The Story of Thomas

Part I

On August 12, 1869, Thomas Walton was born in what is believed to be Alexander City, Alabama. The next 31 years of his life would be the subject of a century of rumors and speculation. It is during those 31 years that Thomas Walton became Thomas Hawkins. His first marriage would begin and end. He would father children, bringing one, Frank, to his second marriage. He would emerge in 1900 in Russellville, Alabama with a new bride, Mary Mattie Francis Napier. She was fourteen. This is where part I of Thomas’s story ends and where part II begins. This story will try to answer the question of why Tom Walton became Thomas Hawkins.

Several stories have been passed on as to why Thomas changed his name. One story contends that it was due to his new bride. Mary Napier had a very fair complexion. Some say that Mary was Caucasian. Others say that she was an Indian. Mary’s granddaughter, Annie McCray Williams, states, “Grandma had blue eyes and hair down to her hips,” as described by Annie’s mother, Buela Hawkins McCray. The 1900 census would list Mary as “black” and in 1910 as “mulatto”. One story says that Thomas stole his young bride and changed his name to protect himself from capture. The couple fled to Limestone County, Alabama and began a new life in Russellville.

Barbara Hawkins, widow of Tom’s son, Robert Lee Hawkins, recently presented another version of Tom’s past. Barbara states that Robert Lee told this story to her. Thomas was treated poorly by his brothers and sought refuge with a white family. This family treated Thomas well, far better than he faired at home. The positive experience that Thomas had led Thomas to take the name of his new family, Hawkins.

The third and most believable story involves the taking of a life. Tom allegedly killed a man, a white man. To protect himself Tom fled but did not get very far. Tom was approached by a white man and questioned, “Are you Tom Walton?” Tom responded, “No, my name is Tom Hawkins.” Tom changed his name on the spot as told by Eulah Walton Brooks. This is the story that her father, Freeman Walton (Tom’s brother), passed on to her as a child. The circumstances of the death are unknown. Was it murder? Self-defense? Where did it take place? Perhaps we will never know the answers to these questions, but our quest for the truth will continue.

Trey Hawkins