About the Haweses
(Ace, 2002: In the original Milkcan Papers, there was no heading here, but the following text does not belong under the previous heading.)

Now here is a collection of facts, traditions, legends, rumors, opinions, origin of our name, our family traits, other branches of the Hawes family, theories, and other stuff I have acquired in days gone by. They all seem to affect our family history in one way or another. Some of the material may be of interest to you. Read it and form your own opinions. They are presented in a somewhat disconnected manner which I have neither time nor desire to rearrange.

The Hawes Name (no heading in the original)
From the various (and many) sources that I have read or investigated, it is my belief that the Hawes family is one of the oldest in England and America. The name Hawes, it seems quite generally believed, was taken from the haw hedge, or enclosure, near the original tribe's home, haw being the usual name for the hawthorne. By some authorities haw is believed to be a Saxon word. It is my belief it is older than the Saxons, it is ancient Briton or Celtic, the first language known to be spoken in England.

However that may be, some time before William the Conqueror, all clans and tribes were required by the King's order to adopt surnames. It is probable our boys and girls then selected the name we bear, or by the King's order it was given to them. Afterwards, but even before the year 1200, records show people of our name were found from London to almost the Scottish border, and perhaps over the border; but they seemed most numerous in the towns and country just north of London to central England.(1)

No one can guess how many centuries they lived there before-- from the time they were a tattooed race, no doubt. It is entirely probable all the Hawes families had a common beginning. The professional genealogists all seem to believe this. In old English and in early American records the name is not always spelled the same. By some authorities such names as:
Hawyse
Hawise
Hawys
Hawse
Hawis
Haw
Haws
Hawes
How
Howes
Howe
Horze
Horse
Huse
and several others are believed to be the same.

To those who view with alarm this inexact spelling of our family name, let me remind them that the time was ancient, education was scarce, mostly possessed by the priests and clerks who may have had considerable difficulty wrapping Roman letters around British sounds. If a family moved and had to give their name, another priest or clerk was quite apt to spell it some other way.

Most family names have gone through a changed spelling and settling-down process. Even the name of Shakespeare has had twenty-eight or thirty different spellings, no doubt for the same reasons as our own. Also the desire to move and cheat an officious sheriff or game warden was no less potent in the past than in modern times. Some of our ancestors may well enough have put an extra kink in their tongues to meet the occasion.

To those who are still not resigned to accept my statement as to orthographical blunders of earlier days, you should read some of the early documents written by men who had as much education as there was in those early days. The lawyers, court officers, preachers, and our earlier grandpaps (those who could write at all) were all good stout old citizens, but they sure were weak spellers.

Take a look at as solemn a writing as the Edward Hawes will. He spells his son Daniel's name two different ways, his son Nathaniel's name in three different ways, and his own name one way at the beginning of the will and another at the end. At least whoever did the actual writing made those errors. And even the commonest words are spelled wrong, right, or as you please, without regard to Webster (who indeed wasn't even born at the time).

I do not tell you all this to poke fun at my respected grandfather, but that you may understand the many spellings of our family name was but an incident of the times in which they lived. The official who wrote Edward's marriage record spelled it Haws; the official who wrote Hezekiah Jr.'s spelled it Haze. The point I make is this[: T]hese officials had little education, and our grandfathers had less. Even David Hawes's widow later on spelled it Haws when she applied for administration papers and guardianship of the children, and David himself usually spelled it Haws.

So be thankful for such blessings as you have. What if your ancestors had left the H off, as so many English do? Your name would now be Aws. Howling catfish and glass alligators! How would you like that? For several generations many of our immediate line have signed it H-A-W-E-S, and since Grandfather James Hawes all of them have, so be it. Knock on wood and rub your rabbit's foot....

Coat of Arms
We had one, perhaps more, granted to the Hawes before Edward's time. I know so little about Heraldry, it is difficult for me to describe the one sent me by a distant kinsman. It seems in the Middle Ages, when knights wore armor that completely covered their heads and bodies[,] there grew up the custom of emblazoning devices on shields so that the wearers could be distinguished. When rulers or commanders put their OK on a man, they knighted him. This authorized him to put his design on his shield, so his friends, relatives, and comrades would know him at a glance. (Maybe enemies and collectors would not.) This emblazoning or marking was done under the supervision of a college of heralds who enforced the rules. I have owned a lot of six-shooters, Winchesters and shotguns, and I used a Krag-Jorgensen in the army, but this hardly qualifies me to describe the coat of arms sent to me.(2)

