Fort Frederica, Hawkins-Davison Houses (Ruins), Lots No. 1 & 2, South Ward, Saint Simons Island

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,64-FRED,7-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

Fort Frederica National Monument, Box St. Simons Island, Georgia Brief Statement of Hawkins House is half of a duplex strue- Signiflcance: ture "built by the original settlers of Fort Frederica. It dates from and is one of the most fully documented buildings on the site. PARTI. HISTORICAL INFQRMATM A. Physical History; 1. Original and subsequent owners; Lot #1, South Ward, granted to Thomas Hawkins, an original settler at Frederica. In January, it was granted to Christian Perkins, nee Grant, who had several brothers -i who were servants. Married John Perkins, then Francis Lewis. Left the lot, by will, to her brother, Peter Grant, a veteran of Bloody Marsh, who died at St. Simons in at the age of 84. 2. Date of erection; Began February Finished April 3.

Builders: The Cannon men, carpenters, worked on the house, as did John Robertson, bricklayer. Dr. Hawkins had two servants, Thomas Ayot and Richard Carpenter, who probably assisted. There was also a plasterer men- tioned . 4. Notes on alterations and additions: Two additions mentioned in records, but it is not known exactly what was altered or added. It is thought by Mr, Fairbanks that the wooden shed on the east of the house was plastered and tabby added to make it a permanent part of the building. B. Historical Events Connected with the Structure: Dr. Thomas Hawkins, with his wife, Beatre, were among the first settlers at Frederica. Arrived in Built palmetto sheds to live in while large house was being built. Beatre Hawkins was a mean woman and a troublemaker.

She and Anne Welch hated the Wesleys, and tried to turn General Oglethorpe against them. They started malicious ruiHors, Beatre Hawkins attacked John Wesley with a pistol and a pair of scissors and tried to kill him. Hawkins was surgeon in Gglethorpe's Regiment,

Hawkins-Davison Houses Remains

Pa e 2 fiwK W Ifo^e (continued) V~ 7- medical doctor for the area, kept an apothecary shop in his house, was First Bailiff for Frederica, paid correspondent with William Stephens of Savannah. He and his wife were both disagreeable and hard to get along with. Almost everyone in Frederica had some altercation with Hawkins. It was said he would not treat anyone who could not pay, though Oglethorpe defended him in this regard. Hawkins was accused of using his official positions to his own advantage in these alterca- tions. Among those who brought charges against him were John Perkins, Francis Msore, John Calwell, and Will Allen.

His neighbor, Samuel JDavison, claimed that Hawkins had per- secuted him during his entire stay at Frederica, had removed him from several positions and had finally caused him to leave Frederica and go to live in Charleston* As a result of all these things, plus the mistrust of the Trustees, Thomas Hawkins was removed from office as First Bailiff, and returned to England in He left the lot to his brother, John Hawkins. After his death, the Perkins family looked after the lot and it was later granted to Christian Perkins, who left it to her brother, Peter Grant. They also owned Lot #17 North; descended to Peter's son, Thomas Grant. Source: Margaret Davis Gate and Charles H. Fairbanks, Hawkins-Davison Houses. Frederica. St. Simons Island. Georgia..

Fort Frederica Associa- tion, Publication No. 2. This is a reprint from the Georgia Historical Quarterly, Vol. XL, No, 3, September Gate's article is," ; entitled, ?'The Original Houses of Frederica, Georgia: The Hawkins- Davison Houses." Mr. Fairbanks1 is "The Excavation of The Hawkins- Davison Houses, .Frederica National Monument, St. Simons Island, Georgia. Both these articles are heavily footnoted, and give all the original sources. Prepared by Lionel J. Bienvenu - June. PART -II. ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: - 1. Architectural character: Half of duplex; first struc- ture excavated at Frederica in One of the more substantial houses built by original settlers. fully documented building there. As duplex with party wall, it helped establish lot lines. 2.

Condition of fabric: Ruinous; nothing left above grade. B. Technical Description of Exterior: 1. Overall,dimensions: 30' x 2. Foundations:, Brick 3- Wall construction; Brick 4. Chimneys: Two - probably brick HAWKINS-DAVISON HOUSES REMAINS Page 3 HAB6 fo^se (continued) 6 ; 5. Openings: a. Doorways and doors: Two doorways, one f~ each in middle of north and south walls. Wood frame. b. Windows and shutters: Large quantities of window glass. Only broken pieces were found. All windows were probably shuttered. 6. Roof; Probably gable; no evidence of covering 7. Stairways: Outside stair wide on north wall. C. Technical Description of Interiors: 1. Floor Plans: Irregular shape. Basement - two rooms with frame outshotto west that may have been original shed and first structure on Lot #1.

