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Page 1 Dear Pat, This will be hastily done, so please excuse my errors. My spelling and writing skills (?) have diminished with age. This is something I have not been able to nail myself down to, even for my children. It will be a thumbnail sketch, and I will not have time to look up every source of information. Background: Hopkins is a good old English name. Two important Hopkins need to be here mentioned. Even there is no known connection to our family. Both named Stephen; Stephen Hopkins came on the Mayflower with the Plymouth Colony "Pilgrims", and was very prominent in the colony's history. A quick look at Mayflower Descendants seems to rule out our descent from him. The second Stephen Hopkins was a statesman and leader of Rhode Island for fifty years or more. A quote from "The Quakers in the American Colonies," page 207: "No other Quaker in American History, with the exception of William Penn has achieved such a distinguished political career or has contributed so much to the development of our national life as Stephen Hopkins of Rhode Island. He was in a true sense one of the "Makers" of the American Nation." He was governor of Rhode Island for nine successive terms. Again, no proven relationship to our Hopkins, but there were several named Stephen in South Carolina up-country, early to mid 1800's. Page 2 Hopkins were in Maryland before 1700. A birth record of William Gerrard Hopkins dates 1698. The Gerrard name occurs over and over again in our own Hopkins family line. The migration from Maryland which began because of the scarcity of land, and because of the long, bitter, and often violent dispute over the boundary line between Maryland and Pennsylvania, progressed first to the northern counties of Maryland, then over onto Pennsylvania, Westland across Pennsylvania, then South again into the panhandle country of Maryland, Fredric County. From there they traveled Southland again into Augusta County Virginia, through the fertile Shenodoah Valley, and lastly, over into old Limenburg County, VA, and southward into Granville and Orange County NC. Mecklinburg County VA was formed form Limenburg and bordered on Granville and Orange Counties, NC. We find "Our" Hopkins mislaid in this migration. Again, back to the name Gerrard; in Fredrick County Maryland, there are records of two marriages of Gerrard Hopkins, about twenty years apart, both gentlemen marrying a lady named Eleanor, another name which comes up in our family line several times. (William Hopkins Revolutionary war Pension files mentions his sister Eleanor.)
Page 3 Our Hopkins had migrated to Mecklenburg Co. VA by mid 1700's and down into NC by 1759. In Mecklenberg Co. VA. a Samuel Hopkins, Sr. was a Colonel in the Colonial Militia. Joseph, James, William and Benjamin also show up in that county. A William Hopkins, Schoolmaster, of Granville County, NC, witnessed deeds of transfer of lands in Mecklenburg Co., VA. William Hopkin's pension file 57033 tells us that William served three months in Virginia under Col. Woodford, then three months in North Carolina under a number of different officers. William had the doubtful honor of taking care of his caption's horse at the Battle of Guilford Court House, so was not engaged in the fighting itself. Page 4 William Hopkins was granted a pension for his Revolutionary War Service in 1832 while living in Orange County, NC. Between that year and 1840, when he shows up in Spartanburg County, SC, William apparently fell on "hard times." He mortgaged his land, several hundred acres, His slaves, crops and household goods, as surety for debts. Not only that but had second and third mortgages with close relatives as surety, among them, some of the Gerrards. (One was Nancy Gerrard, whether Nancy Gerrard Hopkins, not certain. More about Nancy later). I have no information at this time about foreclosure of the mortgages, but evidently William came out of the proceedings with enough money to make the move to South Carolina. He had been proceeded to this state by other Hopkins, one Solomon who might have been his brother, was in Laurens county long enough to won property and leave a will in 1814. Solomon left a number of children, son one named Francis, which takes us back to Fredrick county Maryland, and Augusta County, Virginia, where, about 1778 or 1779, one Francis Hopkins, a "Notorious Tory" was hanged by Col. William Campbell of King's Mountain fame, with no moue thought to it than "getting rid of a varmint." Page 5 Neither William Hopkins' Rev. War pension statements, or his land transactions make mention of a wife or wives. His mortgage deals do mention a son named Elzi, so he was married. Elizi's marriage is recorded in Orange Co. records. His full name was Eliziphan, married Sally Ray. A search of Orange Co. records does not show a marriage for William Hopkins - could have taken place in a neighboring county. William had a sister named Eleanor, also an Aunt (?) by that name, and seems to have had sons, besides: Elzipham, married Ray, and William, Jr., and possibly one named John. A John Hopkins was in Anderson County by early or mid 1800's, with a daughter named Diana and a son named Stephen. Our William Hopkins also had a daughter (?) named Diana. (More about this Diana later.)
