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Last Updated
12 Sept 2004
An + means you can find more information on this person below. Follow the numbers to the next generation.
I do not claim that this file is without errors. Please be aware.
Stephen HOPKINS
First Generation
1. Stephen HOPKINS was born in 1580 in England. He died in 1644.
This information is taken from the book, "The History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters."
I�ve edited it to make it more interesting for you, and it contains information about the life of Stephen Hopkins. He came over on the Mayflower. The Mayflower voyage was not the first exploit of Stephen Hopkins. As a matter of fact, when that trip was made in 1620, he was an experienced traveler, and
could be useful in many directions, especially in the founding and settlement of new lands, where hardship and danger prevailed. He was well known to the Merchant Adventurers and Thomas Weston of London. They probably felt he was a good type of person for the colony, and encouraged him to make
the voyage. On previous occasions Stephen had visited the Virginia Colony. In one instance, on May 15, 1609, the ship "Sea Adventure" set sail from London bound for the Virginia shores. Perhaps the name appealed to Stephen for he is on board. It was intended to make Virginia by way of the Bermuda Islands.
After many days of peaceful sailing a severe storm wrecked the good ship Sea Adventure on the treacherous coast of Bermuda. Stephen immediately made himself useful. Among other duties he was chosen to read the Psalms on Sunday, for it is recorded that he "had much knowledge of the Scripture and could reason well therein". After some time on the Islands a certain portion of the party became restless. They desired to continue the voyage in some manner. A meeting was held of those who were
not content to lead a peaceful life among the beautiful Bermudas, where the days come and go under a lazy semi-tropical sky, and no hope of anything happening. The restless souls had a meeting, but it was marked with discord. Stephen Hopkins was a ringleader and outspoken in his opinion. Sir George Summers, leader of the expedition, could not over-look the matter. He ordered the arrest of the leaders and Stephen, together with his associates, was tried and found guilty of rebellion. At last something had happened. Stephen found himself face to face with possible execution for insubordination. Apparently the predicament did not discourage him, for he is soon petitioning for a pardon. It is recorded that upon
the plea of the rest of the party, the Governor pardoned him. Following this exciting experience, a bark was fitted up and the company continued the voyage to Virginia. After spending some time in the colonies Stephen returned to England, where he seemed to prosper. Probably as a small merchant in
London, he became closely affiliated with the "Merchant Adventurers", that famous group of English business men who were actively engaged in promoting the settlement of the Virginia Colonies, and most of whom were "Separatists", or, at least, in sympathy with that movement. Just when or how Stephen
became attached to the contemplated Mayflower voyage of 1620 is not clear. No doubt it was due in part to the influence of Mr. Thomas Weston, manager for the "Merchant Adventurers", who were to finance the Mayflower expedition, and, naturally, were seeking substantial "Planters" for the colony. Evidently the
appeal was strong enough to convince Stephen, for bright and early on embarkation day he appeared at the wharves to board the Mayflower. His party was the largest, and brought much baggage. Bradford in
1646 enumerates it as follows. The embarkation of this family group must have been a lively event, and probably taxed the "touchy" temper of Stephen to the limit. Getting all parties and baggage aboard a ship
in those days was a testy fob, especially when the party included women and children. No doubt, the two "servants" (Ed Doty and Ed Litster, boys working way over) were of some help in the matter. These two "servants", by the way, were continually quarrelling with each other, perhaps over division of duties, and
soon after landing at New Plymouth fought a duel, drawing blood. It had the distinction of being the first recorded duel in the colonies. Just what part, if any, Stephen had in starting the fight is not clear. However, the records show that Stephen appeared in court at Plymouth and pleaded for the young men.
The Pilgrims were supposed to have been a peaceful group, averse to fighting. However, the record appears to show that they were quite free with fists and other weapons on occasion. This, of course, could not be otherwise, as the venture had no appeal for weaklings. We are not informed in detail how
Stephen managed to get his family and belongings, consisting of an ill wife, baby Damaris, 2 years old (there was another youngster, Oceanus, born on the Mayflower), his thirteen-year-old son Giles, and daughter Contstanta, aged fifteen years, deposited in the little row-boat at the wharf, and safely
transported to the Mayflower, which was lazily riding at anchor, probably off "Blackhall" or "Wapping" near London, in the Thames, on that momentous mid-July day of the year 1620.
