A biographical sketch and incidents
of the life and services
of the late Col. Benjamin Hawkins
Superintendant [Superintendent] of all the Indians
South of the Ohio

By his Nephew
John D. Hawkins
of Franklin County No. [North] Carolina
1848


[added text (appears to be different ink and hand ): No 2 ]



Col Benjamin Hawkins was born in Bute which was changed to warren county No [North] Carolina after the Declaration of Independence in
1776, on the
15th day of August 1754. And he died at his residence in the Creek nation in the exercise of his functions as superintendant [superintendent] of Indian affairs, on the
6th day of June 1816. A particular record to this effect was made at the time of his death by [unclear text: his ] elder Brother Col Philemon Hawkins in his Family Bible with the additional remark recorded at the same time that "He had been in public life 36 years." His Parents were Col Philemon Hawkins Senior and [unclear text: Delia ] Hawkins. both of whom lived and died in the same County at advanced ages. His Father was born in the County of Gloucester in the State of Virginia on the
28th of September 1717 -- the County where the Hawkins Family seem to have first settled, on their arrival in this Country from England. He moved from thence to No [North] Carolina when about 20 years of age and settled upon Roanoke River, with his only Brother John. His Mother had married a second time to a man who did not treat her well except through fear of her son Philemon and her Husband moved to the Roanoke and her son Philemon to protect his Mother had to follow them. He was a remarkable man. Born to small Patrimony, raised to hard labour [labor], in obscurity & without the Patronage of Friends to advance him. In the Country He left He Had acquired a name for industry & prudence that furnished him with good imployment [employment] and ample compensation. But he was compelled to Leave it and go into No [North] Carolina a new and untried Country, inhabited for most part by Indians and the some savage whites, who always crowd their Borders. This being the place where his Step Father chose to live. Here he sat down with the resolute purpose, to make his fortune by his industry, his prudence and [deleted text: by ] his economy. And his indomitable energy soon gave him a start upon which he built a fortune and a fame that outstriped [outstripped] all his neighbours [neighbors] . He was a man of great distinction in
1772. He was then the chief aid to Governor [unclear text: Trion ] in the Battle of the [unclear text: Alomance ] in No. [North] Carolina, Fought with the Regulators in that year. Possessing the Means, he advanced his Family to the first stations in society. And he lived in the full enjoyment of a well spent life and died in
1801, in the 83d year of his age. He had six children, four sons & two daughters. His sons were in the order of their ages. Col John Hawkins, Col Philemon Hawkins Junior. Col Benjamin Hawkins & Col Joseph Hawkins. His daughters were [unclear text: Delia ], Married to [unclear text: Len Henly ] Ballock ; and Ann, married to Micajah Thomas. The daughters did not live long after they were Married, Leaving no living children. And of the sons Col Joseph Hawkins the youngest, was an officer in the Continental Services. He died in the year
1785 the other sons, John, Philemon & Benjamin Survived their Parents and the two first left numerous Families in Warren & the adjoining Counties. Their descendants were noted men, and held respectable situations in life. Col John Hawkins had five sons. four of them served for many years in the State Legislature. His third son Joseph was also controller of the Treasury of No [North] Carolina when he died, and the youngest son Genl. [General] Micajah [added text: [unclear text: T ] ] [unclear text: J ] Hawkins represented the district of his uncle, the Honble [Honorable] Nathaniel Macon, in Congress for upwards of Ten years, embracing the administration of Genl [General] Jackson. Col Philemon Hawkins Junior had seven sons, William, John & Joseph W. Benjamin Jr. Philemon, Frank, and George W. Hawkins. The oldest, William, was speaker of the House of Commons in the Legislature of No [North] Carolina, and afterwards Governor of the State, during the latter years of the war with England. The six youngest sons all finished their course of Education, and Graduated at the University of No [North] Carolina . Col Benjamin Hawkins left but one son, James Madison Hawkins, and five daughters. The son and three daughters are still living. The subject of this memoir was [unclear text: raised ] to habits of industry, Economy and frugality, from early life. But he possessed a liberal spirit, which he inherited from his Parents, who possessed and practised it, in an eminent degree. No private House in No. Ca. [North Carolina] was more extensively known, and none where more enlarged Hospitality was dispensed, than at the Residence of Col Philemon Hawkins senior. In the early education of Col Benjamin Hawkins, he was sent to the best schools the Country afforded. There were then no Academies near at Hand, and no College in the State. The nearest College was William & Mary in Virginia, but in the estimation of his Father, Princeton College had the preference and therefore [deleted text: him ] [added text: he ] and his youngest Brother Joseph were sent to that institution. There they remained until the war of the Revolution suspended its exercises, at which time Col Benjn [Benjamin] Hawkins and his Brother Joseph, were in the senior Class, and the circumstance of the war cut short their Collegiate course at that stage. For the exercises of the College were not resumed until Col Benj [Benjamin] Hawkins and his Brother Joseph were in the active service of the Country aiding and sustaining it in all it perilous difficulties, during the Revolution.
