1. EDMUND-
Issue-
· 2I. JOHN- bpt. 7 Feb. 1543 Kimpton, Hampshire
2I. JOHN (EDMUND 1)
bpt. 7 Feb. 1543 Kimpton, Hampshire
m.1. 28 Oct. 1574 Upper Clatford, Agnes Borrowe
2. 28 July 1579 Upper Clatford, ELIZABETH WILLIAMS
d.c.1593
John and Elizabeth moved from Clatford to
Issue-
· 3I. STEPHEN-
bpt. 30 Apr. 1581 Upper Clatford, Hampshire, m.1. MARY ______, 2. 19
Feb. 1617/8 St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, Middlesex, Elizabeth Fisher, will
6 June-17 July 1644
bpt. 30 Apr. 1581 Upper
Clatford, Hampshire
m.1. MARY ______ (bur. 9 May 1613
Hursley)
2. 19 Feb. 1617/8 St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, Middlesex, Elizabeth Fisher
(d. between 1640 & 1644)
will 6 June-17 July 1644
All
Saints Church-
Stephen was fined on 19 May 1608 at the
In 1609 Stephen left his wife and three small
children to sign on with the Third Supply, a fleet of nine ships taking 500
settlers and supplies to
In his contract with the Virginia Company,
Stephen would serve three years as an indentured servant, his labors profiting
those who had financed the venture. In exchange, he would receive free
transportation, food, lodging, and 10 shillings every three months for his
family back home. At the end of three years, he would be freed from his
indenture and given 30 acres in the colony.
On May 15, 1609, the Sea Venture, under the
command of Sir George Somers, admiral of the fleet, with Christopher Newport as
captain and Sir Thomas Gates, Governor of the colony, sailed down the Thames
followed by the rest of the Virginia Company's fleet, the Falcon, Diamond,
Swallow, Unity, Blessing, Lion,
and two smaller ships.
Hodges writes, "For
seven weeks the ships stayed within sight of each other, often within earshot,
and captains called to one another by way of trumpets. On the Sea Venture
all was peaceful. Morning and evening, Chaplain Buck and Clerk Hopkins gathered
the passengers and crew on deck for prayers and the singing of a psalm."
The ships were only eight days from the coast
of
"On St. James Day, being Monday, the
clouds gathering thick upon us and the wind singing and whistling most unusually,
a dreadful storm and hideous began to blow from out the northeast, which,
swelling and roaring as it were by fits, at length did beat all night from
Heaven; which like a hell of darkness, turned black upon us . . . For
four-and-twenty hours the storm in a restless tumult had blown so exceedingly
as we could not apprehend in our imaginations any possibility of greater
violence; yet did we still find it not only more terrible but more constant,
fury added to fury, and one storm urging a second more outrageous than the
former . . . It could not be said to rain. The waters like whole rivers did
flood in the air. Winds and seas were as mad as fury and rage could make them.
Howbeit this was not all. It pleased God to bring greater affliction yet upon
us; for in the beginning of the storm we had received likewise a mighty
leak."
The ship had begun to take on water and every
man who could be spared went below to plug the leaks and work the pumps. The
men worked in waist-deep water for four days and nights, but by Friday morning
they were exhausted and gave up.
Another chronicler, Silvester Jourdain, wrote
that some of the men, "having some good and comfortable waters [gin and
brandy] in the ship, fetched them and drunk one to the other, taking their last
leave one of the other until their more joyful and happy meeting in a more
blessed world." Then there was a crash and the Sea Venture
began to split seam by seam as the water rushed in. Jourdain continues:
"And there neither did our ship sink
but, more fortunately in so great a misfortune, fell in between two rocks,
where she was fast lodged and locked for further budging; whereby we gained not
only sufficient time, with the present help of our boat and skiff, safely to
set and convey our men ashore . . . "
The Sea Venture had been thrown
upon a reef about a mile from
As it turned out, the Sea Venture
did not break apart and the men were able to retrieve the tools, food,
clothing, muskets, and everything that meant their survival. Most of the ship's
structure also remained, so using the wreckage and native cedar trees, the 150
castaways immediately set about building two new boats so that they could
complete their voyage to
The men were pleasantly surprised to find that
the island's climate was agreeable, food plentiful, and shelters easily
constructed from cedar wood and palm leaves. The Isle of the Devils, turned out
to be paradise, and a few began to wonder why they should leave. Strachey
recounts that some of the sailors, who had been to
The first attempt at mutiny was made by
Nicholas Bennit who "made much profession of Scripture" and was
described by Strachey as a "mutinous and dissembling Imposter."
Bennit and five other men escaped into the woods, but were captured and
banished to one of the distant islands. The banished men soon found that life
on the solitary island was not altogether desirable and humbly petitioned for a
pardon, which they received. But the clemency of the Governor only encouraged
the spirit of mutiny. William Strachey notes that while
". . . it was no breach of honesty,
conscience, nor Religion to decline from the obedience of the Governor or
refuse to goe any further led by his authority (except it so pleased
themselves) since the authority ceased when the wracke was committed, and, with
it, they were all then freed from the government of any man . . .[there] were
two apparent reasons to stay them even in this place; first, abundance of God's
providence of all manner of good foode; next, some hope in reasonable time,
when they might grow weary of the place, to build a small Barke, with the skill
and help of the aforesaid Nicholas Bennit, whom they insinuated to them to be
of the conspiracy, that so might get cleere from hence at their own pleasures .
. . when in Virginia, the first would be assuredly wanting, and they might well
feare to be detained in that Countrie by the authority of the Commander
thereof, and their whole life to serve the turnes of the Adventurers with their
travailes and labors. "
The mutiny was brought to a quick end when
Sharpe and Reede reported Stephen to Sir Thomas Gates who immediately put him
under guard. That evening, at the tolling of a bell, the entire company
assembled and witnessed Stephen's trial:
". . . the Prisoner was brought forth in
manacles, and both accused, and suffered to make at large, to every particular,
his answere; which was onely full of sorrow and teares, pleading simplicity,
and deniall. But he being onely found, at this time, both the, Captaine and the
follower of this Mutinie, and generally held worthy to satisfie the punishment
of his offence, with the sacrifice of his life, our Governour passed the
sentence of a
After pleading his way out of a hanging,
Stephen continued his duties as Minister's Clerk and worked quietly with the
others to finish the construction of the ships. On May 10, 1610, the men boarded
the newly built Deliverance and Patience and set out
for
Over the winter, food had become so scarce
that the settlers had been compelled to eat their horses, dogs, and even the
flesh of those who had died. Only 50 of the 500 colonists remained. In
contrast, the
Strachey wrote of Jamestown, "the
palisades torn down, the ports open, the gates off the hinges, and empty houses
rent up and burnt, rather than the dwellers would step into the woods a stone's
cast off to fetch other firewood. The Indians killed as fast, if our men but
stirred beyond the bounds of their blockhouse, as famine and pestilence
did."
The new arrivals calculated that the meal
cakes they had brought with them would feed everyone for no longer than ten
days. So it appeared that abandonment of the settlement was their only hope.
The plan was for all to board the Patience and Deliverance
and sail up the coast to
In the meantime, Strachey's account of the
wreck of the Sea Venture had made it back to
Hodges writes, "To have provided some of
the fabric for Shakespeare's vision of The Tempest and to appear in the play,
even in the absurd disguise as Stephano, this in itself is a kind of
immortality for Stephen Hopkins."
Act I, Scene II-
... Prospero- But
are they, Ariel, safe?
Ariel- Not a hair perish'd;
On their sustaining garments not a blemish,
But fresher than before: and, as thou bad'st me...
Prospero- Of the king's ship,
The mariners, say, how thou hast disposed,
And all the rest o' the fleet?
Ariel- Safely in harbour
Is the king's ship; in the deep nook, where once
Thou call'dst me up at midnight to fetch dew
From the still-vex'd Bermoothes [Bermuda], there she's hid:
The mariners all under hatches stow'd;
Whom, with a charm join'd to their suffer'd labour,
I have left asleep; and for the rest o' the fleet,
Which I dispersed, they all have me again;
And are upon the Mediterranean flote,
Bound sadly home for Naples;
Supposing that they saw the king's ship wreck'd,
And his great person perish..."
Act II, Scene I
Gonzalo- Had I a
plantation of this isle, my lord...
And were the king of it, what would I do?...
I' the commonwealth, I would by contraries
Execute all things: for no kind of traffic
Would I admit: no name of magistrate;
Letters should not be known; no use of service;
Of riches, or of poverty; no contracts,
Successions; bound of land, tilth, vineyard, none:
No use of metal, corn, or wine, or oil:
No occupation; all men idle, all;
And women too; but innocent and pure:
No sovereignty:...
All things in common nature should produce
Without sweat or endeavour: treason, felony,
Sword, pike, knife, gun, or need of any engine,
Would I not have; but nature should bring forth,
Of its own kind, all foison, all abundance,
To feed my innocent people..."
Act II, Scene II
Stephano- What's
the matter? Have we devils
Here? Do you put tricks upon us with savages
and men of Inde? Ha! I have not 'scaped
drowning, to be afeard now of your four legs...
I escaped upon a
butt of sack,
which the sailors heaved overboard...
Act III, Scene II
Caliban- As I told
thee before, I am subject to a
tyrant [Prospero]; a sorcerer, that by his cunning hath
cheated me of this island...
...'tis a custom with him
I' the afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him,
Having first seized his books... Remember
First to possess his books; for with them he...
hath not one spirit to command: they all do hate him
As rootedly as I...
Stephano- Monster,
I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen...
...This will prove
a brave kingdom to me,
Where I shall have my music for nothing.
Caliban- When Prospero is destroyed.
