from: Pope County [AR] Historical Assn Quarterly, Vol 31,
#3, Sept 1997
Early Colonial Virginia families that rose to prominence were those of Colonel
Thomas PETTUS and Dr. Arthur HOPKINS. Both of these progenitors of American
families came to Virginia in the seventeenth century and established families
of stalwart and enterprising citizens....
HOPKINS OF VIRGINIA 1
The early life or ancestry of Dr. Arthur HOPKINS, the progenitor of the
HOPKINS of Virginia family, has very few trails to follow. Some evidence
points to his birth in New Kent County, VA in 1690. The first found records
of him show he was living in Hanover County, VA in 1731. Records in Hanover,
New Kent, and James City Counties were burned by Federal troops in the Civil
War...making absolute documentation of his early life impossible. He well
could have been born in New Kent or in James City County or for that matter,
England. There is speculation that he received his medical training at the
"School of Medicine and Surgery" in London, England. He and Dr. William
Cabell were great friends and speculation continues that they came to
Goochland County, VA about 1720-1723 and remained closely associated until
their respective deaths. Dr. Authur HOPKINS married Elizabeth PETTUS about
1723-1725. Their daughter, Mary HOPKINS, married Joseph CABELL, son of Dr.
William and Elizabeth Burks CABELL. The coat of arms/shield (10) that Dr.
Arthur Hopkins passed to his descendants is described as: Arms: Sable
(black), on a chevron between three pistols or rose gules; Crest: A tower
sable in flames proper; Motto: Vi et animo.
Dr. Arthur HOPKINS became a major Virginia landowner, holding over 30,000
acres; became one of Goochland County's Gentleman Justices; held a
Commission as a "Colonel of Horse"; gave bond as High Sheriff of Goochland
County; was a member of the House of Burgess 1739-41; was commissioned a
captain; and a Vestryman of St. James Northam Parish. President Thomas
Jefferson's father, Peter Jefferson and Dr. Arthur HOPKINS became close
personal friends during their tenure in the House of Burgess. Dr. Arthur
HOPKINS' will was recorded March 12, 1767 in Albemarle County, VA, having been
written May 31, 1765. He was buried in Albemarle County, VA near present-day
Scottsville. The HOPKINS homestead and graveyard were situated on a beautiful
rolling hill overlooking the James River which allowed a splendid view of the
surrounding country for miles. Walter Lee HOPKINS reported in 1928 the
graveyard was a cultivated field with no evidence of Dr. HOPKINS' gravestone.
from: Pope County Historical Assn Quarterly, Vol. 31, #3,
Sept. 1997
The progeny of Dr. Arthur HOPKINS and Elizabeth PETTUS - they had thirteen
children - produced many descendants of high esteem and leadership including
doctors, lawyers, legislators, military commanders and ministers. Their son,
Colonel John HOPKINS (1748-1807) served in the Revolutionary War with the
Goochland Co, VA Militia in 1779. One of the most notable among them is
grandson General Samuel HOPKINS (1753-1819)... His father was Dr. Samuel
HOPKINS, the first born child of Dr. Arthur and Elizabeth. During the
Revolutionary War, then Colonel Samuel HOPKINS served on George Washington's
staff. He withstood the rigors of the historic Valley Forge campaign as well
as the Battles of Brandywine, Princetown, Trenton and Germantown and was one
of the men selected to cross the Delaware River when Washington attacked
Trenton. After the war he used his skills as a lawyer and surveyor to
establish the towns of Henderson and Henderson County, KY and eventually
settled there. He served in both the Kentucky and Federal legislatures. In
the War of 1812 he was commissioned as a Major General by President Madison
and thereafter referred to as "General". He was in charge of 2,000 men who
engaged the Kickapoo Indians on the Illinois River. The Indians finally
surrendered and General HOPKINS returned to Henderson. He and his wife
Elizabeth (Betty) Branch BUGG had eight children. He is buried in the family
cemetery at his "Spring Garden" plantation, east of Henderson. Hopkins
County
and Hopkinsville, KY are named in his honor. General Samuel HOPKINS, through
his mother Isabella TAYLOR, was a descendant of many prominent and
distinguished leaders of the early United States, namely Patrick Henry,
President Zachary Taylor and James Madison.
Paul Pennebaker, lists some references for the HOPKINS and PETTUS families:
1. HOPKINS, Walter Lee. Hopkins of Virginia & Related Families, 1931, C.J.
Carrier Co., Harrisonburg, VA, 1980.
2. Tyler's Quarteryly Magazine, Vol 17, p 181 (Pettus)
3. "Climbing the Family Tree", Bessie Lamar Anderson Calvert (Pettus
family)
4. "History of the Pettus Family", Pocahantas Huthinson Stacy, 1942. (Pettus)
5. "The Peggus Family" compiled by A. Bohmer Rudd, 1957
6. "Sketch of the Pettus Family", Tallock
7. "William and Mary Quarterly", Vol 13, p. 66 (Pettus family)
8. "Genealogies of Virginia Families", Tyler's Quarterly, Vol 11 (Pettus-
Gildart)
9. "The Douglas Register", Rev. Wm Douglass, 1750-1797, Index of Goochland
Co., VA wills
10. "The Pettus Family of England and Virginia", compiled by Christine
Becklheimer, Feb. 1989.
from: Pope County [AR] Historical Assn Quarterly, Vol 31, #3, Sept. 1997
[Chart is presented following the article about Dr. Arthur Hopkins.
"Information on the Hopkins families was prepared and researched by June M.
