Robert Hunkins, Sr.

Robert Hunkins, Sr. was an early settler from Haverhill, Massachusetts that helped to protect Essex County, Massachusetts from Indian attacks. He is also the progenitor of the Massachusetts-Wisconsin Hunkins family.

Biography

Early life

Robert Hunkins, Sr., was born to English immigrant John Hunkins and Sarah Lee, of the "ancient an honourable Lee family", in 1679. Sarah Lee was the daughter of English immigrants John Lee and Anne (or Joanne) Hungerford. Alternatively, genealogist Jack Randolph Hutchins estimated Hunkins' date of birth as 1675.

As Hunkins' father John was an English immigrant, this made Hunkins the first Hunkins generation to be born in the United States.

Family

Robert Hunkins married Abiah Page May 1, 1706. Abiah was the daughter of Benjamin and Mary (née Whittier) Page. Abiah was the first cousin once removed of John Greenleaf Whittier through her mother Mary, who was John's sister. Together Hunkins and Abiah had children:

• Mary Hunkins, born March 26, 1707.
• John Hunkins, born December 25, 1708. John married Edna(h) Hastings on December 30, 1736, and together they had son Robert.
• Sarah Hunkins, born January 25, 1710/11. She died unmarried at 100 years old.
• Robert Hunkins, Jr., born March 6, 1713/14.
• Abiah Hunkins, born November 29, 1715.
• Thomas Hunkins, born June 24, 1719.

In 1711, Hunkins erected a house on King's Highway that stayed in the Hunkins family until 1898.

Indian massacres

In 1710, the Massachusetts General Court ordered supplies for Essex County to protect against Indian attacks, including snow shoes. Hunkins, along with Robert Peaslee, Ephriam Davies and Samuel Davies and others, were designated as "snow shoe men of the town" during 1711 for the North Essex Regiment. The soldiers were referred to as "snow shoe soldiers". The unit was commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Saltonstall (of the Saltonstall family).