William Hawkins is our first Hawkins ancestor on the North American Shores.
From John Hawkins chart:
.....William came to America in 1631. Settled in Providence in 1634. In England, he had learned glove-making trade. He first met Margaret on the ship enrobe to America. Passengers joked with them they would make a fine couple. Eventually they did. William became an influential citizen and large land owner.
From the book, The Complete Book of Emigrants, by Peter Wilson Coldham, years 1607 thru 1700.
Found on 20 February, 1634, among persons bound for St. Christopher's who have taken the oath of allegiance before the Mayor of Dartmouth: William Haukins of Exter, Devon, glover about 25 and Margaret Harwood of Stoke Gabriel, Devon, spinster about 22.The original records may be located in the Public Record Office, Chancery Lane, London, WCZA, 1LR and maybe record E157/18 since this is the notation after the reference in the book.
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From Genealogical Dictionary of Rhode Island by John Q. Austin, published in Providence in 1887, some items about William:1638, Dec 20 - William Hawkins received land
1640, Jul 27 - He and 38 others signed an agreement for a form of government [note: the deed records indicate that William could not write, so he must have made a mark witnessed by another
1645, Jan 27 - He bought of Hugh Bewitt, his home share of land
1650, Sep 2 - He was taxed
1655 - He is registered as a Freeman
1672, Apr 30 - Registered as a Freeman
1673, Feb 2 - He deeded to his son William, two house lots, and the housing thereon, bounded west by Town Street, also a 6 acre lot, some shares of his meadow, etc.
1676, Aug 14 - He was one of those "who staid and went not away" in King Philip's War, and so had a share in the disposition of the Indian captives whose services were sold for a term of years.
1679, Jul 1 - He was taxed
1683, Jun 25 - He deeded to his son Edward certain rights in lands between Pawtucket and Pawatuxet Rivers that he had bought twenty years before of John Sayles.
1687, Sep 1 - He and his son John were taxed together.
1688 - His ratable estate was returned as follows: 2 oxen, 4 steers,6 cos, 3 heifers, a horst, 2 mares, 6 acres Indian corn, 8 acres rye,10 acres meadow, 10 acres pasture
1699, Jun 17 - He freed his negro Jack, to take effect in twenty-six years from date, "having a respect for him." Jack was about twenty years old when William bought him in 1695, from William Mackcollin of Barbadoes.
It seems by a deed of his son, William that he made a will, which however, is not found upon the records.
Preface to series of records
From The Early Records of the Town of Providence, Vol II, Horatio Rogers, George Moulton Carpenter, and Edward Field, printed under the Authority of the City Council of Providence. A preface to volume I says: In 1891 the town of Providence appointed a committee to begin transcribing and publishing the early records of the town. The result was a series of twenty-one volumes published between 1892 and 1915 which provide a wealth of historical and genealogical data on this important early town. Each volume consists of a verbatim transcription of the original records, and has an index to people, places, and topics.
Vol I is called The First Book of the Town of Providence, Otherwise Called the Long Old Book with Parchment Cover. This volume contains mainly land grants and subsequent conveyences. The dates vary because many of the instruments were not recorded until long after the transaction took place, but most fall in the range 1650 - 1670.
Volume II is called the Second Book of the Town of Providence otherwise called the "..... Old Book, The Short Old Book, The Old Burnt Book, and Sometimes called The Book with the Brass Clasps."
These books contain documents and records of events concerning William Hawkins and his contemporaries in Rhode Island. They make interesting reading for the person interested in these things.