History of Roberta and Crawford County, Georgia
by Emmie Carnes Bankston © 1976
Benjamin Hawkins
Foreword
[Note: this first section was written in the 1930's or 1940's.]
As this history of Crawford County goes to press, I feel that I have been rewarded in that my great love for history and my great interest and pride on the subject of Benjamin Hawkins is being documented in this record. Many hours of research have produced authentic details of our county which I wish to share with you. A detailed account of this great man has been presented to Postmaster General Mr. Klassen in the interest of getting a commemorative stamp issued in the honor of Benjamin Hawkins. At this time it is not known whether the stamp will be a reality, but it certainly is a project that should take priority as an endeavor to be pursued by the leaders of our country.
I have been instrumental in "re-locating" a deed made to Crawford County Commissioners for one acre of ground which is the burial site of Benjamin Hawkins. Before his death, Mr. O. C. Cochran, Chairman of Crawford County Commissioners, took a great interest in having a six foot fence surround the acre. Commissioner Dick Bryant and Road Superintendent Willie B. Moulton have taken a great interest in keeping the grounds and perpetuating the memory of Benjamin Hawkins.
In doing this research, I have also been instrumental in "relocating" the burial site of a daughter of Benjamin Hawkins. I remembered from my childhood that a cemetery was at one time in the heart of Roberta at the corner of the old "Wire Road" and Hortman's Mill Road. As Roberta grew several acres of land was purchased for a city cemetery. Mr. Frank Danielly bought lot #1 and my father, M. H. Carnes bought lot #2. There remained no members of the Mathews family to care for the little cemetery in the heart of Roberta, so citizens of Roberta, knowing that a relative of Benjamin Hawkins was buried on the Mathews lot, purchased a lot in the city cemetery and removed the remains of the Mathews family to the new cemetery. On the gate to the Mathews family plot is the name Dr. Harvey. Other inscriptions are dimmed by time and weather and virtually unreadable. My research shows that the children of Col. Hawkins and his wife, Lavinia Downs Hawkins were: Benjamin, Madison, Muscogee, Virginia (who married William Carr), Cherokee, Carolina and Jeffersonia. [Who was Benjamin?] Jeffersonia was married to Francis Bacon of Massachusetts. They had one son, Francis Edmund Bacon, who at one time represented Crawford County in the lower house and died at the age of 26. After the death of Francis Bacon, Sr., Jeffersonia married Dr. Jeremiah G. Harvey. She died November 5, 1861 at the age of 48 and she, her son and her two husbands are buried in Roberta cemetery.
BENJAMIN HAWKINS
On a little knoll near the east bank of Flint River, not far from the river bridge, where the stream is crossed by the old Federal Wire Road, there sleeps in a newly marked grave what is mortal of Colonel Benjamin Hawkins, one of the most unselfish characters known to American annals. Colonel Hawkins was the first white man to dwell on the soil of Crawford County. He was the Indian Agent sent by President Washington to serve as mediator of peace among the Creek Nations, where he served faithfully for sixteen years, and during this time, there was unbroken peace among the people he served.
The administration of Col. Benjamin Hawkins as agent for the Creek Nations is left to history, and, fortunately, enough of his writings were preserved from the flames of his home which was accidentally burned shortly after his death. He did much to establish the topography of Georgia, and left many valuable materials for her history, which have been embodied to that end. Two separate localities in this state are flagrant with the associations of this great man. The first of these is Fort Hawkins, on the heights overlooking the Ocmulgee River in East Macon, but the period of his residence at this place was comparably short, and he next located on the Indian Agency on the Flint River, where his permanent headquarters were established. Included in the latter Indian Reservation which belonged to the Federal Government until 1826, were ten thousand acres of land divided into two nearly equal parts by the Flint River.
The official residence of Colonel Hawkins stood on a bluff a short distance up the river from where he is buried. Here important conferences were held with the Indians, treaties negotiated and signed and various matters of business transacted. It was also in the nature of an educational farm where he instructed the Indians in the agricultural arts.