It was the usage at that time, at Princeton, as it should be at all Colleges, but which is not however at some, for the President of the College to notice the members of the senior Class, in the way of invitations to dinner. On one of those occasions, Col Ben. Hawkins who had retired to his apartment to dress himself for the occasion, was descending the College Stairs to a passage, and one of the young Gentlemen Standing, by took hold of his Gun and said Hawkins you are so fine I will shoot [added text: you ] ! and before He could be admonished that the gun was loaded, he fired in a playful way the load in his right eye, which entirely destroyed it. The young man who done the Mischief did it with the most inocent [innocent] intent, for he had himself but a little while before discharged his Gun, which another had reloaded without his knowledge. It was fortunately a small load of mustard seed shot. The pain was great and the sympathy unbounded. The suffering was protracted for ten years before all the shot were extracted but it was only occasionally [added text: painfully ] felt. It produced a scene of great sympathetic distress throughout the whole College and excessiv [added text: e ] regret to the young man who had done the Mischief. This sad accident caused the enactment of [added text: a ] bylaw at the College prohibiting ever after, the use of fire arms in and about the College, which is as [added text: it ] should be now a by law, at most [deleted text: all ] Colleges, interdicting their use, except at Colleges for Military instruction. The loss of Col Hawkins' eye gave rise to a humerous [humorous] pun whilst He was a [added text: member of ] Congress under the Old confederati [added text: on ] . A witty good natured member from Pensylvania in passing an innocent [unclear text: gun ] upon the [deleted text: names ] [added text: names & customs ] of the southern States [added text: and people ] said, [added text: that ] in Virginia, He understood they settled their quarrels by the pugilistic exercise, toeing the mark. But in No. [North] Carolina it was very different. It would seem, then, they fought by scratching and gouging, and from such [unclear text: rencounters ], Hawkins and Burke had escaped with only an eye a piece. Governor Burke who was then an associate member with Col Hawkins had by some accident lost one of his eyes also.
Col Hawkins when He left college, was a ripe scholar of his Collegiate grade & understood and spoke French well In the intercourse which Genl [General] Washington had necessarily to have with the French officers (he did not speak or understand French himself) [deleted text: and ] it was necessary he should have some member of his Family, to aid [added text: him ] in that particular. He formed an acquaintance with Col Hawkins, and pressed him into his services as a member of his Family where [added text: he ] remained some time, He was it is known with Genl [General] Washington at the Battle of [unclear text: Monmouth ] in New Jersey in
1779 and in many other situations before and after that Battle. The servant who attended upon Col Hawkins at the Battle of [unclear text: Monmouth ], as he did before as well as after that period, and for many years, was freed in
1801 and although two years older than his Master he lived until about four years ago, when he died in the County of Warren, near the place of his Master's nativity.
In
1780 Col Hawkins was chosen by the legislature of No. [North] Carolina commercial agent, to procure all things needful Home or abroad for the use and support of the army and State defences, in which capacity He served [deleted text: for several years, and ] as long as such an agent was [added text: deemed ] necessary. During this time He acted [added text: as ] aid [unclear text: [deleted text: de ] ] Camp to the then Governor Nash upon many occasions. As commercial agent, he repaired to the Island of St. [unclear text: Eustatia ], to procure arms munitions of war and all other articles needed for the use of the State, and in that character he purchased many Articles and put them on Board of the Merchant vessels of a then rich merchant of New Bern No Ca. [North Carolina] by the name of John Wright Stanly. Father of the late distinguished John Stanly [unclear text: Decd [Deceased] ] of New Bern, and Grandfather to the Honble [Honorable] Edward Stanly. There vessels and cargoes were all taken by the British vessels of war, and that capture ruined the great fortune of the unfortunate J W Stanly, who saught [sought] redress at the hands of the State of N Ca [North Carolina], but was refused it when it should have been allowed him. J W Stanly then brought an action against Col Hawkins in his individual character, which took its turn in the Courts carrying with it some excitement. But the court decided that the purchases and contracts of the States Agent did not bind him individually.
The two Following letters from Col Hawkins to the Board of War in No Ca [North Carolina], will in some sort, tell his duties as commercial agent. "


Sir,
I, this
May, had the pleasure of reading your letter to the Governor on the subject of procuring salt for the immediate supply of the Army, and in his answer, he says the commercial Agent was vested with power to impress salt, but the power as I conceiv [added text: ed ] was Temporary, and only meant for the use of the Militia then in Service. However all the salt there to be had in the State was at Wilmington, and which I had purchased amounting to fourteen hundred Bushels. Of this I made return, as directed by the Board of War and also the same time (M. [unclear text: Bignell ] present) informed [added text: me ] of what else we had in the State and pointed out the propriety of immidiatly [immediately] adopting some mode of procuring a sufficient supply, as it was within your Power.
The only alternative now, is to impress, and [added text: that ] might answer the purpose under proper regulations. There is salt at Washington, Wilmington & [unclear text: Edinton ] and we daily expect some to arrive here. All that can be purchased I will get. All your orders that have come to the Board of trade have been supplied, and I shall endeavour so to do. The Continental salt here I am devoting to this purpose.
I have about one hundred and twenty Barrels of Old Pork at Wilmington to Barter as soon as an opportunity offers for salt. Misfortunate [Unfortunate] for us perhaps, most of the departments within this State are misunderstood, whether it be from too frequent changes that have been made by the assembly, or their not being timely instructed and applied to, I know not.
I further remark that the Governor supposed me cloathed [clothed] with ample powers to impress salt; should this be the opinion of the Board of war you must make immidiate [immediate] requisitions of the quanity [quantity] necessary for the Public, at the same time directing the inforcing [enforcing] of the act mentioned by the Governor and painful as [added text: it ] will necessarily be to me, I will immidiately [immediately] exicute [execute] it endeavouring at the same time to make suitable compensation to the owners if practicable or possible, though of the latter in our present situati [added text: on ] I despair, particularly when the owners have their vessels waiting on expense with no other property but salt to load. Then However we dare not presume to put the individual interest in competition with the Public. I did propose setting out to Washington tomorrow, but shall wait your further orders. In the mean time I shall be indefatigable in procuring here, all that may arrive here.
