HOPTON FAMILY HISTORY
PART ONE
The Hopton
Family by Patrick Hopton
Introduction
Hemmed in between the River
Severn and the
As early as 1553
there is mention of a Hopton here. A
title deed of that year leased land in King's
* * *
Part 1 Our Known Ancestors
The Seventh Generation: Daniel Hopton (born circa 1684)
Above the town of
Daniel (senior) died in 1745
and is buried at Stonehouse.
We know this because of the
work of one Thomas Bigland who (bless him!) toured the
churchyards of Gloucestershire in the eighteenth century recording inscriptions
from the tombstones and monuments he found there. Without his work the elements would have long
since made them illegible to us. This is what he found in relation to Daniel
and his family. He records the following entry.
(N.B. The date of death of the first Daniel is not
recorded, presumably because that part of the inscription was already
illegible. The date given above ties in
with that of the entry in the Burial Register of Stonehouse
Parish Church, and with Daniel’s will.)
Memorial said to
be in Stonehouse church(yard)
In Memory of
DANIEL HOPTON, of the Parish,
(died August 1745; buried 20th
August)
In 62 year of his age.
MARY, the wife of DANIEL HOPTON,
died
Also of DANIEL, the son of
DANIEL HOPTON, who died
May 27, 1756 Aged 44.
Also of HESTER, his daughter
and Wife of Simon Vaisey
who died
Aged 33 Years.
DANIEL the son of Samuel
and Sarah Hopton died
RICHARD, son of William
and Anne Hopton died
DANIEL, their son, died
and 4 days.
What a host of information
we can obtain from this single entry in Bigland’s
record. From it we can assemble the
first proven components of the Hopton Family Tree. After adding information
extracted from various other sources (principally parish registers) to the
names given above, we can deduce the following :-
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Daniel
Hopton (Yeoman) born c.1684 d. Aug. 1745 bur. Stonehkouse. married at Arlingham, Glos. Mary
Daniel bp Fretherne 1679 d.
Jul. 1751 bur. Stonehouse |
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I I Richard
Hopton bp.1709
Moreton Valence d.1722 bur.
Stonehouse |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp.1712 Moreton
Valence died 1756 Hucclecote bur. Stonehouse m. 1739 at Hannah
Mason (Esther) |
I I Samuel
Hopton bp.1715
Stonehouse m.Sarah |
I I William
Hopton bp.1716
Stonehouse m.Anne d.1763 bur.Stonehouse |
I I Hester
Hopton b.1718 m.
Simon Veisey 1736 d.1751 bur.
Stonehouse |
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Not mentioned on the family
tomb was another son of Daniel and Mary, their eldest child Richard, who was
baptised at Arlingham 27 Mar.1709, and buried at Eastington 1722.
Since it was the custom in those days to name the first born son either
after his father (not so in this case) or his paternal grandfather, it is quite
likely, therefore, that the father of our first Daniel was named Richard Hopton. Unfortunately our most diligent searches have
failed to unearth a record of Daniel’s birth or baptism in 1684, or indeed at
any time. Richard Hopton born in 1662
at Eastington is a strong contender as the father of
Daniel, for reasons explained in Part 2 (The Unproven Section.). For the time being, however, we will concentrate on what we can prove.
When Daniel died, he left a
will, dated
In the name of God amen. I Daniel
Hopton of the parish of Stonehouse in the county of
Gloucester, being weak in body, but of sound mind and memory, calling to mind
the uncertainty of this life, do make my last will and testament in the manner
and form following
Imprimis I
will that all my debts, both in law and equity, and funeral charges will be
well and truly paid by my executrix herein after named. I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary
Hopton all my lands, tenements, money, goods, and chattels whatsoever to have
and hold and enjoy for and during the form of her natural life and no longer.
After
the death of my said wife, I give and bequeath to my eldest son Daniel Hopton
all the estate which I have in the parish of Moreton Vallance in the county of Gloucester aforesaid, consisting
of one messuage and all apportonances and about fifteen acres of arable and pasture
land, and have and to hold the said estate to the said Daniel my son and to the
heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten and for the lack of any such issue,
to William my third son and his heirs and for lack of such issue, to my
daughter Hester Veisey and her heirs forever. I give unto my said son Daniel the sum of ten
pounds to be paid to him after the death of my executrix.
I
give and bequeath to my second son Samuel Hopton two messuages
or tenaments lying and being in Stonehouse
in the said county, namely all that messuage or
dwelling house wherein the Widow Carruthers now
dwells (except the Bakehouse which will be otherwise
disposed of) and also the messuage or tenament wherein William Dangerfield now dwells with the
garden and apportonances thereof to have and to hold
the said two messuages and tenaments
to my said son Samuel and the heirs of his body lawfully to be begotten,. And for the lack of such issue, to my daughter Hester and her heirs
forever. I give my said son
Samuel the sum of sixty pounds in money to be paid after the death of my
executrix.
