Photo courtesy of
the Yaphank Historical Society
Robert Hewlett
Hawkins, born in 1817, was a seventh generation
descendent of Robert and Mary Hawkins who arrived in
Charlestown Massachusetts, (now a part of the city of
Boston) in 1635 from London, England.
At an early
age, James H. Weeks, an influential businessman from
Yaphank, gave Robert a letter of introduction to a
prominent mercantile firm in New York City and thus began
Hawkins successful business career. In a short time he
amassed a fortune allowing him to form many ongoing
personal and business relationships with a number of
honorable businessmen.
In 1850, he
constructed a residence (Robert Hawkins House) on Yaphank
avenue, Yaphank, New York that was home to him, his wife
Isabelle (Swezey) Hawkins and their then three children,
Elizabeth Tuthill, Isabelle S. and Rebecca Larissa.
Robert Hewlitt, Jr., a fourth child was born in 1856.
Dating from
1853. The only early Victorian home in the area. Formerly
the home of Robert Hewlett Hawkins, born in Yaphank in
1817. The house remained in the Hawkins family until
1887. It is now owned by Suffolk County and is part of
the Parks Department Historic Trust. It is now under
restoration by the County in conjunction with the Yaphank
Historical Society.