The old Federal Wire Road, which was built several years after he established his residence, was so named because it followed the federal telegraph wire, passed directly in front of his home and crossed the river not far below the present river bridge. A few stones used in the construction of the building and broken dishes scattered about the place, give the only marks of identification of the home of the famous Indian agent. Several gold spoons and other articles supposed to have been used by Colonel Hawkins were found near the site of the Hawkins residence, but unfortunately, those who were in possession of the articles have disposed of them, not knowing their historic value.
While the grave of Colonel Hawkins was found several years ago, it was in the midst of a clump of bushes. The wall of the tomb above ground had commenced to crumble and detached rock laid in a confused heap upon the ground. The ravages of time, reinforced by long neglect had made it a pathetic spectacle, but the identity of the grave has been well identified and a marker was placed over it in 1931.
Benjamin Hawkins, public servant in many capacities was born August 1754, in what was then [once] Granville, later Bute [when he was born] and now Warren County, North Carolina. His parents were Philemon and Delia (Martin) Hawkins, and he came from a family well known in the state who had filled many positions of trust and honor. Benjamin, the son was sent to Princeton and was in the senior class when the revolution began. He had acquired a knowledge of French at college. He left Princeton and was appointed on the staff of General Washington as his interpreter. He also fought in the campaign, participated in the Battle of Monmouth, and won the respect of his superiors.
In 1779, the state of North Carolina commissioned him as agent to obtain at home and abroad, supplies of all kinds for prosecution of the war, including arms and ammunition, blankets, hats, clothing, corn, salt and pork. Later he was elected delegate to Continental Congress and served in that capacity for several years, during which time he was interested in the navigation of the Mississippi, in the protection of frontiers from the Indians, in trade and commerce.
On March 21, 1785, Hawkins was appointed commissioner to treat with the Cherokees and "all other Indians southward of them" in accord with an act of congress of March 15, 1785. Here he met with difficulties with boundaries of land between white settlers and Indians. Hawkins, along with two other commissioners, Pickens and Martin, signed treaties with the Choctaws and Chickasaws in 1796.
In the same year Washington appointed Hawkins agent of the United States among the Creeks and General Superintendent of all tribes south of the Ohio River. From this time the remainder of his life was devoted entirely to the Indian. He had penetrated the mighty forests and had tasted the freedom that comes with life in the woods; and when Hawkins accepted this position as Indian agent, he practically quit civilized society, buried himself in the remote and savage woods and among a still more savage people, with whom the remainder of his days were spent.
For twenty years Colonel Hawkins wielded a proconsular sway over a scope of country regal in extent: beginning at St. Mary's the Creek Boundary ran across to the Altamaha; thence it turned up and along the west bank of that river and of the Oconee to the High Shoals of the Appalachee, where it intersected with the Cherokee line; thence through Georgia and Alabama to the Choctaw line in Mississippi; then south down the Choctaw line the to 31
st parallel; east to Chattahoochee and then down that river to its junction with the Flint; then to the head of St. Mey's River and thence to the beginning.
Hawkins began his work as agent by a careful study of the people and their country. He did much to initiate and encourage them in the basal elements of civilization; pasturage was brought into use; agriculture was encouraged by example as well as precept, for he brought his slaves from North Carolina and at the "Old Agency" on Flint River (Crawford County), cultivated a large plantation and raised immense crops of corn and other provisions. He owned great herds of cattle and hogs and practiced towards the Indians a profuse hospitality which always won their friendship and esteem.
Peaceful and friendly relations were generally maintained by Hawkins between the whites and Indians for about sixteen years. Then came the War of 1812, which changed the times. The Creeks fell under the influence of British emissaries and it was no longer possible for Hawkins to control them. Tecumseh, the great warrior, held a great council of the nation, but said nothing about the object of his mission until Hawkins departed. Then Tecumseh kindled a great Indian war which resulted in crushing defeat for the Creek nation. The friendly chiefs withered under its effect and the passing of the people for whom he had so long and faithfully labored perhaps hastened the death of Hawkins himself, which occurred at the old Indian Agency on Flint River, now Crawford County, Georgia, on June 6, 1816, where he was buried. He left one son, Madison, and three daughters.
