John Henry Hawkins was a stone mason in 1891, a walling mason in 1901, a mason in 1911, and a bricklayer in 1921.

Life at West Coker

John was born at West Coker in late 1856 or early 1857. His father,  Solomon, was a mason, and his mother, Mary, was the daughter of a mason. 

In April 1871, John was a mason’s boy and in April 1881, a mason. His mother died in December 1881, and his father died in February 1882.

Life at Hardington

In the second quarter of 1882, John married Frances White of Hardington, the second daughter of William and Emma White.

After their marriage, the couple established their home in Hardington, initially residing at Hardington Marsh until around 1890. They then moved to Moor Cottage, a property John eventually bought in the 1920 estate sale, having previously lived there on a monthly tenancy.

In 1921, John was a bricklayer employed by Bird & Peppard of Yeovil.

John died on 18 December 1922, aged 66, leaving effects valued at £202-15s.[1] Frances died on 4 December 1935, aged 81.

John and Frances had eight children:

1882-Francis Henry

1883-Ernest Leopold

1885-Ethel Florence Mary

1886-Frederick Reginald

1889-Annie Maud

1891-Albert George (died in infancy)

1893-Roland George

1895-Albert John

Frederick Reginald was killed in France on 27 September 1915.

John’s will

John appointed his sons, Ernest Leopold and Albert John, executors and trustees.

John left all his household effects to his wife for life. He also left her the use of his house for five years, after which it passed to their son, Ernest Leopold. He left the remainder equally to his children living at the death of his wife.

References

[1] The will of John Henry Hawkins, dated 2 April 1921, proved at Taunton on 2 February 1923.