Daniel Jucket to the Grave

The investigation continues into the identities of George Henry (Jucket) Hawks' parents and the circumstances that changed his surname from Jucket to Hawks (see Research Attic: George Henry Jucket Hawks).

One of George's great-granddaughters has a letter from his purported Jucket niece, which names George's parents as Daniel and Lucy (Hawks) Jucket. The preponderance of evidence seems to support this claim.

Family lore said that George was raised by his maternal aunt Emily Hawks after he was left orphaned. While we believe we've located the grave for Lucy Hawks Jucket, no grave or death record has been found for Daniel.

In fact, it appears that Daniel Jucket did not die at the same time as Lucy, and that George was not an orphan in the full sense of the word. Evidence uncovered to-date points to the following scenario:

• Daniel and Lucy (Hawks) Jucket had five children (as enumerated in the 1830 census).
• Lucy Hawks Jucket died in March 1832 at the age of 35 (as detailed on her tombstone). 
• Daniel Jucket remarried in September 1833 to Mary Kentfield (as detailed in a marriage register).
• Daniel and Mary (Kentfield) Jucket had two children and both were born after Lucy's death; suggesting that neither child was George Henry (as detailed in the 1840 census).

The working theory is that George Henry Jucket was motherless in 1832. Daniel, his father, was unable or unwilling to provide for a young child, so George - at four years of age - was raised by his maternal aunt Emily. Emily raised George under her surname of Hawks.

What became of Daniel after the 1840 census? The following is a life sketch through existing records.

1850 Federal Census

In 1850, Daniel Jucket was enumerated with wife Mary in Ware Township in Hampshire County, Massachusetts. There were three presumed children listed: Charles, age 14; Mary J., age 10; and Eliza A., age 8.

Daniel's profession was farmer and both daughters attended school.

Daniel Jucket family in 1850 Census

1855 Massachusetts Census

In 1855, Daniel Jucket was enumerated again with wife Mary in Ware Township. There were three presumed children listed: Alfred, age 18; Mary S., age 15; Eliza A., age 13. 

Alfred was a new addition who wasn't enumerated with the family five years earlier. Charles, who was enumerated in 1850, wasn't listed in this census. Also, the middle initial for Mary has changed from 'J' to 'S'.

Daniel Jucket family in 1855 Census

1860 Federal Census

Still in Ware Township, Daniel Jucket's family slimmed down to include himself, wife Mary (enumerated under the common nickname of Polly) and daughter Eliza. Daniel's profession was farm laborer.

Daniel Jucket family in 1860 Census

1865 Massachusetts Census

Daniel was enumerated with wife Mary and daughter Eliza. Daniel's profession was farmer, and his birth location was Shutesbury. Daughter Eliza was born in Enfield.

Daniel Jucket family in 1865 Census

1870 Federal Census

Five years later, Daniel and Mary were enumerated in Enfield Township with their surname spelled as Jackett. His profession was listed as a farm laborer. Neither he or Mary could write.

Daniel Jucket family in 1870 Census

1880 Federal Census

Daniel and wife Mary were both enumerated in Enfield in the 1880 census. He was 81 years old and still worked as a farmer. 

This was his last appearance in a census.

Daniel Jucket family in 1880 Census

Daniel's Death and Burial

There are two records that record the death of Daniel Jucket on March 2, 1885 in Enfield Township. He was 86 years, 3 months and 2 days old. The cause of death was heart disease. He was listed as married, suggesting that his wife Mary survived him.

According to this death record, he was born in Shutesbury to Daniel and Hannah Jucket. 

Daniel Jucket death record

According to this record, he was interred in Enfield.

Daniel Jucket death record (alternate version)

Where is Daniel Jucket's grave? The question is complicated because the town of Enfield and its cemetery were moved in 1938 to make way for the man-made Quabbin Reservoir. Most remains from Enfield Cemetery were moved to the new Quabbin Park Cemetery.

I was unable to locate a reburial record for Daniel Jucket. I contacted Quabbin Park Cemtery. An employee wrote:

"There was nothing that I could find in our records for Daniel. Even if he had been buried in one of the Quabbin town cemeteries and was reinterred in another cemetery than the Quabbin Park Cemetery, we would have a record of that in our files."