Your express can return within six days. By then I shal [added text: l ] be in readiness to execute your commands; Our necessities must be secret or our intentions may prove abortive

I am with due respect Sir
your obedient Humble Servt [Servant]
[Signed] Benjamin Hawkins
Newbern the
10th of December 1780
To the Honble [Honorable] [unclear text: Oroondates ] Davis Esqr [Esquire]
On reflection, the impressing buisness [business] had better be conducted by your commisary [commissary] General or his Deputies as it will then be in [added text: a ] proper channel [deleted text: l ]

[Signed] B. H. [Benjamin Hawkins]
""


New Bern the
4th of January 1781
Gentlemen
In your favour [favor] of the
24th ultimo you are pleased to point out to me the reasons which induced you to order a removal of the State Stores to the interior Posts of the Country and the Manner you intended to dispose of them with the whole tenor of your conduct on this head, which I suppose to be perfectly consistant [consistent] with your appointments: and that you are surprised to find that all your political plans have failed owing to a supposed neglect in our department. Prey [Pray] Gentlemen, who tought [taught] you to believe, that we had a large stock of salt for the public, or that you should depend [added text: on ] us for any thing [anything] without previously requiring it from us? How can you suppose we were early advised of any thing [anything] by an act of Assembly we never saw nor heard of till quoted by you? If the inference in your letter be right, the Printer ought to loose [lose] his head for such a manifest neglect & error. For in the printed copy (the only one come to us) the Commissioners of Trade are not named; neither is any thing [anything] in our possession subject to the draughts of the Board of War. However the latter would not have been contested by me, had you applied to us in time.
Am I, at the distance of one hundred miles, to know the intentions of the Assembly not expressed or of the Board of War without a single sentence from them? Am I answerable for failures in the Department foreign from my own?
The act appointing me commercial Agent impowered [empowered] among other things to impress salt. But I purchased all the salt then to be had (about fourteen Hundred Bushels) and had it stored and meant to subject it to the supplying of the army occasionally, not doubting but that Majr Genl [Major General] Caswell or his staff would apprise me from time to time of their dependence as they had done in many instances
I am sorry that the too sparing a correspondance [correspondence] between the two Boards, should have caused the evils attended on the public, and I mean not to criminate you, when I Judge in favour [favor] of the Board of Trade in this matter.
Would you have had us on imperfectly hearing of your appointment to have applied to you to know whether you had commands for us? Or aught [ought] you not knowing as you seem to do, you had the direction of us to have directed returns to be timely made at the same time pointing out to us, what you wished us to do? I am exceedingly sorry you did not get supplies from the Hospital at Hillsboro, and the few necessaries for your own use we meant to [unclear text: send ] . And I gave [deleted text: [illegible text] ] [added text: positive ] orders and Col. Luck informed me, that he had delivered a very large supply to Col [unclear text: Longs ] order for the purpose above, and also to Col. William Blount, the latter being immidiately [immediately] sent to Hillsboro induced me to believe you were supplied.
As to the private transactions of Col Blount respecting the sugar in Mr Monfords care, I am ignorant, as he never did any business in [deleted text: any ] [added text: my ] department.
You close your letter by disclosing some of the important Trusts reposed in you, and this you do still summoning me to attend and report my commercial transactions to the General Assembly. Surely, Gentlemen, you are jesting as it is impossible you should be in earnest. Whence do you derive this power? If you will attend to the Laws appointing the two Boards, you will find, that I could with as much propriety call on you to report. And that you have just the same power over the Chief Magistrate, as over the Board of Trade. Indeed the latter is greater, you make requisitions to the Governor of aid & reinforcements, and you demand warrants of him for money. But I am entirely out of the power you express in your letter (as commissioner of Trade). It is before the General Assembly at their annual Meeting or [unclear text: oftener ], if they think proper, I am to report my commercial transactions and give them the necessary satisfaction you are pleased to express. However I will send a transcript of my transactions if it be incompatable [incompatible] with the public good for me to attend (as I conceive it will at present) only to give the few that are doubtful, new proof of my disinterested attachment to the public Interest.
You seem [added text: to regret ] being troublesome to your Friends. I declare myself one of the number of your Friends, and that I should be exceedingly happy that a Board of War Should be continued. I aver that it is as necessar [added text: y ] as any department, within the state and that it would give me no pain to be oblidged [obliged] to report my commercial transactions to them, and be subject to put the Military Stores to their order & disposal. I shall attend as I have promised the Governor, to supplying salt.