I
give and bequeath unto William Hopton my youngest son all that messuage or tenament being in Stonehouse aforesaid and wherein Henry Board, Butcher now
dwells, together with the Bakehouse adjoining to it
and also that garden ground with the Great Pear Tree and other trees growing
thereon, along in a straight line from the side wall of the said tenament to the little house at the bottom of the garden,
to have and to hold the said messuage to my said son
William and his heirs forever lawfully to be begotten and for lack of such
issue to my daughter Hester and heirs of her body forever. I give to my said son William the sum of one
hundred pounds in money to be paid after the death of my executrix.
I
give and bequeath to my said daughter Hester Veisey,
the wife of Simon Veisey, all that messuage or tenament with the apportonances thereof wherein John Drew, Chandler, now
dwells standing and being in the parish of Stroud in the said county of
Gloucester. I give and bequeath to my
said daughter a little piece of pasture ground called the Horn, lying and being
in the parish of Randwick in the said county and have
and to hold to my said daughter and the heirs of her body lawfully to be
begotten, for lack of such issue, to my son Samuel and my son William to be
equally divided betwixt them. I give and
bequeath to my said daughter the sum of thirty pounds in money to be paid after
the death of my executrix or as she in her discretion shall see fit.
Provided
always and my will is that if any of my sons or daughter shall happen to die
before the decease of my executrix and have issues behind them, that in such
case the sum of money above mentioned
shall be given and apply for the life of the said issue and them only,
but the said money shall be divided in equal parts between the survivors or
remain with the survivor of them.
All
the rest and residue of my estate, goods, chattels, rights, debts and credits
whatsoever I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary Hopton whom I do make
and appoint full and whole executrix of this my last will and testament. And I do revoke and make void all former and
other wills made by me whenever made, declaring this to be my last will and
testament.
In
witness thereof I, the said Daniel Hopton have here unto set my hand and seal
the sixteenth day of August in the year of our Lord 1745.
Signed Daniel
Hopton.
Signed,
sealed, published and declared by the said Daniel Hopton the testator as and
for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence, at
his request have here unto set our names a witnesses.
Signed J Harris
Signed G Middlemore
The
mark of Hannah Dangerfield
21
day of September 1745
The
above named Mary Hopton, relict and executrix was duly sworn in before me, J
Harris, sol.
This
will was proved 21 September 1745 before the Worshipful Sir Henry Ponnice, Knight, doctor of Laws etc.
Of particular interest is
the land at Moreton Valence, which is of some
significance in our search for Daniel’s antecedents. More of this later.
Another legal document
relating to Daniel has survived; an Indenture dated 13th March1739
for the purchase of land. Among the
clauses are the following:-
…...between
Edmund Clutterbucke and Daniel Hopton of Stonehouse, Yeoman
In
consideration of the sum of Ł126 now
paid by the said Daniel Hopton
all
those three messuages
tenements and dwelling houses with appurtenances
situate
and being at Stonehouse together with the garden and
orchard…......late in the possession of one William Parslow
Hitch and Thomas Smith
and
now in the severall possession of Mary Carruthers, Samuel Spagge and
John Deystey together with all and singular
outhouses, shops etc.
A further consideration
payment of Ł34 brought the total sum paid to Ł160 overall.
Daniel Hopton, Yeoman, was
clearly a man of some wealth.
* * *
The Sixth Generation: Daniel Hopton (1712)
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Daniel
Hopton (Yeoman) born c.1684 d.
Aug. 1745 bur. Stonehkouse. married at Arlingham, Glos. Mary
Daniel bp Fretherne 1679 d.
Jul. 1751 bur. Stonehouse |
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I I Richard
Hopton bp.1709
Moreton Valence d.1722 bur.
Stonehouse |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp.1712 Moreton
Valence died 1756 Hucclecote bur. Stonehouse m. 1739 at Hannah
Mason (Esther) |
I I Samuel
Hopton bp.1715
Stonehouse m.Sarah |
I I William
Hopton bp.1716
Stonehouse m.Anne d.1763 bur.Stonehouse |
I I Hester
Hopton b.1718 m.
Simon Veisey 1736 d.1751 bur.