Colonel Hawkins was far above the average Indian agent of that day, and of this, in general culture and grasp of affairs. He was a man of approved honesty, and his life shows clearly that he was devoted to the up-building of the Indians under his care and to their intellectual advancement. The eminent position that the Creeks, Cherokees, Chickasaws and Choctaws occupy among civilized tribes of Indian Territory is to be traced beyond questioning in part to the fostering and fatherly care shown them a hundred years ago by one who sought not to exploit them for his material benefit, but strove rather to lift them to a higher life, and whose efforts they recognized and rewarded with the significant title: Iste-chate Lige-Osetat-Chemis-te-chango - Beloved man of the Four Nations.
Permission granted for the use of above excerpts from Sketch of Benjamin Hawkins' Life by Stephen B. Weeks from Collections of the Georgia Historical Society, IX (Letters of Benjamin Hawkins) by Mrs. Lilla M. Hawes, Directory of Georgia Historical Society.
As early as 1795 the Creek Indians occupied the lands known then as "Indian Agency" on Flint River and now as "Crawford County."
President Washington realizing the Indians needed a leader to teach them to be self-sustaining, immediately turned his thoughts on Benjamin Hawkins as one of the ablest, most brilliant and influential men in his organized republic. Acuteness and thoroughness of observation was only one of the many characteristics which rendered Benjamin Hawkins peculiarly fitted for his new position as government agent to all Indians south of the Ohio River.
In 1784 Col. Hawkins became a member of the Continental Congress from North Carolina and in this body was conspicuous for his interest in Indian affairs. When the federal government was organized in 1789 he became one of the first U.S. Senators from North Carolina, serving from 1789 to 1796, but his wonderful success as a diplomat, especially in negotiating the "Treaty of Coleraine" in 1797 caused President Washington to fix his gaze upon this great man, who seemed to be endowed with a perfect genius in the matters of this kind, and whose patriotism soared high above all thought of self.
Difficulties with the various Indian tribes at this time made diplomacy in dealing with them a thing of paramount importance, calling for talent of high order. Col. Hawkins was in the prime of his life, at the zenith of his fame as a statesman. Importuned by Washington, he relinquished all, to live among the Indians in the deep solitudes of the forest, to be a friend in need, not only to his government, but to the Indian tribes. The object lesson of his life is sorely needed today.
Col. Hawkins built the fort which was named in his honor on the Ocmulgee River at Macon. While erecting the fort, he resided there for a short time only, but his permanent home was at the agency, on the Flint, in what is now Crawford County.
To show the sacrifice which he made and his lack of solicitude for office, the Archives in Washington show that he tendered his resignation to every president from General Washington to the time of his death, but not one of them would accept it, telling him that he must remain, that his services were indispensable. Those flattering replies made by all presidents caused him to continue to bear the burden. For many years he wished to leave the "Agency" due to ill health, and a recommendation was gotten up in favor of another person to succeed him, but he was persuaded to hold on, as long as he could so no successor was appointed. So when he died, he was still the agent.
During Hawkins' occupancy of the Old Agency he not only cleared a large acreage of land for farming purposes, but built mills and storehouses and here established one of the most popular trading posts in the state. Aside from the performance of his official duties, Col. Hawkins devoted much attention to raising cattle and hogs. So extensive became his herd that at one time he is said to have possessed not less than 500 calves.
The care of these animals, and the details of the agency furnished employment for many subordinates.
The Flint River was utilized as a convenient dividing line to separate the grown kind from their young.
Across this stream a substantial bridge was constructed, with a gate at either end.
This large stock of cattle and swine enabled him to entertain the Indians, who constantly visited him, with abundant though primitive hospitality, and materially assisted in perpetuating the kindly and widespread influence which he exerted over them.
While he lived, his cattle brand was rigidly respected by the red men, although soon after his death, the Creeks, oblivious of former obligations, stole numbers of these cows and hogs.
Benjamin Hawkins was a gifted diplomat, and his army of seven hundred friendly Indians was well disciplined. He served as mediator of peace among the Creek Nations where he served faithfully for sixteen years and during this time there was unbroken peace among the people whom he served.