I am with respect Gentlemen your Obedient servt [servant]
[Signed] Benjamin Hawkins The Honble [Honorable] The Board of War
"
In the latter part of the year
1781 Col. Hawkins was a member of the General Assembly of No [North] Carolina and was chairman of the committee of [illegible text] and Elections. To that committee the contested election of John Bonds of Nash county was refered [referred] . Nash County at that day was not considered the most intellectual county in the state, nor was it considered that its inhabitants possessed in a very high degree the Philosophy to eschew a Character as unfit for their Representative, who suffered under, the imputation of being guilty of disgraceful crimes. John Bonds was notorious as an immoral and dishonest man, and for these charges drawn out in specifications, was arraigned and carried before that committee. The committee gave the case a patient and careful examination, and the proofs of guilt were clear and conclusive. One of Col. Hawkins neighbours [neighbors] was visiting the Assembly, the Honble [Honorable] Richard Henderson, who had been one of the associate Judges under the Kingly Government and who was father to the late Chief Justice Henderson of the supreme court of No [North] Carolina, and [added text: was ] not a member of Assembly. He was a man universally beloved, but liable to fits of intoxication. He was then labouring [laboring] under that infirmity, and Col. Hawkins had taken him in charge to cool him out. To have him at his room in that stage of his disease, fear was [unclear text: entertained ] he might backslide. And as Col. Hawkins was chairman of the committee, it was necessary he should attend it. He therefore took Judge Henderson with him to the Committee Room. The Judge was a man of fine [unclear text: Tones ] ; and beautiful Elocution. During the trial of Bonds he could not well conceal that the case had awakened a lively, and humurous [humorous] feeling in him, and [added text: when ] the vote was about to be taken the Chairman introduced to the committee his friend the Honble [Honorable] [unclear text: Mr ] Henderson, with the remark that he had given the case a hearing and might be willing if it met the pleasure of the committee to give them his views upon it. The committee at once unanimously requested Judge Henderson to give them his views. He arose with [unclear text: apparent ] gravity, evidently full of humour [humor], and stated that it had been [added text: his ] province to fill a Judicial station under the late Kings Government, and for a great portion of his life he had been conversant in the trials of crimes and [unclear text: misdemoners [misdemeanors] ] but that this was a new case, when taken in connexion [connection] with the present position of the offender. He was now to be tried under the constitution, which was only Five years old, and which pointed out the qualifications of Members and the spirit as well as the letter of the constitution led to great freedom in the choice of Representatives. It evidently seemed to concede to the Constituants [Constituents], the choice of their Representatives, if that Representative did not offer himself in violation of that instrument; and also to allow [added text: them ] to Elect a man of their own [illegible text] to represent them, that they might be represented in congenial character. It was true he said that the Guilt of John Bonds as charged, was clearly made out & established, and was believed to exert, at the time he was elected by his [unclear text: constituants ] ; [deleted text: [unclear text: and ] ] [added text: But ] as it [added text: was ] a matter to be considered now for a constituancy [constituency] under the constitution, had a right to be Represented by a man like themselves, he was of opinion he was a fit Representative for Nash county, if that county was entitled to be represented in kind; and [deleted text: therefore ] [added text: if so ] he was entitled to his seat.
On the
13th day of May 1782, Col Hawkins was elected by the General Assembly of No. Ca. [North Carolina] a member of Congress, under the Old Confederation, for one year, and was again reelected on the
14th of May 1783 for a like term and was present at Annapolis in that year, being the memorable congress, before whom, Genl [General] Washington appeared, to lay down his commission as commander in chief of the American Armies. On the
21st of March 1785 being then a Member of Congress he was appointed by Congress having been unanimous [added text: ly ] nominated by the whole No Ca [North Carolina] delegation, a commissioner together with Daniel Carrol, and William Perry to trial with the Cherokees and all other Indians south of them. He was also appointed by Congress, [added text: the ] same year as a commissioner associated with Genl [General] Andrew Pickens, Joseph Martin and Lachlan McIntosh to negotiate with the Creek Indians. They concluded the Treaty of Hopewell, with the Cherokees. He was again elected a member of Congress in
1786 to serve until the 1st Monday of
November 1787. In
1789 he was elected to the Senate of the United States together with Samuel Johnson Esq. [Esquire] The two first senators chosen by No Ca [North Carolina] under the Federal Constitution, and he was qualified & took his seat the
13th of January 1790. In the ordeal of Classification which he had to pass, he was [deleted text: [unclear text: allotted ] ] [added text: elected ] to serve [added text: for ] Six years. By the General Assembly which elected these two senators Govr [Governor] Johnson was elected the first ballot and the contest for the other appointment was between Col Ben Hawkins and Col William Blount; afterwards Governor of Tennessee and Senator from that State in the Congress of the United States. These two Gentlemen before this conflict had been particularly Friendly had served together frequently in the Congress of the confederation and in other Stations. The contest was animatedly waged by their Friends, not by themselves. In fact each had a Brother in the Assembly and they were both men of distinguished influence in that body. They took on and disseminated the excitement growing out of that contest for the Mastery. And when Col Hawkins was Elected it was against his wishes, as he much disliked strife, such as he saw this contest would lead to. But his Elder Brother Col Philemon Hawkins Junior, alluded to, willed it otherwise, and so the election was decided. This election produced a Breach among old Friends, that was never afterwards healed. The Elder members of the Blount Family were men of great respectability and distinction, and of high notions of self importance They never afterwards looked with a Friendly eye upon the Elder members of the Hawkins Family. But the after generations of both families inculcated a warm Friendship for each other, which ripened into intermarriages. That Friendship still exists and is much valued on both sides.
The Bitter course taken by Govr [Governor] Blount against Col Ben Hawkins as Indian Agent and for other causes, was traceable in some sort Back to that old senatorial contest in
1789. It may be remembered, as it is of record, that Govr [Governor] Blount then being a senator in Congress from Tennessee, was impeached before that body in
1797.