Stonehouse |
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I I Daniel
Hopton bp.1739
Churchdown d.1739 bur.Church-down |
I I William
Hopton bp.1741
Churchdown m. Hester Gwinnett 1766 |
I I Richard
Hopton bp.1743
Churchdown m. Anne Hopton 1766 Stonehouse |
I I Daniel Hopton bp.1748 Churchdown m. 1773 at Churchdown Anne
Grevile (Anne d. 1839 (?) Wootton, |
I I Thomas
Hopton bp.1750
Churchdown |
I I Robert
Hopton bp.1754 Churchdown m.(1) 1782 St.Mary de
Lode, Glouc. Mary
Smith (m.(2)
1805 d.1829 bur.Wootton |
I I Elizabeth
Hopton bp.1755
Churchdown |
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Daniel Hopton (the son of
the Daniel to whom the previous section relates) was baptised at Moreton Valence on
Although
described in his father’s will as “my eldest son” Daniel had an older brother,
Richard, who died in 1722, aged 13, and was buried at Stonehouse,
some three miles to the east of Moreton Valence. The three younger Hopton children were all
baptised at Stonehouse; so it seems that by 1715 the
family had moved there. By the time that
Daniel married, in 1739, he had moved a further nine miles north east to Brockworth - today almost a suburb of
“Appeared personally Daniell
Hopton of Brockworth in the County and Diocese of Gloster, bachelor……… aged 27 years ……… and that he intended
to marry Hannah Mason of Churchdown, spinster………aged
22 years… ……at the Parish Church of Churchdown or
Cathedral Church of Gloster.”
Why the uncertainty as to
the venue, I wonder? Anyway, it was in
the grand surroundings of the Cathedral that the marriage ceremony took place
on
Hannah provided myself and other Hopton researchers with something of a
quandary because she is sometimes referred to in records as “Esther”.
Consider the following entries from the registers of Churchdown
Parish:
Register |
Date |
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Name of Child |
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Names of Parents |
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Baptism |
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Danll |
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Daniel
and Hannah |
Hopton |
Burial |
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Danll |
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Daniel
and Esther |
Hopton |
Baptism |
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(1741) |
William |
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Daniel
and Esther |
Hoppen ! |
Baptism |
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(1743) |
Richard |
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Hannah Daniel
and Esther (note: the entry in the register is written just
like this, with the name “Esther” underlined, and with the name “Hannah”
written above it.) |
Hopton |
Baptism |
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Mary |
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Daniel
and Hannah |
Hopton |
Baptism |
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(1748) |
Daniel |
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Daniel
and Esther |
Hopton |
Baptism |
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Thomas |
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Daniel
and Esther |
Hopton |
Baptism |
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(1754) |
Robert |
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Daniel
and Esther |
Hopton |
Baptism |
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Daniel
and Esther |
Hopton |
It is tempting for a family
historian to twist the facts to fit a pet theory, so I list below the arguments
to support the argument that Hannah and Esther are one
and the same person. These are not only
my own conclusions, but those of other Hopton researchers with whom I have been
in contact.
1)
The convenient
spacing of dates, and in such a small parish.
In no case is there a single overlap or contradiction, which would have invalidated the
argument. (It should be borne in mind
that until 1752, the New Year began each year, not on January 1st but on March 25th.)
2)
The quotation of
both the names Hannah and Esther in
relation to the entry for Richard.
3) The entries in 1739 for the baptism of
Daniel (parents - Daniel and Hannah) and the burial in the following
month for a child of the same name ( parents - Daniel and Esther.) There is no entry for a Daniel baptised with
a mother named Esther. The registers of
the parish are well kept, so an omission altogether is unlikely.
4. The children
named in Daniel’s will of 1756 (quoted in full below) tie in exactly with the
children of Hannah and Esther as listed in the baptismal registers of Churchdown. William
and Richard are mentioned by name, and reference is made to “five younger
children”. It all fits. Surely no coincidence!
Daniel Hopton died in May
1756, aged 44 - of smallpox so the entry in the burial register of Stonehouse tells us - within days of making his will. As we have already seen, he is buried in the
family tomb there along with his parents, two of his brothers (Samuel and
William) his sister (Hester) and three nephews.
His will reads as follows:
I Daniel Hopton of the hamlet of Huclecot in the parish of Churchdown
in the county of Gloster, considering the uncertainty
of this mortal life do make this my last will and testament in the manner
following.
First
I bequeath my soul to God my creator, and my body to the ground in hope of a joyfull Resurrection to eternal life, through the merits of
my Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. And as
to my worldly goods I dispose of them as follows.
