William Hopkins (abt. 1600 - abt. 1643)

Born about 1600 in England

Descendants

Died about 1643 at about age 43 in Hartford, Connecticut [uncertain]

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William Hopkins migrated to New England during the Puritan Great Migration (1621-1640). (See The Directory, by R. C. Anderson, p. 169) Join: Puritan Great Migration Project Discuss: pgm

Biography

Name and Origins

Name: William Hopkins of Hartford, Connecticut.

His origins, birth and parents remain unknown. He occurs in several records with Gov. Edward Hopkins, so it is tempting to think he belongs to the same family, but this is not known to be true

William Hopkins is said to have resided in Stratford, CT and then moved to Farmington, CT. Primary sources are needed for this statement.^[1]

In 1643 William Hopkins was not again elected magistrate.^[2]. This is a specific notation that "Mr. Phelps and Mr. William Hopkins were not elected" which also includes Trumbull's footnote that he believed Mr. Phelps now dead as he did not appear later in the record. He did not make the notation for William Hopkins who was perhaps still alive on the date of the election although this is not certain.

Birth

Born: Say 1600. (1590-1605)

The date is a very rough estimate based on the marriage of his child in 1644. He could have been born significantly earlier.

Marriage and Children

Married: Mary Unknown, by 1625 in England. The date is a very rough estimate based the marriage of their only known child in 1644 - they could have been married significantly earlier. She is sometimes said to be Mary Andrews, however, no contemporary source has been found to support this LNAB. She married as her 2nd husband Richard Whitehead by 1644 when she contracted the marriage of her daughter Mary.^[3]

Only Child of William Hopkins and Mary Unknown:

1. Mary Hopkins. Born say 1624 (rough estimate based on her marriage in 1644).

Death

Died: About 1643. (Between 1342 and 1644), presumably in Hartford, Connecticut where he was last known living.

William Hopkins was last known living when he was elected as a magistrate for Hartford in 1642; he was not elected in 1643.^[4] He was certainly dead by 1644 when Mary, wife of Richard Whitehead, made a marriage contract for her daughter Mary Hopkins to marry William Lewis, son of William Lewis.^[3] The will of Richard Whitehead dated 26 April 1645 names his wife Mary and daughter-in-law Mary Lewis.^[3]

Research Notes

• While William Hopkins is frequently mentioned in tandem with Deputy Governor and later Governor Edward Hopkins in civil records they are not brothers. If there is a familial relationship it is not yet discovered.

• The will of Richard Whitehead names his daughter-in-law Mary Lewis, and no other children of wife. The will strongly implies that Mary (Hopkins) Lewis was the only child of William and Mary Hopkins. The will does name a brother-in-law Hugh Hopkins; the relationship of this Hugh Hopkins to William Hopkins (brother?) is unknown but may be a clue to the origins of this Hopkins family.

• Elected magistrate of New Haven Colony in 1642.^[5]

• He was not elected as a magistrate in the election of 13 April 1643.^[6] There is a good possibility that he was dead by this date.

Common Errors to Avoid

Incorrect wife: He was previously attached to Temperance Gilbert as his wife. This incorrect. Temperance was married to William Hopkins on 20 August 1633 by whom they had 2 children. She died c1648 when her husband was granted administration of her estate. It is impossible that she was married to this William Hopkins who died c1643 and was married to Mary Unknown from before 1625 to 1643.

Incorrect death date: It had been suggested that he was still living as late as 1647. This is incorrect. It was the result of misintrepreting a record which belonged to a different Hopkins. He was certainly dead by 1644.

Sources

1. ↑ Preston, Mary Isabella, Bassett-Preston Ancestors: A History of the Ancestors in America of Marion Bassett Luitweiler, Howard Murray Bassett, Preston Rogers Bassett, Isabel Bassett Wasson, and Helen Bassett Hauser, Children of Edward M. and Annie (Preston). (New Haven: Tuttle Morehouse & Taylor, 1930). Ancestry.com Link
2. ↑ Trumbull, Benjamin, A Complete History of Connecticut: Civil and Ecclesiastical, Vol 1, Chap VII, Page 125, 13 Apr 1643 Election at Hartford
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1 3.2} New England Historical and Genealogical Register vol. 44 no. 4 (October 1890): pages 386-387. Genealogical Gleanings in England: Will of Richard Whitehead of Windsor, Connecticut.
4. ↑ Trumbull, Benjamin, A Complete History of Connecticut: Civil and Ecclesiastical, vol 1. (New Haven, 1818): page 121,page 125.
5. ↑ Trumbull, Benjamin, A Complete History of Connecticut: Civil and Ecclesiastical, vol 1. (New Haven, 1818): page 121.
6. ↑ Trumbull, Benjamin, A Complete History of Connecticut: Civil and Ecclesiastical, vol 1. (New Haven, 1818): page 125.