Family register

Stephen Hopkins

1581–1644confirmed

Mayflower passenger

Stephen Hopkins (1581 – 1644) was born in Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England to John Hopkins and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins. He married Mary (Kent) Hopkins and Elizabeth (Fisher) Hopkins. He had 10 children, including Elizabeth Hopkins, Constance Hopkins and Giles Hopkins. He died in 1644, in Plymouth, Plymouth Colony.

Early life

Stephen Hopkins was baptized on 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire.^[1][3] The parish record describes him as "Stephen the son of John Hopkins the last of Aprill".^[3] He was the son of John Hopkins and Elizabeth (Williams) Hopkins.^[47]

Marriage and family

According to Wikipedia, Mary Kent is believed to have been his first wife and they married around 1602 or before.^[39] Wikipedia lists three children of Stephen and Mary Hopkins baptized at Hursley, Hampshire: Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.^[35][40][42] He married secondly Elizabeth Fisher at St Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, London.^[34][43] One account gives the marriage as February 1618, while others give 19 February 1617/8.^[2][34][43] According to Wikipedia, the children of Stephen and Elizabeth Hopkins were two daughters named Damaris, as well as Oceanus, Caleb, Deborah, Ruth and Elizabeth.^[36]

Sea Venture

He served as the minister's clerk aboard the Sea Venture.^[5] In January 1609/10 he organized a mutiny on Bermuda, was tried by a martial court and sentenced to death, but was pardoned.^[5]

Mayflower voyage

He sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 with his wife Elizabeth and children.^[1] He was among the 41 signers of the Mayflower Compact on 11 November 1620.^[7] On 15 November 1620 he was one of three senior advisers on the first armed exploring expedition at Cape Cod.^[11] During the Cape Cod exploration he identified a Native American deer snare, which was taken to show his prior knowledge of the country from his earlier Virginia years.^[6] He was one of ten men on the 6 December 1620 shallop expedition to find Plymouth harbor.^[8]

Life in Plymouth

In March 1621 he was sent with the colony's captain across the brook at Plymouth to meet the first Native visitors.^[12] On 18 June 1621 the first duel in New England was fought between two of his servants; both were wounded and were sentenced to be tied head and feet together for twenty-four hours.^[16] In the 1623 division of land he received six acres, indicating a household of five people at that time.^[15] In the Division of Cattle of 22 May 1627 the seventh lot fell to him and his household, which included his wife Elizabeth and his children Giles, Caleb and Deborah.^[17] He was listed among the freemen of the Incorporation of Plymouth in 1633 and was chosen to the Council that year.^[14] On 1 July 1633 the Court appointed him to a committee to divide the meadow ground in the bay equally among the purchasers.^[25] In June 1636, while serving as Assistant to the Governor, he was convicted of battery and fined five pounds to the King and forty shillings to the plaintiff.^[19] He served on a Plymouth Colony jury in 1637.^[26] About 1638 he was presented in court for selling beer at excessive rates and for selling wine at excessive rates, "to the oppressing & impoverishing of the colony".^[13]

Later life, death and burial

He made his will at Plymouth on 6 June 1644, and his inventory was taken on 17 July 1644.^[20][21] He died at Plymouth in 1644 between those two dates.^[20][21] In the will he directed that his body be buried as near as conveniently might be to his deceased wife.^[23] The will was proved on the testimony of two men at a General Court at Plymouth on 20 August 1644.^[27]

Will and estate

In the will he named his son Caleb as son and heir apparent, giving him all his right, title and interest in his house and lands at Plymouth, and made him executor and joint supervisor of the estate.^[28] A Plymouth Colony deed memorandum names Caleb Hopkins as "sonn and heire" of Stephen Hopkins of Plymouth, deceased.^[22] He bequeathed to his daughter Constance "my mare".^[29] He bequeathed to his son Giles "my great Bull" then in the hands of another, and twenty shillings to a grandson, the son of Giles.^[30] He bequeathed to his four unmarried daughters Deborah, Damaris, Ruth and Elizabeth all the movable goods belonging to his house, to be divided equally, one silver spoon each, and free recourse to his house in Plymouth.^[32] The inventory taken on 17 July 1644 included a surgeon's chest valued at £5, two fowling pieces and a musket, divers books, six named cows with calves, a great bull, a mare and extensive household goods.^[33] The same record states that one daughter died in Plymouth and two were married.^[31]

Written by research agents from the sources listed below; every sentence cites them.

Life and records

Son of John Hopkins and Elizabeth Williams. Sea Venture castaway (Bermuda, 1609) and in Jamestown 1610-1614. Burial place unknown.

Stephen Hopkins

Early life

Marriage and family

Sea Venture

Mayflower voyage

Life in Plymouth

Later life, death and burial

Will and estate

Life and records

Family

Parents

Spouses

Children

Sources