Hawkins was working as a labourer in Esquimault, Victoria, BC - right at the bottom edge of Vancouver Island. The relevant column headings [all in French - the whole form is in French] are:

Sex: Age: Married or Widowed: Relation to Head: Place of birth French Canadian? -- Place of birth of Father, and of Mother: Religion, Occupation then (off the page) wage-earner; can read and write [but then they all could]

The Ross Bay cemetery on Vancouver Island has a burial record (online) for an Arthur HAWKINS died at Swan Lake 17 April 1897 but aged 64, not 60. Swan Valley is close to Victoria at the very tip of Vancouver Island and this might be him, at Plot 80 W 36.

I do not know if the date which David has for Arthur's death is independent of this burial record, or taken from it as an assumption. Here is a modern photograph of the burial site, kindly taken for this essay by a member of the Old Cemeteries Society.

• 1871 JCCBP's will dated 17 July shows that Arthur was not in regular contact. He was left 25% in eight equal six-monthly instalments starting five years after JCCBP's death [why?] and to stop as soon 'the fact of his death shall become known' - which suggests he was already in Canada, or at least travelling - a remittance man! Further conditions were that the principal be controlled by RBBH/CACH/JB as if guardians, who have absolute discretion, and must not pass money to anyone nominated by AH.

And that was it, until I went to the county archives in Oxford. There I found the original of Arthur's will, and the letter with which he returned it to Richard in 1885. Moments like this are rare.

The envelope itself is tiny. The addressee is R B B Hawkins Esq / Woodstock / Oxfordshire/ England; sent by Canada Post with 2 x 3c orange stamps, cancelled on the front Victoria APRxx 85, cancelled twice on the back with circular stamps saying: HAMILTON CANADA 7PM My 1 85 and Woodstock 15 My 85. That was quick. Two weeks to travel about 500 miles from Hamilton [Ontario] to New York, then across the Atlantic, then by road again to Woodstock from Bristol (150 miles) or Liverpool (200 miles). And all for six cents.

Arthur's will was straightforward. It is clear from his letter that Richard had drafted a simple document for Arthur to sign, have witnessed, and return. This is what it said:

This is the last will and testament of me Arthur Hawkins, one of the sons of the late Revd John Calland Cunningham Bennett Popkin Hawkins, Vicar of Ramsbury Wilts in England, deceased. I give and bequeath all the real and personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever over which I have any power of disposition unto my brother Richard B B Hawkins his heirs executors administrators and assigns absolutely and I appoint my said brother my sole executor. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of April 1885.

witnesses: Henry Henly Victoria BC and Edward[?] Henly Victoria BC

Arthur's letter, dated 20th April 1885, is written on both sides of a folded sheet of thin paper. The first page - pre-printed with a mourning border, looks like this, and the whole letter said:

My dear Richard

I received your letter enclosing an order for £5 and also a document for me to sign and I took it out to Mr Henley and got him and his son to witness it but two days afterwards I was obliged to go up country and I have had it in my pocket ever since/ having been unable to Post it till today & I can tell you it was very welcome & will be of the greatest possible use to me. We are getting lovely weather and all March was splendid no frost or wind to signify I am sorry to hear Croft died without making a will as to say the least it comes hard on his wife. I am feeling better than I was but am not anything/ very lively now poor old Henley seems breaking fast. he misses his wife sadly. My God Richard how I would like to have a look at you all once again it is quite a long time since we parted but I hope you will remember that I take the greatest pleasure in your letters

the country here is full of men but they are not the right kind for they all arrive/ in the country hard up and we had plenty of that class before. a great many of the old pioneers of 62 have died lately I have not heard from Ramsgate lately I owe them a letter but I shall write as soon as I can but writing letters here is rather hard work for there is nothing new stirring here at all

with kindest love to Janie my neices and yourself

I am as ever yours affecty

The phrase "the pioneers of '62" is used elsewhere to describe the folk who went across the great plains on the Oregon trail. There is an excellent essay on-line which describes the journey. Arthur clearly needed the fiver which Richard sent, and maybe seems a little disappointed not to receive a bequest after Croft's death. His mention of "that class" suggests that he did not regard himself as "that class". I know no more about his circumstances but this website http://www.metchosinmuseum.org/Contentpages/Farming%20Community/bilstoncreek.htm describes another English family's life on a mid-19thC farm in Vancouver.

So, that is the end of my biography of JCCBP Hawkins' children. Please click here to return to the main story.