I was stumped about where Daniel was buried. After further investigation, I received another response from the Quabbin Park employee who had found a listing for Mary Jucket's initial burial:

"I was curious to see that Mary was originally interred in the Fish Hill Cemetery in Prescott. While it is adjacent to Enfield, it is a different town. Prescott was near New Salem and Fish Hill is in the northern part of Prescott, quite close to the New Salem town line. So you might want to check the New Salem records to see if he was buried there."

According to its FindAGrave page, most Fish Hill Cemetery burials were moved to Quabbin Park, however, just over a thousand graves were moved to other neighboring cemeteries. It seems reasonable that Mary would have been buried beside her husband. Perhaps they were both initially buried in Fish Hill and then moved to a yet-to-be-determined cemetery in New Salem.

Next Steps

This life sketch of Daniel doesn't shed additional light on the question of why George was raised by his maternal aunt. What is clear, though, is that Daniel was not a documented presence in his life. Perhaps, in a way, that's indicative of why George was given the surname of Hawks instead of Jucket.

Fortunately, we do have new information on Daniel that can direct further genealogical research on his family line.

1. Search Shutesbury for birth information for a Daniel Jucket born to parents Daniel and Hannah Jucket in about 1799.
2. Search New Salem records for information on re-interment of Daniel and Mary Jucket. 
3. Search the repository for Enfield records to see if probate records exist for Daniel.

His Mother's Sister: A Hawks Transformation

"He was left an orphan when quite young. His mother's sister, Emily Hawks, raised him and gave him the name of Hawks."

Family lore says my 4th great-grandfather George Henry Hawks was originally born with the surname Jucket (see Jucket to a Hawks: Finding Truth in Lore).

The investigation into the identities of George Henry Jucket Hawks' (GHJH) parents led to an unexpected twist. The quote above, taken from a letter penned by a purported Jucket niece of GHJH, revealed a tantalizing piece of information that, if true, suggests that his maternal aunt played a significant role in his transformation from a Jucket to a Hawks.

Are there facts to support it?

Thanks once again to New England's faithful record-keeping, GHJH's mother, Lucy Hawks, is listed in the Massachusetts-published family census for Silas Hawks. Born in February 1799, she was the eldest child of Silas and Mary (Blodgett) Hawks.

Scanning down the list of births, there is a likely candidate that supports the letter's claim: a sister, Emily Amelia Hawks, was born in November 1817. This confirms that Lucy did indeed have a sister named Emily.

Silas Hawks Family Births

You may recall that the headstone for Silas and Mary (Blodgett) Hawks includes death date inscriptions for some of their children. Among those inscriptions is one for LHJ who died March 30, 1832 at age 35.

The Massachusetts birth record indicates that LHJ (Lucy Hawks Jucket - according to working theory) was born in 1799. However, the stone records a birth year of 1797 (1832 year of death - 35 years old at death). This slight discrepancy could very likely be chalked up to human error.

Curiously, if Emily Amelia Hawks was in fact the sister in question, then she was only 14 years old when Lucy died and young GHJH was orphaned. As Cousin Tex noted, this was "a little young, but I guess not impossible" for Emily to take on the role of adoptive mother.

Deferring to the claims laid out in the letter, it's entirely possible that young GHJH (who was only four years old) lived with Emily and her family while she took on the primary mothering responsibility.

In Pursuit of Emily

GHJH's Timeline: GHJH was likely enumerated in the household of Daniel Jucket in Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census. His next documented appearance was in December 1848 in Menard County, Illinois when he married at the age of twenty.

Where was he before leaving Massachusetts, and when did he leave Massachusetts for Illinois?

Making Sense?

1840: Where was Emily Hawks in the 1840 U.S. Federal Census? Although she was an adult (about 23 years old) she wouldn't appear by name unless she was the head of household. Her father Silas died in 1831, so there wouldn't be a household under his name either. At this time, GHJH would be about 12 years old.

No hits yet, but it's possible that individuals of their age can be located in the household of one of Emily's siblings.

