|
Our wonderful website proved its importance by connecting us to another direct Hawkins descendent, Mr. Dewitt A. Hawkins, Sr., of Chesapeake, Virginia. Mr. Hawkins drove down Sunday with a big blue basket of family archives that he was eager to share with us. Enjoy the photos below that document his two day visit and he plans on helping us with our funding and coming back for a visit(s). This was his first trip to Georgia to discover his ancestor's heritage and it was an honor to show him the Fort Hawkins Blockhouse Replica, the Ocmulgee National Monument, Macon's Historic District and the other places in the photos. Mr. Hawkins is one of the last known male descendents in the family and being with him felt like being in the Colonel's presence. He is the Colonel's First Cousin, three times removed, with his Great, Great, Great Grandfather being the Colonel's Grandfather. I copied much information for our FHC Archives, which will help us appreciate the Colonel's distinguished family before North Carolina in Virginia and England. In fact, their faithful service helped create both our Nation and even England's, making the Colonel and even more amazing American hero than ever before. The first two photos are Mr. Hawkins showing his many documents to the Halstead sisters, Echo & Lynn, at the Washington Memorial Library. Mayor Reichert graciously allowed an opportunity to meet with Mr. Hawkins at which time, he presented a check to the Mayor (and me) making him a Lifetime Member of the Friends of Fort Hawkins and pledged to become an Active Advocate for Fort Hawkins. While at City Hall he met our FHC Secretary Mary Lee Rogers, and yes he did take some posters and other Fort Hawkins/Macon goodies home to Virginia. Back at Washington Memorial Library, he met Fort Friend (and met many more there), Sally Heard, who was being shown Sir John Hawkins, who was one of Queen Elizabeth's favorite privateers. That Hawkins legacy is detailed in the rare book he is showing me, The Hawkins Dynasty, Three Generations of a Tudor Family, by Michael Lewis, London, 1969, that he has loaned to the FHC. We travelled out to Crawford County, imagining the Colonel's horseback ride and using his own 1803 "Viatory" description of the route, where he met Fort Friend, David Mincey, at the Hawkins National Landmark in Roberta. It was a moving visit for both of us as we visited the Colonel's gravesite on the Flint River bluff and discussed the Creek Agency. Mr. Hawkins filmed his entire visit and he plans to create a video promotion of his visit to benefit our Fort Hawkins efforts. The last photo shows two frazzled but befriended believers in Fort Hawkins after two days of historical adventure. You will hear a whole lot more at our January FHC Meeting! |
