Stephen HOPKINS

  General Notes:

On May 15, 1609 the ship Sea Venture headed for Jamestown but was marooned on an island in Burmuda for several years following a hurricane. After some time on the islands, a certain portion of the party became restless. They desired to continue the voyage in some manner. The restless souls had a meeting, but it was marked with discord. Stephen Hopkins was a ringleader and outspoken in his opinion. Sir George Summers, leader of the expedition, could not overlook the matter. He ordered the arrest of the leaders and Stephen was tried and found guilty of rebellion. Stephen found himself faced with possible execution for insubordination. He soon petitioned for a pardon and upn the plea of the rest of the party, the Governor pardoned him. He continued the voyage to Virginia. After spendin some time in the colonies, Stephen returned to England between 1613-1617.

Mayflower passenger. There were 102 passengers that embarked on the Mayflower, including three pregnant women. The Mayflower left Plymouth, England on 6 September 1620, and sighted land on 9 November 1620. Landfall was made on 11 November 1620.

Will of Stephen Hopkins
6 June 1644

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 Plymouth the xxth of August Anno dm 1644 as it followeth in these wordes vizt.
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 be buryed 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 Stephen Hopkins
Myles Standish
William Bradford

Leon Clark Hill's "History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters": Mr Hopkins and his wife are now both dead but they lived above 20 yeas in this plac, and had one sone and 4 daughters borne here. Ther sone became a seaman, & dyed at Barbadoes, one doughter dyed here, and 2 are married. One of them hath 2 children, and one is yet to mary. So their increase which still survive are 5. But his sone Gile is maried, and hath 4 children. His dougter Constanta is maried and hath 12 children. All of them living, and one of them maried.

Leon Clark Hill's "History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters": Edward Doty & Edward Litster, the servants of Mr Hopkins. Litster after he was at liberty, went to Virginia & ther dyed. Mr Edward Doty by a second wife hath 7 children, both he and they are living.

Leon Clark Hill's "History and Genealogy of the Mayflower Planters": It appears that Mr Hopkins had a number if interests including that of bing proprietor of the general store and tavern, and being of a fearless and rather testy disposition, he became involved in a number of fist fights and court actions. These may have worried Mrs Hopkins, but Stephen seems to have enjoyed them. In his home and church life Stephen was exemplary, and he and Mrs Hopkins brought up a fine family, and lived to see many grandchildren.

Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-33 :
ORIGIN: London
MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower
FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth
OCCUPATION: Tanner and merchant.
FREEMAN: In the "1633" list of Plymouth freemen Stephen Hopkins is near the head of the list, included among the assistants. In list of Plymouth Colony freemen, 7 March 1636/7 (as "Steephen Hopkins, gen."). In the Plymouth section of the 1639 Plymouth Colony list of freemen (as "Mr. Steephen Hopkins," annotated "dead").
EDUCATION: He signed his will. The inventory included "diverse books" valued at 12s.
OFFICES: Assistant, 1633-36.
Volunteered for service in the Pequot War, 1637.
ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth division of land "Steven Hobkins" received six acres as a passenger on the Mayflower. In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle Stephen Hopkins, his wife Elizabeth Hopkins, Gyles Hopkins, Caleb Hopkins and Deborah Hopkins are the first five persons in the seventh company, and Damaris Hopkins is the thirteenth person in the eighth company.
In the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1634 Stephen Hopkins was assessed £1 7s., and in the list of 27 March 1634 £1 10s. "Steven Hopkins" was one of the Purchasers.
On 1 July 1633 "Mr. Hopkins" was ordered to mow where he had mowed the year before, followed by similar orders on 14 March 1635/6 and 20 March 1636/7.
On 5 February 1637/8 "Mr. Stephen Hopkins requesteth a grant of lands towards the Six Mile Brook".
On 7 August 1638 "[l]iberty is granted to Mr. Steephen Hopkins to erect a house at Mattacheese, and cut hay there this year to winter his cattle, provided that it be not to withdraw him from the town of Plymouth".
On 17 July 1637 "Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth, gent.," sold to George Boare of Scituate, yeoman, "all that his messuage, houses, tenements, outhouses lying and being at the Broken Wharfe towards the Eele River together with the six shares of lands thereunto belonging containing six acres". On 30 November 1638 "Mr. Steephen Hopkins" sold to Josias Cooke "all those his six acres of land lying on the south side of the Town Brook of Plymouth". On 8 June 1642 William Chase mortgaged to "Mr. Stephen Hopkins ... all that his house and lands in Yarmouth containing eight acres of upland and six acres more lying at the Stony Cove".
On 1 June 1640 "Mr. Hopkins" was granted twelve acres of meadow.
In his will, dated 6 June 1644 and proved 20 August 1644, Stephen Hopkins "of Plymouth ... weake yet in good and perfect memory" directed that he be buried "as near as conveniently may be to my wife, deceased," and bequeathed to "son Giles Hopkins" the great bull now in the hands of Mrs. Warren; to "Steven Hopkins my son Giles his son" 20s. in Mrs. Warren's hands; to "daughter Constanc[e] Snow, wife of Nicholas ... my mare"; to "daughter Deborah Hopkins" cows; to "daughter Damaris Hopkins" cows; to "daughter Ruth" cows; to "daughter Elizabeth" cows; to "four daughters Deborah, Damaris, Ruth and Elizabeth Hopkins" all the moveable goods; if any of the daughters die, their share to be divided equally among the survivors; to "son Caleb heir apparent" house and lands at Plymouth, one pair of oxen and hire of them and all the debts "now owing unto me"; daughters to have free recourse to use of the house in Plymouth while single; "son Caleb" executor; Caleb and Captain Standish joint supervisors.
The inventory of the estate of Stephen Hopkins was taken 17 July 1644 and was untotalled, with no real estate included.
On 28 October 1644 "Caleb Hopkins son and heir unto Mr. Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth deceased" deeded to "Gyles Hopkins of Yarmouth, planter, one hundred acres of those lands taken up for the Purchasers of Satuckquett which said lands do accrue unto the said Steephen as a Purchaser".
BIRTH: By about 1579 based on estimated date of first marriage.
DEATH: Plymouth between 6 June 1644 (writing of will) and 17 July 1644 (proving of will).
MARRIAGE: (1) By 1604 Mary _____; she was buried at Hursley, Hampshire, 9 May 1613.
(2) St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, London, 19 February 1617/8 Elizabeth Fisher. She died at Plymouth sometime in the early 1640s before her husband, who desired to be buried near her; Bradford indicated that both she and her husband had lived in Plymouth above twenty years.
CHILDREN:
With first wife
i ELIZABETH, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 13 May 1604; living on 12 May 1613; no further record.
ii CONSTANCE, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 11 May 1606; m. Plymouth by 1627 NICHOLAS SNOW (in the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle "Nickolas Snow" and "Constance Snow" were the sixth and seventh persons in the seventh company, which was headed by Stephen Hopkins).
ii GILES, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 30 January 1607/8; m. Plymouth 9 October 1639 Catherine Whelden.
With second wife
iii DAMARIS, b. say 1618; probably died at Plymouth before the birth of her sister of the same name.
iv OCEANUS, b. at sea on the Mayflower voyage between 16 September and 11 November 1620; died by 1627.
v CALEB, b. Plymouth say 1624; "became a seaman & died at Barbadoes" between 1644 and 1651.
vi DEBORAH, b. Plymouth say 1626; m. Plymouth 23 April 1646 as his first wife Andrew Ring, daughter of widow MARY RING .
vii DAMARIS, b. Plymouth say 1628; m. Plymouth shortly after 10 June 1646 Jacob Cooke, son of FRANCIS COOKE . (Since this Damaris was still bearing children in the early 1670s, she cannot be the same as the Damaris who came on the Mayflower.)
viii RUTH, b. Plymouth say 1630; d. after 30 November 1644 and before spring 1651; unm.
ix ELIZABETH, b. Plymouth say 1632; believed to have died by 6 October 1659 when her property was appraised "in case Elizabeth Hopkins do come no more"; unm.

