| Now I can, using the parish records, go back even further, but, again, I don't pretend to be sure that they are my ancestors. It would, however, be remiss of me not to mention them, so I will:- 1656, John Hawkins married Ann Carter. 1645, Baptism of John, son of William Hawkins. 1641, Baptism of ?(can't read it)...?....of John Hawkins. 1636, Elizabeth Hawkins married John Baker. 1612, Thomas Hawkins married Ann Johnson. 1611, Richard Hawkins married Francis Withington. 1579, Burial of Elly Hawkins. So I think that my Hawkins family left Eccleshall some time around 1800. Aaron was a toddler. I can, in my minds eye, see a horse and cart full of belongings, cases and tools, The Hawkins family on the move, full of hope as they head towards the Industrial Revolution, leaving their roots behind them. Little Aaron, holding on to his mother, excited, looking forward to a new beginning....innocent, destined to learn his father's ancient trade, thankfully unaware that fate was to deal him such a cruel and tragic blow! It is interesting to note that in 1881, according to the census returns, there were 36 persons by the name of Hawkins whose occupations were shoemakers, or closely connected to shoemaking, in the Stafford area alone. Well, we had uncovered many hidden secrets...from suicide to fatherless children, from poverty to how we are today, what an easy life we have! Do you know, we never found a single headstone for any anyone in my family, not one! We're still looking though.. |
| From an Inner Tube to Shoemakers..14 |