Mary was born November 22, 1839 in Cardiff, Wales. Her father, John A Lewis was the eldest child of Edward and Amelia Preese Lewis, his siblings: Edmund Edward, William Betsy, and Mary. Mary's mother, Ann John Lewis, was the eldest child of John and Ann John and had two brothers, Daniel and John, and one sister, Cellia.
Mary Lewis' parents, John A. Lewis and Ann John, both of Welsh descent, all born in Cardiff, Wales: Ann, Mary, Fred, and the twins, William and Preese (the latter named died in infancy). 2 others died in childhood.
Mary's sister, Ann Lewis Clegg, said of her mother and father, "I seem to see my angel mother as she went about in the beautiful home, bringing sunshine, peace, and love to all. She was of medium height, with black hair, and eyes and skin as fair as alabaster. She was consumptive and therefore looked delicate. She was beautiful in spirit as well as body. My father was a tall dark complexioned man, straight as an arrow and firm as the rock of ages. He was a kind, charitable, and very religious man. He was at that time occupied as master builder of the Cardiff Docks. Our home was a happy one. Here all my brothers and sisters were born. We were Methodists and were reared and educated under a strict Methodist training, my father being a Methodist Minister."
Mary and her siblings received a fair common education lived happy childhoods. Mary's mother had consumption and day by day gradually grew worse, until she passed away the 5th of May, 1849. Ann was 33 years old and left a husband and four children besides loved ones. Mary was only 10 yrs old.
Grandma Lewis took care of them and their home with the help of a housekeeper after Mary's mother passed away. Grandma Lewis was a charitable woman to everybody and everything. Four years after Mary's mother died, Mary's father married again to Mrs. Pricilla Phillips, a widow with one daughter, Louise. She was a very sweet lady and the children grew to love her and her little daughter. She was kind and good to them and tried as near as she could to take the place of their mother.
About this time, Mormonism was being expounded in Cardiff. Captain Jones and Elder Henshaw were there, teaching this new and strange gospel to all who would listen. John A. Lewis seemed to grasp the gospel at once and after two years of careful study of it and having gained a testimony of its truth, embraced it, along with his wife and all of his children. They were very happy in the new gospel, but the relatives were bitter, and seeing they could not live in peace, decided to come to Zion.
Within 2 weeks John A. Lewis sold his store, house and everything he held dear. Three months later they left Cardiff for Liverpool where we were to sail in the ship "Golconda" for St. Louis, U.S.A. February 4, 1854. They voyage wasn't very pleasant, but there were 800 saints on board nearly all from Wales. Having landed safely in New Orleans, they took first class passage on the beautiful boat "John Simmons" (the largest boat on the river) to sail up the Mississippi to Missouri.
They were taken to the edge of St. Louis, Missouri to McFee's camp ground, where all the saints were camped, preparatory to going to Utah. They were there 6 weeks while making preparations for the journey. They began their journey on 17 June 1854 in the Darwin Richardson Company with 40 wagons, three and four families to a wagon. They had to take turns riding part way and walking part way across the plains. Sadly, there were a great many deaths in their company; having to sew the corpse in a sheet or blanket, dig a deep hole, bury them and go on. At Ash Hollow Mary had the mountain fever and nearly died. However she lived and 14 year old Mary arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 30 Sept 1854.
Two years later, Mary first married, John Hardisan Redd, 2 March 1856. Mary Lewis and John H. Redd had a daughter, Mary Ann Redd, who was born August 28, 1857, at Spanish Fork, Utah. John H. Redd died 1858.
Now widowed and with a 2 year old child in tow, Mary Lewis met Joshua Hawkes and they were soon married on 21 December 1859 in Spanish Fork. Joshua adopted little Mary Ann Redd and loved and raised her as his own.
On September 27, 1860 their daughter, Lucy Caroline, was born. Mary Hawkes and her husband, Joshua, joined a dramatic association, helped build a theater, and were actors in it. Mary played the leading role in many productions. Mary was naturally good at acting and would be invited to join several other production companies throughout her life. 1873. Mary was invited to join the theatrical troupe at Wellsville, at first she declined, but she played with them to accommodate the party. And again when they moved to Franklin, Idaho in 1876, they were invited to join the dramatic association at Franklin, which both Mary and Joshua accepted.

In September 1862 her eldest son, Levi, was born. A large, fine child, healthy and strong, until the night of November 29, 1862 in the space of 3 hours became ill and passed away. On the fifth day of November 1864 her second son, Joseph Bryant, was born. On July 23rd 1867, her third son, Lewis Joshua, was born in Willard, Utah.
During the fore part of the winter of '71 and '72, Mary's parents and siblings, Caroline Pace and Millie, and Wm. Lewis, came up to see them and stayed a good part of the winter, which was greatly appreciated by the family.

Because of her husband's poor health due to a sore that would not heal on his leg and other reasons the Hawkes family was on the move, more or less, for years, struggling to get a home that had the prospect of affording them a future. It was not that thye liked moving about, or that her husband could not find suitable places, but to find a farm that they could obtain with what means that were within their reach that could sustain their family.
1874. On March 5th, our third daughter, Sophronia Amelia, was born. She weighed 12 pounds.
Mary's brother-in-law, Amos, had moved to Franklin, Idaho, a year before and put up a water-powered sawmill. It was at the intersection of Maple Creek and it sawed a great deal of lumber from Crooked Canyon. It was afterwards known as the "Gibson Mill." He was quite anxious for his brother Joshua and Mary to move up there, as the prospects appeared good.
1875. On the second day of March, having all things ready, they again started to move to their new home at Franklin, assisted by two of Amos' boys and a team. They came on a hard snow storm, so they did not arrive until the fifth.
In March 1876, Mary had a very narrow escape of her life. She was sick for a long time. Through the faith of the Elders and the blessings of the Lord, and with good care, she recovered and was restored to health again. Soon, another son, Horace Bertrand, was born May 24th 1877, in Franklin, Idaho.
1879 On August 28th, Joshua took another wife, Sarah Ann Smart and they were married in the Salt Lake Temple. She was 24 and he was 43. Now, began the persecution against them for living polygamy.
In the course of life and times while living in Franklin, the two families had some good times and some misunderstandings. It is reported that if there were any hard feelings between the wives that they were reconciled in the later years of their lives.
1880 About this time they reorganized the Relief Society of Franklin. Sister Elizabeth Fox was chosen President, Sophia Mecham first counselor, and my wife, Mary, second counselor.
Mary lived a good, long life and passed away in Idaho.

- Jocelyn
∼Daughter of John A. Lewis (1814-1887)
and Ann John(1818-1850)

Married Joshua of John Hawkes Dec 21 1859