First
I give to my sons William and Richard all the free land that I am at this time
possessed of lying in the parish of Moreton Valients in the said
county of Gloster, to be equally divided when they
arrive at the age of six and twenty, and my will is that all the profits
arising from the estate above mentioned shall be, during the above William and
Richard’s minority, paid to my wife for her and her family’s use, whom I hereby
constitute and appoint sole executrix of this my last will and testament, and
to her I will and bequeath all my personal estate, goods, chattels, stock,
money and whatever else I shall die possessed of, for her use and her five
younger children, but if she should marry again then that all the above effects
shall be divided equally share and share alike between the said five younger
children or as many as shall be surviving at that time or at her decease.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty second day of May in the year of Our Lord 1756.
Signed : Daniel Hopton
Signed
sealed published and declared by the testator as his last will and testament in
the presence of us. signed:
Agrilla
Smith
Hannah
Mason (Daniel’s mother or sister in law perhaps?)
X -
the mark of Ann Hyett
On the Reverse of the
document is the following:
Hannah
Baylis the now wife of John Baylis
and late Hannah Hopton the relict and sole executor within named was duly sworn
before me. John Wicks,
Sol.
Proved
Is it significant that the
usual reference to “my loving wife” (or some such words) is missing? And why does he refer to “my wife’s
five younger children”? A pity he did
not name them, but then neither did he name Hannah herself, nor did he specify
what land he possessed in Moreton Valence. It should be borne in mind that Daniel must
have been grievously ill at the time he made the will. (He was buried only five
days later.)
Hannah married John Baylis
on
* * *
The Fifth Generation: Daniel Hopton (1748)
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I I Richard
Hopton bp.1709
Moreton Valence d.1722 bur.
Stonehouse |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp.1712 Moreton
Valence m. Hannah Mason
(Esther) 1739 at died 1756 Hucclecote bur. Stonehouse |
I I Samuel
Hopton bp.1715
Stonehouse m.Sarah |
I I William
Hopton bp.1716
Stonehouse m.Anne d.1763 bur.Stonehouse |
I I Hester
Hopton b.1718 m.
Simon Veisey 1736 d.1751 bur.
Stonehouse |
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I I Daniel
Hopton |
I I William
Hopton |
I I Richard
Hopton |
I I Hopton |
I I Thomas
Hopton |
I I Robert Hopton |
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I I Elizabeth
Hopton |
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bp.1739
Churchdown d.1739 bur.Churchdown |
bp.1741
Churchdown m. Hester Gwinnett 1766 |
bp.1743
Churchdown m. Anne Hopton 1766 Stonehouse |
bp.1748 Churchdown m. 1773 at Churchdown Anne
Grevile (Anne d. 1839 (?) Wootton, |
bp.1750
Churchdown |
bp.1754 Churchdown m(1) 1782 Mary Smith at St..Mary de Lode, Glouc. d.1829 bur.Wootton |
m.(2)
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bp.1755
Churchdown |
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I Mary
Hopton bp
1773 Badgeworth |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp
1775 Badgeworth |
I I Betty
Hopton bp.
1776 Badgeworth |
I I Sophia
Hopton bp.
1778 Badgeworth |
I I Daniel
Shadrack Hopton bp. 1780 Badgeworth died 1843 married 1805 at St Mary de Lode, Glouc. Sarah Hopton bp.1785 St Mary de Lode d.1868 |
I I Sarah
Hopton l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l --------I |
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Daniel, the son of Daniel
and Hannah, was baptised at Churchdown parish church
on
It was at this same church
that Daniel married Ann Greville in 1773.
One gets the impression that
the family fortunes are on the slide.
Daniel is a simple butcher, whereas his grandfather was able to make
generous bequests of property and money to his offspring. There is no evidence that this later Daniel
ever made a will at all. Perhaps he had
little or nothing to leave.
I can trace no record of
Daniel’s death, but a death certificate of 1838 (one of the very earliest -
they were only introduced in 1837) records the death of Anne; or so I believe.
Why do I think this is the right Anne even though some details do not
tally? My reasons are quoted in
italics on the entry below.
