The small cemetery of Salt River Baptist Church, in Lawrenceburg, Anderson County, is the final resting place for many veterans of the American Revolution – 5, War of 1812 – 3, Mexican War -1, and Civil War – 7. And all but one have a bronze marker.

Captain James Hawkins to be honored by SAR Saturday

The Sons of the American Revolution will be conducting a ceremony to honor the service of Captain James Hawkins during the American Revolutionary War on Saturday, May 24, at 1 p.m. at Salt River Church. Everyone is welcome.

James Hawkins entered the Virginia Troops to participate in the Revolutionary War in 1777. Also in 1777, he was appointed second lieutenant, then later, first lieutenant. He was appointed captain in 1778.

Background

About 200 years ago, Captain James Hawkins, his wife Jane Bourn, and their growing family came to Kentucky, eventually settling in the area that later became Anderson County, and raised their children in this beautiful part of Kentucky.

James was born and raised in Culpeper County, Virginia. His parents, Benjamin and Sarah Willis Hawkins, along with an extended family network, lived in the adjacent counties of Culpeper and Orange along the Rapidan River.

Captain James Hawkins and Jane Bourne Haskins’ children were Mildred Brown, Lucy Ohio Coleman (James), Elizabeth Foster (Edmund), William Hardin Hawkins, Jane Willis Hackley (John), James Morton Hawkins I, Frances Zimmerman (William), Sarah Boston (Joel) and Mary Jordan (Thomas).

The children of James Morton I are James G. Hawkins, Jane Searcy (Buel), Jerusha Petty (William), Sarah Baxter (Newton), Hardin Hawkins, Benjamin Sherman Hawkins I, Frances Searcy (Green), Mildred Stratton (Isaac), Martha Buckner (John) and Johnson Hawkins.

The children of Benjamin S. Hawkins I are Benjamin S. Hawkins II, Thomas B. Hawkins, Minnie Wooldridge (Perry), Johnson Hawkins, Kate Simpson (Cannon), Ida Simpson. There were several young children who died.

A number of their descendants still live in the Anderson County area. The research on this Hawkins family has been done by Janet Shahmiri of Oklahoma – who, along with her cousin Dana Herald of Lawrenceburg – arranged for this ceremony.

Both are descendants of Captain James Hawkins’ grandson, Benjamin Sherman Hawkins I – Dana through Benjamin’s son, James Morton Hawkins II, and Janet through his son, Benjamin Sherman Hawkins II.