James Hopkins married Mathursa Morgan, daughter of William Morgan and his wife, Cynthia, 7th Jan. 1845 at Gowansville, SC, by S. R. Whitten, Esq., both James and Mathursa residents of Spartanburg Co. Page 6 SC census, Spartanburg Co. House # 1446 William Hopkins, age 91, B. Maryland Nancy " , age 60 Diana " , B. Abt. 1824 Mary " , B. Abt. 1828 S.A. (female) (Susan ?) B. Abt. 1831 James Hopkins B. 1821 (This is our James and his 3 oldest children) *Mitchell B. 1846 M. A. (female) (Mary) B. 1847 Lewis B. 1849 At the time this census was taken, our James had taken the 3 oldest children, William Mitchell, Mary, and Lewis, to the home of William Hopkins. There is no way to know at this time whether William was James's father, grandfather, or even an uncle, since the 1850 census did not designate family relationships. My own thinking is that William was James's father and Nancy a second or even a third wife of William, and in that case, James's stepmother. On the other hand, Nancy could have been an unmarried daughter of William's, possibly by a first wife. The ages shown could mean either of these possibilities. It would not have been unusual back then for a man 91 years old to have had several wives and children by each of them. Page 7 James's wife, Mathursa, is shown on this census living a short distance away, House # 1440, as head of house hold with a new baby, James H., 3 months old. Several other persons by the name of Alton are in the household with her. 1860 SC census has James Hopkins living in Greenville Co. listed as a "ditcher", with his wife and children all together. From this census we have his children:
NOTE: Child # 8 and 9 not on this census, but on 1870. See next page. Page 8 On John I have not been able to find out any thing. We assume he is the father of John McCoy Hopkins, who died at Southern Bleachery and Print Worlds Village about 1947, because of the names, and that is more than likely the case. However I have not yet found the families of John's brothers, William Mitchell and Lewis, who could have a son named John. John, son of James and Mathursa was still living in 1933, since he is listed as a surviving brother in the obituary of warren G. Hopkins at about age 72 was killed by an unknown assailant while working as a night-watchman at Judson Mill in Greenville. A John W. Hopkins is listed in 1900 census, b. 1863 in Pickens Co., with wife Rosa L (?). Contradictory evidence shows a James W. Hopkins B. 1863, Buried in Pickens co., with what seems to be his wife buried next to him, Rosa L. Ballentine Hopkins. I haven't figured that one out yet.
Page 9 Mathursa died 26 Jan. 1905 and is buried beside James. Right next to James and Mathrusa, Diana Hopkins is buried. She is James's sister of the 1850 census, never married, and seems to have made her home with different relatives over the years. 1860 census finds her in the home of Susan Hunt in Greenville County. Susan Hunt was 82 years old, and might have been an older sister of James and Diana, or a cousin.
Page 10 Pat, I will copy some family sheets for you to follow through on the Hopkins'. I have been able to trace. They might not be entirely up to date, since I am learning a little new all along. I just this week contacted a very nice retired minister in Central who is going to see what he can find on Mary Hopkins Mauldin. I know her husband William B. Mauldin was a Confederate Beteran and the story goes that he was a part of the battery, which fired the first shot on Fort Sumpter. I will have to check that story out. Also, I have written to Margaret Harrison Wallen, and hope through her to get good information on William Mitchell Hopkins, oldest son of our James. I hope you can decipher this. I have left out a lot, since I haven't had time to check my old notebooks. I have dates, etc which I have not included, but have to look up. I have many, many leads that need to be followed up. There are lots of records, etc. that can still be searched - in Orange Co. MC., for instance, and minutes of the Parish Retirees in Fredrick Co. Maryland. Some of these records are on L.D.S. Micro film, if I can ever find time to search and order them. Arbutus Hughes 209 Edwards Mill Rd. Taylors, SC. 29687
Descendants of William Hopkins
Generation No. 1
1. William1 Hopkins was born November 11, 1759 in Fredrick County, Maryland, and died Abt. 1852 in SC. He married Nancy (?). Notes for William Hopkins: William Hopkins, a Revolutionary War Soldier, was born in Fredrick County Maryland, 11 November, 1759, and moved to Orange County, NC at age 14. In 1780 he was sent by his father to Mecklenburg Co. VA. To make a crop for his grandmother and aunt. Unfortunately the names of these two ladies are not shown in the pension file which gives the other information about William's war service. Whether they were maternal or paternal relatives would help a lot to know. They were probably Hopkins' since we know some of the family were in that county. William Hopkin's pension file 57033 tells us that William served three months in Virginia under Col. Woodford, then three months in North Carolina under a number of different officers. William had the doubtful honor of taking care of his caption's horse at the Battle of Guilford Court House, so was not engaged in the fighting itself. William Hopkins was granted a pension for his Revolutionary War Service in 1832 while living in Orange County, NC. Between that year and 1840, when he shows up in Spartanburg County, SC, William apparently fell on "hard times." He mortgaged his land, several hundred acres, His slaves, crops and household goods, as surety for debts. Not only that but had second and third mortgages with close relatives as surety, among them, some of the Gerrards. (One was Nancy Gerrard, whether Nancy Gerrard Hopkins, not certain. I have no information at this time about foreclosure of the mortgages, but evidently William came out of the proceedings with enough money to make the move to South Carolina. He had been proceeded to this state by other Hopkins, one Solomon who might have been his brother, was in Laurens county long enough to won property and leave a will in 1814. Solomon left a number of children, son one named Francis, which takes us back to Fredrick county Maryland, and Augusta County, Virginia, where, about 1778 or 1779, one Francis Hopkins, a "Notorious Tory" was hanged by Col. William Campbell of King's Mountain fame, with no more thought to it than "getting rid of a varmint." Neither William Hopkins' Rev. War pension statements, or his land transactions make mention of a wife or wives. His mortgage deals do mention a son named Elzi, so he was married. Elizi's marriage is recorded in Orange Co. records. His full name was Eliziphan, married Sally Ray. A search of Orange Co. records does not show a marriage for William Hopkins - could have taken place in a neighboring county. William had a sister named Eleanor, also an Aunt (?) by that name, and seems to have had sons, besides: Elzipham, married Ray, and William, Jr., and possibly one named John. A John Hopkins was in Anderson County by early or mid 1800's, with a daughter named Diana and a son named Stephen. Our William Hopkins also had a daughter (?) named Diana. We find William Hopkins in Spartanburg Co. SC in 1840 when his pension was transferred. In 1850 SC census of Spartanburg co., we find William, 91 years of age, with James Hopkins, our first firmly documented ancestor, shown as part of his household.