Registration District |
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Year 1838 Death in the
Sub- district of Kingsholm in the |
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When and where died |
Name and surname |
Sex |
Age |
Occupation |
Cause of Death |
Informant |
When registered |
Eighth of August 1838 Wotton Wotton is an area of |
Ann Hopton Ann with or without an “e” is of no consequence. Spelling of names in these times was
notoriously inaccurate. Witness the entry in the
marriage register for Anne and Daniel, in which she is recorded as Anne Greville,
yet signs Ann Grevile. |
Female |
85 Years The age tallies with that on the Marr. Alleg... |
Widow of a farmer and butcher Unfortunately Ann’s husband is not named, but his occupation tallies with Marr. Alleg.. |
Decay of Nature |
Hanah Hopton Daughter present at the death and Certificate of Revd Henry Wintle of St Mary Magdalene Parish, Wotton. Anne had no daughter
named Hanah (a strange spelling!) but she
had a daughter in law named Sarah. I think the entry has
been tran-scribed incorrect-ly
at some stage. Anne’s brother in law, Robert Hopton (the father of the said Sarah) and many of his family are buried at St Mary Magdalene a tiny chapel, seldom featuring in records. Surely this is not a coincidence. |
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Daniel and Anne had five children, all
baptised in the nearby parish of Badgeworth between 1773 and
1780. It is the youngest of these,
Daniel Shadrack, who is the particular focus of our
interest. Before we pass on to consider
him, however, there is one other of this generation of Hoptons
who is a part of our ancestry and deserves our attention. This is Robert Hopton, whom I have just
mentioned above. He is another son of Daniel and Hannah,
and thus a younger brother of the Daniel who married Anne.
The Fifth Generation: Robert
Hopton (1754)
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I I Richard
Hopton bp.1709
Moreton Valence d.1722 bur.
Stonehouse |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp.1712 Moreton
Valence m. Hannah Mason
(Esther) 1739 at died 1756 Hucclecote bur. Stonehouse |
I I Samuel
Hopton bp.1715
Stonehouse m.Sarah |
I I William
Hopton bp.1716
Stonehouse m.Anne d.1763 bur.Stonehouse |
I I Hester
Hopton b.1718 m.
Simon Veisey 1736 d.1751 bur.
Stonehouse |
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I I Daniel
Hopton |
I I William Hopton |
I I Richard Hopton |
I I Mary Hopton |
I I Daniel Hopton |
I I Thomas Hopton |
I I Robert Hopton |
I I Elizabeth
Hopton |
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bp.1739
Churchdown d.1739 bur. Churchdown |
bp.1741
Churchdown m. Hester Gwinnett 1766 |
bp.1743
Churchdown m. Anne Hopton 1766 Stonehouse |
bp.
1745 Churchdown m. Richard Gwinnett |
bp.1748 Churchdown m 1773 at Churchdown Anne Grevile (Anne d. 1839 (?) Wootton, |
bp.
1750 Churchdown |
bp.1754 Churchdown m(1) 1782 at St..Mary
de Lode, Glouc
Mary
Smith M
(2) Frances
Whitcomb 1805 d.1829 bur.Wootton |
bp.
1755 Churchdown |
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I I Daniel
Shadrack Hopton bp. 1780
Badge-worth died 1843 married 1805 at St Mary de Lode, Glouc. Sarah---- Hopton |
I I Charles Smith Hopton bp1783 St Mary de Crypt -------------- |
I I Elizabeth Hopton bp1784 St Mary de Lode -------------- |
I I Sarah
Hopton bp.1785 St Mary de Lode m.1805 St Mary de Lode Daniel Shadrack
Hopton d.1868 l l l ------- |
I I Robert Hopton bp.1788 St Mary de Lode m. Mary Theyer |
I I Charles Hopton bp.1789 St Mary de Lode m. 1810 Mary Dancey |
I I William Hopton bp.1790 St Mary de Lode m.Sarah Witcomb |
I I Susannah Hopton bp 1793 St Mary de Lode m. William Nelmes |
I I Henry Hopton bp.1794 St Mary de Lode |
I I Mary Ann Hopton bp.1796 St.Mary
de Lode |
I I James Hopton bp.1799 St.Mary
de Lode m. Margaret Whitcomb |
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Robert Hopton was baptised
at Churchdown on
Robert married twice. His first wife was Mary Smith, whom he
married at St Mary de Lode,
Perhaps being a coach wheel
maker was a lucrative business or maybe he graduated to better things, in any
event he was quite possibly wealthy, as he is the principal subject on an
impressive and lonely looking monument adjoining all that remains of St Mary
Magdalene Chapel in
Sacred
to the memory of Robert Hopton of the Hamlet of Wotton,
Yeoman, who departed this life
Named on other faces of the
monument are his sons William, Henry and James.
Sadly there is no trace of a will left by
Robert.
* * *
The Fourth Generation: Daniel Shadrack(h) Hopton (1780)
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I Daniel
Hopton |
I William
Hopton |
I Richard
Hopton |
I Hopton |
I Thomas
Hopton |
I Robert Hopton |
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I Elizabeth
Hopton |
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bp.1739
Churchdown d.1739 bur.Churchdown |
bp.1741
Churchdown m. Hester Gwinnett 1766 |
bp.1743
Churchdown m. Anne Hopton 1766 Stonehouse |
bp.1748 Churchdown m. 1773 at Churchdown Anne
Grevile (Anne d. 1839 (?) Wootton, |
bp.1750
Churchdown |
bp.1754 Churchdown m(1) 1782 Mary Smith at St..Mary de Lode, Glouc. d.1829 bur.Wootton |
m.(2)
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bp.1755
Churchdown |
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I Mary
Hopton bp
1773 Badgeworth |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp
1775 Badgeworth |
I I Betty
Hopton bp.
