Sugden says this is the first document which references the association
between the Drake family and the Hawkins or "Hawkynge" family of
Tavistock. The grandfather of Sir John Hawkins was a John Hawkins of
Tavistock, probably related to the one mentioned above as being a
horsethief and common highwayman along with his partner in crime, one
Edmund Drake, also known as the father of Sir Francis and his eleven
brothers, from whom many of us are probably descended. Sir John and his
brother William Hawkins were wealthy ship owners who financed some of
Sir Francis' voyages, and Sir John himself sailed on many of these
voyages.
Hawkins' father-in-law was Secretary of the Navy when Sir
Francis planned to circumnavigate the globe, and both John and his
brother William helped fund Drake's successful attempt to sail around
the world. Probably the influence of John's father-in-law with other
wealthy seamen and investors helped with the financial backing for this
perilous adventure. Sir John Hawkins had captained his own ship during
the battles with the Spanish Armada, alongside Drake's ship. He had
also probably helped finance Drake on some of his early piracy and
slaving trips.
Finally, John was sailing with Francis on his final
voyage, and died on 12 Nov. 1595 after his ship had put in at Puerto
Rico. Sir Francis died some 10 weeks later on this same voyage. All
through his life, Sir Francis was closely allied with Sir John and the
rest of his family. I don't think his family connection is known
exactly, but it definitely is there.
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