A Stony Brook, New York storekeeper, he was the son of Jonas Hawkins and Ruth Mills, husband of Letty Lindsley, the daughter of Benjamin Lindlesy and Sarah Kitchell, whom he married on October 11, 1801, in Morris, New Jersey.
Marriage - Hawkins - Micah, of this city, married, Sunday, 11th inst., at Morristown, N.H. (N.J.), to Miss Letty Lindsly, of that town. (October 24, 1801).
"Micah Hawkins (January 1, 1777 – July 29, 1825) was an American poet, playwright, and composer, largely of music for theater, who also operated a New York City tavern and grocery store. He was born in Head of the Harbor, New York and moved to New York City in 1798, where he worked in several jobs, including carriage-maker, before opening a grocery and inn. He played flute, piano, and violin. His blackface song "Backside Albany", ridiculing the British during the War of 1812 was to be sung "in the character of a Negro sailor", ridiculing the British efforts. It was first performed in Albany, New York, February 15, 1815, as part of a play, The Battle of Plattsburgh. His operetta The Saw-Mill, or A Yankee Trick, the first opera by an American composer on an American theme, had six performances at New York's Chatham Garden Theatre in 1824–25. Hawkins was the uncle of painter William Sidney Mount, who lived with him for a time in childhood.
"Micah's biography fills up the measure of a Yankee hero in the way of activity. There is no telling what he might have become if he had been more favored in the blessings of early education. He was best known to New York musicians as President of the European Society. He had been brought up on a farm, and then apprenticed to a coachmaker. His next step was as a grocer, after which he soon became landlord of the Catharine-Street Ferry House, in New York. A more jolly old soul could not easily be found, and therefore we need not wonder that he remained to the close of life just such a musical Boniface as popular feelings would admire. Before temperance tyranny and prohibitory politics had introduced lager-bier brothels and gin palaces, the Catharine-Street Ferry House was one of our most cosy old taverns, where a man with a food character need not be ashamed to enter. Hawkins had a piano under his bar (dreadful word!) and was a very fair performer upon that instrument. As a violinist, however, be had but few equals, and many a proof of the power of music has occurred there from the fact that persons just landed from vessels in the East River have been completely overpowered by the exquisitely touching style in which Hawkins played some air likely to arouse their feelings. The genuineness of these proofs must be considered unquestionable, as the persons alluded to did not know Hawkins, never heard of his house, and could not imagine where the sounds came from. Persons who did know him he often requested their hot to cease playing, upon the ground that so long as he played, they could not leave. Thus we see that Hawkins, as a musician, believed in more bars than one. One of the songs in "The Yankee Sawmill" was a very lively air well known as The Yankee Girls." Micah wrote, however, single songs not in that opera which are better known— "Way Back of Albany," for example. What we have said is enough to remind musical circles of the debt of gratitude posterity owes to Micah Hawkins. As a man and a citizen, he was Shakespearean in his simplicity of genius. Some of our aged citizens can easily tell of the jovial and graceful landlord who made the Catharine-Street Ferry House the home of harmony. Hawkins died wealthy, and we consider this fact a healthy sign of his genius being properly balanced by business prudence. We should like to see "The Yankee Sawmill" properly represented on the stage by some of our present minstrel companies or operatic troupes. The sawmill is usually in the vanguard of civilization, and why not have "The Yankee Sawmill" acknowledged as our first native opera? ...
The Will of Micah Hawkins - In the Name of God Amen, I, Micah Hawkins, of the City of New York, Grocer, being of sound disposing mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of life do make this my last Will and Testament as follows; that is to say, It is my will that all my debts be paid as soon as can be made convenient after my decease, after which I do give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife , Lettey Hawkins, all and singular the real and personal estate of which I may die possessed or entitled unto, of whatsoever nature the same may be as a trifiling acknowledgment of her affection and meritorious conduct. And I also make, nominate and appoint my said wife Letty to be sole executrix of this my said last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name and affixed my seal this seventeeth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.
Micah Hawkins L.S.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by Micah Hawkins, the within named testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses, Elizabeth Shaw, Pamela A. Lindsley, Isaiah Lennington.
(Long Island Surnames; Micah Hawkins / Latty Lindsly in the New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965, Film Number 004541274; O. Wegelin, M. K and The Saw-Mill (N.Y., 1917); Wikipedia; The New York Clipper. Saturday, April 4, 1857, page 396; New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection), New York Evening Post, 1825, July, page 84; U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 for Micah Hawkins, New York, New York Weekly Museum, ALL, Abanather-Kyle; New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 for Micah Hawkins, New York, Wills, Vol 059, 1824-1825, page 428; Micah Hawkins in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Fourth Generation, page 43)
Marriage - Hawkins - Micah, of this city, married, Sunday, 11th inst., at Morristown, N.H. (N.J.), to Miss Letty Lindsly, of that town. (October 24, 1801).