All members of this particular party were healthy enough to survive the "first sickness" in New Plymouth, which was an exceptional record, indeed. To the children of the Mayflower, the confusion of embarking was exciting, with wide-eyed interest they watched the preparations for departure. Neither the children nor their elders realized at the time the historical significance of the event, or the great parts they were to play in the drama of founding and building a nation. With everybody aboard, the Mayflower, on Saturday, July 15, 1620 (OS), weighed anchor and dropped down with the tide to Gravesend. Owing to
numerous delays at Southampton and other English ports, the ship did not leave Plymouth, England, for the New World until September 6,1620 (OS), and after sixty-five days out sighted Cape Cod. During the voyage Stephen became a great favorite of the children. He had many stories of adventure, which he
was fond of telling and even the older persons were greatly interested in practical instruction which he gave in the art of building houses. He illustrated the constructions on the deck of the Mayflower by means of a series of sticks having suitable notches in them. With these sticks he made different types of
"log-houses" designs. During the various landing "explorations" around Cape Cod, Stephen was much in evidence. His name and duties are frequently mentioned. He became on of the "wealthiest" Planters of New Plymouth, and, in addition to much land, many cattle, and other possessions, he appears to have
run a general store or "tavern". For many years he was a member of the Governor�s Council, but did not seek a high public office. He built the first wharf in New Plymouth and was financially interested in shipping. His services were called upon quite frequently in dealings with the Indians. He seemed to
understand their ways and language, and had no fear of them. At one time it became essential for the colony to negotiate with Massasoit. Stephen, with an Indian named Squanto as a guide, was sent through the forest to see him. No timid man would have undertaken that job. After a busy and useful life
in New Plymouth of about twenty-five years, Mr. Hopkins died, probably in June 1644, leaving a large estate.
I received this letter recently, and thought that I'd share it, and you can make of it what you'd like. It was written by Caleb Johnson, Todd copied it and sent it on to me. B.
The Mayflower Quarterly has published a number of factually baseless articles on Stephen Hopkins' genealogy, most recently in the November 1997 and August 1998 issues. These articles should not be used by anyone concerned about genealogical accuracy; they were briefly corrected in the November 1998 issue, page 350-351 and 353. Additionally, there is a highly erroneous biography published by Margaret Hodges, titled Hopkins of the Mayflower: Portrait of a Dissenter. The genealogical information in these works are flat out wrong, and easily proven so with primary source documentation.
Stephen Hopkins was not from Wortley, Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, as has been previously published in numerous books and articles, and the claim he married a woman named Constance Dudley is complete fiction. This alleged origin was disproven in my article, "The True English Origins of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower", published in The American Genealogist 73:161-171. The Wotton-under-Edge claim was never factually sound to begin with, based simply on a few name coincidences and wild speculations.
The baptism records of Stephen Hopkins' children Giles and Constance, as well as an additional child Elizabeth, were discovered in the parish registers of Hursley, Hampshire, England. Below is a scan of the Hursley parish register for 1606 showing Constance Hopkins' baptism in the original records. For those of you who can't read the handwriting, it says: "undecimo de May, Constancia filia Steph. Hopkins fuit baptizata", which translates into English as "Eleventh day of May, Constance daughter of Steph. Hopkins was baptized." (the scan didn't take but the meaning is here.)
And there in Hursley, on 9 May 1613, Mary Hopkins the wife of Stephen was buried. Mary's children Giles, Constance, and Elizabeth are all named in her probate estate papers dated 10 May 1613 and on file at the Hampshire Records Office (file: 1613AD/046).