By the Treaty of New York in
1790, the Creek Indians placed themselves under the protection of the United States and of no other power, and by the Treaty of Galventon concluded by Col Hawkins, Joseph Martin & Lachlan McIntosh in
1785 they acknowledged themselves to be within the limits of Georgia and members of that state. These two things of inconsistant [inconsistent] political relationship led to the appointment by Genl [General] Washington of three commission [added text: ers ] to treat with the Creek confederacy, and for that purpose He nominated to the Senate Benjamin Hawkins of No. [North] Carolina, George Clymer of Pensylvania, and Andrew Pickins of South Carolina as commissioners in
June 1795. Col Hawkins served out his full term of Six years in the Senate; but it was known for some time [sometime] before the end of that period, among his Friends, that Genl [General] Washington was importuning him to accept the Agency of Superintending [added text: all ] the Indians south of the Ohio. He by no means solicited [added text: the ] appointment. On the contrary he was induced to accept it only at the particular desire of President Washington, and [unclear text: much ] against the wishes of his Friends & relations, who never doubted his ability to accomplish anything he might undertake, but they believed it would be such an abstraction from civilized life, and such a close connexion [connection] with savages, that although his purpose was predicated upon Patriotism, and benevolance [benevolence] to civilize them, yet the task for a man of his refinement would be so onerous as to render his situation extremely uncomfortable. Col Hawkins had five Estates given him mainly by his Father, and his deceased Brother Col. Joseph Hawkins whose Patrimony he left him. One estate upon the Roanoke river he cultivated with many hands. He built there a large Manufactoring [Manufacturing] Mill, which he visited often and would sojourn there for his amusement, as [added text: his ] desires led him. But his main residence was with his Parents, who had no other member of their white Family to live with them, and he was the delight of their declining years. During the time of his service in the senate, when at Home, his Father's House being the very seat of Hospitality was much frequented by visitors from various parts of the world, some from France to enjoy the pleasure of his society. Exiled Frenchmen of distinction who had to leave France during the Revolution and the reign of Robespierre sought him out, and found with him a most agreeable retreat. Col Hawkins spoke French fluantly [fluently] when many of them could not talk English, and his style of living or that of his Parents was inviting.
In the summer and fall of the year
1794, during the recess of Congress there raged in many parts of warren County a violent and in many cases a fatal Epidemic, resembling the Asiatic cholera, which name however was then scarcely known. It was called the Flux and prevailed mostly in places most liable to [unclear text: Billious ] Fever. In the neighbourhood [neighborhood] of Col Hawkins' Roanoke estate it prevailed extensively and Medical assistance was [added text: not ] near at Hand. In that state of things he turned his attention to the diseases and sufferings of of [of] the people attending gratuitously to every call. He remained at his plantation, during the [unclear text: prevalence ] of this dreadfull [dreadful] malady, and gave comfort and cure in almost every case. Where as [Whereas] the most noted doctor in the County, lost a great many cases. In one Family particularly, he lost twenty six cases. This act of Benevolence was in character with Col Hawkins and Showed that his Skill was equal to his Philanthropy.
Being thus a man of ample fortune surrounded by by [by] all the comforts of life. He was the idol of his Family and Friends, very acceptable to every body, in [deleted text: part ] [added text: fact ] he was [added text: the ] pride and the ornament of the social circle in which he moved. It was well known no mercenary inducement operated upon him. That although it was against his maxim to lessen his estate he would nevertheless not assay to add to it, as a [added text: man ] might do. That if his income and resources should be ever so great, his disinterestedness and liberality of character were such they would only increase the bounds of his munificence. To take a man thus constituted and situated with all his advantages from the senate of the United States and put him down among savages, when he could be influenced by no motive to make the change save that of Patriotism and Philanthropy was considered a trial or [added text: an ] ordeal but few would be willing to pass. It was known for some time his mind was balancing whether he would would not accept the appointment. Finally he determined to accept it, much to the discomfiture of his Friends and He [unclear text: sat ] out from his Father's residence, Warren County No Ca [North Carolina] in
November 1796 to fulfill the objects of his mission and on the
19th day of that month recording to his journal he arrived at Hopewell the Hospitable residence of Genl [General] Andrew Pickins in South Carolina. He commenced on the day of his arrival at Genl [General] Pickins with his Journal written in a portable blank Book of easy Carriage, in saddle Bags. In this book, he recorded his official correspondence as well as much that was unofficial. The Topography of the Country over which he passed, its soil, Timber water power, the name and size of the streams as well as the places where he stoped [stopped], and the adaptation of every thing [everything] which fell under his eye interesting to be known. He was [unclear text: Provident ] to carry his Portfolio well supplied with all the necessary materials for writing and carrying on his Journal. His first care was after taking up for the night, and taking his usual refreshments, to write out his journal of the day. If in the woods by fire light & when one Blank volume was filled up he had another ready. In this way his Books of Journals and other writings to the time of his death numbered many volumes. The first volume he wrote which has long been in possession of his Nephew John [unclear text: D ] Hawkins of Franklin County No Ca [North Carolina] having been presented to him by his Brother Governor Hawkins who was the Executor of Col Ben Hawkins, he has lately presented to the Georgia Historical society through their corresponding secretary Mr J K. [unclear text: Tefft ] . The next nine volumes are already in possession of that society. Some of Col Hawkins writings relative to the Indian Language, he sent to Mr Jefferson who sent them to the Honble [Honorable] Albert Gallatin as rare works suited to the [added text: Taste & ] [illegible text] of Mr [unclear text: Galliton ] who has devoted much of his time to Indian History. All the balance of Col Hawkins manuscripts were supposed to have been burnt by the flames which consumed his House shortly after his death.
