The connection between this William Howkins and his son Theophilus Howkins was provided by a descendant.

In his Will Theophilus Hearsey refers to this William Howkins as his brother of the half blood. It seems probable that Theophilus Hearsey’s mother Lydia Hearsey (nee Busk) married this William Howkins father, also called William Howkins. The names of the children William and Amy seems to reflect family relationships.
1. Son William Hearsey Howkins named after William, his deceased father William and William’s half brother Theophilus Hearsey who apprenticed William after his father died. Died as an infant.
[Notably the half brother Theohpilus Hearsey
2. Son William Howkins named after William and his father and perhaps the deceased older son
3. Son Theophilus Howkins named after William’s half brother Theophilus Hearsey
4. Daughter Amy Howkins named after her mother and grandmother Amy Walton (nee Stagg). Died young
5. Son Francis Howkins named after his grandfather Francis Walton. Died as an infant
6. Son Francis Howkins named after his grandfather and perhaps his elder brother. Died as an infant
7. Daughter Amy Howkins named after her mother grandmother and perhaps her older sister
8. Son james Howkins named after Amy’s brother James Walton. Died as an infant
9. Son Frederick Howkins. Died as an infant
Sadly only three of the children lived to be adults.

Freedom of the City of London Papers
This Indenture witnesseth, That William Howkins Son of William Howkins late of the parish of St. John Southwark deceased, doth put himself Apprentice to Theophilus Hearsey Citizen and Glover of London …
in consideration of the sum of one penny …
Sixteenth Day of June in the twenty fifth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the Third of Great Britain, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith etc. Anno Dom. 1785
Signed Theop. [Theophilus] Hearsey

From parish register
William Howkins Bachelor of the Parish of St Olave O. Jewry and Amy Walton Spinster of the same parish were married in this church by Banns this twenty third day of Aprill [actual spelling] in the year One Thousand seven Hundred and ninety five by me Joseph Holden Pott. This marriage was solemnized between us William Howkins, Amy Walton. In the presence of Andrew Hearsey, John Taylor.
[Since the son of William Howkins and Amy Walton, William Howkins, married Ann Gibson, the widow of Theophilus Hearsey one wonders if the witness Andrew Hearsey was a relative of Theophilus Hearsey. Yes he was his brother.]

From a general Dictionary of Commerce, trade, manufactures etc by Thomas Mortimer, 1810, London
The orange merchant imports oranges, lemons, Spanish onions, nuts, limes etc. from Spain, Portugal etc. which he sells again, packed up in slight chests and boxes as imported, or retails them to fruit dealers.
[In the late 1700’s and early 1800’s there seems to have been several orange merchants located in Botolph Lane, and some on the adjacent Pudding Lane.]

Also from the Freedom of the City of London Papers
William Howkins apprenticed John Chipperfield of Cornhill London Linen Draper who was admitted November 15th 1809

Post Office Directory - London 1814
Wm. Howkins, Orange Merchant 10 Botolph Lane

From Johnstone’s London Commercial Guide and Street Directory - Corrected to August 31, 1817
Botolph Lane - East Cheap
Length 181 1/2 yards - Number of Houses 47 [Only 25 are numbered and 4 more given no number. The numbers range from 2 to 47}
10 Hawkins Wm. [as spelled] Orange Merchant
20 Hearsey, Son and Company Orange Merchant
[Of the 29 listings there are 17 orange merchants, 3 wine and brandy merchants, 3 wine and sugar coopers, a sword manufacturer, a merchant, a glass cutter, a meal merchant, and a customhouse lighterman]

London Gazette
London, September 28, 1833
Notice is hereby given, that the partnership hitherto subsisting between William Howkins the elder and William Howkins the younger, under the firm of of William Howkins and Son, Orange-Merchants, No. 10 Botolph-Lane, in the City of London, is this day dissolved by mutual consent; all debts due to and from the said firm will be received and paid by William Howkins the elder, who will continue to the business
William Howkins the elder.
William Howkins the younger.

In the Robson’s London and Birmingham Trade Directory 1839
W. Howkins, Orange Merchant 10 Botolph Lane

In the 1841 census St George Botolph Lane civil parish, London within the Walls hundred, London South East sub district.
William Howkins, Botolph Lane, age 70, Orange Merchant, born in the county.
Amy Howkins, age 30, born in the county.
Anne Patchling, age 25, Female Servant.
Charlotte Lohe?, age 35, female servant, not born in the county.

Robson London Directory 1842
10 Botolph Lane, Thames Street
Howkins Wm, orange merchant
[There are 16 orange merchants, fruit importers or fruit brokers]

He was of the executors who proved the Will of his son William Howkins May 6, 1847

In the London England Tax Records 1848
Parish of St. George, Botolph Lane, Billingsgate
William Howkins, House and Warehouse, assessed 3 pounds 17 shillings 11 pence.
[This must be this William Howkins as his son William died 2 years earlier.]
Similarly in 1841 William Howkins Botolph Lane a house assessed at 5 pounds 16 shillings 8 pence. The 1831 entry is the same. 1822 both William Howkins and William Howkins and son are listed. The earliest entry seems to be 1796.

