Dennis DuPont Hankins (1792 - 1859)

Born 6 Nov 1792 in Brunswick County, North Carolina, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Jan 1859 at age 66 in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States

Biography

This profile is part of the Hankins Name Study.

Dennis DuPont Hankins was born on November 6, 1792 in Brunswick County, North Carolina, USA, son of Masters Hankins (~1763– ) and Mary Bacot (1772– ).^[1]

Dennis married Sarah Conner (born on December 20, 1795 in Stateline, Horry, South Carolina; daughter of Edward Connor R.S. and Sarah Wingate (Grissett) Conner). Their children were:

• William Wesley Hankins (1821–1900)
• Bethel Hugee Hankins (1823–1901)
• Elizabeth Ann Hankins (1824– )
• Dennis D Hankins (~1827–1829)
• Mary Ann Hankins (1827– )
• Joseph Summerfield Hankins (1829– )
• Louisa Hankins (1834–1923)
• Dennis DuPont Hankins (1840–<1916)

In 1830, Dennis (37) was living in Madison with 1 Male 0-5 (undefined), 2 Male 5-10 [William age 9, Bethel age 5] (undefined), 1 Male 30-40 Dennis age 38] (undefined), 1 Female 0-5 Mary age 3] (undefined), 1 Female 30-40 (Sarah Ann Connor age 28] (undefined), Following slaves, total 13 (undefined), 2 Male slaves 0-10 (undefined), 2 Female slaves 0-10 (undefined). ^[2]

In 1850, Dennis (57) was living in Division 11, Madison with his children, Mary A (23), Joseph S (21), Louisa (16), Dennis (11), and Bethel (25); and Sarah Hawkins (48). ^[3]

Dennis died on January 5, 1859 in Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States, aged 66. He was buried in Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida.^[1]

Resources

Under date of Portland, Maine, 21 Jun 1907, Gov Robie writes as follows to Mrs Charles A Sheldon of Waycross:

" I can assure you that I was extremely gratified in receiving an unexpected letter from you which immediately carried me back sixty five years to the time when I was a private teacher in the family of Rev Dennis D Hankins, a Baptist minister who moved to Florida from Charleston, South Carolina in 1825 and it easily brought to my mind, the members of the L A Church residents of that neighborhood at Silver Lake. Mr Church was a Lt Col in the Confederate Army and a member of the Florida legislature for 3 terms and was a fine looking gentleman, originally from Framingham, Massachusetts. He kept a store and the post office at Silver Lake near his home. I had to pass to get my mail from my native town, Gorham, Maine, mail was on the way 2 weeks or more and the postage on a letter then was 25 cents. The Hankins family has a warm place in my heart, for their continued and many acts of kindness, when a Yankee boy needed such friends, they are strongly cherished in my memory. Similar kindness, which were so often repeated by others while I lived in Florida and Georgia teaching school made a lasting impression on my mind, firmly establishing a personal knowledge of the generosity, liberality and broad gifts of the Southern character. I presume by the heading of your letter that you are a active member of the United daughters of the Confederacy. I will add that such an organization is consistent with the highest order of philanthropy, loyalty and sincerity to the heroic acts of brave men and who are justly entitled to a nation's gratitude under the will and benediction of a happily reunited nation. We have here in the north a similar organization of patriots who are rooted to the cause of providing for the comfort of our old Union Soldiers. My earnest prayer is that both organizations may continue to do the good and necessary relief work for the old soldiers of our entire country. Gov Robie has not visited the South since the war of which he writes to Mrs Sheldon about. About 35 years ago, I made the Hankins family of that period, a visit at their home at Live Oak, Florida, Mrs Dennis Hankins [Sarah Ann Conner] was then living and I found her the same motherly woman that she was in the years 1841-2, when I was a member of her family. Mr William W Hankins had then lost his wife, your aunt, for whom I had an affectionate remembrance, having been the best man at the pleasant ceremony of her wedding day. Mr Hankins entertained me with his usual hospitality, I had with me, my beloved wife, since deceased, whit whom I lived 50 years and my youngest son, William, then 8 years old, was with me. I should never forget a dinner which the Hankins family gave us in honor of our visit. During the dinner, a large and elegant cake was cut into numerous pieces in one of which was a gold ring, this piece, unexpectedly came to Mrs Robie, who at once placed the ring on my finger and it has remained there ever since. Mr William Hankins told me all about his service in the Florida legislature, before and aftr the war, and his reluctance to vote for Secession, but he went with his state as was his right to do and as others did and became a loyal and brave soldier in the Confederate army. He was a sharp shooter with Gen Lee's army, taken prisoner in Virginia and suffered the usual experiences for 2 years of the northern military prisons during the war. I think he was confined somewhere in North Carolina where Union troops were garrisoned. During my visit, I had a long and pleasant ride into the interior of Florida in the Cooks Hammock ???, in search of his brother, Bethel Hankins whom we did not find. I accidentally met with one of my former pupils of Thomasville, Georgia, who had grown old, and was glad to see me again. the names of the Hankins Children were William, Bethel, Mary Ann and Conner and a very young girl whose name I cannot now recall."

