Percifor "Pierce" "Percy" Hawke

1814 - 1872  (58 years)

• Name	Percifor "Pierce" "Percy" Hawke
  Born	1814	, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/237503012
  Military - Rebellion of 1837	Percifor was arrested for his participation in the 1837 Rebellion on the 13 Dec. 1838 and released on 12 May 1838. During his incarceration he made 1 prisoner's box. On the top of his box was the name of his brother Gabriel and the word "gaol." Parts of the top are illegible. On the bottom it stated " Memory of Captain A Anderson who fell by the eternal Life". On the front side it stated " Their minds were tranquil and serene, No terror in their looks were seen, Their steps were strong . A moments pause. Their lives are gone." On the back side it stated "In memory of Saml Lount & Peter Matthews, first Martyr's to Liberty in Canada. April 12th 1838." The ends had the words "Equal Rights" and "Liberty". All of the above information came from the book From Hands Now Striving to Be Free: Boxes Crafted by 1837 Rebellion Pioneers By Chris Raible, with John C Carter and Darryl Withrow. Toronto: The York Pioneer and Historical Society, 2009. 96 pages.
  Name	Pierce Hawke
  Occupation	1851	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Fsrmer
  Residence	1851	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Quaker
  Occupation	1852	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4]
  	farmer
  Occupation	1861	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Farmer
  Residence	1861	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Lot 9 Con 11
  Residence	1861	Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Non-Professor
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-68300
  Died	21 May 1872	Paola, Miami, Kansas, United States   [5]
  Buried	Hawkesville Union Cemetery, Hawkesville, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Person ID	I68300	Generations
  Last Modified	12 May 2025

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Hawke,   b. 12 Mar 1781, , Pennsylvania, USA ,   d. 14 May 1865, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Mary "Polly" Lount,   b. 16 Mar 1787, , , Delaware ,   d. 9 Mar 1876, Hawkesville, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 88 years)
  Family ID	F17849	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Janet Lawson,   b. 1817, , Scotland ,   d. 17 Jun 1870  (Age 53 years)
  Married	16 Oct 1839	Home District, Ontario, Canada   [3, 6]
  Children	1. Elizabeth Ann Hawke,   b. 26 Apr 1840, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 2 Mar 1926, Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 85 years)   2. Walter Scott Hawke,   b. 14 Mar 1842, Tecumseth, Simcoe Co., Ontario ,   d. 19 Aug 1915, Parklawn, Alberta  (Age 73 years)   3. John Hawke,   b. 1844, , Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   4. William Hawke,   b. 1846, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown   5. Louisa Hawke,   b. 1848, Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Last Modified	13 May 2025
  Family ID	F17861	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  One of the oldest settlers of this part of the township of Wellesley in the person of Mr. David Petch passed his reward on the 12th inst. at his residence some two miles east of this place at the advanced age of 89 years. Mr. Petch came to this township from Tecumseth some fifty-five years ago and settled on the farm now occupied by his son Samuel. His wife who survives him was a daughter of the late Benjamin Hawke and now the only survivor of a very large family. Her brother Percifar was, we believe, the first one of the family to venture into what was then known as the Queen's Bush settling on the farm now occupied by Wm. Hayes where he erected a water power machine which was a great convenience to the settlers of this locality. His brother Benjamin shortly followed him settling on the Foster farm but contracting consumption died some two years afterward and was the first one interred in the Hawkesville cemetery and his brother-in-law Mr. Petch the last at the time of writing. Benjamin Hawk and his wife and their sons John, Gabriel and William followed the others, the father and son William settling on the farm now occupied by D. Wismer, John and Gabriel settling at and we may say founding the village of Hawkesville, both of whom took a very active part in municipal affairs of the township and the whole family were thoroughly liberal in politics and in the early history of the township wielded a very great influence in election campaigns. Mr. Petch was about the last of the pioneers of this section of Wellesley. Mr. Geo. Ruler who now is living retired in Hawkesville is perhaps the only remaining one of the early settlers of this particular section of the township. Mr. Petch had a family of six sons and --- daughters. Two of his sons George and William of Crosshill preceded him some years ago, one daughter Miss Lena is unmarried and at home with her mother. The funeral took place on Friday last. A short religious service was conducted at the home by the Rev. Mr. Hague of Millbank after which the interment took place at Hawkesville Waterloo Chronicle Telegraph" December 20, 1900. ______________ "The Hawke family came from the U.S. early in the century to Tecumseth Township from the United States. Three sons, Gabriel, Perciphen and John were involved in the revolt. Gabriel was not arrested. John was held for a few days in January 1838. Perciphen was arrested while attempting escape on December 13, 1837, jailed in Toronto classed one who "deserved severe punishment", but May 12, 1838 was pardoned on providing sureties for good behaviour for three years. The inscription on the top of Perciphen's box is barely legible at best, but it appears to record that the box was given to Gabriel Hawke by his brother Perciphen." Hands Now Striving to Be Free: Boxes Crafted by 1837 Rebellion Prisoners by Chris Raible with John C. Carter and Darryl Withrow.

  
  

• Sources

  [S242] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1851, Div 2 pg 67. Piersifor HAWK Farmer Canada Quaker 37 Janet HAWK Wife Scotland Presbyterian F.C. 34 Elizabeth HAWK Daughter Canada Presbyterian 11 Walter HAWK Son Canada Presbyterian 9 John HAWK Son Canada Presbyterian 7 William HAWK Son Canada Presbyterian 5 Louisa HAWK Canada Presbyterian 3 [S242] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1851, Div. 2 Page 3. [S855] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1861, Sect. 15 Page 96. [S242] Census - ON, Waterloo, Wellesley Twp. - 1851, Div 2 pg 67. [S3320] Miami. Deeds 1869–1875, 1869, Probate Record Walter St. Haek et al to Wm. H. Hawk Power of Attorney. ...Have hereby made , constituted , and appointed , and by these presents do make , constitute and appoint , William Henry Hawk of Woolf Creek , in the State of Iowa , Farmer , to be our true , subficient , and lawful attorney , for us and in our name , and for our use , to take all proper and necessary proceedings for the administering and acquiring the use and possession of the Estate Real , Personal , or mixed of the said Persifor Hawk who died on or about the Thirty first day of January in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and seventy two ... [S1441] Vit - ON, Home District Marriage Register, Vol 11 pg 387. Piercipher Hawk, married Jennet Lawson 16 Oct 1839 by licence witnesses Thomas Burgess & Wm. Rabson

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1814 - , Ontario, Canada Occupation - Fsrmer - 1851 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Quaker - 1851 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - farmer - 1852 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Farmer - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Lot 9 Con 11 - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Non-Professor - 1861 - Wellesley Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 21 May 1872 - Paola, Miami, Kansas, United States Buried - - Hawkesville Union Cemetery, Hawkesville, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  = Link to Google Earth