Col Hawkins must have suffered greatly by his exposure to cold & rain & the night air. His usage was always to camp out [deleted text: rather ] [added text: rarely ] ever sleeping upon a featherbed. This it is believed terminated his existance [existence] prematurely. His supply of Food was Generally from the Rifle when in the woods with parched corn meal. And the sound of the Rifle would also bring up the wolves and the Ravens to take the refuse of the game Killed by the Rifle. When he needed quills for writing, he would have the gun fired which would Bring the Ravins [Ravens] and having one of them shot he would have at once a good supply.
It was known that his predecessor Mr Seagrove, had been frightened away [added text: From ] the angency [agency] by an attempt on the part of the Indians to take his life. A Statment [Statement] of this sort seemed to nerve Col Hawkins the more to accept the appointment of Indian Agent and to make the trial.
The necessaty [necessity] for an Agent among the Indians bespeaks the presence among them of bad white men, who go or try to go among them to profit by their intrigues and malintercourse. Such men soon see that an Agent who will do his duty forms a barrier to their evil intercourse. They therefore soon set to work to get him out of their way by false pretences. Their efforts influenced the Indians to give such alarm to Mr Seagrove that he left the [deleted text: [illegible text] ] [added text: Agency ] . Under such circumstances Col Hawkins took his place. A similar effort was soon made to run him off but it was [added text: as ] soon discovered he was a very different man. He passed at once among the Hostiles where they [added text: had ] assembled as was threatened to kill [added text: him ] and told [added text: them ] he had heard of their threats which he defied, & warned them of their own danger. That He was the representative of the United States and if injury was done him, it would be avenged by the whole union. He moreover told them that if they would not listen to the bad counsels of bad white men, they of themselves he was satisfied would do no wrong. That these bad white men were only in pursuit of their own sinister purposes to benefit themselves, not to benifit [benefit] the Indians, but to injure them, and but for him these bad men would in the course of time ruin them. That if they (the Indians) would listen to him as their real Friend, he would prosper them, and turn that impending ruin to their own great advantage. This sage counsel finally had its desired effect, and Col Hawkins gained an influence among the Indians which no other man had ever accomplished. But the History of his Indian Agency is not the purpose of this memoir. That administration is left to History, and fortunately enough of his writings were preserved from the flames which distroyed [destroyed] his House shortly after his death, as well as that there are yet living in Georgia and elsewhere men who shared his [unclear text: munificense [munificence] ] and witnessed his rare & transcendant [transcendent] attainments, his high and amiable qualifications and his unbounded Philanthropy and Patriotism, to enable History to perpetuate his name. He has done much to establish the Topography of Georgia and left many valuable materials for his History & It is indeed a pleasing reflection to the Friends & relations of Col Hawkins to know that the Georgia Historical society have set about doing justice to his memory by publishing some of his works which will cause his memory to be perpetuated and his valuable services to be so recorded as to manifest their due appreciation.
It is known among the Archives at Washington that Col Hawkins tendered his resignation to every President from Genl [General] Washington down to the time of his death, but no one would accept it, telling him he must remain, that his services were indispensable. These flattering replys [replies] made by all the Presidents caused him to continue to bear the burden of holding on the easier. And thereby only was he kept so long in the arduous duties of Indian Agent. It [deleted text: was ] [deleted text: [added text: [illegible text] ] ] extensively known [deleted text: for many years ] he wished to leave the Agency, [deleted text: and ] during the administration of Mr Jefferson [added text: & ] a reccommendation [recommendation] was gotten up in favour [favor] of another person as his successor, which was presented to him. Mr Jefferson replied, he saw there was no difficulty to get a successor to Col Hawkins, the great difficulty was to induce him to hold on, and so long as that could be done, no successor would be appointed by him. When Col Hawkins took upon himself the Indian Agency his attention was mainly called and directed to the Creeks & Cherokees. [added text: He lived ] [deleted text: A ] [added text: a ] mong them and to controul [control] them were found the greatest difficulties. The lower Creeks especially, were called wild Indians, and so remained until, they were finally driven from the Country, after the long and Bloody Seminola War. But the Chactaws and Chickasaws were likwise [likewise] under his superintendance [superintendence], confided in [added text: some ] sort to a subagent by the government, who was Mr Silas Dinsmore a Gentleman of high Character and attainments, who had fully the confidence of Col Hawkins. But Mr Dinsmore resigned his appointment not long after the difficulties produced through the instrumentality of William Blount then a Senator in Congress from Tennessee. The duties of which he had discharged with credit to himself and usefulness to the Country and he retired to follow other pursuits.
In connexion [connection] with the subject of the difficulties produced by Governor Blount which resulted in his impeachment as Senator in Congress. Col Hawkins says in a letter to William Faulkner Esq [Esquire] dated
November 25th 1797"I have since I left you seen much of the Western Country, witnessed the downfall of a character whom I highly valued when I first had the pleasure of knowing you, and seen a check given, I hope an effectual one, to a base system for the destruction of the [deleted text: [illegible text] ] [added text: four ] Nations, by people greedily grasping after all their lands, and I have the happiness to know that I have contributed much to the establishment of the well grounded confidence, which the [deleted text: [unclear text: fals ] [added text: four ] ] nations have in the Justice of the United States. And this confidence is so well Grounded that the Malice or [unclear text: wickedness ] of the enemies of our Government, cannot destroy it."
