Eleanor Howard Hawkins was born at her father's plantation "Pleasant Hill" in Warren Co, the eldest of 13 known surviving children (7 boys/6 girls) born to wealthy planter and businessman, Col. Philomen Hawkins II and his wife, Lucy Davis.

The area of North Carolina where the Hawkins settled and built "Pleasant Hill" was originally part of old Edgecombe County, later to become Granville County, then Bute County, which later became Warren County. Still later, that part of Warren County went to Vance County when that County was formed in 1881.

The Philomen Hawkins family are descendants of the first Philomen Hawkins (ca. 1690-1795) who arrived from England in the American Colony of Virginia with 5 brothers in the early 1700's. The family eventually gained land in North Carolina, settling in the Warren County area. The Philomen Hawkins family were prominent and prosperous planters, who also had many businesses including sawmills, banking, machinery and phosphate manufacturing. Many family members held public offices in the Federal government, and indeed, one of Philemon and Lucy's sons, William Hawkins (1777-1819), served as 17th Governor for the State of North Carolina from 1811-1814. On her mother's side, she was the maternal grandchild of Jonathan Davis & Winnifred Duke of Wake County.

Eleanor was 19 years old when she married in 1795 to 33-year old Sherwood Haywood, son of Col. William Henry Haywood Sr, and Charity Hare, prominent Raleigh citizens. Sherwood Haywood was a planter owning multiple NC plantations and over 250 slaves, who served as clerk of the North Carolina State Senate from January 4, 1786 to December 24, 1798 and also worked as an agent for Bank of Newburn in Raleigh.

The couple became parents to 9 known children: Nancy Ann Hawkins Haywood (1796-1825), Sarah Lee (1799-1880), William Rufus (1801), Lucy Davis (1805), Delia (1807-1876), Francis Philomen (1809-1900), Robert Williams (1812-1869), Maria Toole (1815-1906), and Dr. Richard Benneham Haywood (1819-1889).

Eleanor was widowed in 1829 when her husband of 34 years passed at age 67. She never remarried, and remained a widow another 27 years, passing in 1856 at the age of 79.

Their children married prominently and prospered well -- Nancy Hawkins Haywood, married Dr. William Augustus Blount, wealthy planter in Beaufort Co. Sarah Lee Haywood married John Gray Blount of Edgecombe County. Lucy, married John Stevens Bryan Sr. Delia married (1st) Gen. William Williams and (2nd) Hon. George E. Badger. Their son, Dr. Francis Philomen Haywood, was a wealthy planter in Wake Co. Another son, Dr. Richard Benneham Haywood, was also prominent in Raleigh.