He was a man of broad culture, a find linguist, speaking French fluently. It was always a wonder how a man of his splendid attainments, with so brilliant a political future unfolding before him, could consent to bury himself in the "Wilds of Georgia" for sixteen years. However, in doing so, he had but one conception: to serve his country. His mission and hope were to civilize the Indians. He rendered great service in his efforts to establish friendly relations with the four tribes of southern Indians. He was known as the "Man of Four Nations."
Benjamin Hawkins laid aside the cap and gown of Princeton University in his senior year and joined his fortunes with the Patriot Army, but he was nevertheless a man of culture and letters. He was, in fact, the product of a system which held to the hope of a generous, well-rounded and complete education. He was fitted by nature and training to perform justly and honorably all the offices, both private and public, at peace and war. He was a Colonel on the staff of General Washington and became his trusted interpreter in his intercourse with the French officers allied with the patriot cause because of his familiarity with the French language.
As a soldier, he bore himself with honor and distinction. He was chosen by the legislature of his native state in 1780 as commercial agent to secure supplies for the support of the war and the defense of his state. He was a member of the Continental Congress for a period of six years.
When the renowned General Moreau was in banishment from his country, and was enroute to New Orleans on a visit, he stopped by at the residence of Colonel Hawkins, in Crawford County, to form his acquaintance. Gen. Moreau was so captivated by Hawkins' powers in conversation, beautifully expressed in French, that he sojourned with him a long time and after leaving him he paid Hawkins high tribute.
The Milledgeville Statesman
dated March 31, 1828
"Died in Crawford County, Georgia, Mrs. Lavinia Hawkins, relict of the late Col. Benjamin Hawkins. Her remains were conveyed to Fort Hawkins in Bibb County and there interred on the 21
st inst."
From this we learn that Mrs. Hawkins was buried in what is now known as Fort Hill Cemetery. We have searched carefully and have been unable to locate a marked grave. In 1828, the Fort Hawkins property embracing the original one hundred acres was sold to Mr. Thomas Woolfolk. In turn, Mr. Woolfolk gave the burial ground and additional surrounding land to the city for use as a cemetery.
The Children of Benjamin Hawkins
The children of Col. Benjamin Hawkins were named as follows:
Virginia, for his native state; [he was from North Carolina, but he did name a daughter Carolina as well]
Cherokee, for the Cherokee Indian tribe;
Muscogee, for the county of Muscogee [Muscogee was the Creek's name for themselves]
Benjamin, Jr. for his father; [no records of this child known to descendants]
Jeffersonia, for his intimate friend, President Thomas Jefferson
Muscogee married a Mr. Clayton of Clayton County, editor of the Clayton Banner. [I am aware of three marriages for Muscogee, who was adopted, and none are named Clayton]
Jeffersonia first married Francis Bacon of Massachusetts, who founded the town of Francisville, on the site of the old Indian agency. The following record of their marriage is taken from the marriage records, recorded in the courthouse in Knoxville, Ga.
This is to certify that
Francis Bacon and Jeffersonia Hawkins
were united in matrimony by me
this the 27th day of November, 1828.
signed James Butler, J.P.
Recorded November 29, 1828 CCC
After the death of Francis Bacon, Jeffersonia married Dr. Harvey. They are all buried in the Roberta City Cemetery.
GRAVES
Inscriptions that are found on the graves of Jeffersonia Hawkins Harvey, Francis Bacon and Dr. Jeremiah G. Harvey in the Roberta City Cemetery:
In Memory of Francis Edmund Bacon
Born Feb. 3, 1831
Died June 25, 1857
age 26 years, 4 months, 22 days.
Kind and manly
noble and generous
Sincere and Honest,
He has left his Friends and Kindred, nothing
to regret but his early death.
In Memory Of
Mrs. Jeffersonia E. Harvey
who died Nov. 15, 1861
age 48 years.
By her Husband
J. G. Harvey
Jeremiah G. Harvey
Born Jan. 1, 1793
Died Oct. 2, 1871
Hawkins Crawford Co.Doc
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