"Micah Hawkins (January 1, 1777 – July 29, 1825) was an American poet, playwright, and composer, largely of music for theater, who also operated a New York City tavern and grocery store. He was born in Head of the Harbor, New York and moved to New York City in 1798, where he worked in several jobs, including carriage-maker, before opening a grocery and inn. He played flute, piano, and violin. His blackface song "Backside Albany", ridiculing the British during the War of 1812 was to be sung "in the character of a Negro sailor", ridiculing the British efforts. It was first performed in Albany, New York, February 15, 1815, as part of a play, The Battle of Plattsburgh. His operetta The Saw-Mill, or A Yankee Trick, the first opera by an American composer on an American theme, had six performances at New York's Chatham Garden Theatre in 1824–25. Hawkins was the uncle of painter William Sidney Mount, who lived with him for a time in childhood.
"Micah's biography fills up the measure of a Yankee hero in the way of activity. There is no telling what he might have become if he had been more favored in the blessings of early education. He was best known to New York musicians as President of the European Society. He had been brought up on a farm, and then apprenticed to a coachmaker. His next step was as a grocer, after which he soon became landlord of the Catharine-Street Ferry House, in New York. A more jolly old soul could not easily be found, and therefore we need not wonder that he remained to the close of life just such a musical Boniface as popular feelings would admire. Before temperance tyranny and prohibitory politics had introduced lager-bier brothels and gin palaces, the Catharine-Street Ferry House was one of our most cosy old taverns, where a man with a food character need not be ashamed to enter. Hawkins had a piano under his bar (dreadful word!) and was a very fair performer upon that instrument. As a violinist, however, be had but few equals, and many a proof of the power of music has occurred there from the fact that persons just landed from vessels in the East River have been completely overpowered by the exquisitely touching style in which Hawkins played some air likely to arouse their feelings. The genuineness of these proofs must be considered unquestionable, as the persons alluded to did not know Hawkins, never heard of his house, and could not imagine where the sounds came from. Persons who did know him he often requested their hot to cease playing, upon the ground that so long as he played, they could not leave. Thus we see that Hawkins, as a musician, believed in more bars than one. One of the songs in "The Yankee Sawmill" was a very lively air well known as The Yankee Girls." Micah wrote, however, single songs not in that opera which are better known— "Way Back of Albany," for example. What we have said is enough to remind musical circles of the debt of gratitude posterity owes to Micah Hawkins. As a man and a citizen, he was Shakespearean in his simplicity of genius. Some of our aged citizens can easily tell of the jovial and graceful landlord who made the Catharine-Street Ferry House the home of harmony. Hawkins died wealthy, and we consider this fact a healthy sign of his genius being properly balanced by business prudence. We should like to see "The Yankee Sawmill" properly represented on the stage by some of our present minstrel companies or operatic troupes. The sawmill is usually in the vanguard of civilization, and why not have "The Yankee Sawmill" acknowledged as our first native opera? ...
The Will of Micah Hawkins - In the Name of God Amen, I, Micah Hawkins, of the City of New York, Grocer, being of sound disposing mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of life do make this my last Will and Testament as follows; that is to say, It is my will that all my debts be paid as soon as can be made convenient after my decease, after which I do give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife , Lettey Hawkins, all and singular the real and personal estate of which I may die possessed or entitled unto, of whatsoever nature the same may be as a trifiling acknowledgment of her affection and meritorious conduct. And I also make, nominate and appoint my said wife Letty to be sole executrix of this my said last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name and affixed my seal this seventeeth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.
Micah Hawkins L.S.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by Micah Hawkins, the within named testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses, Elizabeth Shaw, Pamela A. Lindsley, Isaiah Lennington.
(Long Island Surnames; Micah Hawkins / Latty Lindsly in the New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965, Film Number 004541274; O. Wegelin, M. K and The Saw-Mill (N.Y., 1917); Wikipedia; The New York Clipper. Saturday, April 4, 1857, page 396; New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection), New York Evening Post, 1825, July, page 84; U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 for Micah Hawkins, New York, New York Weekly Museum, ALL, Abanather-Kyle; New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 for Micah Hawkins, New York, Wills, Vol 059, 1824-1825, page 428; Micah Hawkins in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Fourth Generation, page 43)
A Stony Brook, New York storekeeper, he was the son of Jonas Hawkins and Ruth Mills, husband of Letty Lindsley, the daughter of Benjamin Lindlesy and Sarah Kitchell, whom he married on October 11, 1801, in Morris, New Jersey.