More About William Hopkins: Military: Revolutionary War Soldier. Was at the battle of Gettesburg. Military service: William Hopkin's pension file 57033 tells us that William served three months in Virginia under Col. Woodford, then three months in North Carolina under a number of different officers.
Children of William Hopkins and Nancy (?) are:
Generation No. 2
2. James2 Hopkins (William1) was born Abt. 1821 in Spartanburg District, SC, and died December 19, 1901 in Liberty, SC. He married Methurslay Morgan January 7, 1845 in Gowensville, S. C, daughter of William Morgan and Cynthia Morgan. Notes for James Hopkins: Marriage and Death Notices From the Up-Country of South Carolina as taken from Greenville newspapers 1826 - 1863 compiled by Brent H. Holcomb, C. A. L. S. At Gowensville, S. C., on Tuesday evening the 7th inst., by S. R. Whitten, Esq., Mr. James Hopkins to Miss Methurslay Morgan, both of Spartanburg District. (ibid.) The 1850 Census has James Hopkins living in Greenville County, SC., listed as a "ditcher" with his wife and children all together. James Hopkins was living in Pickens County, when the Civil War broke out. He volunteered for service at age 41, on March 21, 1862, and was enlisted in Co. E. Orr's South Carolina Rifles. Orr's Rifles was sent almost immediately to Virginia and into combat. During the Seven Day's Battles around Richmond, James was wounded at the Battle of Gaines' Mill - Cold Harbor on July 27, 1862. After recovering from his wounds, he was returned to active duty in time for the Battle of Gettysburg. Orr's Rifles was not in the main action of the battle. But was on the outskirts guarding a bridge or road crossing. Even so, there were some fatalities. James was transferred to the Invalid corps in March of 1864, and discharged in April 1864. He received a Confederate Pension, and some time later, an artificial leg was furnished to him, having lost his leg as a result of his wounds. James Hopkins died 16 Dec. 1901 and is buried in Liberty Cemetery, Peachtree St. Liberty, SC. Mathursa died 26 Jan. 1905 and is buried beside James. We find William Hopkins in Spartanburg Co. SC in 1840 when his pension was transferred. In 1850 SC census of Spartanburg co., we find William, 91 years of age, with James Hopkins, our first firmly documented ancestor, shown as part of his household. More About James Hopkins: Burial: Buried at Liberty Cemetery, Peachtree Street, Liberty, SC Medical Information: Lost a leg due to wounds received in the Civil War. Military: Civil War Confederate, enlisted in Co. E. Orr's South Carolina Rifles. Military service: March 21, 1862, discharged in April 1864 Occupation: Ditcher - Farmer Notes for Methurslay Morgan: Marriage and Death Notices From the Up-Country of South Carolina as taken from Greenville newspapers 1826 - 1863 compiled by Brent H. Holcomb, C. A. L. S. At Gowensville, S. C., on Tuesday evening the 7th inst., by S. R. Whitten, Esq., Mr. James Hopkins to Miss Methurslay Morgan, both of Spartanburg District. (ibid.) Mathursa died 26 Jan. 1905 and is buried beside James in Liberty Cemetery, Peachtree St. Liberty, SC.
More About Methurslay Morgan: Burial: Buried at Liberty Cemetery, Peachtree Street, Liberty, SC
Children of James Hopkins and Methurslay Morgan are:
Generation No. 3
4. William Mitchell3 Hopkins (James2, William1) was born 1846 in Unknown, and died Unknown in Greenville, SC. He married Sally Abbott, daughter of William Abbott and Unknown Dawson.
Child of William Hopkins and Sally Abbott is:
12. John3 Hopkins (James2, William1) was born 1863 in SC, and died 1947 in SC. He married Unknown.
Child of John Hopkins and Unknown is:
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