1776 Badgeworth |
I I Sophia
Hopton bp.
1778 Badgeworth |
I I Daniel
Shadrack Hopton bp. 1780 Badgeworth died 1843 married 1805 at St Mary de Lode, Glouc. Sarah Hopton bp.1785 St Mary de Lode d.1868 |
I I Sarah
Hopton l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l --------I |
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I I Robert Hopton bp.1808 St. Mary de Lode died 1854 Hutt NZ (emigrated 1841) m.1830 Charlotte Fegan/Fagan (died .NZ) |
I I Sarah
Hopton bp.1811
St.Mary de Lode |
I I Susannah
Hopton bp.1818
m.
Richard Shurmer |
I I William
Hopton bp.1821 (died
pre 1843) |
I I Mary
Hopton b.1825
(living
1868) |
I I Henry
James Hopton b.1827 died 1871 Merton, m.1851 at Twigworth Esther
Hooper b.1832 d.1913 Merstham,
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Daniel Shadrack
more commonly referred to simply as Shadrack (or
Shadrach) was baptised at Badgeworth on
seen them drift North
from the Arlingham, Moreton
Valence and Stonehouse area towards this cluster of
villages just to the East of Gloucester.
Now, in Shadrack’s life time we see them drift
into the city itself. But before that
move, Shadrack, his brother Daniel (who died in
infancy) and his three older sisters were all baptised at Badgeworth,
clear of city and a peaceful spot even to this day.
Extract from
Register of St Mary de Lode, 'Shadrack Hopton of the City of Gloucester
, Bachelor, and Sarah Hopton of this Parish were married in this church by Licence this 22nd day of August 1805 by me Charles Palmer, Vicar.' |
In August 1805 (just weeks
before The Battle of Trafalgar) he married his cousin Sarah - the daughter of
Robert and Mary Hopton - at the church of St Mary de Lode, Gloucester, almost
in the shadow of the Cathedral where his grandparents Daniel and Hannah had
been married some sixty six years earlier.
Close in proximity the two places of worship might be, but they are far
apart in terms of grandeur and, so it seems, in social cache. St Mary de Lode, ancient
but austere, was (and is) the church of the common man. Incidentally Sarah, a city girl, apparently,
had been baptised at the same church on
Shadrack and Sarah had nine
children, the first and last of whom were born some twenty one years
apart. The oldest to survive into
adulthood was Robert, born in 1809. The
last born child was Henry James ( my great
grandfather) who was baptised on
We have glimpses from time
to time in nineteenth century records of Shadrack and
his family - for example the Gloucester Directory 1820:
...............Hopton...Shadrach...Cabinet-maker.......
In 1841 the first national
Census was implemented and this provides us with a more detailed picture. He and Sarah, with their two youngest
children were recorded as then living at Long
Smith Street, Gloucester, (handily placed for the river!). The exact number of their house is not
given. His name is given simply as Daniel Hopton, and his age 60.
…Sarah is stated to be aged 56,… Mary 15… and Henry 14.
All are stated to have been born in the County. The older children, it seems, had already
left home.
In Pigot's
Directory of 1842 there is an entry which, I believe, relates to Shadrack. It
records a Frederick (?) Hopton…Cabinet Maker…living at 29 Long Smith Street.
Three Extracts from the
Gloucester Journal of 1843 bear witness to Shadrack’s
sad end.
Saturday
18 March 1843:
'MELANCHOLY SUICIDE - On Thursday morning, Mr T Hanman
of Barton Street, while passing along the upper part of Sudbrook
Meadow adjoining the River Severn, near Lanthony
Abbey, found a hat and drab coat, and it was at once feared that they belonged
to some unhappy man who had taken them off before committing suicide
by throwing himself in the river.
The articles were subsequently ascertained to have belonged to Mr Shadrach Hopton, cabinet-maker, an old and respected inhabitant of this
city. Mr Hopton had for some weeks been
sinking into a state of despondency owing to the depression
of trade and the difficulty which he experienced in disposing of the articles
of his manufacture. He left home rather
early on Thursday morning and was seen walking towards the direction where his
clothes were afterwards found. His body
was, we understand, discovered yesterday evening at Sandhurst
(
a false report ) whither it had been
washed by the tide, thus placing his melancholy fate beyond doubt, and adding
another to the many instances of want of courage to endure the ills of life and
the fear of poverty. The occurrence
has been a cause of much sorrow to all who knew the deceased.'