Stephano- That shall be by and by...
The spirit Ariel is listening in on this
treason and sets some other spirits in the form of hounds after the mutineers
and brings them to Prospero and the others...
Act V
Stephano- Every man
shift for all the rest, and let
no man take care for himself; for all is but fortune...
Alonso- Is not this
Stephano, my drunken butler?...
Sebastian- Why, how
now, Stephano?
Stephano- O, touch me not; I am not Stephano,
but a cramp.
Prospero- You'd be king of the isle, sirrah!
Stephano- I should have been a sore one then...
Prospero- Go... to my cell
Take with you your companions; as you look
To have my pardon...
Caliban- Ay, that I will; and I'll be wise hereafter,
And seek for grace. What a thrice-double ass
Was I to take this drunkard for a god,
And worship this dull fool!
Prospero's Epilogue
... Let me not,
Since I have my dukedom got,
And pardon'd the deceiver, dwell
In this bare island by your spell;
But release me from my bands
With the help of your good hands
Gentle breath of yours my sails
Must fill, or else my project fails,
Which was to please. Now I want
Spirits to enforce, art to enchant;
And my ending is despair
Unless I be relieved by prayer
Which pierces so, that it assaults
Mercy itself, and frees all faults.
As you from crimes would pardon'd be,
Let your indulgence set me free."
Several years later, the Virginia Company
published a heavily sanitized version of Strachey's A True Reportory
fearing that if the public knew the truth about
Stephen does not appear on any of the lists
of
The wreck of the Sea Venture was
found by divers in 1958 and in 1978 the Bermuda Maritime Museum Association did
an archaeological survey. The bottome of the hull was found confirming the
large size of the ship. Only one gun was found and when the tompion was removed
a cannon ball rolled out. Seventy-seven cannon shot were found along with
thousands of shot for small arms. Several types of ceramics and cooking pots
were found matching types found in
From 1610 until 1614 survival remained the
primary aim of the
"An inventory of the goods and Chattells
of Mary Hopkins of Hursley in the Countie of South[amp]ton widowe deceased
taken the tenth day of May 1613 as followeth vizt.
Inprimis certen Beames in the garden &
wood in the back side
It[e]m the ymplem[en]ts in the Beehouse
It[e]m certen things in the kitchin
It[e]m in the hall one table, one Cupboorde & certen other things
It[e]m in the buttry six small vessells & some other small things
It[e]m brasse and pewter
It[e]m in the Chamber over the shop two beds one table & a forme with some
other small things
It[e]m in the Chamber over the hall one fetherbed & 3 Chests & one box
It[e]m Lynnen & wearing apparrell
It[e]m in the shop one shopboarde & a plank
It[e]m the Lease of the house wherin she Late dwelled
It[e]m in ready mony & debts by specialitie & without specialitie
S[um] total xxv xj [25 pounds 11 shillings]
Gregory Horwood (his X mark)
William Toot
Rychard Wolle"(2)
Stephen returned home sometime between 1613
and 1617, perhaps with the intent of selling his belongings in
By late 1617 Stephen and his children had
settled into a home just outside of the east wall of
St.
Mary Matfellon- Whitchapel
Nearby the
Capt.
John Smith's Map of
Stephen, his wife and children, and his two
servants embarked on the "Mayflower" in
"The names of those which came over
first, in the year 1620, and were by the blessing of God the first beginners,
and in a sort the foundation of all the Plantations and Colonies in
"Mr. Stephen Hopkins and Elizabeth his wife, and two children called Giles
and
Page from
Bradford's history listing the Hopkins family
Stephen signed the Mayflower Compact on that
date, his name being fourteenth on the list.
"I shall ... begin with
a combination made by them before they came ashore ; being the first foundation
of their government in this place. Occasioned partly by the discontented and
mutinous speeches that some of the strangers amonst them had let fall from them
in the ship: That when they came ashore they would use their own liberty, for
none had power to command them, the patent they had being for Virginia and not
for New England... And partly that such an act by them done, this their
condition considered, might be as firm as any patent, and in some respects more
sure. "The form was as followeth : IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN. We whose
names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord King
James, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland King, Defender
of the Faith, etc. Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of
the Christian Faith and Honour of our King and Country, a Voyage to plant the
First Colony in the Northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly
and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine
ourselves together into a Civil Body Politic, for our better ordering and
preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to
enact, constitute and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions
and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient
for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission
and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder subscribed our names at
Cape Cod, the 11th of November, in the year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord
King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the
fifty-fourth. Anno Domini 1620."(4)
On 15 Nov. 1620 16 men went ashore
"under the conduct of Captaine Miles Standish, unto whom was adjoyned for
counsell and advise, William Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward
Tilley." They arrived back at the ship on the 17th.
Frontispiece
of "Mourt's Relation"- published 1622
The story of the "First Encounter"
appears both in Mourt's Relation, published in
"Wednesday, the sixth of December
[1620]. It was resolved our discoverers should set forth ... So ten of our men
were appointed who were of themselves willing to undertake it, to wit, Captain
Standish, Master Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, John Tilley, Edward
Tilley, John Howland, and three of London, Richard Warren, Stephen Hopkins, and
Edward Doten, and two of our seamen, John Alderton, and Thomas English. Of the
ship's company there went two of the master's mates, Master Clarke and Master
Coppin, the master gunner, and three sailors ..."(5)
" ... the 6th of December [1620] they
sent out their shallop again with ten of their principal men and some seamen,
upon further discovery, intending to circulate that deep
"So they ranged up and down all that day, but found no people, nor any
place they liked. When the sun grew low, they hasted out of the woods to meet
with their shallop ... of which they were very glad, for they had not seen each
other all that day since the morning. So they made them a barricado as usually
they did every night, with logs, stakes and thick pine boughs, the height of a
man, leaving it open to leeward, partly to shelter them from the cold and wind
(making their fire in the middle and lying round about it) and partly to defend
them from any sudden assaults of the savages, if they should surround them; so
being very weary, they betook them to rest. But about midnight they heard a
hideous and great cry, and their sentinel called "Arm! arm!" So they
bestirred them and stood to their arms and shot off a couple of muskets, and
then the noise ceased. They concluded it was a company of wolves or such like
wild beasts, for one of the seamen told them he had often heard such noise in
"So they rested till about five of the clock in the morning; for the tide,
and their purpose to go from thence, made them be stirring betimes. So after
prayer they prepared for breakfast, and it being day dawning it was thought
best to be carrying things down to the boat ...
"But presently, all on the sudden, they heard a great and strange cry, which
they knew to be the same voices they heard in the night, though they varied
their notes; and one of their company being abroad came running in and cried,
"Men, Indians! Indians!" And withal, their arrows came flying amongst
them. Their men ran with all speed to recover their arms, as by the good
providence of God they did. In the meantime, of those that were there ready,
two muskets were discharged at them, and two more stood ready in the entrance
of their rendezvous but were commanded not to shoot till they could take full
aim at them. And the other two charged again with all speed, for there were
only four had arms there, and defended the barricado, which was first
assaulted. The cry of the Indians was dreadful, especially when they saw their
men run out of the rendezvous toward the shallop to recover their arms, the
Indians wheeling about upon them. But some running out with coats of mail on,
and cutlasses in their hands, they soon got their arms and let fly amongst them
and quickly stopped their violence ...
"Thus it pleased God to vanquish their enemies and give them deliverance;
and by his special providence so to dispose that not any one of them were
either hurt or hit, though their arrows came close by them and on every side
[of] them; and sundry of their coats, which hung up in the barricado, were shot
through and through. Afterwards they gave God solemn thanks and praise for
their deliverance, and gathered up a bundle of their arrows and sent them into
January 1621 : "Saturday, the 17th day,
in the morning, we called a meeting for the establishing of military orders
among ourselves; and we chose Miles Standish our captain, and gave him
authority of command in affairs. And as we were in consultation hereabouts, two
savages presented themselves upon the top of a hill, over against our
plantation, about a quarter of a mile and less, and made signs unto us to come
unto them; we likewise made signs unto them to come unto us. Whereupon we armed
ourselves and stood ready, and sent two over the brook, towards them, to wit,
Captain Standish and Stephen Hopkins, who went towards them. Only one of them
had a musket, which they laid down on the ground in their sight, in sign of
peace and to parley with them. But the savages would not tarry their coming. A
noise of a great many more was heard behind the hill; but no more came in
sight."(7)
On 17 Feb. 1620/1 two Indians appeared on the
top of a hill and motioned for the settlers to come to them. Miles Standish and
Stephen were sent to them but, they disappeared.
On 16 Mar. 1620/1 Samoset came to
12 July 1621 : "Having
in some sort ordered their business at home, it was thought meet to send some
abroad to see their new friend Massasoit, and to bestow upon him some gratuity
to bind him the faster unto them; as also that hereby they might view and
country and see in what manner he lived, what strength he had about him, and
how the ways were to his place, if at any time they should have occasion. So
the second of July they sent Mr. Edward Winslow and Mr. Hopkins, with the foresaid
Squanto for their guide; who gave him a suit of clothes and a horseman’s coat,
with some other small things, which were kindly accepted; but they found but
short commons and came both weary and hungry home. For the Indians used then to
have nothing so much corn as they have since the English have stored them with
their hoes, and seen their industry in breaking up new grounds therewith.