Well, I can try. It is a shield, square at the top, straight along both sides, and pointed at the bottom. At the top a large, displeased lion's head protrudes through a crown marked as if laid together like bricks in a chimney. This lion has a very suspicious look, as if he expected to detect female smoking of cigarettes, liver-stained fingernails, lipsticks, or female nose wrinkles caused by snoring.(3)

Below this supervising lion, two smaller lions march across the shield on three legs, each holding the right forefoot up as a salute. There is an intervening waving band, and another lion of the same description. Just the particular way each device or dingus is placed on a shield all means something which without a full knowledge of heraldry no one can accurately describe.(4)

More than anything else, these lions look to me like a bunch of Republicans getting ready to howl about the New Deal, or looking for a Democrat to lead the ticket.(5)

If our ancients hadn't done their bit of soldiering, they would not have had a coat of arms. Another way to tell is our small feet, developed by generations of horsemen.

The Records (no heading in the original)
An historical record of the kind I have presented in the foregoing pages should be supported by the best evidence obtainable; otherwise, it has no value. Three hundred years have passed.

What is the best evidence obtainable? I believe the best is that which is closest to our ancestors. What they themselves said in their wills, or if they died intestate, then the records of the courts which administered their estates (if they left an estate). These administrative proceedings were had soon after death, and both the judge (whose duty it is by law) and all the interested parties had due notice to be present, and had the opportunity to speak. Discrepancies would come to the surface. Official records of marriages, births and deaths, and other matters officially recorded all have much value.

There would also be another very creditable source of information that undoubtedly exists, but of which I do not know. I refer to entries in old family [B]ibles, old letters or contracts in the handwriting of our ancients or their friends. Whatever there may be of such information I hope those who read these pages will send me verbatim copies and say who has the original... also notify me if any errors are found herein.

I hope I have cited enough first-class evidence to substantiate each important statement I have made, even in the minds of kinsmen who may be inclined to be critical. Especially if you have bought some of the genealogists of the Edward Hawes line offered now and then at extravagant prices. I can pardon your skeptical attitude, for there is too much assumption and hot air in all of them that I have seen, and never enough real evidence.

My work has been loquacious, no doubt often tedious, and sometimes I repeat. This is unavoidable, as I am writing a little at a time, and sometimes with long intervals between. I have no time to re-edit, or do the inevitable cussing. Writing a family history is not all easy sailing if you want posterity to say when they speak of you: ["]The old guy had his shortcomings, but he tried to do it right."

The Hawes Contribution (no heading in the original)
I want to say now no reader should think I have a feeling of envy for those who reached these shores before we did, nor a feeling of scorn for those who came afterwards. Americanism is not tested by dates; it is tested by doing. No matter when you or your forefathers reached this land of freedom and opportunity, if you have been ready to defend its institutions at all times, and to share its opportunities with others less fortunate, welcome those who lawfully come and are equally willing to share the responsibilities and duties of freedom.

Let the proof of good faith of applicants for citizenship be ample, and the corroborative circumstances well fitted. When citizenship is granted, let it be easily revocable for misrepresentation, well punished, and speedily, too. In the case of these new citizens, and our own native-born citizens, they all accept protection from our [C]onstitution and flag. Accept no cheesy excuse for failure to salute our flag, with religion or without, from any scalawag whatsoever, male, female, neuter, or anybody else.

No part of this statement is to be stretched into propaganda advocating the sharing of American home markets or any kind of jobs or business with foreigners. American goods and American citizens should always have precedence here. The principal reason we have unemployment is because an equal number of foreigners are doing the business and jobs that rightfully belong to Americans.(6)

(Pardon... this is just one citizen talking. Other citizens with other ideas have the same right to be heard.)

Americanism is just as good as we, the people, make it. It can never be either better or worse. Any citizen, man or woman, who fails to vote should be shot at sunrise. If they have an excuse, shoot them twice.

Many Americans (especially the younger generation) bewail the fact that the frontiers are gone. Bosh! There are more and larger frontiers than ever-- only they are not reached by ox team or saddle horse. By sufficient education you reach the fields of medicine, chemistry, electricity and many other things that are changing the world. By sufficient education you will learn how to make America permanent. A democracy rests on the foundation of education.

Our founding forefathers knew we lacked education. With our form of government they thought that the interest of Americans would make education general. Not so. Look at our news stands, mostly trash for sale. Look at our theaters, mostly trash again.(7)

This calamity of news stands and shows is due to the demands of the people themselves. Look at our elections. Two thirds of our good people of American blood, born here for generations, usually have no more idea how they are voting than Mrs. O'Leary's cow when she kicked over the lantern. No American can shrug his or her shoulders and justly say, "Too much foreign immigration." No, it is mostly due to the sloth of us Americans.