Research Notes

The following people may need profiles:

• 1 Male 0-5
• 2 Male 5-10 [William age 9, Bethel age 5]
• 1 Male 30-40 Dennis age 38]
• 1 Female 0-5 Mary age 3]
• 1 Female 30-40 (Sarah Ann Connor age 28]
• Following slaves, total 13
• 2 Male slaves 0-10
• 3 Male slaves 10-24
• 1 Male slave 36-55
• 2 Female slaves 0-10
• 2 Female slaves 10-24
• 2 Female slaves 24-36
• 1 Female slave 36-55
• Sarah Hawkins

The following information should be added to his bio with sources attached:

Tree farmer, engineer, pioneer in Cherry Lake, Florida

Owned a large planation in Madison County, Florida and was a Methodist Preacher. Started a Methodist Church in Madison County. He was married to Sarah Connor Hankins. He also served as a Justice of Peace for Madison County.

17 Feb 1836, Allen Townsend bought 240 acres of land in Madison County, Florida from David Platt for $1000 [Madison County Florida Deed Book A, page 128]. This land consisted of the southeast quarter and east half of the southwest quarter of Section 10, Township 2E - Range 9E (David Platt had bought this land on 22 December 1830 as cash entry 3814 from the government). On 2 Dec 1836, 11 months later, Allen and Sarah sold this land, as well as, the northeast quarter of Section 10 (160 acres) and 40 acres in Section 15 to Dennis Hankins for $3000 (Madison County Florida Deed Book A, page 95)

Dennis Hankins [1792-1859] was the first clerk of Court of Madison County in 1832 when it was in territory of Florida.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/52970761/dennis-hankins: accessed), memorial page for Rev Dennis Hankins (6 Nov 1792–5 Jan 1859), Find a Grave Memorial ID 52970761, citing Old Jacksonville City Cemetery, Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, USA; Maintained by Kenny Kopta (contributor 47132444).
2. ↑ 1830 Census: "1830 United States Federal Census"
   Year: 1830; Census Place: Madison, Florida; Series: M19; Roll: 15; Page: 177; Family History Library Film: 0006711
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8058 #469589 (accessed 10 July 2023)
   Dennis Hankins in Madison, Florida.

   1 Male 0-5

   2 Male 5-10 [William age 9, Bethel age 5]

   1 Male 30-40 Dennis age 38]

   1 Female 0-5 Mary age 3]

   1 Female 30-40 (Sarah Ann Connor age 28]

   Following slaves, total 13

   2 Male slaves 0-10

   3 Male slaves 10-24

   1 Male slave 36-55

   2 Female slaves 0-10

   2 Female slaves 10-24

   2 Female slaves 24-36

   1 Female slave 36-55

3. ↑ 1850 Census: "1850 United States Federal Census"
   The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: Division 11, Madison, Florida; Roll: 59; Page: 108a; Line Number: 36
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8054 #19393699 (accessed 10 July 2023)
   Dennis Hawkins (58), Farmer, in Division 11, Madison, Florida, USA. Born in South Carolina.

   Dennis Hawkins M 58 Farmer South Carolina

   Sarah Hawkins F 48 South Carolina

   Mary A Hawkins F 23 South Carolina

   Joseph S Hawkins M 21 South Carolina

   Louisa Hawkins F 16 South Carolina

   Dennis Hawkins M 11 Florida

   Bethel Hawkins M 25 South Carolina

• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 22 May 2016, 11:25), entry for Dennis Hankins(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:93SB-TBF); contributed by various users.
• Mark S. Hankins, great-great-great-grandson
• D.B. McKay's Pioneer Florida column in the Tampa Tribune
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHPX-YZM
• Frederick Robie https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Robie