"They found his place to be forty miles from hence, the soil good and the
people not many, being dead and abundantly wasted in the late great mortality,
which fell in all these parts about three years before the coming of the
English, wherein thousands of them died. They not being able to bury one
another, their skulls and bones were found in many places lying still above the
ground where their houses and dwellings had been, a very sad spectacle to
behold. But they brought word that the Narragansetts lived but on the other
side of that great bay, and were a strong people and many in number, living
compact together, and had not been at all touched with this wasting
plague."(8)
Massasoit
and the Pilgrims
When Massasoit returned, the Englishmen
greeted him by firing their guns in salute. He welcomed them into his house,
where Squanto acted as interpreter. They gave Massasoit a red cotton horseman's
coat and copper necklace, which he immediately donned and modeled for the
entertainment of his tribe.
As diplomat, Winslow suggested that
Massasoit's people should only come to
Massasoit agreed to all their requests and
gave a lengthy speech explaining the matter to his people and naming all thirty
of his villages that were bound by the agreement. He ended his speech after
pledging loyalty to the English King, and telling the pilgrims that he felt
sorry for King James whose wife, Queen Anne, had died in 1619. He then lit
tobacco for them, and they discussed matters in
When the group retired, Stephen and Winslow
were invited to join the chief and his wife in their bed. By custom, the bed
had to be full, so two other tribal leaders crowded in the remaining space. The
four Wampanoags quickly put themselves to sleep through rhythmic chanting, but
the Pilgrims had a restless night. The bed was full of lice and fleas, but
moving outside meant they would be eaten alive by mosquitoes. Winslow later
complained that they were more weary "of their lodging, than of their
journey."
The next day the Wampanoags held games with
beaver skins as prizes. The pilgrims didn't participate, but were asked to
demonstrate their skills as marksmen. At noon, forty men gathered to share a
meager lunch of three large fresh water fish. The Pilgrims spent another night
with the Wampanoags, but told the chief they must be returning home to keep the
Sabbath.
They rose before sunrise the next day and
departed with the six Indians who had brought them. They shared the last of
their food with their guides who surprised them the next morning with a
breakfast of fresh fish. They were caught in a "great storm" on the
last day and reached
Stephen and Squanto had barely recuperated
from their trip, when they were asked to join a search party to find young John
Billington. They soon learned that he had been found in the woods by the
unfriendly Nausets, so they gathered their courage and rowed the shallop to the
Nauset village.
Hearing that the pilgrims were coming, Chief
Aspinet met the boat with "no less than a hundred of his men," but
the colonists had nothing to fear. With Squanto's help, they understood that
the pilgrims had come in peace and wished to pay for the corn they had taken. A
great train of men then carried the boy through the water to the boat unharmed
and bedecked with beads. The colonists thanked Chief Aspinet and the man who
had found Billington with gifts of knives.
Dueling was illegal, and Stephen returned
home to find his servants in handcuffs and awaiting trial. After finding the
men guilty, Governor Bradford consulted William Brewster's book of English law
which prescribed that the men have their necks tied to their feet and remain in
that agonizing position for twenty-four hours in the town square.
Stephen couldn't bear their suffering and
implored Governor Bradford and Captain Standish to set the men free.
"Within an hour," says an early record, "because of their great
pains, at their own and their master's humble request, they were released by
the Governor."
"They begane now to gather in ye small
harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter,
being well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good
plenty; for some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised
in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good
store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no wante.
And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter aproached, of which this
place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degree). And
besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they took
many, besids venison, &c. Besids they had aboute a peck a meale a weeke to
a person, or now since harvest, Indean corne to yt proportion. Which made many
afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in
Edward Winslow describes the first
Thanksgiving at
"Our Corne [wheat] did prove well, &
God be praysed, we had a good increase of Indian Corne, and our Barly
indifferent good, but our Pease not worth the gathering, for we feared they
were too late sowne, they came up very well, and blossomed, but the Sunne
parched them in the blossome; our harvest being gotten in, our Governour sent
foure men on fowling, that so we might after a more speciall manner reioyce
together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labors; they foure in one day
killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside, served the Company almost
a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many
of the Indians coming amongst us, and among the rest their greatest King
Massasoyt, with some nintie men, whom for three dayes we entertained and
feasted, and they went out and killed five Deere, which they brought to the
Plantation and bestowed upon our Governour, and upon the Captaine, and others.
And although it be not alwayes so plentifull, as it was at this time with us,
yet by the goodneses of God, we are so farre from want, that we often wish you
partakers of our plenty."
In 1623 Stephen was alloted 6 acres in the
division of land on the south side of the brook:
"And so assigned to
every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, for
that end, only for present use (but made no division for inheritance) and
ranged all boys and youth under some family. This had very good success, for it
made all hands very industrious, so as much more corn was planted than
otherwise would have been by any means the Governor or any other could use, and
saved him a great deal of trouble, and gave far better content. The women now
went willingly into the field, and took their little ones with them to set
corn; which before would allege weakness and inability; whom to have compelled
would have been thought great tyranny and oppression."(10)
The name of "Steven Hopkins" is
followed by the names of 2 Edwards, no last name given, possibly representing
Edward Dotey and Edward Lester.
In 1624 Captain John Smith visited
"Stephen and Elizabeth
Hopkins" at their home at Plimouth Plantation
(Must say they look good for being 430 years old!)
On 22 May 1627 the cows and goats were
divided among the settlers with Lot No. 7 going to Stephen and his family, the
Snows, Palmers, and Billingtons. This lot consisted of two calves and two
goats:
"At a publique court
held the 22th of May it was concluded by the whole Companie, that the cattell
wch were the Companies, to wit, the
To this lott fell A black weining Calfe to
wch was aded the Calfe of this yeare to come of the black Cow, wch pueing a
bull they were to keepe it vngelt 5 yeares for common vse & after to make
there best of it. Nothing belongeth of thes too, for ye companye of ye first
stock: but only half ye Increase. To this lott ther fell two shee goats: which
goats they posses on the like terms which others doe their cattell."
In 1621, King James I authorized the Council
for
The list we have of the 1626 Purchasers comes
from the Plymouth Colony Records. It lists the names of "Stephen
Hopkins" along with William Bradford, Miles Standish and Isaac Allerton.
The
1 January 1632 : "At a Court held the
first of January, 1632, in the eighth Yeare of the Raigne of our Soveraigne
Lord, Charles, by the Grace of God, King of Engl., Soct., Fr., & Irel.,
Defender of the Faith, &c…
"At the same Court Edward Wynslow was chosen Govr, & held and was
sworne to administer justice in that place for the yeare to come.
"Likewise Mr william Bradford, Capt Myles Standish, John Howland, John
Alden, John Done, Stephen Hopkins, & William Gilson were chosen for the
Councell the same yeare at the same court, who held & received the
oath."(11)
10 January 1632 : "The Acts of the
Cowncell between the Court held the 2d of Jan., 1632, & the of Aprill,
1633…
"Thomas Brian, the servt of Samueel Eedy, was brought before the Govr,
& Mr Will Bradford, Mr Jone Done, Steph Hopkins, & Will Gilson,
Assistant, because the said Thomas had runne away & absented himselfe fiue
daies from his masters service, and being lost in the wood, and fownd by an
Indian, was forced to returne; and for this his offence was privately whipped
before the Govr and Cowncell aforemenconed."(12)
1633 : "The Names of the Freemen of the
Incorporacon of Plymoth in
1 January 1633 : "At this Court, Mr
Thomas Prence was elected Govr for the yeare following, and to enter upon the
place the first of March or the 27 of the same, and to execute the office of
Govr for one whole yeare from the time of his entry.
"At the same time, Edw: Wynslow, Mr Will Bradford, Mr Isaack Allerton, Mr
Joh Alden, Mr Joh Howland, & Mr Stephen Hopkins chosen to the office of
Assistant to the said Govr, & to enter therupon with the said Govr elect as
foresaid."(14)
2 January 1633 : "An Inventory of the
goods & Chattels of Samuel ffuller thelder as they were prised by Stephen
Hopkins & Joh. Jenny & presented in Court Jan. 2d An. 9 Dom…"(15)
25 March 1633 : "According to an order
in Court held the 2d of January, in the seaventh yeare of the raine of or
soveraigne lord, Charles, by the grace of God King of Engl., Scot., France,
& Irel., defendor of the faith, &c, the psons heere under menconed were
rated for publike use by the Govr, Mr Will Bradford, Capt Myles Standish, Joh:
Alden, Joh: Howland, John Done, Stephen Hopkins, Will Gilson, Sam Fuller,
Senior, John Genny, Godbert Godbertson, & Jonathan Brewster, to be brought
in by each pson as they are heere under written, rated in corne at vi8 p
bushel, at or before the last of November next ensuing, to such place as shall
be heereafter appointed to receiue the same. And for default heereof, the value
to be doubled, & accordingly leavies by the publick offier for yt end
"Edward Wynslow, Govr, 02:05:00, Mr. Will Bradford, 01:16:00 … John Jenny,
01:16:00, Stephen Hopkins, 01:07:00, Jonathan Brewster, 01:07:00…"(16)
27 March 1633 : "According to an order
in Court held the 2d of Jan., in the ninth yeare of the raigne of our sov.