1855: Cousin Tex located an 1855 Massachusetts state census that enumerated a 37-year-old Emily A. Hawks who lived with a handful of people all labeled as paupers. This Emily's age puts her birth year at 1818 making her a close match to our 1817-born Emily Hawks. GHJH was, of course, no longer living in Massachusetts.

Curiously, the family enumerated below Emily were Blodgetts. Blodgett was the maiden name of Lucy and Emily Hawks' mother Mary. Is this our Emily A. Hawks?

Deerfield, Franklin County, MA 1855 Census

There is no record of her in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census. Was she was living with one of her siblings or with her mother's Blodgett family? Perhaps wherever she was in 1840 is where we will find her in 1850.

1860: In Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts, the 1860 U.S. Federal Census enumerated an Emily A. Hawks who was 42 years old and a pauper. She lived on land that's labeled as a "pauper farm."

Deerfield, Franklin County, MA 1860 Census

1865: Again in Deerfield, Emily Hawks was enumerated as a single female pauper in the 1865 Massachusetts census. Her age was listed as 47, five years older than her appearance in 1860.

Deerfield, Franklin County, MA 1865 Census

This is the last census appearance for Emily A. Hawks so far. Did she die between 1865 and 1870? Perhaps. Or, with a more positive spin, did she marry and find happiness outside of the pauper farm? I sure hope so.

Shadow of Doubt: To keep us on our toes, another inscription was discovered on Silas and Mary (Blodgett) Hawks' tombstone. On a different side from the LHJ inscription, the stone obelisk is engraved: EH Died July 10, 1838 Age 27.

Who is EH? Is this Emily Hawks? There were no other children enumerated in the family of Silas Hawks whose names began with "E".

Someone who died at 27 in 1838 would have been born in about 1811. This doesn't match Emily's birth date of 1817. In July 1838, GHJH was only ten years old. Was he orphaned for a second time? Or is "EH" a different relative entirely?

A public family tree on Ancestry.com (gasp!) provided a clue. According to that tree, Lucy and Emily's brother Silas Hawks, Jr. married a woman named Eunice. It lists her birth as 1811 and her death as July 10, 1838. Certainly, these dates need to be substantiated, but if proven true, this would alleviate the doubt cast by the mysterious "EH" inscription and confirm that our Emily got to live another day.

The engraving directly above "EH" adds credence to the in-law inscription theory. The inscription says: PFH died July 19, 1836 Age 22. Find A Grave lists this as the grave of Pheba Frary Hawks who was the wife of Lucy and Emily's brother Richard Hawks - their sister-in-law. Perhaps this face of the obelisk was reserved solely for in-laws.

The facts appear to support the theory that different faces of the obelisk were reserved for in-laws and blood relations. When you look at the LHJ-inscribed side, the theory holds up. Below LHJ is the inscription HH, which was for Silas and Mary's son Henry who drowned in the Connecticut River - Lucy's brother.

Based on this additional information, EH could very well be Eunice Hawks. Emily did not die in 1838.

A Ringer: Another complication is the fact that Emily Hawks is a common name in Massachusetts during that time. There are at least two ringers thrown into the fray.

• Emily Hawks born in September 1818 in Charlemont to parents Thomas and Sally Hawks.
• Emily Hawks born in June 1819 in Deerfield to parents John and Emilia Hawks.

Trawling through the records, it's important to be mindful of these individuals and work to eliminate them as contenders. Fortunately, neither one is listed with a middle initial of "A".

Questions Remain
Did Emily Hawks die in 1838 or did she live to appear as a pauper in the 1855, 1860, and 1865 census records? I have a gut feeling she did not die in 1838 (that the grave's inscription really is her sister-in-law Eunice), and that she was - sadly - a pauper for much of her adult life.

Unfortunately, the written records we've uncovered to-date fail to provide definitive answers. The more we dig, the more questions we uncover. Why did GHJH move to Illinois? What became of Emily? Why was she a pauper? When did she die and where is her grave?

What's Next?

