Beech Tree News Network

Uriah Hawkins was older than the average soldier when he served in the American Revolution in Rhode Island, having been born about 1731. According to the Rhode Island State Archives Index to Military and Naval Records from 1774-1805 and FHL Roll #934766; NARA M246 and Revolutionary War Rolls 1775-1783, Roll #87, he served as a soldier in his home state under Captain David Burllinggame. According to military records at least four of his sons also served in the War for Independence; Stephen, Elijah, Uriah Jr who reached the rank of Sgt Major and Benoni Hawkins.

Uriah Hawkins, my 5th great grandfather, was born circa 1731 in Providence County, Rhode Island, the son of Elijah and AbigailVallette Hawkins. He died on 23 January 1809 and was probablyburied in the Hawkins Lot in Providence County, RI. He was married to Deborah Winsor (1738-1804). They had a son George W Hawkins, my 4th great grandfather, born on 11 March 1779 at Gloucester, RI and died on 6 September 1864 in Geneva Ohio. He married Avis Sheldon (1783-1865) on 5 April 1801. They had a son George Washington Hawkins, Jr., my 3rd great grandfather, on 4 November 1804 in Providence RI, who died on 1 May 1877 in Edinboro, PA. He married Mary Elizabeth Wells (1805-1869) about 1838. George and Mary had a son, Willard Hawkins, my 2nd great grandfather, born 2 October 1832 in Ostego County, NY and died at Hale MO on 28 October 1879. He married Mary Jane Perry (1833-1888) on 10 March 1853. Willard and Mary had a son, Melvin Gardner Hawkins, my great grandfather on 22 May 1857 in Livingston, MO who died on 10 December 1928 in Bucklin, MO. Melvin married Eunice Green Jacobs (1859-1895) on 10 October 1878 in Livingston, MO. They had a son, Charles Everett Hawkins, my grandfather, born 16 October 1879 in Hale, MO and died on 2 December 1971 in Tina, MO. He married Nora Margaret Gladwell (1882-1983) on 20 June 1906 in Missouri. They had a daughter, Francis Ruth Hawkins, my mother, born 24 July 1916, in Tecumseh, Johnson County, Nebraska and died 6 October 2008 in Nashville, Davidson County, TN. She married Ronald E. Peveler(1915-1970) in September 1947 in Charlton, Missouri.

As part of Celebrate America 250, the Butler County Chapter NSDAR members will be continuing our series of articles about our Patriots of the American Revolution. If you have a Revolutionary Patriot in your family line and are interested in joining our chapter please contact the Regent, Lynda O’Driscoll at 270.734.5137 or any chapter member.