The claim Stephen had a son William is based on Wotton-under-Edge records, and is invalid since that Hopkins family had no connection with the Mayflower. The claim that Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower had a son Stephen baptized at St. Stephen Coleman Street, London on 22 December 1609 is also wrong--no such baptism record exists. This baptism is apparently an error for a real baptism which is found on 3 December 1609 at the parish of St. Katherine Coleman, London. This child died on 19 February 1609/10, and the father had another child named John Hopkins, baptized on 14 April 1611. Since Stephen Hopkins the Mayflower passenger was in Virginia at the time this child was conceived and later baptized, he could not have fathered it. The name Stephen Hopkins is quite common--there are at least five of them in London during this time period. This is just another man named Stephen Hopkins, and there is no connection with the Mayflower passenger of the same name.
I hope this helps.
Todd Moody - Todd can be reached at
[email protected]
I left the records below as I found them in the History of Mayflower Planter Book. Regardless of Constance Hopkins birthmother, she was the daughter of the Stephen Hopkins who came over on the Mayflower. B.
Stephen married Constanta DUDLEY, (some say, she was a second marriage, others say they don't know who was Stephen's wife?).
They had the following children:
+ 2 F i. Constance HOPKINS was born about 1605. She died in Oct 1677. died Eastham, Mass., Nov 25, 1677, or about the middle of Oct. 1677.
Second Generation
2. Constance HOPKINS (Stephen) was born about 1605 in England. She died in Oct 1677 in Plymouth, Mass..
Constance Snow was the daughter of Steven Hopkins, she married Nicholas Snow in Plymouth. Nicholas Snow was one of those who arrived at Plymouth in the Anne in the year1623, and found the settlers so sadly destitute of food and clothing. He was very young , and must have felt the matter keenly on viewing the poor, ragged and half-fed Pilgrams, but he soon began to lend a helping hand, and his romance with Constance Hopkins started without much delay. He received a share of land in Plymouth in
1624, and was married before 1627. _He became a freeman and taxpayer of Plymouth in 1633, and for
a number of years was a man of note in that place._In April, 1644, he with six other prominent men of
Plymouth, seven families of forty-nine persons, began the settlement of Eastham. Across the bay from
Plymouth, and from the beginning became am important person in that place. He was a deputy and
selectman for a number of years. _In 1646, it was enacted by the Court that every Town within the
Government "Shall have a clerk, or some one appointed to keep a register of the day and year of the
marriage, birth, and burial of every man, woman and child within the Township._Eastham immediately
appointed Nicholas Snow to this important office and he held the place of honor for sixteen years, and his
son Mark Snow succeeded him._He was one of Governor Prence�s imtimate associates, and it was partly
through his efforts that the Rev. John Mayo was prevailed upon to settle as Minister in Eastham in 1655.
Nicholas Snow became a large landowner in Harwich, Eastham and Truro. His sons Mark, Joseph, and
Stephen came into possession of the land in Harwich; John of Truro and Jabez received the land in
Eastham including the homestead.
Constance married Nicholas SNOW about 1627.
Contstance and Nicholas had the following children born Plymouth, Mass.:
3. M. i. Mark SNOW b. May 9 1628, d. 1695 (?).
Mark married (1) Anna Cole d/o Josiah Cole.
Mark married (2) Jane PRENCE, d/o Gov. Thomas PRENCE.
4. F. ii. Mary SNOW, b. 1630 (?), d. Apr 28 1704.
Mary married Thomas PAINE, s/o Thomas PAINE .
5. F. iii. Sarah SNOW, b. 1632 (?).
6. M. iv. Joseph SNOW, b. Nov 24, 1634, d. Jan 3, 1722.
7. m. v. Stephen SNOW, b. 1636 (?), d. Dec. 17, 1705.
Stephen married (1) Sussanah DEANE, (ROGERS)
Stephen married (2) Mary BIGFORD.
8. M. vi. John SNOW, b. 1638 (?).
John married Mary SMALLEY, d/o John Smalley.
9. F. vii. Elizabeth SNOW, b. 1640 (?).
Elizabeth married Thomas ROGERS, s/o Lt. Joseph ROGERS.
+ 10. M. viii. Jabez SNOW, b. 1642 (?), d. Dec 20, 1690.
