HOPKINS, THOMAS SPALDING	1818-1904  THOMAS

Dr. Thomas Spalding Hopkins, for many years a leading physician and 
prominent citizen of Thomas County, was born in Bellville, McIntosh County 
June 15, 1818, and died at his home in Thomasville November 12, 1904.  He 
was the tenth child of Francis and Rebecca Sayre Hopkins, prominent 
McIntosh County family of early days of that county.  He graduated from 
Franklin College (now the University of Georgia) and from the South 
Carolina Medical College in Charleston, and later took post graduate 
courses in Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia.  The locale of his 
first practice was in Wayne and Glynn Counties, living on a plantation near 
Waynesville, which he bought.  He later moved to Sherwood Plantation near 
the same town, where he lived with his family until forced by the dangers 
of the Civil War period to remove further inland, and in this way came 
about his removal to Thomasville.
In June 1863, Dr. Hopkins and his wife's cousin, William R. Gignilliat, 
drove through from Wayne County as far as Bainbridge looking for a new home 
for themselves and families.  Dr. Hopkins bought about seven acres known as 
the Braswell place, now in the residential section of the town, and moved 
there in January 1.864.  He bought a plantation near Morven, Brooks County, 
where his slaves were taken.
Dr. Hopkins was first married in May 1839, to Miss Julia Mary Dufour, 
daughter of Louis and Marie (Ponce) Dufour, a French family ^A^ St. Marys. 
 She was born in March 1821 at St. Mary's and died in Brunswick, October 
15, 1846.  By her, three children were born.  The second marriage was on 
November 14 1847, to Miss Jane Elizabeth Gignilliat, daughter of John ^Ma~^ 
and Jane Mary (Pepper) Gignilliat of Glynn County.  She was born at Oak 
Grove in Glynn County, July 14, 1821, and died March 18, 1886, in 
Thomasville.  By her ten children were born.  The thirteen children by the 
two wives were, in their order:

1. Louisa Jane	b. December 5, 1840, m. (1) William J. Taylor (2) A. O. 
Trezevaut of New Orleans, Louisiana.
2. Francis William	b. April 8, 1843, m. Rebecca Law, December 23, 1884.  No 
Issue.
3. Cecilia Bonita	b. February 18, 1845, m. John Pollard of England December 
24, 1884.
4. Thomas Nichols 	b. August 13, 1848, m. Jane McDonald of Monticello, 
Florida, March 4, 1889.
5. Henry William 	b. January 3, 1850, m. Frances C. Seward, daughter of 
James L. (Vol. 1), April 13, 1871.
6. Octavius	b. December 30, 1850, m. May Kell Holmes May 30, 1874.
7. James Gignilliat 	b. March 29, 1852, m. Oceana Mitchell November 30, 
1880.
8. Mary Elizabeth 	b. May 30, 1853, m. Samuel L. Mallard March 29, 1872.
9. Robert Riley	b. June 4, 1855, m. Marie L. Hunter of Savannah April 17, 
1864.  Lived at Brunswick.
10. John May G.	b. July 15, 1858, died single October 20, 1874.
11. Georgia Day	b. September 3, 1861, died August 15, 1862.
12. Anna Jane J.	b. September 12, 1863, died October 9, 1865.
13. Juliette Cora	b. September 7, 1865, died single, January 1, 1940.

Dr. Hopkins as a physician and as a writer of medical and scientific 
treatises attained eminence, not only locally, but statewide and national. 
 For many years he was a trustee of the State Sanitarium.  He was a member 
of the American Medical Association and other medical and scientific 
organization.  He was Mayor of Thomasville, 1874-1876.
Dr. Hopkins had a very fine military record in the Civil War period.  His 
first military service was as a mere youth in the Phoenix Riflemen of 
Savannah.  In the Indian War in 1838-1839, he was surgeon to the State 
Militia serving in the Okefinoke campaign.  At the beginning of the Mexican 
War he was assistant surgeon to the 9th U. S. Infantry stationed at Fort 
Brooks, Florida.  In 1861, upon the advent of the awful War, he threw 
himself with much ardor into the conflict, organizing the "Wayne Rangers" 
of which he became captam.  When this company was merged in April 1862, he 
resigned and returned home and organized the "Mercer Partisans", of which 
he became captain; it was known as Co. "G", 24th Georgia Cavalry Regiment. 
 He commanded this company at the time of the bombardment of Fort 
McAllister early in 1863.  He later resigned his captaincy and was assigned 
by the Confederate Government as Assistant Surgeon at Andersonville Prison 
in Southwest Georgia, where he served until the close of the War.
Dr. Hopkins was a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church.  He was also 
a Royal Arch Mason, serving as High Priest of his chapter many years.

Census References:  1850, 1860, Wayne; 1870, Thomas.


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