The Hodgkins Family Origins

The approximate location of the Hodgkins Farm
(from recent aerial photography and courthouse records)

Joseph Hodgkins is possibly the father of James M. Hodgkins, where the recorded story begins. He was born about 1760 in Halifax County, Virginia.  He married Ann Bulwin about 1783 in Virginia.  He died and was buried in Nelson County, Kentucky.

He is currently a speculative relative.  The facts, dates and location fit (Bullitt County was formed out of Nelson County). Also, there was a large Catholic settlement in Nelson County from Maryland. 

 Connie Martin notes "I Have book about Catholics in KY, c_1884, first church Daviess Co was St. Lawrence. St. Mary of the Woods, Whitesville, 13 miles SE of it. St. Raphael's & St. Alphonsus both on Panther Creek. Walter S. Coomes, Eugene O'Callaghan, Charles Eggermont all early priests of the area. People around St. Raphael's & St .Alphonsus mostly came from Nelson Co., 'the greater number of them having been former members of the congregation of Holy Cross, on Pottinger's Creek.' Section on Pottinger's Creek settlement says a league of 60 Catholic families formed in Maryland in 1785, mostly residents of St.Mary's Co. (MD), pledged to emigrate to KY. etc. Included Haydens, Lees, Lancasters, Coomes, McAfees, Hagans, other names who show up later in Daviess County records."

Since the Hodgkins family has always been Catholic, it is an obvious step to connect the family with the Maryland settlement.  Indeed, there are many records of Hodgkins in the Maryland settlement around Baltimore.  However, until further research points the way, there is no available relationship evidence to make the connection.  Another possibility is Joseph Randall Hoskins, who is probably the father of Vincent.  However, tying Vincent and James M.  together is just as speculative, although the families certainly were intermingled.  Their families went to the same church and were buried in the same cemeteries.  There is no current proof that they were related, though."

 Ben Hodgkins notes "I accept the rationale presented there that he is indeed a "Hodgkins" and our ancestor for four additional reasons.  Being a sociologist by training, I am very familiar with the "vagaries" of name spelling and pronunciation prior to the 20th century - particularly in the frontier portions of our country.  Even in the twentieth century I have had our name "pronounced" and/or recorded as "Hoskins", Hodgins", and Hodkins", to mention but a few variations.  Secondly, he was Catholic, and Catholics were few and far between in that place and period.  He was probably a descendant of a Maryland family.  Maryland, at that period of our history, was the only colony that "tolerated" Catholics (It was originally a Catholic colony, founded by Lord Baltimore in the 17th century).  Third, parts of Ohio, Kentucky and parts of Tennessee were considered part of Virginia during the 18th century and anyone who migrated there was, by definition, considered a Virginian and eligible for a land grant following service in the Revolutionary war.  Finally, assuming the "general" accuracy of the other documents reviewed, James M. was definitely his son and our ancestor .  Therefore, Joseph is the "right guy" in my opinion."

 There is also a possibility that Joseph may have stopped in Tennessee (Johnson County) along the way.  The following excerpt is from history of Johnson County:

"The first settlement in Johnson County (Tennesee) is said to have been made about 1770, on Roane Creek, near its confluence with the Watauga, by a man named Honeycut. Other settlements were made soon after farther up Roane Creek, and on Little Doe and the Laurel. Shady was also settled at a comparatively early day, Among the pioneers who had found homes in the territory now embraced in Johnson County prior to 1778, were Joseph Hoskins, George and Samuel Heatherby, Thomas, John and Charles Asher, Richard and Benjamin Wilson, John and Henry Grimes, Joseph Gentry, John, Jesse and Josiah Hoskins and John Higgins."

I have no idea if this is the same Joseph or not, but the confluence of names (John, Josiah, Jesse and Joseph) are certainly found in early Nelson County census records and not at all in the earliest Johnson County census records, and it would be an amazing coincidence if these were not the same people.  This would also mean that Joseph may have fought in the Revolution from Tennessee with the Virginia line, where he served for 3 years.  Also, Johnson County is in the extreme NE corner of Tennesee, just East of the Cumberland Trail, so it would have been a natural "stepping off" place to move on to Kentucky.

 Joseph obtained a military bounty warrant in 1785 for 100 acres, which was a first step prior to survey.  The warrant was not withdrawn or assigned, so I assume he exercised it and was granted that 100 acres somewhere in Kentucky.

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