Lord, Charles, by the grace of God King of Engl., Scot., fr., & Ire.,
defendr of the faith, &c, the psons heerunder menconed were rated for
publick use by the Govr & Mr Tho. Prence, Mr Will Bradford, Capt Myles
Standish, John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, John Done, Will Gilson, Will Collier,
Joh. Jenny, Robt Heek, Jonathan Brewster, Kenelm Wynslow, & Stephen Deane,
to be brought in by each pson as they are heerunder written, rated in corne at
vj ss p bushell, at or before the last of Novbr next ensuing, to such place as
shall be heerafter appointed to receiue the same; and for default heerof, the
value to be doubled, & accordingly levied by the publick officer for that
end. "Edw: Wynslow, 02:05:00, Mr Will Bradford, 01:07:00, capt Myles
Standish, 00:18:00, Mr Will Brewster, 01:07:00, Isaack Allerton, 01:16:00, Joh
Howland, 01:04:00, Joh Alden, 01:04:00, Steph Hopkins, 01:00:00, Mr Will
Collier, 02:05:00…"(17)
1 July 1633 : "These things following
were determined and enacted…
"That Capt Myles Standish, John Done, Stephen Hopkins, Josuah Prat, Edward
Bang, Jonathan Brewster, & Robt Heek devide the medow ground in the bay
equally, according to the proporcon of shares formerly devided to the
purchasers at or before the last of Aug. next ensuing."(18)
1 July 1633 : "Orders about the mowing
of
"It. That Mr Hopkins & Tho. Clarke where they mowed last yeare, except
George Sowles cow, as before appointed."(19)
11 November 1633 : "At this Court,
Phineas Prat appointed to take into his possession all the good & chattels
of Godbert Godbertson & Zarah, his wife, & sfely to preserue them,
according to an inventory presented upon oath to be true & just by Mr Joh.
Done & Mr. Steph.
25 November 1633 : "Joh. Thorp debtor to
… To mrs ffuller 01:16:00, To mr
25 November 1633 : "It was ordered..
"That whereas John Thorpe, carpenter, late of Duxburrow, in the liberties
of Plymouth aforesaid, deceased, dyed indebted far more than the estate of the
said John would make good, insomuch as Alice, his wife, durst not administer,
it was ordered, that Capt Myles Standish, Gent., & Stephen Hopkins should
enter upon his estate, according to an inventory presented upon oath by the
said alice, his wife, in the behalfe of the Court, that so the creditors might
be satisfyed, so far as the estate will make good, and the widow be freed from
& acquitted of all & all manr of claime or claimes or demand by all
& every his creditors whatsoever."(22)
1 January 1634 : "Mr. William Bradford
was elected gouernour, & to enter vponit the first Tuesday in march next
ensueing, & to serue from the same time one whole yeare.
"At the same time wer elected for Asistants, to enter with the Gouernour
the day aboue mentioned, and to continue the whole yeare, -- Mr Tho. Prince, Mr
Edward Winsloe, Mr John Alden, Mr Steuen Hopkins, Captayne Miles Standish, Mr
John Houland, Mr William Collier."(23)
3 March 1634 : "At a Courte held ye 3 of
March, an 1634, William Bradford elected Gouer, & Mr Winslow, Mr Prence,
Capten Standish, Mr Howland, Mr Alden, Mr Hopkins, & Mr William Collier,
Assistants, entered vpon their places."(24)
1 October 1634 : "Ovtober the 1, 1634.
At a Court holden before the Gouernour & Assistants, it was determined
concerning the trade that it to continue in the hands of the parteners till the
next Court, all other persons excluded as formerly; and for furthering for a
course for hereafter, were made chouyse of seuerall persons to treate with the
now parteners. The persons made choyce of wer Mr St. Hopkins, Mr. william
Colier, Mr Will Gilson, Antony Anible, Jonathan Brewster, John Winsloe, Manaseh
Kempton, John Dunham, they hauing concluded to mete together about the midle of
Nouember."(25)
2 October 1634 : "An Inventory of the
goods of Steven Deans Deceased taken the 2 of October 1634 By Steven Hopkins
& Robert Hicks…"(26)
5 January 1635 : "Mr. ed: Winslow was
chosen Gouer, and William Bradford, Tho: Prence, John Alden, Wm Collier, Steuen
Hopkins, Tim: Hatherly, John Browne, Assistants…
"At ye same Courte, Jane Waren sued Weekes for 50 li, which she had lent
him, to be paid vpon demand. He was ordered to put so much goods into ye hands
of Mr Hopkins & Kenelemne Winslowe as should contrauele ye money, & had
3 months time alowed to sell them, or other good, to make her paymente."(27)
1 March 1635 : "Edward Wynslow entred
upon the place of governmt, & rd the oath to administer justice in yt place
for the prnt yeare.
"Likewise, Mr William Bradford, Mr Tho: Prence, Mr Joh: Alden, Mr William
Collier, Mr Stephen Hopkins, Mr Tymothy Hatherly, & Mr John Browne being
chosen to assist the Govr in case of justice, as the Councell of this
corporacon, rd the oath."(28)
14 March 1635 : "The placs heerafter
menconed were assigned to the severall psons, or their prnt use the year 1636,
vizt. : …
"That Mr Hopkins mow the marsh between Thomas Clarke and George Sowle, as
aforesaid.
"That Mr Hopkins & Tho. Clarke haue that up the river, as
formerly."(29)
7 March 1636 : "At a Genall Court holden
at New Plymouth, for the whole Gourment, the vijth Day of March, 1636, in the
xijth Yeare of the Raigne of our Souraigne Lord, Charles, by the Grace of God
of England, Scotland, France, & Ireland, King, Defendor of the Fayth,
&c.
"The Names of the Freeman: Mr. Bradford, Cournor, Edward Winslow, gen.,
William Bradford, gen., Thomas Prence, gen., Willm Collyer, gen., Capt
Standish, John Alden, gen., Tymothy Hatherly, gen., John Jenney, gen., Steephen
Hopkins, gen., John Browne, gen…"(30)
7 March 1636 : "Concerning the trade of
beaver, corne, & beads, &c., with the Indians, it is agreed, by the
consent of the Court, that they that now haue yt shall hold yt vntill the next
Court, the beginning of June; and then further conference to be had for the
mannageing thereof, that such further course may be taken therein as shalbe
thought fitt. And in the meane season, Mr Hopkins, Mr Atwood, Mr Done, &
Jonathan Brewster shalbe added to the gounor and Assistant, to aduise vpon such
pposicons and wayes so as the said trade may be still continued to the benefit
of the collony."(31)
20 March 1636 : "At a Genall Meeting the
xxth of March, 1636, according to the Order of the Court, these Hey Grownd were
assigned to the Inhabitants of Plymouth, Eele riuer, & Ducksbury.
"To eich pson as followeth, for theire vse this prnte yeare following,
vizt, 1637 ; and then were psons also appoynmted to veiwe all the hey grounds
wthin the limitts seually followinge, before the next Court, that eich man may
be assigned a porcon as shalbe thought convenyent.
"The Messenger, Mr Hopkins, Manasseh Kempton, Edward Banges, were
appoynted to veiw the hey grounds betwixt the Eele Riuer and the towne of
7 June 1636 : "John Tisdale, yeoman,
entreth an accon of battery against Steven Hopkins, Assistant to the govmt, by
whom the said John was dangerously wounded, as he affirmeth."(33)
7 June 1636 : "At the same Court an
accon of battery was tried between John Tisdale, yeoman, plaintiffe, &
Stephen Hopkins, Assistant to the government, deft, wherein the deft, Stephen
Hopkins, was cast in fiue pownd starling to our sov. lord the King, whose peace
he had broken, wch he ought after a speciall manner to haue kept, and also in
forty shilling to the plaintiffe, both which he was adjudged to pay."(34)
7 November 1636 : "The land at the
fishing point, neer Slowly Field, being viewed and fownd too little for Tho.
Pope, Rich. Clouch, & Rich. Wright, at fiue acres p pson, by consent was
equally devided between them. Memorand. That a way was left betwen them &
the
2 January 1637 : "Presentment by the
Grand Jury.
"1. William Reynolds is psented for being drunck at Mr Hopkins his house,
that he lay vnder the table, vomitting in a beastly manner, and was taken vp
betweene two. The witness hereof is Abraham Warr, als Hoop, als Pottle, and
sayth that there was in company Francis Sprague, Samuell Nash, & Georg
Partrich.
2. Mr Hopkins is psented for sufferinge excessiue drinking in his house, as old
Palmer, James Coale, & William Renolds, John Winslow, Widdow Palmers man,
Widdow Palmer, Thomas Little, witnesss & Stepheen Travy."(36)
5 February 1637 : "Mr Stephen Hopkins
requesteth a graunt of lands towards the Six Mile Brooke."(37)
2 May 1637 : "It was ordered by this
Court, that a jury should be empanelled to set forth the heigh wayes about
Plymouth, Ducksborrow, and the Eele riuer, wch was according sumoned, and vpon
the ninth day of May next after they appeared before the Gounor, and took their
oathes to lay forth such heigh wayes about the towns of Plymouth, Ducksborrow,
& the Eele Riuer equally & justly wthout respect of psons, and
according as they shalbe directed by informacon of others, & as God should
direct them in their discretion for the genall good of the colony, and wth as
little pjudice to any mans pticuler as may be, and to marke the treeys vpon the
said way, and so it to remayne a way foreuer…" (This continues in the
entry for 7 July 1637).
7 June 1637 : "It is also enacted by the
Court, that there shalbe thirty psons sent for land service, and as many others
as shalbe sufficient to mannage the barque. "Lieftennant William Holmes is
elected to goe leader of the said company.
"Mr Thomas Prence is also elected by lott to be for the counsell of warr…
"The Names of the Souldiers that willingly offer themselues to goe vpon
the sd Service, with Mr Prince & the Leiftent.
