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A list of sources is included.

John Hawkins and Mercy Toye ©

It is not known just when John Hawkins was born, but it is believed he was baptized in Burwash on the 13^th May, 1696.  Recorded as Johannes, the record indicates he was the son of John Hawkins (Huggins) and his wife Elizabeth (nee Sherry)¹.

On the 13^th April, 1718, in St. Bartholomew Parish Church, Burwash², John (recorded as Hoskins) married Mercy Toye.  The record indicates they were both from the Parish of Burwash.  The church of St. Bartholomew was built around 1090, but today the only remaining part of the original Norman church is the tower.  Situated in the north of East Sussex, Burwash is also famous as the home of Rudyard Kipling of Jungle Book fame.  Smuggling was also quite widespread in Sussex during the 18^th and 19^th Centuries.  Burwash is also rumoured to have been an important centre on the back route from the coast to London, and it is said that several smugglers' graves can still be seen in the churchyard of St Bartholomew's³.  

It is thought Mercy was born around 1699, in or near Burwash, but to-date no record has been located.

John and Mercy had at least four children: Sarah 1719; John, 1722; Elizabeth c1726; and Thomas 1729, he married Mary Crouch 1756.

A possible burial for John in Burwash, on the 22^nd May, 1784, has been located⁴.  He was 88years old and the record indicates he was a Pauper.

To-date no burial record has been sighted for Mercy, however a FamilySearch record indicates she was buried in Blatchington, Sussex, o the 14^th May, 1763

References:

1. Parish Baptism Record via LDS Film

2. Parish Marriage Record via LSD Film

3. Burwash Sussex OPC http://www.sussex-opc.org/index.php?k=211&t=parish

4. Parish Burial Record via LDS Film
5. Parish Record via https://www.familysearch.org/search/

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/

I also gratefully acknowledge the assistance given by other researchers of the Hawkins line.

Please contact me for further information