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Thomas Hawkins and Mary Balcomb © The fourth child of Thomas and Mary Hawkins (Hoggins) 1, Thomas was baptized in St Bartholomew the Parish Church in Burwash, Sussex, England, on the 2nd July 1762. To-date no clues to Thomas’ early life has been located. But, we do know that on the 25th December, 1781, Thomas married Mary Balcomb, in St Mary, the Parish Church at Ticehurst 2. Although both Thomas and Mary were apparently quite young, Thomas 19 and Mary 17, the marriage records indicates they did publish Banns before their marriage. The marriage was performed by the Vicar, C. Gowthrop, and the witnesses were John Bushnell and James Brockhurst. Both Thomas & Mary are recorded as being of the Parish and it appears neither could read nor write as both made their Mark. However, neither parent appears to have signed the Parish Register, which may indicate they were possibly living away from home at the time. The recorded birth of their first child, Richard, in June 1782, may also indicate the marriage was rushed. Baptized in St Bartholomew, Burwash on 24th February 1764, Mary was the daughter of Richard Balcomb and his wife Elizabeth (nee Fuller) 1. It would appear that after their marriage Thomas and Mary settled in Burwash. A search of the on-line transcriptions of the Burwash Parish Register indicate Thomas and Mary had eight children: Richard 1882, he married Elizabeth (possibly Sheather) c1802; Sarah 1784; Sophie 1787; Hannah 1789; Thomas 1791; Maria 1793; Ruth 1795; and Mary 1797. Although no record can be found of a burial, it would appear that Mary died sometime after the birth of their last child in 1797, as Thomas, a Widower, married Mary's younger sister Sarah, in St Bartholomew, on 24th January, 1801, after Banns2. Sarah is recorded as being a Spinster, and both are recorded as being from the Parish. Interestingly, it appears Thomas signed his name on this marriage and one has to wonder why he didn't sign on his first marriage. Richard Balcomb signed as one of the witnesses, but is not known if this was Sarah’s brother or her father. The Burwash Parish Records show that Thomas and Sarah had four children: Phily 1802; Ann 1803; Maria 1808 and Jesse 1811. Records show that at the age of 62, Thomas died in Burwash. He was buried on the 3rd September, 1824, in the Parish Churchyard 3. It is not known if there is or ever was a marker on his final resting place.
References: 1. Parish Baptism Record via LDS Film 2. Parish Marriage Record via LDS Film 3. Parish Burial Record via LDS Film
Other Sources: Ancestry.co.uk https://www.ancestry.co.uk FindMyPast https://www.findmypast.co.uk/ Open Domesday Book http://domesdaymap.co.uk/ Owen Gibbins http://www.gibbins.gen.nz/ Sussex Village Net http://sussex.villagenet.co.uk/ Weald, The - People, History and Genealogy http://www.thesussexweald.org/
I also gratefully acknowledge the assistance given by other researchers of the Hawkins line. |
