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Hello Everyone,

I am looking for more information on my ancestor William Hawkins, particularly in tracing him on an earlier census. He married Sarah Papworth at Hitchin on 19 May 1832. I know they had at least 4 children,

Ellinor (chr. 1832, d. 1832;
Mary Ann (chr. 1833, d. 1848);
Sarah (born c.1838) and
Charles (born 1843), my 4x great grandfather.

Charles married on Xmas Day 1861 and the certificate states that his father William is deceased. The widowed Sarah Hawkins was living in Luton in 1861, before remarrying the following year. I'm hoping to find some records relating to William and determine when he died. Though I don't have Charles' birth certificate, I know that William's occupation was a 'Brewer's man'.

Thanks,
- L

is this him in 1841

HAWKINS, Sarah Head Widow F 35 1816 Nurse
Hitchin, Hertfordshire VIEW
HAWKINS, Sarah Daughter F 11 1840 Plaiter
Hitchin, Hertfordshire VIEW
HAWKINS, Charles Son M 7 1844 Plaiter
Hitchin, Hertfordshire VIEW
ALDRIDGE, Edward Lodger Unmarried M 20 1831 Smith
Hitchin, Hertfordshire VIEW

Piece: 1710

Folio: 127

Page: 31

Registration District: Hitchin

Civil Parish: Hitchin

Municipal Borough:

Address: Highlander Cottages, Hitchin

County: Hertfordshire

Have you looked on FreeBMD for his death between 1841 and 1861.

The earlier deaths don't show ages on the GRO record but will be on the actual cert

The census Maddie posted is the 1851 so William must have died between Charles birth c 1844 and 1851

Charles

Births Mar 1843
Hawkins Charles Hitchin 6 553


lots tho that could be him


Record William Hawkins Jan-Feb-Mar 1844 St Albans Hertfordshire
Order
Record
View Record William Hawkins Oct-Nov-Dec 1848 Watford Hertfordshire
Order
Record
View Record William Hawkins Jan-Feb-Mar 1849 Watford Hertfordshire
Order
Record
View Record William Hawkins Apr-May-Jun 1849 Barnet Hertfordshire
Order
Record
View Record William Hawkins Apr-May-Jun 1850 Watford Hertfordshire
Order
Record
View Record William Hawkins Jan-Feb-Mar 1852 Hitchin Hertfordshire

1841 ????????????????????
TAYLOR, Sarah F 25 1816 VIEW
HAWKINS, Sarah F 25 1816 VIEW
HAWKINS, Mary Ann F 8 1833 VIEW
HAWKINS, Sarah F 3 1838 VIEW

Piece: 445

Book/Folio: 3/14

Page: 24

Registration District: Hitchin

Civil Parish: Hitchin

Municipal Borough:

Address: Hollow Lane, Hitchin

County: Hertfordshire

Looks like Sarah might have been a widow in 1841! Or perhaps hubby was just away from home?

1841 England Census
about Sarah Hawkins Name: Sarah Hawkins
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1816
Gender: Female

Civil parish: Hitchin
Hundred: Hitchin and Pirton
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England
Registration district: Hitchin
Sub-registration district: Hitchin
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 445
Book: 3
Folio: 14
Page Number: 24
Household Members: Name Age
Sarah Taylor 25
Sarah Hawkins 25
Mary Ann Hawkins 8
Sarah Hawkins 3

BUT on the 1841 Sarah seems to be on her own so maybe that 1838 one is Williams death
Name: Sarah Hawkins
Age: 25
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1816
Gender: Female
Civil parish: Hitchin
Hundred: Hitchin and Pirton
County/Island: Hertfordshire
Country: England
Street Address:

Occupation:

View image
Registration district: Hitchin
Sub-registration district: Hitchin
Neighbors: View others on page
Piece: 445
Book: 3
Folio: 14
Page Number: 24
Household Members:
Name Age
Sarah Taylor 25
Sarah Hawkins 25
Mary Ann Hawkins 8
Sarah Hawkins 3

Source Citation: Class: HO107; Piece: 445; Book: 3; Civil Parish: Hitchin; County: Hertfordshire; Enumeration District: 6; Folio: 14; Page: 24; Line: 14; GSU roll: 288832.


Charles could have been a later addition !!!!

so who is Charles father if William died 1838 ?????????????????

Wow. Thanks. I am sure that William Hawkins is Charles' father as it is stated on the marriage certificate. My guess is that William Hawkins was not at home on census night in 1841, although how confusing!

I don't have Charles' birth certificate but I plan to order it when I have some money available (completely broke).

Is there definitely no William Hawkins in Hitchin area c.1841? I don't suppose there is much coverage for the Hitchin area on IGI so looks like I'll have to dig even more.

Lucia


Have you considered that William might have been a figment of Charles' imagination???


If a child is born to a widow, it was automatically assumed that her married name was the surname of the child ..... and assumed that her husband was the father, even if he had been dead for many years.


The most extreme that I have seen was the child born about 10 years after his mother's husband had died.



Many illegitimate children put the name of a "father" on their marriage certificate ................... it "looked better" for the in-laws!


Some used the name of their grandfather or other close relative, a combination of such names, name of a close relative, or a well-known figure in the town. Or even made up a name.

Saying this person was "deceased" only met that no-one could ask to meet him him, or ask why he was not at the wedding.




sylvia

Thanks Sylvia. Good point. I don't know why I did not think of that as I have found several instances of this before, of either naming the grandfather or making a name up, although I have one case where the person was illegitimate and actually gave her real father's name. With that in mind, I suppose William Hawkins is definitely very tentative.

Where should I go now to find out who his father was? I understand this will be quite difficult from a distance and I don't know if I could access any parish/poor law records for Hitchin without travelling. I will order the birth certificate nonetheless although I doubt it will provide many clues. I don't know much about finding information on bastardy cases.

bump!

Burial
First name(s): William
Last name: HAWKINS
Date of burial 12 Feb 1838
Age at death: 33
Calculated year of birth: 1805
Place of burial Hitchin
Dedication: St Mary
County: Hertfordshire
Hitchin St Mary:
Denomination: Anglican
Coverage 1800 - 1851
Data provider: Hertfordshire Family & Population History

(above from Find My Past)

Chris :)

Thank you, Chris. :) That confirms it!

Burial
First name(s): Ellen
Last name: HAWKINS
Date of burial 22 Jun 1832
Age at death: Infant
Calculated year of birth: 1832
Place of burial Hitchin
Dedication: St Mary
County: Hertfordshire

Burial
First name(s): Mary Ann
Last name: HAWKINS
Date of burial 21 Jul 1848
Age at death: 15
Calculated year of birth: 1833
Place of burial Hitchin
Dedication: St Mary
County: Hertfordshire

(would still get the Birth Cert. for Charles though!. above are other names you mention)

Chris :)

Hey,

Sorry for the delayed. Thanks for your help, Chris. :)

- L