Agnes (Stilson) Hawkins (bef. 1642 - aft. 1685)

Born before 29 Apr 1642 in Modbury, Devon, England

Ancestors

Wife of Thomas Hawkins — married 10 Jul 1668 in Plymouth, Devon, England

Descendants

Died after Mar 1685 after age 42 in New England [uncertain]

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Trevor Bruso [send private message]

Biography

Stilson family genealogy has traditionally shown that Agnes Stilson was the daughter of Vincent Stilson and Grace (Unknown) Stilson, and born in Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay Colony sometime in 1660-1665.^[1] This date range was highly problematic, however, since Agnes and her husband Thomas Hawkins/Hawkings had a son James who was married in 1693,^[2][3] which would require that Agnes had James when he was 17 or younger and that James got married when he was 16 or younger.

Recent research on the Stitson family of Modbury, Devonshire has instead established that:

• Agnes was the daughter of Vincent Stitson and Nichole (Pulliblanke) Stitson, and baptized in Modbury on April 29, 1642,^[4]
• Agnes married Thomas Hawkins on July 10, 1668 at Plymouth Devonshire^[5][6]

These dates are much more consistent with Agnes having a son who got married in 1693, and suggest that he was probably born about 1669 and was thus 24 when he got married, rather than 16.

Agnes's father, Vincent, had moved to Marblehead, Massachusetts Bay Colony sometime in 1656-1664,^[7] and apparently Agnes and Thomas followed him sometime after their marriage in 1668. In early New England, the Stitson family name was spelled in a wide variety of ways and the spelling for Vincent's family eventually settled on Stilson.^[8]

Agnes and Thomas had the following children:

1. James, b. probably about 1669 (based on parents date of marriage), bpt. March 22, 1684/5,^[9] m. March 5, 1692/3 Elizabeth Humphrey in Marblehead
2. John, bpt. March 22, 1684/5
3. Priscilla, b. bpt. March 22, 1684/5,^[9] m. July 13, 1702 Francis Grant^[2]
4. Robert, bpt. March 22, 1684/5^[9]
5. Thomas, bpt. March 22, 1684/5^[9]

Sources

^{[5] [6] [4] [9] [3] [1] [2]}

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Stillson, William Charles, "Notes on the Genealogy of the Stilson Family," 1939, p 7
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} "Vital Records of Marblehead, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Volume II-Marriages and Deaths," The Essex Institute, 1904, p 204
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Stillson, William Charles, "Notes on the Genealogy of the Stilson Family," 1939, pp 11-12
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J3XC-445 : 30 December 2014, Agnes Stitson, 29 Apr 1642); citing MODBURY,DEVON,ENGLAND, index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 916,861.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Devon Marriages, Plymouth & West Devon Record Office
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} "England, Devon, Parish Registers, 1538-1912," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC9R-VB5 : 4 November 2017), Thomas Hawkins and Agnes Stutson, 1668, Marriage; from "Church of England parish registers 1538-1911," database and images, findmypast (http://www.findmypast.com : n.d.); citing Devon, archive reference , images provided by FamilySearch International.
7. ↑ See profile for Vincent Stitson/Stilson.
8. ↑ See profile for Vincent Stitson/Stilson.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4} "Vital Records of Marblehead, Massachusetts to the End of the Year 1849, Volume II-Marriages and Deaths," The Essex Institute, 1903, p 248