West wall of 6" posts, I'O" on center with tabby filled in between, perhaps covered by weather boarding. Evidence it was remodeled twice. No evidence of other floors. Probably stories. 2. Flooring: In main basement room and outshut brick laid in dry sand.. In south room - two floors of tabby, one over the other and a last floor of wood on top. 3. Wall and ceiling finish: Main basement room had a burned shell lime plaster finish over the brick walls and fireplace cheeks. 4. Hardware: Locks, assorted nails and hinges 5. Heating: Two fireplaces of brick. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: Town of Frederica - an old Indian field, flat 40 acres; Lot #1, south ward, 60 x Short north side fronting on Broad Street; 14' alley to rear; bordered on 90' east side by like lot.

Building faces north. 2. Outbuildings: Three wells. Prepared by Philip B. Gardner - June Davison House Street Address or Fort Frederica National lifonuraent, Box Sijaons ,Island, Georgia HAWKINS-DAVISON HOUSES REMA.INS , , A Page 4 H^ Davison House (continued) 7- Brief Statement of Davison House is half of a duplex structure built

Source document Quoted word for word from HABS GA,64-FRED,7-. Not written, edited or summarised by this site.

by the original settlers of Fort Frederioa. It dates from and is one of the most fully documented buildings on the site. PART I. HISTORICAL INFORMATION A. Physical History: 1. Original and subsequent owners: Samuel Davison owned the lot from until he left for Charleston In 2. Date of erection: Began February, finished "by April, 3. Architect, builder, suppliers, etc.: Architect - unknown. It is thought that the Cannons, carpenters, and John Bobertson, bricklayer, worked on this house, with a plasterer. B. Historical Events Connected with the Structure: Samuel Davison was one of the original settlers at Frederica.

He brought his wife, Susanna, and his daughter, Susanna, with him from England in February, They built sheds and bowers out of palmetto to live in while their large house was being built. Davison fenced his whole lot and planted gardens out- side the town. Two sons, John and Samuel, were born at Frederica. The Davisons were good citizens and got along well with their neighbors, except for Thomas Hawkins, who persecuted Samuel Davison. After his house was finished, April, Davison fitted out a tavern and taproom in the basement. He was named Second Constable, and in Overseer of Trustee's Servants. Hawkins removed him from this job. In Davison was named Searcher of Ships. Dr.

Hawkins finally succeeded in making Davison leave Frederica, from where he went to Charleston, South Carolina, in His wife, Susanna, died in St. Bartholomew Parish, Colleton County, South Carolina, in Her daughter married John Smith. Source: Hawkins-Davison Houses, Frederica. St. Simons Island, Georgia. Margaret Davis Cate and Charles H. Fairbanks. Reprinted from the Georgia Historical Quarterly, Vol. XL, No. 3, September, Fort Frederica Association, Publication No. 2. Sea Island, Georgia. Prepared by Lionel J. Bienvenu - June. PART II. - ARCHITECTURAL INFORMATION A. General Statement: 1. Architectural character: Half of duplex; one of the more substantial houses built by original settlers of Frederica. Mast fully documented building there.

As duplex with party wall, it helped establish lot lines. HAWKINS-DAVISON HOUSES REMAINS HABS 1 Page 5 ^Av *> Davison House (continued) <?- 2. Condition of fabric; Ruinous, nothing left above grade. B. Technical Description of Exterior: 1. Overall dimensions: x 29' 2. Foundations: Brick and poured tabby 3. Wall construction: Brick and poured tabby. 4. Chimneys: One - brick 5. Openings: Windows and shutters: Large quantity of broken window glass was found. Probably all windows were shuttered. 6. Roof: Probably gable. No evidence of covering. C. Technical Description of Interiors: 1. Floor plans: Rectangle. Basement - two rooms and stairwell. No evidence of upper floors. Probably stories. t 2. Stairways: Outline and brick bottom landing to a stair on east wall.

Three brick steps with 4" x 4" nosings lead from southeast corner of main room up to south room door level. 3. Flooring: In main basement room, brick floor of herringbone pattern. Under this was earlier tabby floor. South room had tabby floor. 4. Wall and ceiling finish: Main basement room, burned shell lime plaster finish over brick walls and fireplace cheeks. Plaster on lath finish furred out 4" from wall. Brick and tabby floors extended only to this finished wall. 5. Doorways and doors: Two doorways from main room. 6. Hardware: Excavation revealed locks, assorted nails and hinges. 7. Heating: Brick fireplaces in main rooms. D. Site: 1. General setting and orientation: Town of Frederica - an 2 old Indian field, flat, 40 acres.

Lot #1, south ward, - 60 > x Short north side fronting on Broad Street, 14' alley to south, bordered on 90' sides by like lots. Building faces north. # 2. Enclosures: Evidence of wood post fence around entire lot. Prepared by Philip E. Gardner - June. 1Q5A