'We were misinformed last week, when
we stated that the body of Mr Hopton, cabinet-maker, was found in the River
'The body of a man was yesterday forenoon, on the receding
of the tide, discovered in the river Severn at the Flat at Westbury, and now
awaits an inquest which will be held upon it today. There is reason to believe that it is the
body of Mr Shadrach Hopton, cabinet-maker, of this city, who has been
missing since the 16th of March last,
and whose supposed death has caused much regret among his family and friends.'
Extract
from Death Certificate
Registration District Westbury on |
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Year 1843 Death in the
Sub- district of Huntley in the |
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When and where died |
Name and surname |
Sex |
Age |
Occupation |
Cause of Death |
Informant |
When registered |
Westbury |
Shadrack Hopton |
Male |
63 Years |
Cabinet Maker |
Found Drowned in the River |
Jno Cooke Coroner |
10th July 1843 |
One can well imagine the
anguish of his family caused by these events.
I do not know whether or not a transcript of that inquest still exists,
but what fascinating and possibly illuminating reading it would make.
Shadrack’s business might
have been in financial trouble, but he was by no means destitute, as can be
seen from his Will - made less than a month before his lonely and despairing
walk to the River.
WILL OF DANIEL SHADRACH
HOPTON 1843
I Daniel
Shadrach Hopton of the Parish of St Mary de Crypt in the City of Gloucester
Cabinet Maker being of sound mind thank God for it Amen - This being my last
Will and Testament. And I appoint for my
executors Henry Hopton of the Parish of Upton St Leonards
in the County of Gloucester Yeoman and James Hopton of the Hamlet of Wotton in the Parish of St Mary de Lode in the same County
Farmer. At my death under power of my
Executors after all my just debts are paid, I give and bequeath in the
following manner viz:- To Sarah my beloved wife all the rents and
interests arising from all property belonging to me, Freehold, personal or
whatsoever during her natural life and at the decease of the aforesaid Sarah my
Wife, under power of my Executors above named I give and bequeath to my eldest
son Robert Hopton his heirs and assigns all that Freehold House and Garden in
the Hamlet of Hucclecote in the Parish of Churchdown in the County of Gloucester in the occupation of
John Perkins. And I also give and
bequeath unto the aforesaid Robert Hopton my eldest son one pound of lawfull money of
Daniel
Shadrach Hopton
Signed
sealed published and declared by the said Daniel Shadrach Hopton in the
presence of us witnesses the twenty eighth day of February one thousand eight
hundred and forty three:
John Freeman John Knowles
In
the Consistory Court of Gloucester
In
the Goods of Daniel Shadrach Hopton deceased
Appeareth
personally Henry Hopton of the Parish of Upton St Leonards
in the County of Gloucester Yeoman one of the Executors names and appointed in
and by the last Will and Testament of Daniel Shadrach Hopton deceased hereunto
annexed marked and made Oath that the said will was signed by the said Daniel
Shadrach Hopton at the foot or end thereof in his presence and also in the
presence of John Freeman and John Knowles the two subscribed witnesses to the
said Will the said John Freeman and John Knowles being both present together at
the same time in the presence of the said Testator and each other---and
thereupon subscribed their respective names to the said Will as witnesses to
the execution thereof in his presence and this deponent also made oath that the
interlineation of the words 'including the Freehold
House and Garden' on the second page of the said Will was made before the
execution thereof as aforesaid
Henry Hopton
Sworn
at the Court of Gloucester this twelfth day of September in the year of Our
Lord 1843
before me
Thomas Evans Surrogate
Proved
before Thomas Evans, Clerk, D.D. Surrogate of the Worshipfull
Edward Thomas March Phillipps Clerk M.A. Chancellor
of Gloucester by the oaths of Henry Hopton and James Hopton the Executors to
whom Administration was granted
Effects
under Ł600
Testator
died
At
Gloucester on the 19th day of October 1868 Administration with the Will annexed
of the personal Estate and Effects of
Daniel Shadrach Hopton late of the Parish of St Mary de Crypt in the
City of Gloucester Cabinet Maker, deceased who died on the 16th day of March
1843 at Westbury upon Severn in the County of Gloucester left unadministered by Henry Hopton and James Hopton deceased
whilst being the Executors named in the said Will was granted to Mary Hopton,
Spinster the daughter of the said deceased one of the Residuary Legatees seclrstiticted (?) in the said Will she having been first
sworn, Sarah Hopton Widow the Relict the Residuary Legatee for Life named in
the said Will survived but died without having taken upon herself the Letter of
Administration (with the said Will annexed) of the personal Estate and Effects
of the said deceased so left unadministered as
aforesaid. The said
James Hopton having survived his Co-Executor and died intestate.
