James Hawes a Union Navy Veteran

James Erastus Hawes (1824-1895)

Esther Dale Bennett Hawes (1834-1883)

James D. Hawes (1870-1870)

James Hawes was born on March 6, 1824 in Wrentham, Massachusetts to Ebenezer and Eliza Hawes. He married Esther Dale Bennett (1834-1883) on February 23, 1854, also in Wrentham. At some point the couple moved to South Dedham. They had a son, John D. Hawes, who was born on February 17, 1870 but only lived 5 days. The child died on February 22, 1870 in Dedham. On May 30, 1871, James and Esther had a girl, Mary Eliza Hawes. She lived until May 3, 1950 and died in Franklin, Massachusetts.

James Erastus Hawes was the only Civil War veteran buried in Old Parish who was a sailor. He was 38 years old and married when he enlisted in the United States Navy in 1862 at New London, Connecticut. During his one-year term of service, he spent time on the U. S. S. Sabine, one of the first sailing frigates to see action in the Civil War. Actively deployed along the Atlantic coast in search of Confederate raiders, the Sabine was employed in the hunt for the C.S.S. Alabama in October of 1862. Hawes also served on the U. S. S. Stars and Stripes, which, following repairs, was recommissioned and assigned to the waters off the gulf coast of Florida.

The Sabine

USS Stars & Stripes

Following the war, Hawes lived on Guild Street in South Dedham, later Norwood. In the 1880s, he was a watchman at the car shops. His wife, Esther, died on April 23, 1883. Hawes sold his house in 1890 to Mr. George Smith for $1500. Some time after that date, James spent time at a Soldiers’ Home in Massachusetts. Hawes died a widower at the age of 71 on March 29, 1895 in Attleboro. He was brought back to Norwood to be interred with his deceased wife, Esther, and their infant son, James. The George K. Bird G.A.R Post took charge of his burial in Old Parish.

Hawes family marker before OPPV repairs

Hawes family stone as it appears in 2025 in Old Parish Cemetery.