hˈɔːkɪnz wʌz bˈɔːɹn ˌɔn mˈeɪ sˈɪkstiːn, wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd ˈeɪthˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪtiːn, nˌɪɹ kəlˈʌmbiə, tˌɛnəsˈiː, ɪn mˈɔːɹi kˈaʊnti, tə sˈæmjuːl ænd nˈænsi ɹˈɑːbɚts hˈɔːkɪnz.
Hawkins was born on May 16, 1818, near Columbia, Tennessee, in Maury County, to Samuel and Nancy Roberts Hawkins.