This is an overview of some of the main family members.
The Hawkins Family are connected to my Paternal Line via the Marriage of Rebecca Hawkins and Abraham Hannell on 20th January 1657 in Chalgrave, Bedfordshire. This ultimately led to the Marriage of Abraham's 2 x Great Grand-daughter, Mary Hannell and James Rich in 1788.
The earliest Hawkins found is Robert Hawkins born circa 1515 in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire. Although it is believed he married circa 1537, the name of his Wife is unknown. We do however know that they had 5 children: Thomas 1537, William 1539, Henry 1541, Katherine 1545 and Richard 1562, all of which were born in Houghton Regis. Robert Hawkins would in fact be my 12 x Great Grand-father.
Thomas Hawkins (my 11 x Great Grand-father) married Joan Graye on 28th June 1560 in Houghton Regis. Only 1 child has been found for that marriage: John Hawkins born 1561 in Houghton Regis. There may well have been more children but no record of such has yet been found. John Hawkins in turn married Margaret Wallis on 22nd November 1582 also in Houghton Regis, and again only 1 child has been found for that Marriage also named John after his Father. He was born in Houghton Regis in 1585 and married Rebecca Prior on 15th December 1612 in Houghton Regis. This Marriage produced 6 known children: John 1615, Joan 1626, Elizabeth 1629, Marie 1631, Sarah 1635 and Thomas date unknown. John was clearly a popular name and it is he that provides the next generation.
John married Alice Marchman but we have no knowledge of the date or place. Their first child was born 1631 in Houghton Regis so it may be assumed that the marriage took place there possibly in 1630. John and Alice had 5 children: Mary or Marie 1631, Sarah 1635, Rebecca 1639, Judith date unknown and Alice date unknown. It was this Rebecca Hawkins born 1639 that married Abraham Hannell in 1657.
It should be borne in mind that much of this information was found on the International Genealogy Index (I.G.I.) which is sometimes inaccurate with its' dates etc. However, I have taken the trouble to confirm as much as possible from other sources and believe it to be fairly accurate. I have been able to find some transcripts of Hannell and Hawkins Family Wills in the Bedfordshire Archives which has also helped to validate this information. See the page titled 'Probate Registers and Wills'.
I will also be noted that there are some unusually long gaps between some births. It may be assumed that there might well have been some stillbirths or simply that the available records are incomplete.