Joseph Hopkins (abt. 1689 - 1740)

Born about 1689 in Providence, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Bethia (Allen) Hopkins — married 1700 in Providence, Rhode Island

Husband of Martha (Tucker) Hopkins — married 1711 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 19 Jul 1740 at about age 51 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island

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Biography

Birth

Joseph Hopkins was born about 1689 in Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and Plantations. ^[1]

Marriage

Joseph Hopkins married Bethia Allen about 1700 in Providence, Colony of Rhode Island and Plantations.

Joseph Hopkins married second, Martha Tucker about 1711 in Providence, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.

Children

Joseph Hopkins and Bethia Allen had the following children:

1. Oziel Hopkins, born about 1707 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.
2. Joseph Hopkins, Jr., born about 1710 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.

Joseph Hopkins and Martha Tucker had the following children:

1. Desire (Hopkins) Tucker (1714 - 1805)
2. Oziel Hopkins, born in 1722 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.
3. Jeremiah Hopkins, born in 1723 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.
4. Jonah Hopkins, born 15 November 1724 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.
5. Abner Hopkins, born in 1724 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.
6. Dorcas Hopkins, born in 1726 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.

Manufacturers' and Farmers' Journal, October 29, 1857, Page 4

"When Scituate, Rhode Island, was set apart from Providence, in 1730, we find the family of Hopkins in that part of the town now Foster, honored with appointments. (Their brother Zebedee settled in Glocester.)

• Joseph, being a care'ul and benevolent man, and of some age, was made overseer of the poor
• Lieut. Elisha Hopkins was chosen a member of the town council
• Thomas was elected a surveyor of the highways
• Ezekiel was appointed to audit the town treasurer's accounts
• William was elected a grand juror

Thus, five brothers were usefully employed in town affairs. They all married and resided near to each other, and their childen and children's children soon made a large Hopkins family."

Death

Joseph Hopkins died on 19 July 1740 in Scituate, Providence County, Colony of Rhode Island.

Burial

The burial of Joseph Hopkins was probably lost into the ground or perhaps was destroyed due to the construction of Scituate Reservoir that flooded the most area of Scituate Township.^[2]

Probate Records

Att a Town Council held in Scituate in the County of Providence the first Day of September Anno Dom 1740...

Stephen Hopkins presented the Last Will and Testament of Joseph of Scituate Yeoman Deceased to this Council which was Read in the following Words Vizt.

In the Name of God Amen The fourth Day of July in the Fourteenth Year of his Majesties Reign George the Second King of Great Britain &c I Joseph Hopkins of Scituate in the County of Providence in the Colony of Rhode Island in New England Yeoman being very Sick and Weak of Body : but of perfect mind and memory Thanks be given to God. Therefore Calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and Knowing it is appointed for men once to die, Do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and forme following, that is to say principally and first of all my Soul I Recomend into the Hands of God that Gave it and my Body to the Earth to be Buried Decently at the deseretion of my Executors hereinafter named : And as Touching such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this Present Life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following Manner and Forme.

Imprimas I give to my son Jeremiah Sixty Acres of Land on the Eastward side of my Homestead Farm to be divided of by a Streight line to be Run quite across my sd. Farm parrallel with the eastern line of my Land I bought of William Hopkins Deceasd. in such Manner as may leave the Complement of Sixty Acres and no more to the Eastward or Northeastward of sd. line as to be run which Sixty Acres I hereby give to my sd. Son Jerimoth his Heirs and Assigns forever : but if my sd. son Jeremiah should die before the age of Twenty one and without Issue my son Abner being then liveing my Will is that my sd. son Abner shall have the said Sixty Acres of Land to be and remain to be and remain to him and his Heirs forever. I also give to my sd. Son Jerimoth one Eighth part of One Whole purchase Right int the undivided Lands on the west side of the Seven Mile line in the Original purchase of Providence being the Original Right of Thomas Hopkins Deceasd to him and his Heirs forever. And I also give to my sd. Son Jerimoth Two Year and vantage Steers and Two Heifers of the same age and one Colt Foaled last Spring, and also the priviledge to mow as much grass in the southeastern part of my Meadow Land as will make Six Loads of Hay a Year for five Years next to come. after my Decease.