In the 1851 census it jumps from 7/8 Botolph Lane to 30/38 Botolph Lane and states there are 4 warehouses uninhabited in between. Perhaps this address was left empty and was now a warehouse.

Other Howkins and Hearsey’s
Parish Records St. Botolph Billingsgate. [Actually St. Botolph Billingsgate was destroyed in the great fire of 1666 and united to St. George Botolph Lane. St George Botolph Lane was closed in 1901. The church was structurally unsafe and the vault a health hazard. The church was demolished in 1904. Many of the remains disinterred from the churchyard and reburied at Brookwood Cemetery.]
Burials
Andrew ???? Hearsey in the Vault October 23, 1800
Burial Theophilus Howkins in the Vault May 9, 1799
Burial William Hearsey Howkins in the Vault December 24, 1797
Ann Mason Hearsey in the Vault December 6, 1797
Andrew Hearsey in the Vault June 19, 1794
Elizabeth Hearsey in the Vault April 13, 1794
Theophilus Woddard [or Moddard] Hearsey in the vault March 23, 1794
Jane Hearsey in the vault October 29, 1791
Theophilus Hearsey in ye vault October 15 1791.
Stephen Hearsey in the upper ground June 28, 1786
Theophilus Hawkins Hearsey in the upper ground November 6, 1784
Andrew Mason Hearsey in the upper ground July 29 1784
Andrew Hearsey in the upper ground August 16, 1778
Theophilus Hearsey in the middle Ayle [Aisle?] November 17. 1774
Mathew Cale Hearsey in the upper Ch yard May 27, 1767
Matthew Hearsey in the upper Ch [Church?] yard September 13, 1765
Anne Hearsey in the upper Ch yard July 28, 1763
Mathew Hearsey in the upper Ch yard May 31, 1763
Mathew Hearsey in the upper Ch yard May 12, 1760
Sarah Hearsey in the upper ch yard December 4, 1757
Theophilus Hearsey in the upper ch yard March 16 1757
Elizabeth Hearsey in the upper ch yard March 16 1757
Robert Hearsey in the upper Ch yard February 12, 1757
Mary Hearsey in the upper Ch yard March 24, 1754
Jane Rutter Hearsey in the Upper Ch yard January 16, 1753
Elizabeth Hearsey in the Middle Ayle March 3, 1747
There didn’t seem to be any Hearsey’s or Howkins before 1747. The number of burials in a year varied between 0 and about 12.
Baptisms
William son of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born March 19 baptized April 5, , 1803
James son of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born July 19, baptized August 9, 1799
Andrew son of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born July 31, baptized August 28, 1796
Jane daughter of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born February 28, baptized March 21, 1795
Elizabeth daughter of Andrew and Ann Hearsey born September 20, baptized October 17, 1793
Theophilus son of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born September 16, baptized October 8, 1792
Theophilus Stoddard [or Sloddard] son of Andrew and Ann Hearsey born March 22, baptized April 17, 1791
Jane daughter of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born December 27, 1790 baptized January 23, 1791
Theophilus son of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born June 26, baptized July 9 1789
Anna Maria daughter of Andrew and Ann Hearsey born March 9th, baptized April 3, 1789
Lydia Hearsey daughter of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born August 25, baptized September 20 1787
Ann Mason daughter of Andrew and Ann Mason Hearsey born June 10, baptized July 25, 1787
Stephen son of Andrew and Ann Mason Hearsey born June 25, baptized June 26, 1786
Sarah daughter of Theophilus and Sarah Hearsey born August 9 baptized August 31, 1785
Andrew son of Andrew and Ann Mason Hearsey, born June 11, baptized July 6, 1785
Andrew Mason son of Andrew and Ann Mason Hearsey born June 25, baptized July 8, 1784
Theophilus Hawkins son of Sarah Hearsey born June 5, baptized June 29, 1784
Matthew son of Andrew and Jane Hearsey December 25, 1764
Anne daughter of Andrew and Jane Hearsey June 23, 1763
Robert son of Andrew and Jane Hearsey June 6, 1762
Sarah daughter of Andrew and Jane Hearsey November 17, 1757
Elizabeth daughter of Andrew and Jane Hearsey December 5, 1756
Robert son of Andrew and Jane Hearsey December 22, 1755
Theophilus son of Andrew and Jane Hearsey May 12, 1754
Mary daughter of Andrew and Jane Hearsey January 5, 1752

Parish records St Dunstan and All Saints, Tower Hamlets, London
Christening November 14 1771 Amy, 17 days old, D. of Francis Walton of Ratcliff, Mariner and Amy

Parish records St Georges, Botolph Lane, City of London
Amey Howkins, Botolph Lane, buried April 8, 1834, age 62 years.

Of her 9 children only 3 survived infancy.