WILL OF GOV. STEPHEN HOPKINS.
The last Will and Testament of Stephen Hopkins, of Providence, at the County
of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
Esquire, made and published in Providence this Twentieth day of May, in the
year of our LORD, One Thousand, Seven Hundred and Eighty One, Witnesseth.
That I give unto my daughter Lydia Tillinghast, One Third part of my upper
Garden, to be taken off on the North Side, and of Equal Breadth at Each End,
to be and Remain unto her and her Heirs forever.

I give to my granddaughter, Hannah Burrough, my Two Lots of Land at
Tockquotton to be and Remain to her and her heirs forever.

I give to my son Rufus Hopkins, my Dwelling House where I now live, with the
Out Houses and Garden, and Twelve Acres of Land in Providence Neck.... I
also give unto him my Part of the Furnace Hope, and of all Such Lands as
have been purchased for and belong to the Furnace Estate, with my Part of
the Iron Ore in Cranston, and of the Land in which it Lies, together with my
part of the Buildings, Materials and Utensils to the said Furnace belonging,
and all my part of the Air Furnace, and of all the Apparatus for making,
Forming and boring Cannon, and my part of all the Cannon and other iron on
Hand at about the Furnace....

I give to all my Negroes their Freedom, to take place immediately with
Respect to those who shall be of Age, and of the others, the Males at Twenty
One and the Females at Eighteen years of Age.

I make and ordain my Son Rufus Hopkins Executor of this my Will, whom I
Request and Desire to take the Care and Oversight of my Family, and supply
them from Time to Time with Money and Such other Things as they may want for
their Support in a Decent manner.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year
aforewritten.

                                 STEPHEN HOPKINS


Signed, Sealed, published and declared  |
    by the said Stephen Hopkins to      |
    be his last Will and Testament      |
    in the Presence of us who at his    |
    Request and in the presence of      |
    Each other have signed as Witnesses.|
                  JOHN BROWN            |
                  JOHN ROGERS           |
                  SILAS DOWNER          |

WILL OF MAJ. WILLIAM HOPKINS.
I WILLIAM HOPKINS, of the town of Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations, in New England, Yeoman: being now sick and weak of
body, but through mercy, of sound disposing mind and memory, praise be given
to God for the same; do make this my last Will and Testament, in manner and
form following.

First and principally I commit my spirit into the merciful hands of Almighty
God, my Creator; and my body, commit to the earth to be decently buried; at
the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named; and as to the outward and
worldly estate that the Lord has been pleased to bless me with, I give and
bequeath as followeth.

Imprimis--I give and bequeath unto my grandson, William Hopkins, of
Providence, all that my homestead, meadows and tenements where I now dwell,
situated in Providence aforesaid, near to a place called Massapauge, with my
meadows at Massapauge, and upland thereto adjoining, and a piece of upland
laid adjoining to Pawtuxet line and on the east side of my said Massapauge
meadow. All which lands and meadows are, in estimation, two hundred acres;
upon the conditions following.

That he shall allow his grandmother, my wife, Abigail Hopkins, one
convenient room in my dwelling house, and to find and provide for her a
sufficient maintenance and attendance, both in sickness and health, during
the term of her natural life, provided she remains a widow; and if she be
not contented to dwell with him, then my will is that he shall maintain her
at some other place, which she may choose.

And my will further is, that my said grandson shall not sell nor dispose of
said lands nor meadows nor no part of said tenements until after my wife,
his said grandmother is deceased.

And also my will is and I do hereby order that he shall allow as I do hereby
give and bequeath unto his brother, my grandson, Rufus Hopkins, one load of
salt grass, in my meadows, which I give him my said grandson, William,
yearly, every year during the term of his natural life; after he my said
grandson Rufus shall attain to the age of twenty-one years; that is to be
understood that my said grandson Rufus, shall have liberty to cut so much
grass in my said meadows as shall yield him two loads of hay yearly; upon
which conditions I give and bequeath to my said grandson, William Hopkins,
my dwelling house with all my above mentioned lands and meadows, to have and
to hold unto him, his heirs, Executors, Administrators and assigns, with the
privileges and appurtenances forever.