Item I give to my son Jonah all the Remainder of my sd. Homestead Farme with all the priviledges and Appurtenances thereunto belonging to be and remain to him my sd son Jonah his Heirs and Assigns forever. he paying to my son Abner when he my sd. son Abner shall attain to the age of Twenty One the full sum of Two Hundred pounds in Current Money of New England. but if my said son Jonah should die before he attain the age of Twenty One and without Issue my sd. son Abner being then Liveing my Will is that my sd. Son Abner shall have all Jonahs part of Land to be and remain to him my sd. son Abner his Heirs and Assigns forever he paying to my son Jerimoth One Hundred and Fifty pounds in money, and to my Daughter Dorcass Fifty pounds in money.

Item my Will is that my percal of Land lying in Providence that I bought of John Rhodes Junr Containing Forty Acres shall be sold by my Executors [0 . . ]other of them and my son Joseph whome I do by these presents full [1 . 3 . . ] Authorize and Impower to sell and give Authorize Deeds of the some [2 . 6 . . ] the money ariseing from the Sale thereof to be used Towards the paying of my Debts.

Item I give to my Daughter in Law Desire Tucker One Bed Beding and one Milch Cow being a Cow that is Called hers now.^[3]

Item I give to my Daughter Dorcass One Hundred pounds in money to be paid to her by my Executors when she attains to the age of Eighteen.

Item I give to Martha my belove Wife the Incomes and profits of the One half of my Homestead Farm untill my above sd. son Jonah shall attain to the age of Twenty One, and after that the incomes and profits of one Third part thereof so long as she remains my Widow.

Item I give all the Residue and Remainder of my Moveable and personal Estate (after my debts ar paid) to be equally divided between my aforesaid wife and my said Jonah, but my Wife to have the Use and profits of the whole thereof untill Jonah be Twenty one Towards the looking after and bringing up my Children that are Small.

And the Reason why I have given nothing to my Two sons Oziel and Joseph in this my Will is because I have already given each of them such part of my Estate by Deed as I intended for them.

And I do hereby nominate Constitute appoint and Ordain Martha my aforesaid wife and my sd. Son Jonah to be the Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. And I do also hereby utterly Revoke Disallow and Annuall and every other and former Wills Testaments Legacies Bequests and Executors by me heretofore made Willed or bequeathed Ratifieing allowing and holding firm and Effectual this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the day above Written in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty.

Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the said Joseph Hopkins as his Last Will ad Testament in presence of us the Subscribers

William Hopkins Tabitha Hopkins Stephen Hopkins} Joseph Hopkins {seal}

And William Hopkins Tabitha Hopkins and Stephen Hopkins all personally appeared before this Council and Declared on their several Engagements that they saw the above named Joseph Hopkins Sign Seal and Declare what is here above Written to be his Last Will and Testament, and that he was then of a sound and perfect mind and memory and that at the same Time they and each of them subscribed their names thereto as Witnesses in the presence of the said Testator and each other. Teste Stephen Hopkins Counll Cler

And Martha Hopkins Widow of the said Joseph Hopkins appeared before this Council and accepted of the above Written Will of her Husband and prayd. that it might be proved, and that She and her son the sd. Jonah Hopkins might have Letters of Administration of the personal Estate of her sd. Husband, Whereupon it is Voted that the above Will Be approved and allowed to be a good and Lawfull Will and be Recorded, And that Letters of Administration of the personal Estatte of the sd. Joseph Hopkins be granted to the said Martha Hopkins and Jonah Hopkins under the Seal of this Council which was done accordingly in the Following Words.

These are in his Majesties Name George the second King of Great Britain &c To Authorise order and Impower You the said Martha Hopkins and Jonah Hopkins to Take into You Possession Care and Custody all and Singular the goods Chattles Rights and Creditts of the said Joseph Hopkins Deceased and the the same to Administer according to Law and the Will of your Testator and in all things relateing the Premisses to Act and do as the Law Requireth and Impowereth Executors. And true and perfect accounts of sd. Estate and your doings therewith to render to this Council or their Successors when You are thereunto lawfully called. And for your so doing this shall be your sufficient Authority.

Given as a Town Council held in Scituate ye day and year above said and in the Fourteenth Year of his sd. Majesties Reign.

Signed and Sealed by order of sd. Council per Stephen Hopkins their Clk

And the said Martha Hopkins Exhibited an Inventory of of the personal Estate of her Husband the sd. Joseph Hopkins Deceasd to this Council in the following Word Vizt.