There is work on that frontier. It needs work. By education perhaps even the entanglement of costly and complicated law that threatens all America can be unraveled until again each man may know the law which governs him. Even the lawyers don't know now only fifty percent of the time, as witness the result of all cases.

Now here is a very nice compliment given our family by one association of genealogists of considerable fame. I quote:

"The descendants of the Hawes family who settled in America have spread to all parts of the country, and have added as much in the growth and development of the nation as their ancestors did in its founding. They have been noted for their energy, industry, love of adventure, artistic and intellectual ability, patience, resourcefulness, courage and leadership."

Maybe these genealogists are about to increase their capital by the sale of stock, saying so many nice things. With more knowledge they might have added that so far as the members of the clan are concerned, too much sympathy or good fellowship has rarely been demonstrated. Their contacts with each other are rare, and excessive temperatures have never been reported. The Postmaster General's annual report (so I am told) estimates the average expenditure for stamps in the Hawes family for interchange of family letters is a trifle less than six bits per generation.

But they always shake your hand (and never fishily), look pleased, and a little rogue peeks out of the corner of the family eye and seems to say, "So what?" Also another little rogue peeks out of the newcomer's eye, and makes a similar inquiry.

I am trying to write a history, not a spurious compliment.

Physically we are the same compact men and women we have always been, evidencing endurance. Without exception (so far as I have seen) our men and women still retain the strong faces of their forefathers. There are no rabbit or rat faces. Our women are more comely than our men; often they are handsome, and always in each face is a look of strength. Also they carry their age better than our men. Our sense of humor persists, just as acute, and often more refined than in the stone axe days. Our tact is still of somewhat doubtful quality, not widely distributed nor much improved.

We have rarely appeared in King's, Religious, or Secular Courts. So far as I know, the nearest we came to the first, one member had luncheon once with a President.(8)

As to the second, most of our tickets were insufficient. As to secular courts, most of us seem to have sense enough to read all that is written above the dotted line before we sign for lightning rods, enlarged pictures, or what have you. Therefore, our records as plaintiff or defendant is usually at a minimum.

Divorces are rare. Partners who get one of us realize at once the sweetness of the plum they have selected. Also we all know how to construct a story that is possible to be believed. As for our men, they brought down from cave days the knowledge that women must have the last word, or else, or ELSE.

I would not insinuate our blood is better than many others, or fail to recognize the benefits of its many minglings; but to me it does seem a strong blood still to retain so many of its original characteristics. Of which I will mention just three which you all ought to recognize. Plenty of Pride. Not enough Tact. A bit too much of Downrightness. Perhaps all three of these can be excused as hangovers from the stone axe days. Such were the Hawes by the hawthorne hedge, such are the Hawes by the roads of life today.

The Different Hawes Lines (no heading in the original)
It may be that some branch of the Hawes family has a connected record from early days in England down to departure for America. If so, I don't know it.

It is quite commonly rumored that Edward, our first ancestor in America, came either with, or at about the same time as, his three brothers. I have often thought it probable they might be closely related, but I have never found any evidence of it. These other members of the Hawes family are the following:

• Edmund Hawes came from Warwickshire, England, in 1635 in the ship James and settled at Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
• Richard Hawes came from Buckinghamshire, England, in 1635 in the ship True Love and settled at Dorchester, Massachusetts.
• Robert Hawes came from England in 1635, and settled at Salem and Roxbury, Massachusetts. I don't know the name of the ship or the town in England.(9)

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  Handwritten, in Christine Barrett's onionskin copy:
  "NOT brothers!"
  
  To close this footnote, click the number again or click (Close)

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There are a number of the Hawes name recorded as living in the South at an early date. Among them are:

• Richard Hawes in 1639, Hamlett Haw in 1642, Richard Hawis in 1651, Walter Hawes in 1652, Samuel Hawes in 1712, and John Haw came in 1775. All these were in Virginia. There may have been others in Virginia and other parts of the South.