Marriage - Hawkins - Micah, of this city, married, Sunday, 11th inst., at Morristown, N.H. (N.J.), to Miss Letty Lindsly, of that town. (October 24, 1801).
"Micah Hawkins (January 1, 1777 – July 29, 1825) was an American poet, playwright, and composer, largely of music for theater, who also operated a New York City tavern and grocery store. He was born in Head of the Harbor, New York and moved to New York City in 1798, where he worked in several jobs, including carriage-maker, before opening a grocery and inn. He played flute, piano, and violin. His blackface song "Backside Albany", ridiculing the British during the War of 1812 was to be sung "in the character of a Negro sailor", ridiculing the British efforts. It was first performed in Albany, New York, February 15, 1815, as part of a play, The Battle of Plattsburgh. His operetta The Saw-Mill, or A Yankee Trick, the first opera by an American composer on an American theme, had six performances at New York's Chatham Garden Theatre in 1824–25. Hawkins was the uncle of painter William Sidney Mount, who lived with him for a time in childhood.
"Micah's biography fills up the measure of a Yankee hero in the way of activity. There is no telling what he might have become if he had been more favored in the blessings of early education. He was best known to New York musicians as President of the European Society. He had been brought up on a farm, and then apprenticed to a coachmaker. His next step was as a grocer, after which he soon became landlord of the Catharine-Street Ferry House, in New York. A more jolly old soul could not easily be found, and therefore we need not wonder that he remained to the close of life just such a musical Boniface as popular feelings would admire. Before temperance tyranny and prohibitory politics had introduced lager-bier brothels and gin palaces, the Catharine-Street Ferry House was one of our most cosy old taverns, where a man with a food character need not be ashamed to enter. Hawkins had a piano under his bar (dreadful word!) and was a very fair performer upon that instrument. As a violinist, however, be had but few equals, and many a proof of the power of music has occurred there from the fact that persons just landed from vessels in the East River have been completely overpowered by the exquisitely touching style in which Hawkins played some air likely to arouse their feelings. The genuineness of these proofs must be considered unquestionable, as the persons alluded to did not know Hawkins, never heard of his house, and could not imagine where the sounds came from. Persons who did know him he often requested their hot to cease playing, upon the ground that so long as he played, they could not leave. Thus we see that Hawkins, as a musician, believed in more bars than one. One of the songs in "The Yankee Sawmill" was a very lively air well known as The Yankee Girls." Micah wrote, however, single songs not in that opera which are better known— "Way Back of Albany," for example. What we have said is enough to remind musical circles of the debt of gratitude posterity owes to Micah Hawkins. As a man and a citizen, he was Shakespearean in his simplicity of genius. Some of our aged citizens can easily tell of the jovial and graceful landlord who made the Catharine-Street Ferry House the home of harmony. Hawkins died wealthy, and we consider this fact a healthy sign of his genius being properly balanced by business prudence. We should like to see "The Yankee Sawmill" properly represented on the stage by some of our present minstrel companies or operatic troupes. The sawmill is usually in the vanguard of civilization, and why not have "The Yankee Sawmill" acknowledged as our first native opera? ...
The Will of Micah Hawkins - In the Name of God Amen, I, Micah Hawkins, of the City of New York, Grocer, being of sound disposing mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of life do make this my last Will and Testament as follows; that is to say, It is my will that all my debts be paid as soon as can be made convenient after my decease, after which I do give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife , Lettey Hawkins, all and singular the real and personal estate of which I may die possessed or entitled unto, of whatsoever nature the same may be as a trifiling acknowledgment of her affection and meritorious conduct. And I also make, nominate and appoint my said wife Letty to be sole executrix of this my said last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name and affixed my seal this seventeeth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.
Micah Hawkins L.S.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by Micah Hawkins, the within named testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses, Elizabeth Shaw, Pamela A. Lindsley, Isaiah Lennington.
(Long Island Surnames; Micah Hawkins / Latty Lindsly in the New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965, Film Number 004541274; O. Wegelin, M. K and The Saw-Mill (N.Y., 1917); Wikipedia; The New York Clipper. Saturday, April 4, 1857, page 396; New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection), New York Evening Post, 1825, July, page 84; U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 for Micah Hawkins, New York, New York Weekly Museum, ALL, Abanather-Kyle; New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 for Micah Hawkins, New York, Wills, Vol 059, 1824-1825, page 428; Micah Hawkins in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Fourth Generation, page 43)
Marriage - Hawkins - Micah, of this city, married, Sunday, 11th inst., at Morristown, N.H. (N.J.), to Miss Letty Lindsly, of that town. (October 24, 1801).