Item.--I give and bequeath unto my grandson, Rufus Hopkins, my house lot of
land which was laid out upon my own right, upon the hill called Stampers
Hill, in said Providence, and was laid out in the last division of house
lots in said town; and also all my whole right in the commons, called the
Stated Commons, in Providence aforesaid.

To have and to hold the said lots of land and commons, with the privileges
and appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto him my said grandson Rufus
Hopkins, his heirs, Executors, Administrators and assigns forever.

Item--I give and bequeath unto my son William Hopkins, all that farm of land
and meadow adjoining, whereon he now dwells, with the privileges and
appurtenances thereunto belonging, for him to give and dispose of to and
among his children as he shall see cause; and all the rest of my lands and
commons which I have not hereinbefore disposed of, either within this town
of Providence or elsewhere, I give and bequeath to my aforesaid son William
Hopkins, his Heirs, Executors, Administrators and assigns forever.

Item--I give and bequeath unto my grandson, William Hopkins, one feather bed
and furniture thereunto belonging; and also one Cow, I having before given
him a Heifer.

And as to the rest of my goods and moveable estate, be it of what sort and
kind soever, I give and bequeath; after debts, funeral expenses and other
expenses are duly paid, unto my wife Abigail Hopkins, for her to dispose of
as she shall see cause, amongst my children and grandchildren; except what
she brought with her, and that she may do with as she will.

And I now ordaine and appoint and make my said loving wife Abigail Hopkins,
sole Executrix to this my last Will and Testament.

In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of
July, in the ninth year of his Majesty's Reign, George, King of Great
Britain &c. Anno Domini One thousand, seven hundred and twenty-three.

                           WILLIAM HOPKINS.


  Witnesses,
            RICHARD BROWN,        |
            JOHN HOYLE,           |
            RICHARD WATERMAN, JR.|

WILL OF ABIGAIL HOPKINS, WIDOW OF
MAJ. WILLIAM HOPKINS.
I ABIGAIL HOPKINS, of Providence, in the Colony of Rhode Island and
Providence Plantations; widow: being now very sick and weak of body, but of
sound and disposing mind and memory; praise be given to God for the same;
calling to mind the mortality of my body and not knowing how soon it may
please God to remove me out of this present world; do make this my last Will
and Testament, in manner and form following.

First and principally I commit my spirit into the merciful hands of Almighty
God, my Creator, and my body I commit to the Earth, to be decently buried at
the discretion of my Executor hereinafter named; and as to the outward and
worldly estate the Lord has been pleased to bless me with in this present
life I give and bequeath as followeth.

Imprimis--I give and bequeath unto my three children; John Dexter, William
Hopkins and Abigail Field, forty shillings apiece, to be taken out of that
money that is due to me from the proprietors of Providence, for services
done by my husband; and as to the remaining part of said money due to me by
said proprietors, which I suppose to be about three pounds, I give to my
grandson William Hopkins.

Item I give to my daughter Abigail Field, my biggest Brass Kettle; and my
least Iron Kettle I give to my granddaughter, Abigail Dexter.

Item I give to my grandson William Hopkins, all the rest of my brass and
iron household stuff, and my two cows and the one third part of my Pewter
that is marked WH A: and the other two thirds of said Pewter that is so
marked, I give to my two granddaughters, Hope Hopkins and Abigail Hopkins,
to be equally divided betwixt them.

Item I give to my granddaughter Abigail Dexter three plates of my Pewter,
not marked; and all the remaining part of my Pewter not marked, I give to my
daughter Abigail Field, and I also give unto my said daughter, Abigail
Field, my Napkins and Table Cloth, being six Napkins and one Table Cloth.

Item I give to my daughter Abigail Field, my Bed Curtains, and pillow and
bolster case, and my Trunk and Box, and great chair standing in the outward
room, and two small chairs.--And I give my great Chest unto my grandson
Stephen Dexter.