A number of representatives of the Hawes family have left enviable reputations in America. Among them Harry Hawes, U.S. Senator from Missouri, born in Kentucky; Albert Gallatin Hawes, U.S. Representative from Kentucky; Richard Hawes, State Representative and U.S. Representative from Kentucky-- all these doubtless from the Virginia branch. Mary Jane (Hawes) Holmes, author (Edward Hawes branch); Charles Boardman Hawes, writer of adventure stories; William Post Hawes, New York City lawyer of renown, and author of Hawes Parties to Actions, the greatest work on the subject (both of these from some Massachusetts branch of the family); and many others both South and North.(10)

To my mind, the two outstanding members are of the Edward Hawes branch. They are Jesse Hawes, born in Maine, schoolteacher, soldier, author, and a very celebrated physician and surgeon of Colorado, one of the kind who could and would drive a team of broncs eight miles, operate on the kitchen table if necessary, cure the patient so that he could get well, forget the bill if the patient were broke, and get home in time for dinner. I speak with feeling of this kinsman[,] for I knew him well.(11)

The other distinguished man was Joel Hawes, born in Maine, died in Hartford, Connecticut. For forty-nine years he was pastor of the First Church of Christ in that city. His life and services so impressed his congregation and the people of Hartford the church erected the following tablet to his memory:

"To the beloved memory of Joel Hawes, Tenth Pastor of this Church. Born December 22, 1789. Installed March 4, 1818. Died June 5, 1867. A vigorous, devoted, and successful Minister of the Gospel of Christ."

Besides Dr. Jesse Hawes previously mentioned, only two others of the generation preceding me do I remember (my father, too, of course)-- Martin Van Buren Hawes and his sister, Sarah E. Thompson (Aunt Emma). Their kindness to one small boy lives yet in his memory after more than sixty years.

The foremost grace I can think for our Family Tree,
We're better spellers than we used to be.

Traditions and Rumors (no heading in the original)
John Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence, was a second cousin of Frances Hancock Lawrence, wife of James Hawes. This grandma of ours had red hair. Another Lawrence related to her was knighted for bravery at the Siege of Acre by Richard the Lion-Hearted during the Crusades. A small estate in England given to him at the same time is said to be still owned by the family. I have made no effort to verify this, but have always heard the story is true.

Here is a story about what I guess is "telepathy".... Rowland Hawes, the older son of James, ran away to sea when he was young. His father worried much about him, and for years would meet the stage once a week with the hope Rowland might come home. Years passed, and the old man lost hope, and no longer met the stage. One day Frances, the mother, arrayed herself in her best. This was so unusual that old James inquired, "Where are you going, Mother?" She replied, "To the stage station to bring Rowland home." Frederick Hawes and his brother Jesse were so astonished at the reply, they hung around and kept watch. When the stage arrived, they saw their mother returning with a man. It was Rowland. He was the Captain and part owner of a ship. He visited awhile, returned to the sea, and was never heard from afterwards.

On another occasion, Frances was working in the kitchen. At just eleven o'clock by the big clock she said, "So-and-so [mentioning the name of a relative in New Hampshire or Vermont] just passed away." A week or ten days later a letter came confirming her statement... day, date, and hour.

If my father told me about these happenings once, he must have told me two dozen times (always when his asthma bothered him). He never ceased to wonder how such things could be. Nor have I.

Somewhere in this manuscript I said the Hawes family formerly operated a tavern in England. Of course, this statement is just based on tradition as my father remembered hearing it. Robert Louis Stevenson in one of his books mentions a Hawes Inn.(13)

Some time during the World War a friend of mine was recuperating at some camp in England. He sent me a postal card with a picture of the Hawes Inn on it, but I must have forgotten the name of the town. He said the inn was very old, and that it must be where my folks came from, for the cemetery had very many old gravestones with our name on them.

Once I was enlisting native soldiers for a regiment officered by American officers. One applicant said his name was "Haw-wess," as he pronounced it. I asked him to write the name (and, unusual at the time, he was able to do so). He wrote it very plainly just as we do. I asked him if his father had been English[.] He said no but that his grandfather had been an American Captain sailing out of Baltimore. Was this a grandson of Rowland's? None of my inquiries turned up the information.

There has always been a persistent rumor that we have Indian blood. I can find no evidence of it. The legend I will tell you about Edward's early life may have given rise to it. Also there is a rumor that Daniel's second wife, Bridget, had some Indian blood. I don't know, but by her he had no children.

There is more than a rumor that this same Bridget made the finest home-brewed ale in all that section. You know such was the custom in those days. Of course, that wasn't the reason Daniel married her. Really she is said to have been a very fine person.

I like to think of Bridget, and her fine receipt
And her home-brewed ale that no one else could beat.
She must have been a careful gal... with all the pains she took.
I thought it might be written in some old-time book.

But Bridget and her fine receipt it grieves me to admit,
I only know by hearsay, not by trying it.(14)

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