Mary Hawk
1811 - 1860
Mary Hawk was born in Ohio on June 20, 1811 (near Pike County before the county was named Pike in 1815) to Nancy (Cutlip) and Joseph Hawk. Her daughter, Serelda, wrote down her birth and marriages dates and the names of her brothers and sisters. We know of her birthplace because of Cutlip Family data that places her parents in Pike County at that time. She was not the oldest child. Her sister, Delilah, was born in 1809. Then came a third daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1813. After 3 girls, the family gained 3 sons. Isaac in 1815, John in 1820, and Benjamin, whose birth date is unknown.
was born in Ohio on June 20, 1811 (near Pike County before the county was named Pike in 1815) to Nancy (Cutlip) and Joseph Hawk. Her daughter, Serelda, wrote down her birth and marriages dates and the names of her brothers and sisters. We know of her birthplace because of Cutlip Family data that places her parents in Pike County at that time. She was not the oldest child. Her sister, Delilah, was born in 1809. Then came a third daughter, Elizabeth, born in 1813. After 3 girls, the family gained 3 sons. Isaac in 1815, John in 1820, and Benjamin, whose birth date is unknown.How much schooling Mary had is unknown. She married James Gray, Jr in Pike County, Ohio on April 9, 1835 when she was 24. James Gray's parents also lived in that part of Ohio. His mother was Rachel Hoover Gray and she was probably widowed before 1840 when she was included in the census household of her son. So Mary had her mother-in-law living with her for a good part of her marriage.
Mary and James Gray's first child, born 31 August 1837 was a daughter, named Mary Ann. Next came a son, Simeon, born in Jackson County, Ohio. (Next to Pike County - both formed from Gallia in 1860.) In 1840 a second son, Nelson was born.
As far as we know, James Gray was a farmer. In about 1842, a great many of the "clan" (Cutlip, Hawk, Gray, Callendar, Whitehead) decided to go up to Wisconsin. They settled in the southeastern part of the state in Green County, near Janesville, where the next child, Serelda Jane, always said she was born. Mary went on to have Ambrose, Isaiah, Jahu, Melissa, Milton, and Franklin. Frank was born in 1854 - six children in 10 years.
At some point, Mary Hawk Gray had her picture taken. The tintype exists from which copies were made. She has dark eyes and a square jaw. She is wearing a white bonnet with ruffles surrounding her face. She wears a dark checked dress with a large lacy collar. We don't know if she was short or tall. Her daughter, Serelda was very small.
Mary died in the winter of 1860 - on the recently elected President Lincoln's birthday. She was only 49. What could have killed her? She was buried that February day in a cemetery in Green County. All alone* her husband left with the family and moved to Winnashield County, Iowa. He was to die, 17 years later and was buried beside a daughter and a son in Kellogg. Iowa.
(*her sister, Deliah, continued to live in Green County, Wisconsin, died in 1879, and buried in a nearby cemetery.)
Comments: Delila Hawk was born November 25, 1809, Elizabeth Hawk was born October 10, 1813, Isaac Hawk was born April 8, 1815; John H. Hawk was born January 15, 1820, Benjamin Hawk was born _________.
Submitted by Denali Porter
(Anyone can contact this submitter by writing to the society, we will forward information on to the submitter.)
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Pike Co. Genealogy Society a Chapter of O.G.S.
P. O. Box 224, Waverly, Ohio 45690