Researchers who have claimed this convict
There are currently 6 researchers who have claimed David Hawkins
- Researcher (Judith O'Shea)
- Researcher (9715)
- Researcher (deborah ritchie)
- Researcher (Deanne Papadopoulos)
- Researcher (Tracey Hawkins)
- Researcher (17254)
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Biographies
David Hawkins was born in England in 1766. (note David is listed as David "Atkin" on the NSW Convict Register).
He was tried in Derby (for stealing some poultry) and sentenced on January 14, 1800 to seven years. Sailing on the ''Earl Cornwallis'', David arrived in Sydney on June 12, 1801. Like the majority of convicts arriving in the Colony between 1801 and 1804, David was sent to Windsor, NSW.
In this area known as the ''Hawkesbury'', the Government owned farms along the Hawkesbury River which were designed to be the food supply for the Colony. Along with many other convicts, David worked these farms until he was given his ticket of leave.
In the 1806 Muster, David is listed as being in Government employ. In 1810 he married Jane Cowling (born in Sydney 1795) at the original St Matthews Church in Windsor. The Francis Greenway designed architectural beauty that stands there today was built around 1821. Jane was the daughter of the convicts Thomas Cowling and Eleanor Bryan (aka Brien).
It is not known exactly where David and Jane lived for the first ten years of their marriage - presumably on the lowlands at Richmond or Windsor (ironically referred to as ''Cornwallis"). They were listed in the 1814 Muster as being off stores and in Windsor (although they could in effect, have lived anywhere between Richmond and Windsor).
In the 1822 Muster David, Jane and three of their children were listed as living on seven and a half acres purchased by him in Windsor. Four of these acres grew wheat, two acres grew maize. David also grew potatoes (still a crop grown on the lowlands) and had an orchard. He owned one horse and twelve pigs.
In 1820 David applied for a land grant and on June 30, 1823 he and Jane became the owners of 50 acres in Kurrajong. This property, not far from Bells Line of Road, was called ''Timberinga''.
Today, Hermitage Road runs through the land grant.
In the 1828 Muster, David is listed as having 15 acres cleared and 12 under cultivation. He employed Thomas Harrington as a laborer.
In the 1837 Muster, David had an assigned convict, Jane Appleyard in his employ. In 1843 Jane was given her freedom and she married John Kay in 1848. More information about this Jane can be found here.
Our Jane died in May 1852, after having fallen into the fire in her home. From a Sydney Morning Herald newspaper report, it is believed that Jane had been paralysed for some years and fell into the fire and could not get out.
After David's death at the age of 93 in 1859, Timberinga was divided up among three of his children - James (18 acres), Joseph (20 acres) and Ann's family (12 acres). By this stage, his daughters Eleanor and Elizabeth were living in Spring Hill near Orange with their husbands, the brothers John and James Davis. This might explain why they were not included in David's will.
Over the years Timberinga was sold off in small parcels to the Wilson and Peck families. These small parcels (38 acres) were then purchased by George Smith to recreate almost all of the original holding. Smith subsequently sold the land to William Bowman.
The land passed through other hands, however, the longest landholders (since Colonisation), have been the Males family. They bought the property in 1949 and still live there today.
Newspaper references to Timberinga after David's death can be read here and here. A 1933 article also mentions the estate.
Both David and Jane are buried in St Peters Anglican Church in Richmond.
Today, descendants of David and Jane Hawkins's son Joseph still live in Kurrajong. For more info on the family please visit https://hawkinsofkurrajong.blogspot.com/
Submitted by Researcher (Tracey Hawkins) on 16 August 2022
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Disclaimer: The information has not been verified by Claim a Convict. As this information is contributed, it is the responsibility of those who use the data to verify its accuracy. Research notes
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