Before Michael Hawkins became a settler in New Brunswick, he had already lived through war, displacement, injury, and exile.
His own 1788 land petition tells us exactly how he wanted the government of New Brunswick to understand him:
He was a native of New Jersey.
He had joined the Royal Army early in the late Rebellion.
In 1777, he engaged in Major Ward’s Company of Refugees.
During the defence of the Block House, he received a wound that disabled him for nine months.
In 1783, he emigrated to New Brunswick in the May Fleet.
That is not the biography of a passive bystander.
That is the profile of a Loyalist who entered the war early, served in one of the roughest and most dangerous borderland environments of the American Revolution, was wounded badly enough to be disabled for most of a year, and then left the old colonies for British North America.
The 1786 Land Grant
Michael Hawkins appears in a major New Brunswick land grant dated 12 May 1786 and registered at Saint John on 18 May 1786.
The grant was issued under King George III and included land in Kings and Queens Counties, around Washademoak Lake. Michael Hawkins was named among the grantees and was assigned Lot Number Sixteen, containing approximately 200 acres.
The document is long, formal, and heavy with royal language, but its meaning is simple:
Michael Hawkins was recognized as one of the Loyalist settlers receiving land after the war.
The land grant also shows the expectations placed on these early settlers. They were not simply handed land and left alone. The grant required improvement: clearing land, draining swamp or marsh, keeping cattle, building a dwelling, or otherwise making the land productive.
This was not an easy reward. It was a hard bargain.
The Crown gave land.
The Loyalist had to survive it.
Original Document Verbiage
GEORGE the THIRD, by the Grace of GOD of GREAT BRITAIN,
FRANCE and IRELAND, KING, Defender of the Faith, and so forth.
To all to whom these Presents
shall come, Greeting: KNOW ye, that We, of our special Grace, certain
Knowledge, and mere Motion, have given and Granted, and by these Presents, for
Us, our Heirs and Successors, do give and grant unto William Caldwell, James
Easting, Benjamin Atwood Senior, Seymore Jarvis and Hannah Jarvis, Fauconier
Valleau, Joseph Demill, Michael Hawkins, Elias Card and Benjamin
Archibald McNeil, John Wilson, James Berry, Edward Lane, John Clauson and
William Drurie, Thomas Gay and Henry Dryer, in severalty unto each of them and
unto each and every of their several and respective Heirs and Assigns several
lots and plantations of Land being the lots from number eight to
number twenty one both inclusive, and the lots number thirty nine to
number forty one both inclusive, except the lots number eight number
twelve and number eighteen which are not hereby granted comprehended within
two tracts of Land situate lying and being on the northwest and South east
sides of the Washademoak Lake in Kings and Queens Counties in our
Province of New Brunswick in America and abutted as follows, to wit, The
northwest tract beginning at a marked Oak tree on the northwest bank of the
said Lake being the South East corner on bounds of lot number thirty eight
granted to John Jarvis in the grant of Charles Thomas and others, thence
running along the easterly line of the said Lot north thirty nine degrees west
by the magnet, one hundred and twenty chains of four poles each or until it
meets the upper or easterly line of lot number thirty six in the
aforesaid Grant then north fifty six degrees and forty six chains or until it
meets the lower or westerly line of lot number one of the said Lot South
forty five degrees East one hundred and thirty Six chains or to the northwest
bank of the said lake thence along the said Bank following the several courses
thereof down stream to the Bounds first mentioned, containing Six hundred
and forty acres more or less, and the South East tract beginning at an Oak
tree marked on the South East bank of the said Lake being the upper or South
East corner or bounds of lot number seven granted to John Sharp in the grant
to Charles Thomas and others aforesaid, thence along the Easterly line of
the said lot South, Forty five degrees East by the magnet one hundred and forty
six chains thence north five degrees East one hundred and five chains thence
South seventy seven degrees and thirty minutes East one hundred and thirty
three chains or until it meets the lower line of Lot number twenty in
this tract along the said line of the said Lot South [ ] five degrees East one hundred and nine
chains, thence north forty five degrees East thirty chains or until it meets
the lower or westerly line of lot number one in Micheaus late Survey.
Thence along the said line north forty five degrees west one hundred and thirty
five chains or to the South east bank of the said lake, thence along the said
Bank following the several course thereof down stream to the bounds first
mentioned, containing two thousand eight hundred acres more or less, and both
tracts containing in the whole three thousand four hundred and forty acres
more or less with allowance for roads, all Wilderness Lands, and have such
shape form and marks as appear by the actual survey thereof made under the
direction of our Surveyor General of our said Province of which Survey the plot
hereunto annexed is a representation.
