Dennis Hopkins Sr. (abt. 1643 - aft. 1703)

Born about 1643 in Wales [uncertain]

Descendants

Died after 1703 after about age 60 in Province of Maryland

Problems/Questions Profile managers: Albertus Robert Casimir Jung [send private message] and Carol Hopkins [send private message]

Biography

Dennis Hopkins, son of Richard Hopkins of England or Wales, was born in early 17th century England or Wales, most likely about 1643.

There are no sources available to establish his exact date and place of birth. His father's name is probably Richard; his mother's name is unknown.

Dennis had three brothers: Thomas, Robert, and Clement. ^[1] Dennis Hopkins and his brothers originally belonged to the Church of England. ^[2]

According to some, the Hopkins brothers emigrated to the English Colonies in America in the 1640's. ^[3]

On 25 August 1659, Robert Hopkins was granted by Lord Baltimore 800 acres of land in that part of Maryland later known as Talbot County, a few miles from Easton. The manour was given the name of Hopkins Point. Robert and Thomas jointly patented Hopkins Point. The Hopkins family and their descendents lived in and near this manour for over a hundred and fifty years. In fact, some Hopkins wills state that the party to whom the land on Hopkins Point was willed, can never be sold except to another Hopkins. ^[4] Robert Hopkins died in 1661 in Talbot county, Maryland and left a Will giving Thomas Hopkins all of Hopkins Point. ^[5]

Dennis Hopkins himself first appears in Talbot County, Maryland in land records which indicate that he was transported to America about 1663, probably by his brother Thomas Hopkins. ^[6]

In 1668 Dennis brought his servant William Marshall to Talbot court for a judgement to serve for ten years.

Some time before 1672 Dennis became convinced of the religious views of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and became a member of that body joining the Third Haven Meeting in Easton, Maryland. ^[7] Dennis Hopkins was established enough as a Quaker by June of 1672 to witness the seventh marriage recorded in the Third Haven Minutes. ^[8]

Before 1673 Dennis Hopkins wed Grace (Brooke?), probably in Talbot county, Maryland. ^[9] Dennis and Grace are believed to have had at least three children: ^{[10] [11]}

1. Richard Hopkins;
2. Dennis Hopkins;
3. Grace Hopkins.

In 1680 John Numan and wife conveyed property called Coventry to Dennis Hopkins. ^[12]

In 1680 Dennis Hopkins is listed on the Tax Assessment for Talbot County.

On the 8th day of the Fourth Month, that is 8 June 1680, Dennis Hopkins witnessed the marriage of William Dixon and Elizabeth Christerson. ^[13]

On 26 December 1682 Dennis Hopkins along with 53 others were witness to the marriage of William Johnson of Ratcliffe in Old England, mariner, and Sarah Edmondson at the home of her father John Edmondson. ^[14]

On 28 May 1685 Dennis and Grace witnessed two marriages at Betty's Cove Meetinghouse. ^[15]

On 2 April 1686 Dennis and Grace witnessed the marriage of James Berry, boatwright, and Sarah Woolchurch at the house of Henry Woolchurch.

On 11 November 1695 Thomas Hopkins - with the consent of wife Elizabeth - conveyed to his loving brother Dennis Hopkins a gift of 326 acres (Cannon Neck) of the 800 acres belonging to Hopkins Point manour situated on Tread Haven Creek in Talbot County, Province of Maryland. ^[16]

In 1702 Dennis Hopkins and his wife Grace conveyed to Gilbert Livesey of Liverpoole, England, mariner, a one-acre lot in the town of Williamstadt. ^[17]

On 25 May 1702 Dennis and Grace Hopkins purchased Lot #5 in Oxford (one acre lot). ^[18]

On 16 August 1703 a Charles Whale named Dennis Hopkins his lawful attorney.