COMMENTS: Caleb Johnson's discovery of the family of Stephen Hopkins in Hursley, Hampshire, eliminates at last the suggestion that Stephen Hopkins was son of Stephen Hopkins, a clothier, of Wortley, Wooten Underedge, Gloucestershire, citing "[t]he Wortley historian"].
Johnson's discovery also strengthens the argument that this was the same Stephen Hopkins who was the minister's clerk on the vessel Sea Venture which met with a hurricane in 1609 while on a voyage to Virginia. One of one hundred and fifty survivors marooned on a Bermuda, he fomented a mutiny and was sentenced to death, but "so penitent he was and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass," that his friends procured a pardon from the Governor.
In his listing of the Mayflower passengers Bradford included "Mr. Stephen Hopkins and Elizabeth his wife, and two children called Giles and Constanta, a daughter, both by a former wife. And two more by this wife called Damaris and Oceanus; the last was born at sea. And two servants called Edward Doty and Edward Lester". Stephen Hopkins signed the Mayflower Compact. In his accounting of this family in 1651 Bradford reported that "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 Constanta is also married and hath twelve children, all of them living, and one of them married".
In June 1621 Steven Hopkins and Edward Winslow were chosen by the governor to approach Massasoit, and Hopkins repeated this duty as emissary frequently thereafter.
Despite his social standing and his early public service, Stephen Hopkins managed to run afoul of the authorities several times in the late 1630s. In June of 1636 while an Assistant, he was fined for battery of John Tisdale, whom he "dangerously wounded". On 2 October 1637 he was fined for allowing drinking on the Lord's day and the playing of "shovell board" and on 2 January 1637/8 he was "presented for suffering excessive drinking in his house". On 5 June 1638 he was "presented for selling beer for 2d. the quart, not worth 1d. a quart"; for this and other similar infractions he was on 4 September 1638 fined £5. He dealt harshly with his pregnant servant Dorothy Temple and only the intercession of John Holmes freed him from being held in contempt of court. In December 1639 he was presented for selling a looking glass for 16d. when a similar glass could be bought in the Bay for 9d.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1992 John D. Austin published an excellent and extensive account of Stephen Hopkins and his descendants as the sixth volume in the Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants.
In 1998 Caleb Johnson published his discovery of the baptismal place of the children of Stephen Hopkins by his first wife.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Emigration: 1620, Ship Mayflower.

• Occupation: Tanner and Merchant.

• Occupation: Assistant to the Governor of Massachusetts, 1624-1636.

Stephen married Mary UNKNOWN before 1604 in Hampshire, England. (Mary UNKNOWN was born before 1604 in Hampshire, England, died in 1613 and was buried on 9 May 1613 in Hursley, , Hampshire, England.)

Stephen next married Elizabeth FISHER on 19 Feb 1618 in St Mary, Matfellon, Whitechapel, , Lancashire, England. (Elizabeth FISHER was born in 1585 in Hertfordshire, England and died between 1640 and 1644 in Plymouth, MA.)