Jabez married Elizabeth SMITH, d/o Ralph Smith b. Before Oct 29, 1670.
+ 11. F. xi. Ruth SNOW b. 1644 (?). She died on 27 Jan 1716/1717.
Ruth married John COLE, s/o Daniel COLE.
12. Child living unmarried in 1651.
13. Child living unmarried in 1651.
14. Child living unmarried in 1651.
Third Generation
10. Lt. Jabez SNOW, (Constance Hopkins 2, Stephen 1), b. 1642 ?, d. Dec 27, 1690.
He served on the grand jury June 1 1680, on which day he was made a freeman, and took the oath of fidelity. On June 5, 1690, he was chosen one of the lieutenants for the expedition to Canada.
Jabez married Elizabeth Smith, d/o Ralph Smith 2, John 1., b. before Oct. 29 1670.
Jabez wife Elizabeth had a martial temperment and was in occasional wordy conflict, even with the minister, for on Mar 5 1684, she was fined ten shillings for "using railing expressions on a Lord's Day to the Rev. Samuel Treat."
Children of Jabez and Elizabeth:
15. M. i. Jabez SNOW, b. Sept 6, 1670.
Jabez married Elizabeth TREAT.
16. M. ii. Edward SNOW, b. Mar 26 1672.
Edward married Sarah FREEMAN,
17. F. ii. Sarah SNOW, b. Feb 16 1673.
18. F. iii. Grace SNOW, b. Feb 5 1675.
Grace married (1) Samuel HEDGE, (2) George LEWIS.
Laurna Berg is a descendant of Grace SNOW and her first husband Samuel HEDGE, for additional information you can contact Laurna at - [email protected]
19. M. iv. Thomas SNOW, d. Apr 2 1697.
20. F. v. Elizabeth SNOW.
Elizabeth married Edward KENRICK.
Deborah married Stephen MERRICK.
Rachel married Thomas HUCKINS.
11. Ruth SNOW, (Constance HOPKINS 2, Stephen 1) was born in 1644. She died on 27 Jan 1716/1717.
Ruth married John COLE, son of Daniel COLE and Ruth CHESTER on 12 Dec 1666. John was born on 15 Jul 1644. He died on 6 Jun 1725 in Eastham, Mass..
John Cole was a useful citizen and a lieutenant in the militia. He had been at Gorton in 1672, but probably returned, driven out by Indians, as he is on the freeman list in Eastham of 1695.
Ruth and Daniel had the following children:
+ 24. F. i. Ruth COLE, was born on 11 Mar 1668.
Ruth married William Twinning,
25. M. ii. John COLE, b. Mar 6 1670.
26. ? iii. Hepzibah COLE, b. June 20 1672.
27. F. iv. Hannah COLE, b. Mar 27 1675, d. June 1677.
28. M. v. Joseph COLE, b. June 11 1677.
Joseph married (1) Elizabeth COBB, (2) Mercy HINCKLEY.
29. F. vi. Mary COLE, b. Oct 27 1679.
30. F. v. Sarah COLE, d. June 10 1682.
Fourth Generation
24. Ruth COLE (Ruth SNOW 3, Constance HOPKINS 2, Stephen 1) was born on 11 Mar 1668 in Eastham, Mass.. She died in 1725/1735.
Ruth married William TWINNING son of William TWINING Dec. and Elizabeth DEANE on 30 Mar 1688/1689. William was born on 25 Feb 1654 in Orleans, Mass.. He died on 23 Jan 1734/1735.
Ruth and William had the following children:
+ 31. F. i. Hannah TWINNING was born on 2 Apr 1702.
Fifth Generation
5. Hannah TWINNING (Ruth COLE 4, Ruth SNOW 3, Constance HOPKINS 2, Stephen 1) was born on 2 Apr 1702 in Orleans, Mass..
Hannah married David YOUNG son of David YOUNG and Ann DOANE on 1 Jun 1731. David was born on 25 Sep 1701 in Eastham, Maine.
Hannah and David had the following children:
+ 32. M. i. David YOUNG was born on 25 Sep.
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