Under
Ł600
Widcombe
and Son,
Solrs.
Sarah Hopton outlived her
husband by some twenty five years, as can be seen from the adjunct to Shadrack’s Will.
We have a glimpse
of her from the Census of 1851 at Barton St Mary in
Address |
Persons Resident at 30th
March |
Relationship to Head of
House |
Age |
Profession |
Where Born |
|
Sarah Hopton Mary Hopton Susan Hopton |
Head Daughter Grand daughter |
65 26 10 |
Annuitant Scholar |
Norton, Glos. Wotton |
The house number in
Address |
Persons Resident at 30th March |
Relationship to Head of
House |
Age |
Profession |
Where Born |
|
Moses Bining Sophia Beare Sarah Hopton |
Head Visitor Servant |
70 22 38 |
Proprietor of Land |
Binkworth Wilts.. St Mary de Lode. Holy Trinity |
The family has fallen on
hard times indeed, with a daughter working as a servant two doors away from her
widowed mother; for surely such is the case.
But there is an even bigger fall from grace. Who is this granddaughter Susan, named in the
first entry? I believe her to be Susannah the illegitimate daughter of
Sarah (the servant). Susannah was
baptised at St Mary de Lode Church on
Shadrack’s widow, Sarah,
died “of general decay” on
I like the
inclusion of the word “Master”. I see it
as a proclamation by Mary of pride in her family, and faith in her poor
father. Indeed I have a soft spot for
Mary, whose lot could not have been a happy one. At the age when she might have been thinking
of marrying she had to suffer the trauma of her father’s suicide, and remained
at home as a companion to her widowed mother thereafter. Probably she was expected to do so. This was the invariable lot of one of the
daughters of the household in that era.
(Mary was still alive and unmarried at the time of the 1881 census. She was then living in Wotton
(
* * *
The Third Generation:
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I Mary
Hopton bp
1773 Badgeworth |
I I Daniel
Hopton bp
1775 Badgeworth |
I I Betty
Hopton bp.
1776 Badgeworth |
I I Sophia
Hopton bp.
1778 Badgeworth |
I I Daniel
Shadrack Hopton bp. 1780 Badgeworth died 1843 married 1805 at St Mary de Lode, Glouc. Sarah Hopton bp.1785 St Mary de Lode d.1868 |
------ |
I I Sarah
Hopton l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l -------I |
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I I Robert Hopton bp.1808 St. Mary de Lode died 1854 Hutt NZ (emigrated 1841) m.1830 Charlotte Fegan (died .NZ) |
I I Sarah
Hopton bp.1811
St.Mary de Lode |
I I Susannah
Hopton bp.1818
m.
Richard Shurmer |
I I William
Hopton bp.1821 (died
pre 1843) |
I I Mary
Hopton b.1825
(living
1868) |
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I I Henry
James Hopton b.1827 died 1871 Merton, m.1851 at Twigworth Esther
Hooper b.1832 d.1913 Merstham,
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I Mary Emma 1832 - 1854 Charlotte Dinah 1833 Eliza Lavinia 1834 - 1920 Sarah Augusta 1836 - 1877 Robert William 1838 - 1841 Susan Mary Jane 1840 - 1843 |
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I Henry James
Hopton b.1854 died 1931 married 1897 at Wandsworth, Alice
Mary Avis b.1862 d.1932 |
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Robert Hopton (1808.)
Before I go on to talk about
my great grandfather, Henry James Hopton, I will depart from my practice
hitherto of following only the direct line of our ancestors to mention his
elder brother (by some eighteen years) Robert,
my great great uncle.
Prompted by the
mention in Shadrack’s will of his eldest son being
“at the present time in
Robert and his family sailed
from
Robert and his
family were among the very earliest settlers in
In 1854 tragedy stuck again
- twice. Mary Emma, who had married only
four months previously, died aged 22, and then Robert himself died a few weeks
later. His death notice in the newspaper
(Mary’s death was announced in the same edition) states that he died of a
fractured skull at his residence in The Hutt.. (An accident?)
Robert’s
surviving daughters then set about populating their new country. Sarah married John Clement, a lay preacher
originally from
Eliza married Almon Boulcott - of a wealthy and
influential family in
Charlotte, Robert
Hopton’s widow, remarried in 1855 - a year after her
husband’s death - and died in 1875.
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