Item I give my Bed unto my granddaughter, Abigail Hopkins.

Item I give to my daughter Abigail Field, two pairs of Linen Sheets and two
pairs of pillow cases, and one pair of flannel sheets, and all my wearing
apparel.

Item I give to my two granddaughters, Hope Hopkins and Abigail Hopkins, each
of them, a pair of linen sheets, and each a pair of Pillow Cases.

Item I give to my granddaughter Abigail Dexter, one pair of linen sheets and
one pair of Pillow Cases.

Item I give and bequeath unto my son William Hopkins, my case of Bottles
with the case they are in.

And as to the rest and remaining part of my estate that I have not
hereinbefore disposed of, after all my debts, funeral charges and other
expenses are duly paid, what then after remains, I give to my grandson
William Hopkins, with my husband's, his grandfather's silver buttons for a
shirt.

And I do name and ordaine, appoint and make my said grandson William
Hopkins, sole Executor to this my last Will and Testament; to receive and
pay all my debts and execute my Will according to the contents thereof.

In witness whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal the 16th day of
August, in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred and twenty-five.

                       ABIGAIL HOPKINS her A marke


Signed, sealed, pronounced and declared|
    in presence of                      |
             JAMES OLNEY                |
             JOB HARRIS                 |
             RICHARD WATERMAN JR.      |

WILL OF WILLIAM HOPKINS, SON OF MAJ. WILLIAM
AND ABIGAIL HOPKINS.
In the name of God, Amen. This Eleventh of June, in the twelfth year of his
Majesty's reign, George the Second King of Great Britain, A. D. 1738. I,
William Hopkins, of Scituate, in the County of Providence, in the Colony of
Rhode Island, yeoman, being very sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind
and memory (thanks be to God for it) and calling to mind the mortality of my
body, and knowing it is appointed for man once to die, do make and ordain
this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following: that is to
say, principally, and first of all my soul I recommend into the hands of God
that gave it & my body to the earth to be buried in decent christian burial
at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named. And as touching such
worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this present
life, I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and
form:

Imprimis, I give to my three sons, namely, William Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins
and John Hopkins, five shillings each, and the reason that I give them no
more is I have given them sufficient already

Item, I give to my two youngest sons, namely, Esek Hopkins and Samuel
Hopkins, one Gun, one log chain, and one Horse, and likewise all my working
tools besides, to be equally divided between them two.

Item, I give to my two sons, namely, Esck Hopkins and Samuel Hopkins, all my
wearing apparel after my decease.

Item, I give to my two younger daughters, namely, Abigail Hopkins and
Susannah Hopkins, my two trunks and all that is in them, except my papers,
to be equally divided between them.

Item, I give to my daughter, Susannah Hopkins, my Bed and Bedding whereon I
used to lie, namely two pairs of sheets, one pair of flannel and one pair of
linen, three blankets, and two rugs, one bolster and one pillow.

Item, I give to my three daughters namely, Hope Harris & Abigail Hopkins and
Susannah Hopkins, Forty Pounds in money to be paid to each of them in one
year after my decease.

Item, and all the rest of my money and goods, I give and bequeath to my two
younger sons, namely, Esek Hopkins and Samuel Hopkins, to be equally divided
between them two. And I do nominate and appoint my son in law, Henry Harris
to be my sole Executor to this my last Will and Testament, and in
confirmation I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the day and year above
written.

                            WILLIAM HOPKINS [L. S.]


  In the presence of us   |
          EZEKIEL HOPKINS,|
          JOHN EVANS,      |
          JABEZ BOWEN.    |

I have a copy of  the HOPKINS INFORMATION FROM SOUTH KINGSTOWN RECORDS
IN THE TOWN HALL, WAKEFIELD, RHODE ISLAND, pg. 16.

An excerpt from the will of Samuel HOPKINS s/o William and Hannah
ANDREWS HOPKINS says:

1731 March 22 will of Samuel HOPKINS. To wife Susanna and if she
remarries the rest of my estate to my beloved dau. Mary FOWLER. To my
grandson Thomas WHALEY 5s. To my grandson Samuel WHALEY 5s.
proved 14 Feb. 1738.