A True Inventory of all and Singular the goods Chattles and Creditts of Joseph Hopkins of Scituate in ye County of Providence &c who Deceased on the 19th day of July 1740 appraised August 27th day 1740 by us the Subscribers.

Imprimas To his Wareing Cloathes and Bodily Apparrel... £31:14:0
Item To three Books and one Rasor... £1:3:0
Item To four Wool Beds and Beding... £40:3:0
Item To Sixteen Cheeses... £4:0:0
Item To Linnen and Tow Yarne... £7:9:6
Item To Worsted Yarne... £1:7:0
Item To sixteen pounds wollen Yarne... £4:8:0
Item To fifty pounds of sheep Wool... £7:10:0
Item To four bedsteads and cords to the same... £2:0:0
Item To three Iron potts and two Irons Kettles and one Iron Skillett... £5:2:0
Item To one brass Kettle... £3:0:0
Item To pewter ware... £6:17:0
Item To two Tubs seven Trays and other wooden ware... £3:15:0
Item To Corn and rye and meat and Butter... £17:3:0
Item To Six old barrels and a rumlet and other Lumber... £2:16:0
Item To 2 candlesticks and a Warming pan and Frying pan... £1:12:0
Item To three Chests... £2:0:0
Item To two spinning wheels... £1:0:0
Item To one Table & eight Chairs... £1:10:0
Item To three Thousand shingles nails and four Corn baskets... £2:5:0
Total... £147:4:6^[4]
brought forward... £147:4:6
Item To one sicle one pair of Sheers three Knives... £0:9:0
Item To five Bills... £1:14:0
Item To two guns... £4:0:0
Item To one Loome and Tackling to the same... £4:6:0
Item To one draught Chaine clevis & pin Horse Tackling Beetle & wedges... £3:7:0
Item To one set of Coopers Tools... £3:3:0
Item To one plow and Iron Bar Grindstone hoes and axes... £9:15:0
Item To five Scythes four pitchforks three rakes... £3:14:0
Item To a hand Jointer two Chizsells... £0:9:0
Item To four Boxes and four Hoops to a pair of Cartwheels... £3:0:0
Item To upper Leather... £0:16:0
Item To Old Saddle and one Bridle... £1:15:0
Item To Seven Cows... £63:0:0
Item To Six Yearlings... £20:0:0
Item To one mare... £12:0:0
Item To three Calves... £5:5:0
Item To One Yoke of Oxen... £30:0:0
Item To One Two Year Bull... £6:0:0
Item To a book Debt... £9:0:0
Item To forty two Sheep in pasture... £28:0:0
Item To four Hogs and seven pigs... £17:0:0
Item To one mare and Colt... £18:0:0
Item To one Yoke of Oxen... £28:0:0
added in Council 3 Yokes and yoke Irons... £1:3:6
Total... £421:1:0

Witness our Hands the day aforesaid
Thomas Hopkins John Smith
Reuben Hopkins

And the said Martha Hopkins Declared on Engagement before this Council that the above Inventory Contained all the personal Estate of her Husband the sd. Joseph Hopkins Deceased that is come to her Knowledge and that if any thing more thereof appears hereafter she will add the same to this Inventory. Whereupon it is Voted that the above Inventory be accepted and Recorded Teste Stephen Hopkins Counll Cler^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ Gosney Family Records: Wisda, Georgia (Gosney) Mrs. 1878-. Gosney Family Records: 1740-1940, And Related Families. [Corydon, Ind.: Lew M. O'Bannon publishing co., 1940. Page 241 https://hdl.handle.net/2027/wu.89062879564?urlappend=%3Bseq=247
2. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 01 January 2021), memorial page for Joseph Hopkins (1679–19 Jul 1740), Find A Grave: Memorial #139342888, ; Maintained by Lee Ashmore (contributor 47026276) Unknown.
3. ↑ Scituate, Rhode Island. Probate and Town Council Records, Book 1, p. 62, 63. Ancestry.com. Rhode Island, Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9079/007649084_00067#. (Click here for free image)
4. ↑ Scituate, Rhode Island. Probate and Town Council Records, Book 1, p. 64, 65. Ancestry.com. Rhode Island, Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9079/007649084_00067#. (Click here for free image)
5. ↑ Scituate, Rhode Island. Probate and Town Council Records, Book 1, p. 66. Ancestry.com. Rhode Island, Wills and Probate Records, 1582-1932 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015, https://www.ancestry.com/interactive/9079/007649084_00068#. (Click here for free image)