"Voluntaries. Thomas Clarke, George Soule, Richard Church, Samuell Jenney
… Willm Paddy, Mr Steephen Hopkins, John Hearker…
"It is also enacted by the Court, that Mr Hopkins and John Winslow for the
towne of Plymouth, Mr Howland and Jonathan Brewster for the towne of
Ducksborrow, and Mr Gilson and Edward Forster for the town of Scituate, shalbe
added to Gounor and Assistants to assesse men towards the charges of the
souldiers that are to be sent forth for the ayde of the Mattachusetts Bay and
Connectacutt…
"Whereas the trade of beauer, &c, is now likely to goe in decay, in
regard that they wch haue had it will not any longer hold yt, the Court hath
referred it to Gounor and Assistants to advise and consider of a way and course
how the said trade may be vpholden for the good of the whole collony; and for
the better advisement therein haue joyned to the Gounor and Assistants Mr
Hopkins, Mr Atwood, Mr Done, Thomas Willet, & John Winslow for Plymouth, Mr
John Howland and Jonathan Brewster for Ducksborrow, and Josias Winslow for
Scituate; and what way and course they shall agree and conclude xpon, the whole
colony doth consent vnto…
"Whereas, according to the order of the Court, the Gounor and Assistants,
with the help of Mr Hopkins and John Winslow for the town of Plymouth, Mr
Howland and Jonathan Brewster for the town of Ducksborrow, and Mr. Gilson &
Edward Foster for the towne of Scituate, haue mett together & considered of
the charge in setting forth the souldiers, and fynd that it will amount vnto
the sume of two hundred pounds, the wch is appoynted & concluded to be payd
in manner following, vizt: one hundred pounds by the towneship of Plymouth
& the liberties thereof, fifty pounds by the towneship of Duckborrow, and
thother fifty pounds by the towneship of Scituate."(38)
The Pequot War of 1637, the
first major conflict between Indians and colonists in
Hodges writes, "When Massachusetts Bay
called on
7 July 1637 [The calling of the jury is
detailed in the 2 May 1637 entry] : "The Verdict of Order of thabovesaid
Jury, pformed by them the tenth Day of May, 1637…
"To the Eele Riuer, from
2 October 1637 : "Whereas diuers were
appoynted to take a view of the meadow grounds betwixt the Eele Riuer and the
South Riuer, that there might be an equall diuision of them to eich man, and
fynding the same by estimacon to amount vnto fiue hundred acrees, or
thereabouts, the Court doth order, that Mr Willm Brewster, Mr Steephen Hopkins,
Mr John Done, and John Winslowe, for the towne of Plymouth, Edward Banges for
the Eele Riuer, Mr John Browne for Joanes Riuer, and Jonathan Brewster and
Edmond Chaundler for Ducksborrow, shalbe added to the Gounor and Assistants, to
agree vpon an equall course for the diuision of them, and to depute some
certaine psons afterwards to make the said diuision."(41)
2 October 1637 : "Presentments, for
Grand Inquest.
"Mr Stephen Hopkins, first psentment, (for suffering men to drink in his
house vpon the Lords day, before the meeting be ended, and also vpon the Lords
day, both before 7 after the meeting, servants & others to drink more then
for ordinary refreshing) is respited vntill the next Court, that the testimony
of John Barnes be had therein.
"Mr Steephen Hopkins, psented for suffering servants and others to sit
drinkeing in his house, (contrary to the orders of this Court,) and to play at
shouell board, & such like misdemeanors, is therefore fined fourty
shillings."(42)
2 October 1637 : "Georg Clark complaynes
agst Edward Dotey in an action vpon the case for denying him liberty to hold
land for the terme he had taken yt for, to the damage of xx li. The jury found
for the pltiff, and assessed xx s damnage, and the charges of the Court.
Execucon granted.
"Georg Clarke complaines agst Edward Dotey, in an action of assault and
battery, (for strikeing the plt,) to the damnage of v li. The jury found for the
pltiff, and assessed xii d damnage, and the charges of the Court. Execucon
granted.
"The jury names were these : Mr Stephen Hopkins, Mr John Done, Josias
Winslow… Henry Howland."(43)
13 November 1637 : "An exact Inventory
of all the mooveable goods of Willm Palmr thelder taken the XIIIth of Novembr
1637 by Jonathan Brewster Edmond Chandler William Basset & John Willis …
"A records of 2 notes of bils, given in by mr Prence, of Palmers debts To
mr Samuell Maverick 03:03: 3 to John Soutly 03:00:00 To mr Cradocks agente
01:03:02 to mr Hopkins 01:12: 0"(44)
4 February 1638 : "Concerning Mr
Steephen Hopkins and Dorothy Temple, his servant, the Court doth order, with
one consent, that in regard by her couenant of indenture shee hath yet aboue
two yeares to serue him, that the said Mr Hopkins shall keepe her and her
child, or puide shee may be kept with food and rayment during the said terme ;
and if he refuse so to doe, that then the collony pruide for her, & Mr
Hopkins to pay it…
"Mr Steephen Hopkins is committed to ward for his contempt to the Court,
and shall so remayne comitted vntill hee shall either receiue his servant
Dorothy Temple, or else puide for her elsewhere at his owne charge during the
terme shee hath yet to serue him …
8 February 1638 : "The viijt of Februar., 1638. Memorand : That whereas
Dorothy Temple, a mayde servant dwelling with Mr Stephen Hopkins, was begotten
with child in his service by Arthur Peach, who was executed for murther and
roberry by the heigh way before the said child was borne, the said Steephen
Hopkins hath concluded and agreed with Mr John Holmes, of Plymouth, for three
pounds sterl., and other consideracons to him in hand payd, to discharge the
said Steephen Hopkins and the colony of the said Dorothy Temple and her child foreuer
; and the said Dorothy is to serue all the residue to her tyme with the said
John Holmes, according to her indenture."(45)
5 June 1638 : "Presentments by the Grand
Jury…
"Mr Steephen Hopkins is prsented for selling beere for ij d the quart, not
worth j d a quart. Witness, Kenelme Winslow.
"Item, for selling wine at such excessiue rates, to the opressing &
impouishing of the colony. Kenelme Winslow & John Winslow,
witnesses."(46)
7 August 1638 : "
4 September 1638 : "Fynes &
Prsentments …
"Mr Steephen Hopkins, vpon two psentmnts against him the last Court, and
three psentmnts this Court, for selling wine, beere, strong waters, and
nutmeggs at excessiue rates, is fyned."(48)
On 30 Nov. 1638 he sold to Josiah Cooke for £ 6, six acres of land on the south side of Towne Brook
in
On 4 Feb. 1638/9 it was determined that his
servant, Dorothy Temple, had two years left to serve him and that he should
keep her and her child during her term of servitude. If he refused to do so the
colony was to provide for her and he was to pay for it. Stephen evidently
refused for on the same day he was committed to the ward for contempt of court
and to remain there until he would take care of his servant or provide for her
elsewhere. Evidently the father of Dorothy's child was Arthur Peach who had
been executed for murder and highway robbery. Dorothy and her child went to
live with John Holmes of
3 December 1639 : "Mr
Steephen Hopkins, vpon his psentment for selling a lookeing glasse for 16d, the
like whereof was bought in the Bay for ix d is referred to further informacon.
"Mr Steephen Hopkins, for selling strong water wthout lycense, proued
& confesed in Court, is fyned iiij li."(probably to the sucker who
bought the mirror!) (49)
On 3 Mar. 1639/0 the General Court granted to
the "purchasers or old comers" the privilege of choosing two or three
plantations for themselves. On 1 Dec. 1640 they announced that they had chosen
three tracts of land, one of which stretched across Cape Cod from
1 June 1640 : "Mr John
Done, Thomas Willett, Mr John reynor are graunted
2 November 1640 : "These seuall psons
following are graunted meddowing in the North Meddow by
4 January 1641 : "The Contributors for
building a Bark of 40 or 50 Tunn, estimated at the Charge of 200 li. William
Paddy, i eight part. Mr. Willm Hanbury, i eight part … Thomas Willet, i xvith
part. Mr Hopkins, i xvith part. Edward Bangs, i xvith part."(52)
7 December 1641 : "John Dunham, Junior,
complns agst the same for v x in John Waits hands, &c."
"Stephen Hopkins for 12 li 10 s."(53)
5 April 1642 : "Jonathan Hatch, by the
consent of the Court, is appoynted to dwell wth mr Steephen Hopkins, & the
said Mr Hopkins to haue a speciall care of him." Hatch had been sentenced
to be whipped for "lying in the same bed" with his sister
William Chase mortgaged his house and land in
7 November 1643 :
"William Hanbury complns agst Abraham Pearse, in an action of trespas vpon
the case, to the dam of x li. the jury fynd for the deffent, & the charges
of the Court.
"Abraham Pearse complns agst Wm Hanbury, in an action of trespas, for xviii
bushells of corne. The jury fynd for the pltiff xiv-teene bushells of Indian
corne, & charges of the Court. Judgmt granted.
"Abraham Pearse complns agst Mr Wm Hanbury, in an action of assault &
battery. the jury find for the pltiff iii s iiii d, and charges of the Court…
"The Juries Names.
"Mr Stephen Hopkins, Xpofer Waddesworth, Josias Winslowe…"(55)
"The last Will and Testament of Mr.
