Esek Hopkins (1718 - 1802)

Born 26 Apr 1718 in Scituate, Providence, Rhode Island

Ancestors

Husband of Desire (Burroughs) Hopkins — married 28 Nov 1741 in Newport, Rhode Island

Descendants

Died 26 Feb 1802 at age 83 in Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States

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Project: Global Family Reunion/Notables

Biography

Esek Hopkins is Notable.

Brigadier General Esek Hopkins served with Continental Navy during the American Revolution.

Esek Hopkins is a DAR Patriot Ancestor, A057986.

Commodore of the Continental Navy during the American Revolution. Commodore Esek Hopkins was an American naval officer. Hopkins was the only Commander in Chief of the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He was also an accomplished merchant captain and privateer. He is noted for his successful raid on the British port of Providence, in the Bahamas, and capturing large stores of military supplies Before the Revolutionary War he had sailed to nearly every quarter of the earth, and commanded a privateer in the French and Indian War. In the interval between voyages, moreover, he was engaged in Rhode Island politics, served as a deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly, and rendered efficient support to his brother Stephen, who became governor in 1755. Before the departure of that first mission in December 1775, the newly appointed commander-in-chief of the Navy, Commodore Esek Hopkins, received the yellow rattlesnake flag from Continental Colonel Christopher Gadsden to serve as the distinctive personal standard of his flagship. It was displayed at the mainmast and the first time the Gadsden Flag was flown.

Research

Esek appears as head of household at North Providence in the 1774 census of Rhode Island^[1]. The age/sex distribution of the household and inferred attributions are

• one white male over 16: Esek
• two white males under 16: son Esek and unknown
• three white females over 16: Desire and daughters Amey and Susannah
• two white females under 16: unknown
• two black males over 16: unknown
• one black female over 16: unknown
• one black female under 16: unknown

Records show Esek's children being born in Providence, but a time when North Providence had not yet been formed. There is no record other than this census showing Esek in North Providence. Nevertheless, we identify him as Commodore Esek as there is no other likely candidate.

He was married to Desire Burroughs/Burrows at Newport on Nov. 28, 1741, by Rev. Nicholas Eyres. ^[2]

Children

1. John born at Newport on August 14, 1743. ^[2]
2. Heart, born at Providence on. August 31, 1744. ^[2]
3. Abigail born on October 14, 1746. ^[2]
4. Samuel born on February 19, 1730. ^[2]
5. Amey born on January 15, 1751. ^[2]
6. Stephen born on March 6, 1753. ^[2]
7. Susannah born on May 10, 1756. ^[2]
8. Esek born on June 31, 1738. ^[2]

Sources

1. ↑ 1774 Census
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8} Arnold, James N., Vital record of Rhode Island : 1636-1850 : first series : births, marriages and deaths : a family register for the people, Volume 2, Providence County, Narragansett Historical Publishing Company, Providence, Rhode Island, 1892, p. 95: 228

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esek_Hopkins
• 1774 Rhode Island Census, North Providence, Page 3, Entry 36 -- Esek Hopkins; citing transcription by Cherry Fletcher Bamberg in Rhode Island Roots 32 p.77, June 2006.
• "United States Census, 1800", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XH55-R7M : Thu Sep 14 16:33:02 UTC 2023), Entry for Erik Hopkins Esquire, 1800.