Grant of Land by Thomas Hopkins to brother Dennis Hopkins

"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come. I, Thomas Hopkins of Talbot County for love, good will, and natural affection which I have and beare to my loving brother Dennis Hopkins of ye same county and province 'planter' besides other good causes and considerations and more especially moving by and with the free consent of my wife Elizabeth Hopkins, have given and granted And by these presents doe freely clearly and absolutely give and grant to my Sd [Said, not 2nd!] brother Dennis Hopkins, his heires, Executors, and assignes all that part or parcell of land being part of 800 acres called Hopkins Point lying being and scituate in Tread Haven creeke in Talbott County and Province above sd [said] and Beginning at a marked White Oake standing upon a point formerly called Cannon Neck belonging to aforesaid 800 acres and runing from sd white oake down with a Creek to a marked Cedar standing on the side of a Cove neare the mouth of the said Cove which Cedar being the lowermost bounded tree of the sd eight hundred acres calld Hopkins poynte which breadth from the sd. marked white oake down the Creek to the lowermost bounded or makrt Cedar including three Coves and then runing from the markt Cedar standing on the side of the said Cove neare the mouth, northwest three hundred twenty perches and then runing from the end of the north west line north East till it meetts with a line drawn north west from the first named white Oake upon the point called Cannon Neck containing and layd out for three hundred twenty six acers more or less To have and to hold all the three hundred twenty six accers of land and every part and parcell thereof with all and singular the appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining, As house and houses, tobaccoe houses, orchards, gardens, corn fields, tobaccoe fields, woods, timber trees, underwood And fences whatsoever on these three hundred twenty six acers of Land belonging or appertaining in any wise with all the promises to the only proper use and behoofe of my sd. brother Dennis Hopkins his heires and assignes forever without any Condition. … etc. signed Thomas (X) Hopkins (seal) [T combined with an H] Elizabeth (EH, her mark) Hopkins Signed: Nov. 11, 1695." ^[19]

Research Notes

Dennis Hopkins had 3 or 4 brothers: Thomas, Robert, Davis ? & Clement.

Dennis married Grace Brooke (daughter of John Brooke & Judith Winsmore).

Dennis & Grace had 3 children: Grace, Richard & Dennis.

In 1668 Talbot Court- Dennis brought servant William Marshall to court- judgement for servant to serve 10 years.

By 1672 Dennis & Grace were Elders in the Quaker Community signing as witnesses for Quaker marriages.

In 1680 John Numan & wife conveyed property "Coventry" to Dennis Hopkins.

Dennis Hopkins is listed on the 1680 Tax Assessment for Talbot County.

Dec 26, 1682 Dennis & Grace witnessed marriage of William Johnson & Sarah Edmundson.

May 28, 1685 Dennis & Grace witnessed 2 marriages at Betty's Cove Meetinghouse.

Nov 11, 1695 Thomas & Elizabeth Hopkins conveyed to Dennis Hopkins a Gift of 326 acres "Hopkins Point" Cannon Neck

May 25, 1702 Dennis & Grace purchased Lot #5 in Oxford (one acre lot).

August 16, 1703 a Charles Whale named Dennis Hopkins his lawful attorney.

