Hawkins, Col. Benjamin, Gravesite
Why it's listed
Colonel Benjamin Hawkins Gravesite sits on a small knoll on the eastern bluff above the Flint River, southwest of Roberta in Crawford County, Georgia. Hawkins died in 1816 and was buried on the Creek Agency Reserve, where he had lived since 1803 as the federal government's Indian Agent to the Southeast. The Daughters of the American Revolution placed a fieldstone monument over the grave in 1931, about seven feet tall on a base roughly eleven feet wide, with a bronze plaque. A chain-link fence surrounds the grassy lot, and a large oak stands beside the grave. Hawkins was appointed by President George Washington in 1796 and served until his death, acting as the main diplomat between the United States and the Creek Nation and promoting a plan to assimilate Native Americans. The exact location of his plantation remains unknown, so the grave is the only known surviving place directly linked to his career, which is why it was recognized at the state level.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the grave is the only known surviving place in Georgia directly tied to Hawkins, who served as the federal Indian Agent to the Southeast from 1796 to 1816. His diplomatic work with the Creek Nation and his "plan for civilization" shaped relations between the United States and the Southeastern tribes. It is significant at the state level in politics/government.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 11000790, listed November 10, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Benjamin Hawkins Rd., Roberta |
|---|---|
| County | Crawford County |
| Listed | November 10, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000790 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1816, 1931 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Fenced grassy lot in a rural setting with the 1931 fieldstone monument, a recently added marble gravemarker and a wood display board; funerary and monument uses continue. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.66868, -84.09598 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 11000790.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.