"Micah Hawkins (January 1, 1777 – July 29, 1825) was an American poet, playwright, and composer, largely of music for theater, who also operated a New York City tavern and grocery store. He was born in Head of the Harbor, New York and moved to New York City in 1798, where he worked in several jobs, including carriage-maker, before opening a grocery and inn. He played flute, piano, and violin. His blackface song "Backside Albany", ridiculing the British during the War of 1812 was to be sung "in the character of a Negro sailor", ridiculing the British efforts. It was first performed in Albany, New York, February 15, 1815, as part of a play, The Battle of Plattsburgh. His operetta The Saw-Mill, or A Yankee Trick, the first opera by an American composer on an American theme, had six performances at New York's Chatham Garden Theatre in 1824–25. Hawkins was the uncle of painter William Sidney Mount, who lived with him for a time in childhood.
"Micah's biography fills up the measure of a Yankee hero in the way of activity. There is no telling what he might have become if he had been more favored in the blessings of early education. He was best known to New York musicians as President of the European Society. He had been brought up on a farm, and then apprenticed to a coachmaker. His next step was as a grocer, after which he soon became landlord of the Catharine-Street Ferry House, in New York. A more jolly old soul could not easily be found, and therefore we need not wonder that he remained to the close of life just such a musical Boniface as popular feelings would admire. Before temperance tyranny and prohibitory politics had introduced lager-bier brothels and gin palaces, the Catharine-Street Ferry House was one of our most cosy old taverns, where a man with a food character need not be ashamed to enter. Hawkins had a piano under his bar (dreadful word!) and was a very fair performer upon that instrument. As a violinist, however, be had but few equals, and many a proof of the power of music has occurred there from the fact that persons just landed from vessels in the East River have been completely overpowered by the exquisitely touching style in which Hawkins played some air likely to arouse their feelings. The genuineness of these proofs must be considered unquestionable, as the persons alluded to did not know Hawkins, never heard of his house, and could not imagine where the sounds came from. Persons who did know him he often requested their hot to cease playing, upon the ground that so long as he played, they could not leave. Thus we see that Hawkins, as a musician, believed in more bars than one. One of the songs in "The Yankee Sawmill" was a very lively air well known as The Yankee Girls." Micah wrote, however, single songs not in that opera which are better known— "Way Back of Albany," for example. What we have said is enough to remind musical circles of the debt of gratitude posterity owes to Micah Hawkins. As a man and a citizen, he was Shakespearean in his simplicity of genius. Some of our aged citizens can easily tell of the jovial and graceful landlord who made the Catharine-Street Ferry House the home of harmony. Hawkins died wealthy, and we consider this fact a healthy sign of his genius being properly balanced by business prudence. We should like to see "The Yankee Sawmill" properly represented on the stage by some of our present minstrel companies or operatic troupes. The sawmill is usually in the vanguard of civilization, and why not have "The Yankee Sawmill" acknowledged as our first native opera? ...
The Will of Micah Hawkins - In the Name of God Amen, I, Micah Hawkins, of the City of New York, Grocer, being of sound disposing mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of life do make this my last Will and Testament as follows; that is to say, It is my will that all my debts be paid as soon as can be made convenient after my decease, after which I do give, devise and bequeath unto my beloved wife , Lettey Hawkins, all and singular the real and personal estate of which I may die possessed or entitled unto, of whatsoever nature the same may be as a trifiling acknowledgment of her affection and meritorious conduct. And I also make, nominate and appoint my said wife Letty to be sole executrix of this my said last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills. In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed by name and affixed my seal this seventeeth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ten.
Micah Hawkins L.S.
Signed, Sealed, Published and Declared by Micah Hawkins, the within named testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who have in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed our names as witnesses, Elizabeth Shaw, Pamela A. Lindsley, Isaiah Lennington.
(Long Island Surnames; Micah Hawkins / Latty Lindsly in the New Jersey, U.S., Marriage Records, 1670-1965, Film Number 004541274; O. Wegelin, M. K and The Saw-Mill (N.Y., 1917); Wikipedia; The New York Clipper. Saturday, April 4, 1857, page 396; New York, U.S., Death Newspaper Extracts, 1801-1890 (Barber Collection), New York Evening Post, 1825, July, page 84; U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930 for Micah Hawkins, New York, New York Weekly Museum, ALL, Abanather-Kyle; New York, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1659-1999 for Micah Hawkins, New York, Wills, Vol 059, 1824-1825, page 428; Micah Hawkins in the North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000, Fourth Generation, page 43)
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