Stephen Hopkins exhibited upon the Oathes of mr Willm Bradford and Captaine
Miles Standish at the generall Court holden at
The sixt of June 1644 I Stephen Hopkins of
Plymouth in New England being weake yet in good and prfect memory blessed be
God yet considering the fraile estate of all men I do ordaine and make this to
be my last will and testament in manner and forme following and first I do
committ my body to the earth from whence it was taken, and my soule to the Lord
who gave it, my body to b eburyed as neare as convenyently may be to my wyfe
Deceased And first my will is that out of my whole estate my funerall expences
be discharged secondly that out of the remayneing part of my said estate that
all my lawfull Debts be payd thirdly I do bequeath by this my will to my sonn
Giles Hopkins my great Bull wch is now in the hands of Mris Warren. Also I do
give to Stephen Hopkins my sonn Giles his sonne twenty shillings in Mris
Warrens hands for the hire of the said Bull Also I give and bequeath to my
daughter Constanc Snow the wyfe of Nicholas Snow my mare also I give unto my
daughter Deborah Hopkins the brodhorned black cowe and her calf and half the
Cowe called Motley Also I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter Damaris
Hopkins the Cowe called Damaris heiffer and the white faced calf and half the cowe
called Mottley Also I give to my daughter Ruth the Cowe called Red Cole and her
calfe and a Bull at Yarmouth wch is in the keepeing of Giles Hopkins wch is an
yeare and advantage old and half the curld Cowe Also I give and bequeath to my
daughter Elizabeth the Cowe called Smykins and her calf and thother half of the
Curld Cowe wth Ruth and an yearelinge heiffer wth out a tayle in the keeping of
Gyles Hopkins at Yarmouth Also I do give and bequeath unto my foure daughters
that is to say Deborah Hopkins Damaris Hopkins Ruth Hopkins and Elizabeth
Hopkins all the mooveable goods the wch do belong to my house as linnen wollen
beds bedcloathes pott kettles pewter or whatsoevr are moveable belonging to my
said house of what kynd soever and not named by their prticular names all wch
said mooveables to be equally devided amongst my said daughters foure silver
spoones that is to say to eich of them one, And in case any of my said
daughters should be taken away by death before they be marryed that then the
part of their division to be equally devided amongst the Survivors. I do also
by this my will make Caleb Hopkins my sonn and heire apparent giveing and
bequeathing unto my said sonn aforesaid all my Right title and interrest to my
house and lands at Plymouth wth all the Right title and interrest wch doth
might or of Right doth or may hereafter belong unto mee, as also I give unto my
saide heire all such land wch of Right is Rightly due unto me and not at prsent
in my reall possession wch belongs unto me by right of my first comeing into
this land or by any other due Right, as by such freedome or otherwise giveing
unto my said heire my full & whole and entire Right in all divisions
allottments appoyntments or distributions whatsoever to all or any pt of the
said lande at any tyme or tymes so to be disposed Also I do give moreover unto
my foresaid heire one paire or yooke of oxen and the hyer of them wch are in
the hands of Richard Church as may appeare by bill under his hand Also I do
give unto my said heire Caleb Hopkins all my debts wch are now oweing unto me,
or at the day of my death may be oweing unto mee either by booke bill or bills
or any other way rightfully due unto mee ffurthermore my will is that my
daughters aforesaid shall have free recourse to my house in Plymouth upon any
occation there to abide and remayne for such tyme as any of them shall thinke
meete and convenyent & they single persons And for the faythfull prformance
of this my will I do make and ordayne my aforesaid sonn and heire Caleb Hopkins
my true and lawfull Executor ffurther I do by this my will appoynt and make my
said sonn and Captaine Miles Standish joyntly supervisors of this my will
according to the true meaneing of the same that is to say that my Executor
& supervisor shall make the severall divisions parts or porcons legacies or
whatsoever doth appertaine to the fullfilling of this my will It is also my
will that my Executr & Supervisor shall advise devise and dispose by the
best wayes & meanes they cann for the disposeing in marriage or other wise
for the best advancnt of the estate of the forenamed Deborah Damaris Ruth and
Elizabeth Hopkins Thus trusting in the Lord my will shalbe truly prformed
according to the true meaneing of the same I committ the whole Disposeing
hereof to the Lord that hee may direct you herein
June 6th 1644
Witnesses hereof By me Steven Hopkins
Myles Standish
William Bradford"
"The inventory of the goods of Stephen
Hopkins, deceased 1644
£ s d
Inpris one brod horne Cowe
05 10 00
it Mottlis Cowe
05 10 00
it Damaris heifer 05 00 00
it Red Cowe 05 05 00
it Curld Cowe 05
05 00
it Symkins Cowe 05
00 00
it brod Hornes calf 00 12 00
it white faced calf 00
15 00
it Cooles calf 00
14 00
it Symkins calfe 00 12
00
it a great Bull 08
00 00
it a mare 06
00 00
it a yeong bull 01
05 00
it a yearling heiffer wthout a tayle 01 05 00
it a yok of oxen 15
00 00
it 2 pigges 00
04 00
it poultry 00
10 00
it a bed & boulster & one pillow 03 10
00
it another bed & boulster & pillow 03 10 00
it another feather bed & pillow 03
00 00
it another bed & boulster wth an old straw bed 02 00 00
it 3 white blankets 01
00 00
it one covering 00
12 00
it one covring 00
04 00
it a yellow Rugg 00
08 00
it a greene Rugg 00
06 00
it 2 checkr blanketts 00
14 00
it curtaines and vallence 00
10 00
it a scarfe 00 06 00
it a pair of flanell sheets 00
07 00
it one old paire of sheets 00
05 00
it one paire of sheets 00
08 00
it 3 sheets 00
10 00
it 4 pillow beares 00
12 00
it 5 napkins 00
03 06
it 1 diapr napkins 00
02 06
it 3 table clothes 00 04
00
it 4 dymothy caps 00
02 00
it 2 white capps 00
03 00
it 2 wrought caps 00
02 06
it 2 shirts 00
12 00
86 06 06
it two paire of shooes 00 06 00
it prs of cotton stockings 00
02 06
it 4 spoones 01 08 00
it in money 00
00 06
it claspes 00
00 02
it a pair of garters 00
00 04
it 2 Ruffe 00
07 00
it a paire of drawers 00
00 04
it a moheire petticote 01
15 00
it a petticote of phillip & cheny 01
00 00
it a grogorm coate 01
00 00
it a prpetuam coate 01
00 00
it a cloth coate 01
00 00
it a cloake 01
10 00
it a gray cloak 01
10 00
it a suit of cloth 00
08 00
it a pair of breeches 00
03 00
it an old coate & jerkine 00
10 00
it a muffe 00
06 00
it 3 cusheons & a pair of breeches 00
04 00
it a chest 00
08 00
it a chest 00
06 00
it a case & bottel & box 00
03 00
it a hogshead 00 01 00
it an old warmeing pann 00
02 00
it a frying pann 00
01 00
it 6 porringers 00
05 00
it 2 porringers 00
01 00
it 4 wine measures 00
06 00
it 3 quart potts 00
06 00
it chamber potts 00
02 00
it 2 laten candlesticks 00 01 00
it 1 puter candlestick 00
01 00
it a pestell & morter 00
03 06
it a beere bowle & wine cup 00 01 06
it a beaker 00
00 06
it a salt seller 00
01 00
it 2 funnells 00
01 00
it 2 basens 00
06 00
it a great dish 00 05 00
it 6 dishes 00
14 00
it a little dish 00
00 02
it earthen potts 00
00 06
it an Iron pott 00
05 00
it a bras pott 00
08 00
it a cast skellet 00
05 00
it a smale skellet 00
01 06
it a great kettle 01
02 00
it a lesse kettle 00
06 00
it a smaler ketle 00
04 00
it another kettle 00
07 00
it 5 spoones 00
01 00
it 1 dossen & half trenchers 00
01 00
it two graters 2s 00 02 00
it a shooeing horne 00
00 01
it a paire of bellowes 00
01 00
it 4 paire of old pothookes 00
03 00
it a fireshovell & tongs 00
04 00
it two spitts 00
03 06
it 3 paire of links 00
07 06
it a peece of a bar of Iron 00
01 06
it a gridiron 00
01 00
it 9 trayes 00
09 00
it a churne
00 04 00
it 2 chees vtts 00
01 00
it a old Cullender 00
00 02
it 2 payles 00
01 04
it wodden Mo 00 01 06
it 2 wheeles 00
07 00
it 2 chaires 00
08 00
it 2 stooles 00
02 00
it latten pans 00 00 06
it a tubb & forme 00
12 00
it a cheane 00
06 00
it a sive 00
00 06
it old chest 00 02 00
it a bakeing Tub 00
02 00
it old tubbs 00
01 00
it feathers 00
03 00
it 3 hoopes of Iron 00
01 06
it 1 sawe 00
01 06
it a cheese rack 00
04 00
it 4 skins 00
03 00
it an axe 00
01 06
it a prcell hemp 00 02 06
it scales and waights 00
05 00
it Debts 16
05 00
it Divers bookes 00 12 00
it more in Debts 01
01 00
it a hatt 00
01 00
The inventory amounted to £128/16/7.
20 August 1644 :
"Captaine Miles Standish & Mr Willm
29 June 1652 : "The Court haue agreed
with Captaine Standish about the house that was Mr Hopkinses, in which hee is
to see that a convenient place bee made to keepe the common stocke of powder
and shott, and the countrie to make vse thereof as they shall haue occation for
the meetings of the comitties & juryes and oter such like vses; and it is
to bee repaired att the countryes charge, provided, that when the owners doe
make vse thereof, they are to make satisfaction for the repairing
thereof."(57)
"And seeing it hath pleased Him to give
me [William Bradford] to see thirty years completed since these beginnings, and
that the great works of His providence are to be observed, I have thought it not
unworthy my pains to take a view of the decreasings and increasings of these
persons and such changes as hath passed over them and theirs in this thirty
years…
"Mr Hopkins and his wife are now both dead, but they lived above twenty
years in this place and had one son and four daughters born here. Their son
became a seaman and died at Barbadoes, one daughter died here and two are
married; one of them hath two children, and one is yet to marry. So their
increase which still survive are five. But his son Giles is married and hath
four children.
"His daughter
Steeple-crowned hat owned by Constance Hopkins-
c.1615-1640
Issue-
· I. Elizabeth- bpt. 13 Mar. 1604 Hursley, Hampshire, probably d.s.p. before 1620
· II.