Hall - email: [email protected], and Noreen Berry
Smalley - email:
[email protected]]
Descendants of Authur Hopkins, Colonel/Doctor
Generation No. 1
1. ARTHUR (1) HOPKINS, COLONEL/DOCTOR
was born 1690 in New Kent County, VA or Ireland, and
died Bef. March 12, 1767 in Albemarle County, VA.
He married Elizabeth PETTY Abt 1724, daughter of
Thomas PETTY and Rachael WILSON.
Children of Arthur HOPKINS and Elizabeth PETTY are:
i. Mary HOPKINS b Unknown; m Joseph CABELL
ii. John HOPKINS, Colonel b 1748 d 1807
iii. Samual HOPKINS, Dr., b Abt 1725
Generation No. 2
2. Samual HOPKINS, Dr. (Arthur) was born Abt 1725.
He m. Isabella TAYLOR
Children of Samual HOPKINS and Isabella TAYLOR are:
i. Samual HOPKINS, General, b April 19, 1753, Albemarle Co, VA
d September 16, 1819, Henderson, KY
ii. John HOPKINS, Col. b Unknown
Generation No. 3
3. Samual HOPKINS, General (Samual, Arthur) was born April 19, 1753
in Albemarle County, VA and died September 16, 1819 in Henderson,
KY.
He married Elizabeth (Betty) Branch Bugg January 10, 1783 in
Mecklenburg County, VA, daughter of Jacob BUGG.
Children of Samuel HOPKINS and Elizabeth BUGG are:
i. Samual Goode Hopkins, Capt. b 1784, VA d. MO
ii. Elizabeth Branch Hopkins, b 1786; m Phillip BARBOUR,
Col
iii. Nancy Ann Taylor Hopkins, b 1788
iv. Jacob Bugg Hopkins, b 1790
v. Lucinda (Lucy) Bugg Hopkins, b 1791; m James WARDLOW,
Dr.
vi. Sarah Pettus Hopkins, b 1794; m Nickolas HORSELEY
vii. Martha Isabella Hopkins, b 1796; m George LYNN
viii. Mary (Maria) Bush Hopkins, b 1796
note for Mary: never married; became
owner of home plantation
after the death of the general
4. John HOPKINS, Col. (Samual, Arthur) was born Unknown.
Child of John HOPKINS, Col is:
i. Jane HOPKINS, b Unknown
from: Pope Co. Historical Assn Quarterly, Vol. 31, #3, Sept
1997
Family Chart of Dr. Arthur Hopkins (Part 2)
Generation No. 4
5. Nancy Ann Taylor HOPKINS (Samual, Samual, Arthur) was b 1788.
She married Thomas TOWELS, Judge
Children of Nancy HOPKINS and Thomas TOWELS are:
i. Thomas TOWELS b abt 1812
ii. Ann Taylor TOWELS b Apr 5, 1814; d Aug 19, 1825
6. Jacob Bugg HOPKINS (Samual, Samual, Arthur) was b 1790.
He married Carolina Imlay BRENT.
Children of Jacob and Carolina:
i. Elizabeth Goode HOPKINS, b Jan. 2, 1813; d June
23, 1886.
ii. Innes Brent HOPKINS, b Unknown m. ? TALIAFERRO
iii. Sarah Pendleton HOPKINS, b Unk m Robert Gaines
BEVERLEY
iv. Caroline Brent HOPKINS, b Unk m James G BARBOUR
v. Martha I HOPKINS, b Feb 6, 1824; d Jan 12 1888,
Henderson, KY
7. Jane HOPKINS (Samual, Samual, Arthur) was born Unknown.
She married Charles RODES.
Child of Jane HOPKINS and Charles RODES is:
i. James Hopkins RODES b Unknown
Generation No. 5
8. Elizabeth Goode HOPKINS (Jacob Bugg, Samual, Samual, Arthur) was
born January 2, 1813 and died June 23, 1886. She married
1) Phillip Edwin Barbour Mar 10, 1829 2)
James Stewart 1850.
Children of Elizabeth Hopkins and Phillip Barbour are:
i. Phillip N. Barbour
ii. Mary Bush Barbour, b Aug 12, 1834; d Sept 6, 1866
Child of Elizabeth Hopkins and James Stewart:
i. Samual H. Stewart b Unknown
9. Martha L HOPKINS (Jacob Bugg, Samual, Samual, Arthur) was born
Feb 6, 1824, and died Jan 12, 1888 in Henderson, KY. She
married
1) Philip N. Barbour 1842, and 2) John Thomas Bunch May 18, 1852
in Louisville, KY.
Note for Martha: She married her first cousin, Capt Philip
N Barbour in
1842
and he was killed at Battle of Monterey,
Mexico.
Children of Martha Hopkins and John Bunch are:
i. Emma O. Bunch, m John James Tanner
ii. Mary Stewart Bunch
10. James Hopkins RODES (Jane Hopkins, John, Samual, Arthur) was
born Unknown.
Child of James Hopkins Rodes is:
i. Charles E. Rodes b. of Gallatin, TN
Generation No. 6
11. Mary Bush BARBOUR (Elizabeth Goode Hopkins, Jacob Bugg, Samual,
Samual, Arthur) was born Aug 12, 1834 and died Sept 6,
1866.
She married John James STEWART Dec 12, 1850.
Children of Mary Barbour and John Stewart are:
i. Edwin Stewart b Unk
ii. James Willis Stewart b Unk
iii. Louis Stewart b Unk m Elizabeth HAGGIN
iv. Mildred T Stewart, b Unk m Russell B WHEELER
v. Elizabeth Hopkins Stewart, b Unk m 1) Wm S Dunn 2)
John Claflin
vi. Philip Oliver Stewart, b Unk m Aimee B Winchester
vii. Lille Ormsby Stewart, b Unk m Samual Houston
************
[email protected]