In the year
1801 the first year of Mr Jeffersons administration Col Hawkins was again appointed principal Agent of Indian affairs South of the Ohio and as Joint commissioner with Genl [General] Wilkinson and Genl [General] Andrew Pickens to negotiate treaties with the Chickesaws, Chacktaws and Natches.
He had long been in bad health from exposure, and had so often determined to resign and leave the burdensome charge of this Indian responsibility, which he could but illy bear, that the Government seemed willing finally to give him up. But when He died he was still the Agent and had called to his assistance his Nephew Capt Philemon Hawkins, who at the close of the war in
1815 resigned his commission in the Army as Captain of Artillery and at the particular request of his Uncle had Joined him as assistant Agent. Capt Hawkins was also in bad health having taken cold in the Military Service which settled upon his Lungs. He lived some months only after the death of his Uncle, discharging the duties as Agent and his estate was paid by Government as such. Governor Mitchell was then appointed, but before his instalation [installation] Capt Hawkins died. And subsequently when Governor Mitchell took charge of the Agency it was necessary he should [added text: have ] a reference to some documents among the papers of Captn [Captain] Hawkins then at the Agency, and Governor Mitchell wrote to Govr [Governor] Hawkins in No. Ca [North Carolina] who was the executor of Col Ben Hawkins as also of Captn [Captain] Hawkins, for permission to go into his trunks to procure them, which request was complied with. Governor Mitchell remained in the Agency not a long time and was succeeded by Col Crowell. Against his administration there were objections and charges made to the Government by the Indians and others, one of these was signed in
1825 by Benjamin Hawkins. This caused the misconception, that it was Col Ben Hawkins, and that He was alive at that time. Whereas the Benjamin Hawkins who signed that remonstrance was a half Breed Indean [Indian], who assumed his name. There were also a William Hawkins and a John Hawkins of the same connexion [connection] . There [Their] names were assumed by the Indians out of great veneration and affection for Col Hawkins, whilst possessing in their veins not a drop of his Blood. It is well vouched for, that he never would permit an intercour [added text: se ] of that sort for many reasons, well known to his Friends


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He was of opinion to govern and controul [control] the Indian character an abstinance [abstinence] of that sort was all important to effectuate his great purposes and best to advance their interests. No man was more exemplary than him in many respects and particularly for Economy and judicious management. By this means He always had ability to administer to his own great munificence, and to keep within the pale of his income. He inculcated and practised [practiced] the maxim that any Article was too costly to be purchased at any price however small, if it was not needed for use or Speculation.
When Col Hawkins resolved to accept of the India [added text: n ] Agency in
1796 he cast about in his mind to dispose [added text: of ] some parts of his estate, he should leave behind him. He had understood in some way that his younger Brother Joseph who had given him his Estate, had intimated a desire in some shape before his death that his Elder Brother Col Philemon Junior should have a large body of Land he owned in the adjoining county of Franklin at a mere nominal price. This land He would and did convey to his Brother Philemon and for this consideration only, though his Brother by no means desired [added text: it ] . For the legal consideration was too far short of a fair equivalent, and the moral inducement not sufficient to compell [compel] such a course. But so it was done and nothing short of it would satisfy Col Ben. Hawkins.
He had a Niece married to a man in moderate circumstances. He moved him & his family to this Roanoke Estate and put them in possession of everything then as it stood and gave him the free use of all until he [added text: should ] call for it. They kept the Estate in this way for years and until Col Hawkins concluded to remove his negroes to his residence [unclear text: in ] the Creek nation, where [added text: he ] established a model farm.


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There He cultivated extensively; made large [unclear text: rows ] of corn and other grain which became in great demand at high prices to supply the immense emigration and travel through & by [added text: the ] Agency to the Territory now the States of Alabama & Mississippii and on to New Orleans. Owning mechanicks [mechanics] of various kinds, He built Mills, Houses & waggons [wagons] and fixtures and impliments [implements] of all sorts suited to his desires. He had a large stock of Cattle which the Indians were scrupulous to protect and saw harmless as long as he lived but when he died they took a great portion of them. He built a Bridge across the River at his Agency to divide his Cows from his calves, and it was said he had at one time upwards of five Hundred Calves. The Milk was extensively taken from the Cows, but nothing like all of it, because the work was too great, And the butter [added text: was ] extracted from it by a machine worked with horse power, Col Hawkins possessed in a high degree not only Science to conceive anything he undertook, but that good practical common sense necessary to its full achievement. This added to his great energy of character, caused success always to attend him.