• A review of the 1840 census records for Franklin County may reveal some of Emily's siblings with tick marks in age categories that could be her and GHJH.
• Emily (or another Hawks sibling) may have filed a guardianship record for GHJH in Franklin County. This tip came from the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
• A review of tax records for Franklin County, MA and Menard County, IL could determine when GHJH quit/started paying taxes. This can help pinpoint his location and narrow the timeline for his whereabouts.
• A review of Menard County land records could determine in which year GHJH purchased property (if at all). 
• Franklin County will or probate records for Silas Hawks (if they exist) could shed light on the family dynamic at the time of his 1831 death. For that matter, do any probate records exist for GHJH in Benton County, Arkansas?
• Map out life sketches for GHJH's purported siblings and father, so we have a better understanding of the cast of characters that play a role in this puzzle.

Jucket to a Hawks: Finding Truth in Lore

Family lore says that my 4th great-grandfather George Henry Hawks was born with the surname Jucket. Following the untimely death of his parents, George was adopted by a maternal aunt. She raised him with her Hawks surname, which he carried for the rest of his life and passed on to his children.

No birth or adoption record has been found to corroborate this story.

Who were George Henry Jucket Hawks' biological parents? What evidence exists to substantiate this family legend?

GHJH Marriage, December 1848

GHJH: A Biographical Sketch
Census records (and his tombstone) tell us that George Henry Jucket Hawks (GHJH) was born January 7, 1828 in Massachusetts. He married Amanda Miller Johnston in Menard County, Illinois in December 1848. They had twelve children, nine of whom lived to adulthood.

The young married couple appeared in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census in Menard County with their first child, Robert Johnston Hawks. GHJH was listed as a farmer.

By 1860, the Hawks had migrated west to Lucas County, Iowa. In that year, the farm family boasted four sons, including my own ancestor Edmond Hawks. Fast forward a decade and the family grew to include eight children.

In the 1880 census, the family appeared in Republic County, Kansas where GHJH continued to farm. Based on the Hawks' appearance in the 1875 Kansas state census, we can conclude that they moved from Iowa between 1870-1875.

By 1900, GHJH and Amanda had moved to Washington County, Kansas near the state's northern border with Nebraska. Within a couple years, the aging couple joined two of their sons in Arkansas. On September 24, 1906, GHJH passed away following a short illness. He was buried in Springtown Cemetery in Benton County, Arkansas.

Photo by Family Sleuther

His obituary noted that he was, "a faithful, consistent Christian, and in his earlier years was a minister of the Presbyterian church, a man of fine intellectual powers and one who has accomplished much good in the world."

Family Legend
Different versions of the Jucket to Hawks adoption story have filtered through the descendants of his nine children. Each hints at the same kernel of truth.

Take me, for example. I descend from GHJH's son Edmond Oscar Hawks (my 3rd great-grandfather). Our published family history briefly touches on the topic, stating, "Family legend has it that [GHJH] was adopted and that his birth name was Juckett."

Similar accounts brought me in contact with descendants of nearly all of GHJH's children. Most recently, a descendant of his daughter Emma shared her family's iteration, which claimed that Emma not GHJH was adopted. Given that this particular descendant and I are genetic cousins (and therefore must share a common ancestor), it seems likely that the adoption story was muddled in its retelling over the years, like a game of telephone.

As I reached out to distant Hawks relations, I connected with a rock star research partner - a cousin in Texas from the family of GHJH's son Andrew Jackson. Together, we've lobbed a bunch of theories against this brick wall to see what sticks.

Cousin Tex connected with a great-granddaughter of GHJH who shared a letter addressing the adoption question, providing the most compelling clues to-date:

"Lucy Hawks married Daniel Jucket in Deerfield, MA on 12/7/1820. George Henry Jucket was their son (father of A.J.Hawks). He was left an orphan when quite young. His mother's sister, Emily Hawks, raised him and gave him the name of Hawks. He was born in MA." -Emma Jucket, daughter of Edmond Jucket, brother of Geo.Henry Hawks

Cobbling Family Together
This letter from a purported Jucket niece of GHJH was genealogy gold. With names for his parents, aunt, brother and niece, there was plenty for us to investigate. Could we substantiate the letter's claims?

First up were the parents. We found a record confirming that a Daniel Jucket and Lucy Hawks - both of Deerfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts  - were married on December 7, 1820.