References ^{[20] [21] [22] [23]}

Sources

1. ↑ Talbot Land Record LC 6:177 (year 1731). Information: James Hopkins (son of brother Thomas) is quoted as saying "about 40 years earlier his uncle Clement Hopkins, John Games, Thomas Turner and he were getting bark on the point, called Hopkins Point".
2. ↑ Research of Helen Hopkins, Harold C. Hopkins, et al.
3. ↑ Research and personal knowledge of Katherine Jones. Note: The following Information on the Hopkins Family was sent me by her on 22 March 2015 - Albertus: "In 1897, my great-grandmother Helen Hopkins wrote a history of the family for a distant relative. She obtained information from the Friends Meeting records as well as from the oldest living representative of our family branch who was age 86 at the time, and someone she characterized as a man of great intelligence and a cousin she very highly esteemed. Her key points were that:
   1. Thomas, Robert and Dennis Hopkins (three brothers) migrated from England in 1640s to America.
   2. They were members of the Church of England.
   3. A deed of land to Thomas and Robert of 800 acres know as Hopkins Point a few miles from Easton,Talbot County, MD was made August 1651. Records: Land Office in Annapolis MS Liber No. 4 Folio 426.
   4. Robert Hopkins turned over his share of the land to his youngest brother Dennis Hopkins when he returned to England in 1657.
   5. Dennis became convinced of the religious views of the Society of Friends and became a member of that body joining Third Haven Meeting, Easton, MD about 1678. Source: Quakerism on the Eastern Shore."
4. ↑ Hopkins of Talbot County Maryland
5. ↑ Maryland Calendar of Wills (1635-1743), Book 1, page 198 - Robert Hopkins, Will, date March 22, 1661, Probate date November 5, 1661
6. ↑ Barnes & Wright: p. 212, Annie Walker Burns: LDS microfiche 6050235, Skordas: Early Settlers of Maryland, p. 237 - cited at Hopkins of Talbot County Maryland
7. ↑ Quakerism on the Eastern Shore
8. ↑ Hopkins of Talbot County Maryland
9. ↑ Grace's maiden name is uncertain, but thought by some to be Brooke, though no source confirms this outright. - Albertus
10. ↑ Rootsweb Hopkins of Talbot County, Maryland
11. ↑ Hopkins of Talbot County Maryland Text: "When and where Dennis Hopkins Sr. married his wife Grace is unknown. Grace might have been a Brooke. The births of their children are not recorded. Dennis and Grace probably had at least two sons -- Dennis Jr. and Richard. There are two land records abstracted by Barnes & Wright which support a conclusion that Dennis Jr. and Richard Hopkins were brothers. … Dennis and Grace most likely had a daughter Grace because of the will of Judith Brooke, who left personality to Grace Hopkins Jr. July 1 l, 1673 (by personality was meant personal belongings) although Grace Hopkins Jr. was almost certainly a young child in 1673. It may be that Judith Brooke left personal items to her granddaughter and that Grace, wife of Dennis, was the daughter of Judith Brooke. I do not, however, believe that Grace Hopkins Jr. was the Grace who married Peter Harwood for reasons which I present below."
12. ↑ Talbot County Maryland Land Records, v. 4, p. 1
13. ↑ Lucy Kate McGhee, Maryland Quaker Records of Third Haven, v. 3. Talbot County Maryland Marriages, v. 1, p. 11
14. ↑ McGhee, p. 15
15. ↑ McGhee, pp. 22, 23
16. ↑ Talbot County Land Book 7, page l55. Text: "To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come. I, Thomas Hopkins of Talbot County for love, good will, and natural affection which I have and beare to my loving brother Dennis Hopkins of ye same county and province 'planter' besides other good causes and considerations and more especially moving by and with the free consent of my wife Elizabeth Hopkins, have given and granted and by those presents we freely change and absolutely give and grant to my Sd [Said, not 2nd!] brother Dennis Hopkins, his heirs, executors, and assigns all that part or part of land being part of 800 acres called Hopkins Point being and situated on Tread Haven Creek in Talbot County and Province above, 2d and beginning at a marked white oak standing upon a point formally called Cannon Neck belonging to aforesaid 800 acres to a point called Cannon Neck containing and layd out for 326 acres of land and [an?] even part thereof with all and singular appurtenances thereunto belonging or appertaining, as house and houses, tobacco houses' orchards, gardens, corn fields, tobacco fields, woods, timber trees, underwood and fences whatsoever on the 326 acres of land' etc. signed Thomas (X) Hopkins (seal) [T combined with an H] Elizabeth (EH, her mark) Hopkins Signed: Nov. l 1, 1695." The above source is cited at: Hopkins of Talbot County, Maryland
17. ↑ Barnes and Wright, p. 212; Talbot Land Records, v. 9, p. 123
18. ↑ Oswald Tilghman, History of Talbot County Maryland, 1661-1861, Vol. The Town and Port of Oxford, page 340
19. ↑ Transcription of Thomas Hopkin's handwritten Grant of Land. See image.
20. ↑ Carol Hopkins
21. ↑ Talbot County Maryland Land Records
22. ↑ Talbot County Maryland Court Records
23. ↑ Third Haven Quaker Meeting Records

Acknowledgements

Thanks to 8th Great-grandson Albertus for creating WikiTree profile on 14 February 2015. Click to the Changes page for the details of edits by Albertus and others.