· 3III. GILES-
bpt. 30 Jan. 1607/8 Hursley, Hampshire, m. 9 Oct. 1639 CATHERINE WHELDEN,
will 19 Jan. 1682/3
· III. Damaris- b.c.1618/9, d.s.p. after May
1627
· IV. Oceanus- b. on board the "Mayflower"
between 6 Sept. and 11 Nov. 1620, d.s.p. before May 1627
· V. Caleb- b. before 6 June 1623
· VI. Deborah-b.c.1625
· VII. Damaris- b. after 1627
· VIII. Ruth- d.s.p. before 1 Oct. 1659
· IX.
Ref:
(1) "A
True Reportory of the Wracke and Redemption of Sir Thomas Gates, Knight: Upon
and from the Islands of the Bermudas; his Coming to Virginia and the Estate of
the Colony Then and After under the Government of the Lord de la Warr"-
William Strachey
(2) Hampshire Record Office- 1613AD/046
(3) William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed. Samuel
Eliot Morison (New York : Knopf, 1991), p. 441-3
(4) William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647, ed.
Samuel Eliot Morison (New York : Knopf, 1991), p. 75-76.
(5) Mourt's Relation, ed. Jordan D. Fiore (Plymouth, Mass.
:Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1985), p. 27-28.
(6) William Bradford, Of
(7) Mourt's Relation, ed. Jordan D. Fiore (Plymouth, Mass.
:Plymouth Rock Foundation, 1985), p. 44.
(8) William Bradford, Of
(9) Ibid
(10) William Bradford, Of
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 2, p. 8.
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 14-15
(20) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 19
(21) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 1, p. 60
(22) Plymouth Colony Records-Vol. 1, p. 19-20
(23) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 32
(24) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 3
(25) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 31
(26) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 2, p. 87
(27) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 36
(28) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 37-38
(29) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 39-41
(30) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 52
(31) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 54
(32) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 55-57
(33) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 41
(34) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 42
(35) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 46
(36) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 75
(37) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 76
(38) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 60-62
(39) Hopkins of the Mayflower-Hodges, Margaret- New
York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1972
(40) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 58-60
(41) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 67
(42) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 68
(43) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 7, p. 6-7
(44) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 3, p. 148-151
(45) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 111-113
(46) Plymouth Colony records- Vol. 1, p. 86-87
(47) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 93
(48) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 97
(49) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 137
(50) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 154
(51) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 166
(52) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 2, p. 31
(53) Plymouth Colony Records-Vol. 7, p. 27
(54) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 2, p. 38
(55) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 7, p. 35-36
(56) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 2, p. 75
(57) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 3, p. 14
(58) William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation 1620-1647-
ed. Samuel Eliot Morison (New York : Knopf, 1991), p. 443-445.
"Stephen and Giles Hopkins-
Mayflower Passengers"- James W. Hawes, Yarmouthport, 1915, pp.1-16
3I. GILES (STEPHEN 1, STEPHEN 2)
m. 9 Oct. 1639
will 19 Jan. 1682/3-16 Apr. 1690
Giles arrived in the "Mayflower"
with his family in 1620. “At a publicque court held the 22th of May it was
concluded by the whole Companie, that the cattell wch were the Companies, to
wit, the
7 June 1637 : “It is also
enacted by the Court, that there shalbe thirty psons sent for land service, and
as many others as shalbe sufficient to mannage the barque. “Leiftennant William
Holmes is elected to goe leader of the said company. “Mr Thomas Prence is also
elected by lott to be for the counsell of warr, and to goe forth with them…
“the names of the Souldiers that willingly offer themselues to goe vpon the sd
Service, with Mr Prince & the Leiftent. “Voluntaries. Thomas Clarke, Georg
Soule, Richard Church, Samuell Jenney … John Jenkins, Jacob Cooke, Giles
Hopkins, John Phillips, Thomas Goarton.”(2)
He moved to
5 March 1638 : “Mr Nicholas
Sympkins, Heugh Tilly, and Giles Hopkins were deposed to the last will and
testament of Peter Werden, thelder, of
1642: “Bradford Govr: A Deed Appointed to bee
Recorded Novo Die Maij Ann: 1642
“Witnesseth these prsents that I Gyles hopkines of the Towne of yarmouth in the
Collonie of New Plymouth planter have barganed and sold and by these prsents
Doe bargan and sell unto andrew hallet Junir: of the same towne planter ten
acres of upland bee it more or lesse lying and being in west field between the
lands of Nicolas Simpkines on the northeast side and the lands of Robert Dennis
on the southwest side with two acres of meddoe therunto Adjoyning att the
nortwest end bee it more or lesse for and in consideration of two acres of
upland and four acres of meddow bee itt more or lesse lying and being in the
prime field in a furlong there called by the Name of Jack Daw furlong late in
the tenure and possession of yelverton Crow of yarmouth aforsaid and two steer
calves to mee in hand paied att the sealling of these prsents and eighteen
bushells of good and marchantable Indian Corne to bee paied, ten bushels therof
att in or upon the last Day of November now next ensewing the Day of the Date
heerof and the other eight bushells att in and upon the last Day of November
thence next enswing to have and to hold the said ten acres of upland and two
acres of meddow with theire Appurtenances profitts and pquisites unto him the
said Andrew hallet his heires Exequitors and assignes forever In Witness wherof
I have heer to these prsents sett my hand and Seale Dated the Day and year
first above written; the signe and seale of Gyles Hopkines
“Signed Sealled and Delivered in the prsence of anthony Thacher Elijah
thacher”(4)
7 March 1642 : “Constables for eich towne,
& Surveyrs of the Wayes … Yarmouth, Emanuell White, const, Willm Lumpkin,
grand jur, Gyles Hopkins, Andrew Hellot, Jun, surveyrs…”(5)
3 May 1642 : “Whereas Mr Gray hath by Mr
Paddy comenced a suite against Walter Devell for xiiij bushells of corne oweing
by him to Mr Hedg, of Yarmouth, and ix bushells of corne oweing by him to Gyles
Hopkins, of the same, the Court doth order, that the said Walter Deuell shall
forthwth pay fiue bushells of corne either to Mr Paddy at Plym, or to Mr Gray
at the stage, and wthin xxjtie dayes now next ensuing deliu the remaynder of
the said xxiij bushels either to the said Mr Paddy or Mr Gray, and pay the
damnage & charges of sending it to Yarmouth, or els execucon is graunted.”
The court awarded £3/17/2 in damages.(6)
28 October 1644 : “Memorand. That Caleb
Hopkins, sonn and heire vnto Mr Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth, deceased hath
freely and absolutely giuen graunted enfeoffed and confirmed vnto Gyles Hopkins
of Yarmouth Planter one hundred acrees of those lands taken up for the
Purchasors of Satuckquett wch said lands do acrue vnto the said Steephen as a
Purchasor To haue and to hold the said hundred acrees of lands with all and
singuler thapprtencs therevnto belonging vnto the said Gyles Hopkins his heires
and Assignes foreuer to the onely pper vse and behoofe of him the said Giles
Hopkins his heires and Assignes foreur.”(7)
He took the oath of fidelity at
He was named one of the surveyors of highways
for Nauset on 4 June 1650:
“Survayors for the Hiewayes … Nauset, Edward Banges, Gyels Hopkins.”(8)
3 October 1654 : “Gyles
Hopkins complained against Mr Willam Leuerich, in an action of defamacion, to
the damnage of fifty pound.
The jury find for the plaintife twenty pounds, and the charges of the Court,
which comes to -
s d
It, to the jury, 06: 06
It, to the clarke, 3: 00
It, to the
It, to the cunstable of
Judgment was graunted by the Court vnto the
plaintife, according to the verdicte.”(9)
13 February 1659: “The 13th of ffebruary 1659
“Memorand: That Andrew Ringe of the Towne of Plymouth in the Jurisdiction of
New Plymouth in New England in America: Planter Doth acknowlidge that for and
in Consideration of a valluable sume to him alreddy payed by William Clarke of
the Towne of Duxburrow in the Jurisdiction aforsaid planter; hee hath freely
and absolutely with the Consent of Deborah his wife bargained allianated and
sould enfeofed and Confeirmed; and Doth by these prsents bargaine sell enfeofe
and Confeirme unto the said Willam Clarke a Certaine pcell of mersh meddow
lying and being att the end of the salt house beach next Greens harbour being
bounded with two Creekes; on each side one; the said meddow lying betwixt a
pcell of mersh which was sometimes the mersh of mistris Jenings on the one
side; and apcell of meddow now in the possession of Gorge Soule on the other
side; Containing by estimation three acres or therabouts bee it more or lesse
which was somtimes the mersh meddow of Gyles hopkins and by him sold to Thomas
Clarke and by him sold to Andrew Ringe and by him now sold to Willam Clarke
abovesaid…”(10)
3 June 1662 : “Surveyors of the Highwaies.
5 June 1666 : “The Court have graunted vnto
Gyles Hopkins, the widdow Mayo, of Eastham, and Jonathan Sparrow a certain
psell of land neare Eastham, being a smale necke of land called Sampsons Necke,
and the wast land lying between the head of the fresh water pond and the
westerly bounds of the widdowe Mayoes land, and soe downe to the cove.”
5 June 1667 : “In reference vnto the graunt
of land graunted vnto Gyles Hopkins, Jonathan Sparrow, and the widdow Mayo, the
Court haue ordered Leiftenant Freeman either to purchase it or hier it for them
as occation shall require, as hee shall see meet.”(12)
Giles sold lot No. 8 in what is now West
Brewster, east of Quivet, 9 Nov. 1666 to John Wing of
5 March 1667 : “Wee, whose
names are vnderwritten, being impanneled upon a jury, this first day of
January, 1667, to serch and inquire, according to that measure of wisdome and
discretion God hath giuen vs, concerning a child about five or six yeares old,
which was kept by John Smalley, Senir, of Eastham, being found dead in the
woods, about six or seauen miles from the house of John Smalley abouesaid, wee
doe all judge, that it cam by his death by straying away, lost its right path
to gitt home againe, and was killed by the cold.