Daniel Jucket and Lucy Hawks - December 1820 marriage 

Thankfully, New England had a penchant for keeping vital records in the early 1800s. We found a family census that enumerated Lucy Hawks' birth. She was a daughter of Silas and Mary Hawks, "born at Charlemont, February 25th, 1799." Charlemont is a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts Family Census for Silas Hawks Family

Cousin Tex made the next exciting discovery confirming that we were investigating the correct family. Scrutinizing the headstone for Silas and Mary Hawks, she noticed that the stone obelisk was inscribed with the initials and presumed death dates for some of their children. One set of initials stood out among the others: LHJ Died March 30, 1832 Age 35. 

Silas Hawks Headstone with LHJ inscription
Photo by FindAGrave user Theresa.

Are LHJ the initials for Lucy Hawks Jucket? Is this the grave of GHJH's mother? The initials and untimely death align closely with family lore.

Backing up, we found a Daniel Juckett (sic) in the 1830 U.S. Federal Census, living in Montague, Franklin County, Massachusetts. There is one male 30-39 and one female 30-39 living in the household. The female age bracket matches the age range for the above-mentioned Lucy. 

This census indicates that there are five children (four boys and one girl) in the household. One boy under the age of 5 would be our GHJH (the birth year engraved on his headstone is 1828).

1830 U.S. Census for Franklin County, Mass. Enumerates Daniel Juckett family

Daniel Jucket and Kids

What happened to Daniel after his wife Lucy died? He has no marked gravesite in the cemetery where Lucy rests. Is it possible that he survived her but didn't raise his five children? Did any - aside from GHJH - live to adulthood? 

A record search found a Daniel Juckett (sic) from Sunderland (a town in Franklin County, Massachusetts near to Deerfield) marrying Mary Kentfield on September 2, 1833. Is this our Daniel Jucket? Lucy passed away the year before, so an 1833 marriage certainly fits the timeline.

Daniel Juckett marries Mary Kentfield - September 1833

Seven years later, the 1840 census enumerated a Daniel Juckett (sic) in Enfield, Hampshire County, Massachusetts. His age is between 40 and 50 making him a prime candidate to be the 30-40 year old Daniel Juckett that was enumerated in the 1830 census. There are only two children in the household - a boy and a girl - both under the age of five. 

1840 U.S. Census for Enfield, Mass. Enumerates Daniel Juckett family

These two children were born after the 1833 marriage to Mary Kentfield, strongly suggesting that she is the mother. The absence of any other children indicates that Lucy's children are not with this Daniel Jucket (which aligns with family lore).

In fact, we can trace Daniel and Mary (Kentfield) Juckett through state and federal censuses from 1850 to 1880. These records tell us that they had at least three children: Charles, Mary, and Eliza. However, no children born before their 1833 marriage appear with them in the census records.

Again, what about the identities of the five children in the 1830 census that belong to Daniel and, very likely, Lucy Jucket?

Alonzo Jucket: The New England Historic Genealogical Society pointed us to an October 1864 death record for an Alonzo Jockett (sic). Alonzo was born in Deerfield, Massachusetts to parents Daniel and Lucy. He was 43 years old at the time of his death, which places his birth at about 1821 (the year after Daniel and Lucy (Hawks) Jucket married). It seems probable that Alonzo was their first son and kept the Jucket surname.

Alonzo Jockett 1864 Death

Edmund Jucket: A broad record search turned up a death certificate for Edmund Blodget Jucket who died in Providence, Rhode Island on April 17, 1879. According to the record, Edmund was born in 1825 in Massachusetts to parents Daniel and Lucy Jucket. Edmund's middle name, Blodget, is also the maiden name of Lucy Hawks' mother Mary. 

Edmund Blodget Jucket 1879 Death

Based on these records, I believe it's evident that Alonzo and Edmond were the eldest sons of Daniel and Lucy (Hawks) Jucket. If they are the siblings of GHJH, then we're still on the hunt for two more children who appeared in the Daniel Jucket household enumerated in the 1830 census.

How about Lucy's sister who supposedly raised GHJH?  Are there actual records that can link GHJH to the Juckets? We're just getting started finding the truth in lore. Stay tuned as the search continues!