[deleted text: Col Hawkins ] In the year
1797 [added text: he ] wrote to his Brother Col Philemon Hawkins Junior, and desired him to send him his son William, then a law student, to aid him in his Indian department, and intimated as he had no Family he wished him as one to share his toils and to profit by their joint exertions in the character of a son, William Hawkins went and lived with him two years as an assista [added text: nt ] when Col Hawkins was of opinion that a young Gentleman living so long among Indians might acquire a manner unsuited to a more polished life. He therefore prevailed upon his Nephew to repair to Philadelphia and live there in that fashionable city and review some of his former studies, and to cultivate more intimately conversation in the French language. He did so & returned to N Ca [North Carolina] in
1802 and was appointed by Governor Turner then Govr [Governor] of N. Ca [North Carolina]


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to serve as a commissioner with two other Gentlemen to settle the business of the Tuscarorer Indians, according to a treaty. The remnant of a Tribe who had lived in N Ca [North Carolina] but had migrated North. This business and the Marriag [Marriage] of William Hawkins prevented his ever returning again to join his Uncle in the Indean [Indian] department. Afterwards Col Hawkins married and had children. William Hawkins knew how punctillious [punctilious] his Uncle was to fulfill every promise and every expectation created. He therefore wrote him that he remembered with gratefull [grateful] recollection [added text: s ] his kindness to him, and his promises to make him his heir. But that since that time, circumstances had greatly changed, He now had children of his own, who were the natural objects of his bounty, the promise made to him was at a time anterior to that and predicated upon the implication of his never having children, that he understood [added text: it ] in that light, and could view it in no other, and desir [added text: ed ] especially that his Uncle would view it in the same light and released him from every moral obligation growing out of this promise. Nevertheless when Col Hawkins died, who had not seen his Nephew in many years he left a Will dividing his Estate equally between his wife, his six children and his Nephew giving each one eighth part and leaving William Hawkins moreover his sole executor, His Estate was worth about one Hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
As additional evidence of the disinterestedness of character of Col Ben Hawkins, Micajah Thomas who had married his sister Ann, who had died many years past leaving no child, and who was a man of very large fortune in property & money sent for him special [added text: ly ] to visit him, on a sick bed when He reached Mr Thomas He told him he had sent for him to write his Will, (This was before Col. Hawkins was Indean [Indian] Agent.)


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and his particular desire was to bequeath him a large portion of his Estate, Col Hawkins told him he would write no such will, that he valued his Friendly feelings thus expressed, but that he was sufficiently provided for, especially as Mr Thomas had Blood relations more fit objects of his Bounty & he advised him to bestow his property upon them. When he found he could not prevail upon him to take the offered Legacy, he entreated him to accept of five hundred [unclear text: guineas ], which he also positively refused to do. He wrote the will giving his Estate to Mr [unclear text: Thomas' ] kindred, consenting to be his Executor, and he faithfully exicuted [executed] the will thus made.
In this instance it was [deleted text: that ] [added text: thought ] by his friends that his disinterestedness carried him too far, for his sister carried to Mr Thomas her marriage portion, and leaving no children it passed to strangers, to her at least, and his accepting that much it was thought would not [added text: have ] violated any fastidiousness.
Col Hawkins possessed in a high degree the happy turn of character to make himself acceptable, nay a favourite [favorite] with every body [everybody] . He stood particularly in that relation with Genl [General] Nathaniel Green, and when that distinguished Genl [General] desired to go South to look for a new residence He importuned Col Hawkins to accompany him, and repaired to his residence in warren in
1785 and there remained until he mad [made] ready to accompany him They explored the Country as far South as St Augustin and Genl [General] Green finally selected his residence upon the Sea Coast of the Southern part of Georgia.


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It is a well known trait in the Indean [Indian] character that wherever war is waged in their neighbourhood [neighborhood] their restless character will cause them to take some part in it. when Genl [General] Jackson was waging his war with the Creeks, it was thought by the Government and so advised by col Hawkins that a Regiment should be raised of the Friendly Indians to keep them in check and from going over to the Hostiles. Col Hawkins was Col Commandant and the Celebrated half breed McIntosh Lutenant [Lieutenant] Col. This Regiment was in the service of the Government for some time, and Col Hawkins at his own great expense relying to be remunerated by the Government provisioned and supplied it with every thing [everything] in great part. He had large herds of Cattle, large quantities of Grain and furnished all needfull [needful] supplies, and doubtless had and kept all the necessary vouchers to cover his expenditures. The settlement with the Government was not made during his life and as his House was burnt shortly after his death destroying most of his vouchers it caused a great loss to his estate. His Executor who had great trouble to settle his accounts owing to the loss of vouchers estimated the loss for want of them at many thousands [added text: of ] dollars. His accounts had to pass the scrutiny of the [deleted text: [illegible text] ] Auditor of the Treasury who had filled that appointment from the time the Government first went to Washington city and he still holds on to it, as it would seem his birth right, and who is so remarkably strict and watchfull [watchful] that he thinks in the construction of a statute he must look to its letter and not to its equity [deleted text: [unclear text: of ] ] [added text: or ] common sense meaning.


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For instance in construing the act of Congress giving compensation for the loss of Horses in the Florada War [added text: he decided ] that it did not extend to mules, because a mule is not a Horse. Before this Gentleman the Executor of Col Ben. Hawkins had to appear for a settlement, and by that settlement his estate had to loose [lose] owing to the loss and derangement of vouchers and his rigid exactness, [deleted text: this ] [added text: [unclear text: a very ] ] large amount.
Thus closed the earthly career of a man who had filled the measure of his duty as a citizen, and a Philanthropist, and after passing through the active scenes of a long official life, closed his career of usefulness, to his fellow man, and to his Government, with an honor and a reputation which deserves to be recorded for future example to the living; the great purpose, the great utility or History, being to teach by example.
The celebrated French General Maron when an exile in this country, had to pass on a visit to New Orleans the residence of Col Hawkins and made his acquaintance, at the Agency. He was so impressed and captivated with him, that he sojourned with him a long time, and after leaving him, he pronounced him, a man, of the most remarkable distinctions, of all the men he had found in America.