“Benjamine Higgens, William Sutton, Samuell Doten, Elias White, Edmond Foard,
Benjamine Spiller, Robert Wixam, Gyles Hopkins, Gorge Crispe, William Twining,
Richard Knowles, John Younge.”(13)
5 June 1671 : “Surveyors of the Highwaies.
21 August 1672: "To all Christian people
to whom these presents writing shall come Pompmo Sachem and Simon his son
Indians of Potonumacott in the Collonie of New Plymouth in New England sends
Greeting;
Know yee that the said Pompmo Sachem and Simon his son for and in Consideration
of the sume of fifteen pounds, to them in hand payed by Gyles Hopkins Jonathan
Sparrow and Thomas Mayo; The Receipt wherof the said Pompmo sachem; and Symone
his son doe heerby acknowlidg, and therof doth Clearly acquitt and discharge
the said Gyles Hopkins JOnathan Sparrow and Thomas Mayo, theire heires and
assignes for ever hath given Graunted bargained and sold unto the said Gyles
Hopkins Jonathan Sparrow and Thomas Mayo theire heires and assignes; all our
persell of Land lying and being between two rivers or coves Caled by the Name
of Weesquamscutt; founding between the two said rivers or coves Round as the
salt water goeth, att the head by a marked Red oake tree by Pottanumaquott
river; and soe Runing Northwest to a Red oake tree marked by the pondsyde by a
Necke of Swamp; soe Runing North westerly over a pond and thorough a swamp;
unto two trees Marked upon a Range between the said Swamp and the head of
Sisekecansett salt water Pond, Together with all and singulare its
appurtenances; To have and to hold, all and singulare the before Granted and
sold Premise, Together with theire appurtenances unto them the said Gyles
Hopkins Jonathan Sparrow and Thomas Mayo theire heires and assignes for ever;
and the said Pompmo Sachem and Symon his son att the time of the deliveryheer
of, doe declare that they are the Right and lawfull owners of the afore
bargained premises, and that they the Said Pompmo Sachem and Symon his son
shall and will against any person or persons whatsoever warrant and for ever
defend them the said Gyles Hopkins Jonathan Sparrow and Thomas Mayo theire
heires and assignes for ever In Witnes wheerof they have heerunto sett theire
hands and seales the twentyfirst day of august one Thousand six hundred
seaventy and two;
The marke of Pompmo Sachem and a seale
The mark of Symon and a seale
Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us John ffreeman John Juder;
august the twenty first 1672 appeered before mee, Pompmo Sachem and Symon his
son; and owned the above written to be theire acte and deed
John ffreeman Assistant."(15)
22 October 1686 : “Will of Robert Wixam of
Eastham … to son Barnabas Wixam the rest of the thirty acres above the highway,
all meadow and marsh in Great Namaskaket by the beach, and meadow at Rock
Harbor between Daniel Cole and Gyles Hopkins…”(16)
"To all Christian people to whome these
presents shall com know ye that I Giles Hopkins of Eastham being sick and weak
of Body and yet of perfit memory do declare this as my Last will and Testament
on this ninteenth day of January in ye year of our Lord 1682
I bequeath my Body to ye grave in decent
burial when this Temporal Life of mine shall have an end and my soul to god
that gave it in hopes of a blessed Resurection at ye Last day
2ly my will is that my son Stephen Hopkins
shall possess and Injoy all my Upland and meadow Lying and being at Satuckit
that is to say all my upland and meadow on ye southerly side of ye bounds of ye
Towne of eastham that is to say all my Right and title Intrest and claime to
all those Lands from ye head of Namescakit to ye southermost part of ye long
pond where mannomoyet cart way goes over to Satuckit and from thence to ye head
of manomoyet river and so as our Line shall run over to ye south sea all ye
Lands between thos bounds and ye westermost bounds of ye purchesers at satuckit
river all these Lands I give Unto my son Stephen Hopkins and to his heirs
forever: and half my stock of cattill for and in consideration of ye above sd
Land and half stock of cattel my will is that after my decease my son Stephen
Hopkins shall take ye care and oversight and maintaine my son William Hopkins
during his natural Life in a comfortable decent manner.
3ly my will is that all my Lands at Palmet
both purchesed and unpurchesed both meadows and upland and all my Lands at
Pochet and my third part of Samsons neck and what other Lands shall fall unto
me as a purcheser from ye fore mentioned Bounds of my son Stephen Hopkinses
Lands and potanomacot all these fore specified Lands I give unto my sons Caleb
and Joshua Hopkins to be equaly devided between them: further my will is that
if either of my sons Joshua or Caleb Hopkins dye having no Issew that then
these Lands which I have given them to be equally devided between them fall to
him that surviveth.
4ly. I give unto my wife Catorne Hopkins and
to my son William Hopkins the improvment of too acres of meadow Lying at ye
head of Rock Harbor during my wifes Life and ye one half of that too acres I
give Unto my son william during his Life and after ye decease of and after ye
decease of my wife and son william I do give this above sd too acres of meadow
to my son Joshua Hopkins and his heirs forever: as also after my decease I give
Unto my son Joshua Hopkins a parcel of meadow Lying at ye mouth of Rock Harbor
according to ye bounds thereof specified in ye Towne Records of Lands: it I
give unto my son Caleb Hopkins a parcel of meadow Lying at Little Nameskeket
according to ye bounds thereof specified in ye Towne Book of Records of Lands.
It. I give unto my wife my now dwelling House
and halfe my Land and halfe my orchard that is by my house: by Land I mean half
my Land that is about my house both fenced and Unfenced during my wifes natural
Life, and then ye above sd housing and Lands to fall unto my son Joshua
Hopkins; the other half of my Land and orchard I give to my son Joshua Hopkins
after my death that is to say ye other half of my Lands Liying about my house.
It. I give unto my son Caleb Hopkins one pair
of plow Irons.
It. I give Unto my son Joshua Hopkins one payer of plow Irons.
It. I give Unto my son Joshua Hopkins my carte and wheels.
It. I give unto my wife ye other half of my stock and moveables I say to my
wife and my son William or what parse of ye moveables my wife shall see cause
to bestow on my son William Hopkins.
It. I do appoint my son Stephen Hopkins to be my true and Lawful executor of
this my Last will and testament to pay what is payable and Receive what is due.
And to ye truth and verity hereof I have
hereunto sett my hand and seal ye day and year above written.
Signed and sealed
in presence of us, ye mark of Giles Hopkins
Jonathan Sparrow.
Samuel Knowles.
Jonathan Sparrow and Samuel Knowles witnesses
to this will made oath in Court ye: 16 th: of April 1690 that they saw ye above
sd Giles Hopkins signe seal and declare this to be his Last will and Testament.
Attest Joseph Lothrop. Clerk.
I ye above sd Giles Hopkins do declare where
as by ye providence of God my Life has been prolonged unto me and by Reason of
age and disabillity of Body Lam Incapatiated to provide for my owne support and
my wifes, my will further is that my son Stephen Hopkins from this time and
forward shall possess and Injoy all my stock and moveable estate provided he
take effectual care for mine and my wifes Comfortable Support during our
natural Lives witness my hand and seal this fifth day of march 1688/9.
Witness Mark Snow Giles Hopkins
Jonath Sparrow
The within mentioned Mark Snow and Jonathan
Sparrow made oath in Court April ye: 16 : 1690 that they saw Giles Hopkins
within mentioned signe seal and declare ye latter part of this will within
mentioned to be his Last will and Testament. Attest. Joseph Lothrop, Clerk.
Duly Compared with the original and entered
April ye: 22 : 1690. Attest. Joseph Lothrop, Recorder. "(17)
Issue-
· II. Stephen- b. Sept. 1642
· III. John- b. 1643, d.s.p.
· IV. Abigail- b. Oct. 1644, m. 23 May 1667
Eastham, William Myrick
· V. Deborah- b. June 1648, m. 27 July 1668
Eastham, Josiah Cooke
· VI. Caleb- b. Jan. 1650/1, m. Mary Williams,
d. before 22 May 1728
· 4VII. RUTH- b.
June 1653, m. SAMUEL (4) MAYO (b.12
Oct. 1655 Eastham, d. 29 Oct. 1738 Eastham)
· VIII. Joshua- b. June 1657, m. 26 May 1681
Mary Cole (d. 1 Mar. 1733/4), d.c.1738
· IX. William- b. 9 Jan. 1660/1
· X. Elizabeth- b. Nov. 1664, d.s.p.
Ref:
(1)
(2) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 60-61
(3) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 1, p. 117
(4) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 10, p. 140
(5) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 2, p. 53
(6) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 7, p. 29-30
(7) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 12, p. 104
(8) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 2, p. 155
(9) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 7, p. 71-72
(10) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 14, p. 142-143
(11) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 4, p. 15
(12) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 4, pp. 129, 152
(13) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 4, p. 177
(14) Plymouth Colony Records- Vol. 5, p. 57-58
(15) Indian Deeds: Land Transactions in Plymouth Colony,
1620-1691- Jeremy Dupertuis Bangs- Boston- New England Historic Genealogical
Society, 2002, pp. 443-444
(16) Mayflower Descendant- Vol. 2, p. 177
(17) Barnstable County Probate- Vol. I, p. 32
"Stephen and Giles Hopkins-
Mayflower Passengers"- James W. Hawes, Yarmouthport, 1915, pp.16-9
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