Together with all woods, underwoods, timber and timber
trees, lakes, ponds, fishing, waters, water courses, profits, commodities,
appurtenances, and hereditaments whatsoever thereunto belonging, or in any wise
appertaining; together also with the privileges of hunting, hawking, and
fowling; in and upon the same, and mines and minerals; SAVING and receiving
NEVERLTHELESS [sic] to us, our heirs and successors, all white pine trees, if
any such shall be found growing thereon, and also SAVING and reserving to us,
our heirs and successors, all mines of gold, silver, copper, lead, and coals,
TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said Two tracts of Land containing together three
thousand four hundred and forty acres more or less, with the exceptions
before mentioned, and an and singular other premises hereby unto the said,
Several and respective Grantees in the lots shares quantities and proportions
as do follow, to wit, unto the said William Caldwell the lot number Nine,
unto the said James Eastin the lot number Ten, unto the said Benjamin
Atwood Senior the lot number Eleven, unto the said Seymore Jarvis and
Hannah Jarvis the lot number thirteen, unto the said Fauconier Valleau
the lot number fourteen, unto the said Joseph Demill the lot number
fifteen, unto the said Michael Hawkins the lot number sixteen, unto
the said Elias Card and Archibald McNeil the lot number seventeen, unto
the said John Wilson the lot number nineteen, unto the said James
Berry the lot number twenty and unto the said Edward Lane the Lot number
twenty one, the Lots being is the South East tract before described and containing
two hundred acres more or less severally apiece and the said John
Clawson and William Drurie the lot number thirty nine, unto the said Thomas
Gay the lot Number Forty and unto the said Henry Dryer the Lot number
Forty one the said three last mentioned Lots being the Northwest Tract
before described and containing Two Hundred Acres each except the Lot Number
Thirty nine which contains Two Hundred and forty acres more or less in
severalty unto each of them and unto each and every of their several and
respective Heirs and Assigns for ever they the said several and respective
Grantees and their several and respective --- heirs and assigns YIELDING and
PAYING therefore unto us, our heirs and successors, or to our receiver general
for the time being, or his deputy for the time being yearly, that is to say, at
the feast of Saint Michael in every year, at the rate of two shillings for
every hundred acres, and, so in proportion according to the quantities of acres
hereby granted; the same to commence and be payable from the said feast of
Saint Michael which shall first happen after the expiration of Ten -- years
from the date hereof PROVIDED always and this present grant is upon condition
that the said several Grantees their several and respective heirs and assigns
shall and do within three years after the date hereof or every fifty acres of
plantable land hereby granted, clear and work three acres at least, in such
part thereof as ---- they shall judge most convenient and advantageous; or else
to clear and drain three acres of swampy or sunken ground, or drain three acres
of marsh, if any such contained therein. AND shall and do within the time
aforesaid, put and keep upon every fifty acres thereon, [ ] bar en [ ] three neat cattle, and continue
the same thereon, until three acres for every fifty be fully cleared and
improved, and if there shall be no part of the said tract fit for present
cultivation without manuring and improving the same ---they within the time
aforesaid shall be obliged to erect on same part of the said land, one good
dwelling-house, to be at least twenty feet in length and sixteen feet in
breadth, and to put on the said land the like number of three neat cattle for
every fifty acres; or otherwise if any part of the said tract shall be stony or
rocky ground, and not fit for planting or pasture, shall and do within three
years as aforesaid, begin to employ thereon and continue to work for three
years then next ensuing, in digging any stony quarry or mine, one good and able
hand for every fifty acres, it shall be accounted a sufficient cultivation and
improvement; PROVIDED [ ] that every three acres that shall be cleared and
worked, or cleared and drained as aforesaid shall be accounted a sufficient
seating, cultivation and improvement, to save forever from forfeiture fifty
acres of land in any part of the tract hereby granted; and the said Grantees
their several and respective heirs and assigns be at liberty to withdraw their
stock, or forbear working on said lands, tenements and hereditaments hereby
granted or if this grant shall not be duly registered in the Register's office
of our said province within six months from the date hereof, and a docket also
entered in the Auditor's office of the same, then this grant shall be void, and
the said lands, tenements and hereditaments hereby granted, and every part and
parcel thereof shall revert to us, our heirs and successors: AND PROVIDED also,
upon this further condition, that if the and hereby given and granted as
aforesaid, shall at any time or times hereafter come into the possession and [
] of any person or persons whatever, inhabitants of our said province of New
Brunswick, either by virtue of any deed of sale, conveyance, or exchange, or by
gift, inheritance, descent, devise, or marriage, such person or persons being inhabitants
as aforesaid, shall within twelve months after his, her or their entry and
possession of the same, take the oaths prescribed by law, before some one of
the magistrates of the said province, and a certificate of the magistrate, that
such oaths have been taken, being recorded in the Secretary's office of the
said province, the person or persons so taking the oath aforesaid, shall be
deemed the lawful possessor or possessors of the limits hereby granted; AND in
case of default on the part of such person or persons in taking the oaths,
within twelve months as aforesaid, This present grant, and every part thereof,
shall and We do hereby declare the same to be null and void to all intents and
promises, and the lands hereby granted and every part and parcel thereof, shall
in like manner be and become voided by us, our heirs and successors, any thing
herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
GIVEN under the Great Seal of our Province of New Brunswick,
WITNESS our trusty and well beloved Thomas Carleton Esquire Our Captain General
and Governor in Chief, in and over said Province, this Twelfth Day of May in
the Year of our LORD One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eighty six and in the Twenty
sixth Year of our Reign.