Since Susanna wasn't mentioned in this will was she already deceased by
1731?
I  have 3 children for Samuel and Susanna HOPKINS:

1. Thomas
2. Mary m.  Thomas FOWLER
3. Susannah m. Samuel WHALEY

Any help appreciated

Norma Paul[email protected]

  Submitted by Laura:  [email protected]

In the fear of God Amen the fifteenth Day of May Anno que Domini l735,I Joseph Hopkins of East Greenwich in the County of Providcnce and Colony of Road Island & being very sick and wecke in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God theirfore caling to mind the mortality of bbody and knowing that this is appointed for all men once to die do make this my Last Will and Testament (that is to say) prinsepally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and mybody I recommend to the earth to be buried in Decent Christian Burial at the descression of my Executors and as for Touching and conveying in such Worldly Estate where it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the samein the following manner and form.

Imprimis I give and bequeth to my loving -wife Martha Hopkins the East home in my know delling House during her natural life and one cow to be by her choice out of my cowes and two hogs to be by her Chosen and the Keeping of one Cow and two hogs during her natural Life on my homestead farm.

Itim I give to my said wife all my Household Goods or Indiers movables all which I give to my said wife in lew of her

Thirds and right of Dowrey of in and unto my Estate both Reil

and Personall.

Itim I give and bequeth to my son Joseph Hopkins five shillings to

be paid by my Executors hereafter named.

Itim I give and bequeth to mysons William and SamyelHopkins my

hoomstead fame to be equally divided between them my said two

Sons to theirs heirs ans assigns forever they paying my just

debts and the Legasies herein mentioned.

Itim I give to my Son John Hopkins thirty pounds to be paid by my Executors.

Itim I give and bequeth to my Son Robert Hopkins one half of all my

outdores movables except only is above mentioned and Thirty

pounds in Bills of Credit to be paid by my Executor's

Itim I give to my Son Thomas Hopkins Thirty pounds in bills of

publick Credit to be paid by my Executors at the age of Twenty

one years and my will is if my said son Shall Depart this Life

before he shall arrive to said age of Twenty one years that

then said Thirty pounds shall be equally divided amongst his

Three Sisters: Phebe Pitcher :;Hannah & Theadosia Hopkins and

one half of my out dores movables Except what is mentioned to

my wife.

Itim I give and bequeth to my daugher Phebe Picher one good cow to

be prvided by my executors.

Itim I give to my two daughters Hannah adn Theodosha Hopkins twenty

five pound Bills of Credit Each , fifty pounds to my said

daughters and to each of them one Good Cow to be provided and

paid for by my executors and my will is that my aforenamed wife have such previling in the orchard as mentioned in a former instrument under my hadn and seal and Recorded and that all the Legacies herein mentioned in said former instrument and I do hereby make and ordain constistue and appoint my afore said two sons WIlliam Hopkins and Samuyel Hopkins my whole and sole Executors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby disalowe Recoke and Disanull all and every other former wills and Testaments Legacies bequists and Executors by me in any waies before named willed or bequethed Ratifying and Confirming this end noe other to be my Last Will and Testament.

In witness their of I have hereunto sett my had and Seal the Day and year above written signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the said Joseph Hopkins in his last will and Testament in ye presence of us the Subscribers

Jospeh Hopkins

(his X)

I.S.

Nicholas Whitford

(HIS X)

Joseph Berrey

(HIS X)

John Jenkins

July ye 5th 1735 personally appeared before the Town Councill the Day and Year afore said Nicholas Whitford, Jospeh Berrey and John Jenkins the witnesses to the above written will and made oath that they saw the Testator Josph Hopkins sign and Seal this said will and heired him declair the Same to be his Last WIll and testament and that they signed as witnesses in his presence at the same time and that he was in his perfect mind and memory for which Reson this will is proved and approved of J. Thomas Spencer Councill Clerke

Recorded and Campaied with the original July ye 15th 1735