James P. Hawkins was born in Albemarle Co., Virginia in 1845. The 1850 census shows James, then 5 years old, living with his father, Richard, listed as a harnessmaker, and his mother, Elizabeth, in Charlottesville. By 1860, the family was in Staunton, Virginia, and included daughters Mary and Kate. Also by that year, Richard, James's father, was working as a Stage Agent. The 29 September 1865 issue of the Staunton Vindicator reports that "office of the Adam's Express Company has been refurbished" and that "company agent, Richard Hawkins, has again taken up business in the old quarters." In 1870 and 1880, respectively, Richard Hawkins's profession is listed as Express Agent and Adams Express Agent. The Adams Express Company was the parent company of the Southern Express Company, the company for which James P. Hawkins worked during the war.

James P. Hawkins was never mustered into the Confederate Army and was exempt due to his service with Southern Express, a civilian transport company that worked in conjunction with the avenues of Confederate military transportation. He did, apparently, have an affinity for the West Augusta Guard, often referring to the "West A Guard" as "his company." (See Holcomb in Related Materials Note, below). The West Augusta Guard was one of the oldest of the Staunton companies, organized in the summer of 1858, first attached to the 160th Regiment Virginia Militia, and then, in June 1861, becoming Company L, 5th Virginia Infantry.

Hawkins's work for Southern Express lasted at least through May 1865 and took him on routes throughout Virginia and North Carolina. On 2 April 1865, he returned to Richmond from North Carolina and found himself in the midst of the evacuation of the city. The events of this and following days are described in his diary.

As reported by the Staunton Vindicator (23 December 1870), James P. Hawkins, resident of Danville, Virginia, and Pheilipina Behn McDowell, formerly of Charleston, South Carolina, were married in Staunton on 19 December 1870 at the residence of Richard Hawkins by the Rev. William H. Williams. The 1880 census shows them living as boarders in Danville, with James's occupation listed as tobacconist. In 1900, James and Pheilipina were living in Millboro, Bath Co., Virginia, along with their 17 year-old daughter, Palma. The Staunton Spectator of 21 February 1902 reported that Mrs. James P. Hawkins died on 12 February of that year at their home near Millboro and that three children, two sons and a daughter, survived her, along with her husband. In 1910, James was still in Millboro, living with his now-married daughter, Parma Dill, her husband, James, and their children. James P. Hawkins died on 27 January 1931 and is buried at Windy Cove Presbyterian Church in Millboro Springs, Virginia.