By command of his Excellency in Council. Jon^th Odell
Saint John, New Brunswick
Registered the 18th day of May 1786
The 1788 Memorial: Michael Hawkins Speaks for Himself
Either Michael did not like his Lot 16 on Washademoak Lake or he didn't know he was granted it because he petitioned for land on May 1, 1788.
Two years later, on 1 May 1788, Michael Hawkins submitted a petition, also called a memorial, to Thomas Carleton, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.
This is one of the most important records for understanding Michael Hawkins because it gives us his own service summary.
In that memorial, Michael stated that he was a native of New Jersey, that he had joined the Royal Army early in the Revolution, and that in 1777 he served in Major Ward’s Company of Refugees. He also stated that he was wounded in the defence of the Block House and was disabled for nine months.
This short statement opens a much larger world.
Michael was not just “a Loyalist.”
He was not just “from New Jersey.”
He was not just “an early settler.”
He was part of Ward’s Company of Refugees, a group operating in the violent New York–New Jersey borderlands during the Revolutionary War.
Michael
Hawkins’s Petition for Land (Memorial)
The Memorial of Micheal Hawkins
Most Humble Sheweth
That your Memorialist is a Native of New Jersey but
join'd the Royal Army early in the late Rebellion and in 1777 engaged in Major
Ward's Company of Refugees and in the defense of the Block House he received a
Wound from which he was disabled for Nine months. That he emigrated to this
Country in the May fleet of 1783.
That your Memorialist has never obtained any Land
whatsoever from Government but as Lott No.10 on the Madam Kishvie Granted to Robert
McCargo, but is now unoccupied by the Death of Said Robert McCargo last Spring.
Your Memorialist Humble prays' that Your Excellency would be pleas'd to assign
said Lott to Your Memorialist as his Quota of Land.
St.
Mary's his
1st
of May l788 Michael
x Hawkins
mark
Major Ward’s Company of Refugees
The word Refugee can sound harmless today, but in the Revolutionary War context it meant something much more intense.
Loyalist refugees were people driven from their homes, farms, churches, and communities because they remained loyal to the Crown. Some became soldiers. Some became guides. Some became scouts. Some became suppliers. Some worked as woodcutters. Some defended blockhouses. Some moved between British lines and contested territory.
Ward’s Company belonged to that hard, shadowy world.
These were not parade-ground soldiers living safely behind walls. These men operated in the dangerous corridor around New York, New Jersey, Bergen County, Bull’s Ferry, Fort Lee, Weehawken, Hackensack, and the Hudson River.
They knew roads.
They knew river crossings.
They knew farms and landing places.
They knew who was loyal, who was rebel, and who was pretending.
The term woodcutter may sound ordinary, but in wartime it could be anything but ordinary. Wood was essential to the British army. It meant fuel, shelter, fortification, transport, and survival. But woodcutting also gave men a reason to move through contested country.
A woodcutter could observe roads.
A woodcutter could watch enemy movement.
A woodcutter could learn which families were safe.
A woodcutter could carry information.
A woodcutter could be a scout in plain sight.
In that sense, Ward’s men may have functioned as part of the practical intelligence network of the British war effort: men who knew the land, moved through danger, gathered information, supplied posts, and defended exposed positions under the plain cover of refugee service and woodcutting.
Michael Hawkins was one of those men.
The Wound at the Block House
Michael’s memorial says he was wounded during the defence of the Block House and was disabled for nine months.
That one sentence deserves attention.
A nine-month disability was not a scratch. It suggests a serious wound — the kind that changed a man’s life, limited his ability to work, and stayed with him long after the shooting stopped.
We do not yet know the exact details of Michael’s injury. We do not know where he was struck, who treated him, or how he survived. But we do know that, years later, when he asked the New Brunswick government for land, this wound was one of the facts he chose to present.
He wanted it remembered.
And it should be.
From War to New Brunswick
Michael Hawkins came to New Brunswick in the May Fleet of 1783, part of the Loyalist migration after the American Revolution.
Like many Loyalists, he left behind the world of New Jersey and New York and began again in British North America. His later life in New Brunswick should not be separated from his wartime service. The man who settled in New Brunswick was also the man who had served under Ward, defended a blockhouse, suffered a serious wound, and survived the collapse of the Loyalist cause in the former colonies.
He was not just a settler.
He was a wounded Loyalist veteran.
Why This Matters
Michael Hawkins has too often appeared as a single name in scattered records: a Loyalist, a grantee, a petitioner, a husband, a father, an ancestor.
But when the records are read together, a fuller picture appears.
Michael Hawkins was:
- a native of New Jersey
- an early Loyalist supporter of the Crown
- a member of Major Ward’s Company of Refugees
- a defender of the Block House
- a wounded veteran disabled for nine months
- a 1783 May Fleet Loyalist immigrant
- a New Brunswick land petitioner
- a grantee of Crown land
- the husband of Eleanor Brewer/Brower
- the beginning of a major Hawkins Loyalist line in New Brunswick
This is the man this blog is trying to recover.
Not a footnote.
Not a forgotten name.
Not just a brick wall.
A Loyalist.
A refugee.
A wounded blockhouse defender.
A survivor.
And a man whose story deserves to be found.
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