Stephen Hopkins was from Hampshire, England. By the parish records, his wife's name is Mary, but records show her name to be Constance Dudley, perhaps her middle name was Mary? Stephen and Mary were the parents of Constance, Elizabeth and Giles(Gyles), who were all baptized at the parish of Hursley, Hampshire, England.
History shows Stephen Hopkins went with the ship "Sea Venture" on a voyage to Jamestown, Virginia in 1609 as a minister's clerk, but the ship wrecked in the "Isle of Devils" in the Bermudas. Stranded on an island for ten months, the passengers and crew survived on turtles, birds, and wild pigs. Six months into the castaway, Stephen Hopkins and several others organized a mutiny against the current Govenor. The mutiny was discovered and Stephen was sentenced to death. However, he pleaded with sorrow and tears. "So penitent he was, and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass, as it wrought in the hearts of all the better sorts of the company". He managed to get his sentence commuted.
Eventually the castaways built a small ship and sailed themselves to Jamestown. How long Stephen remained in Jamestown is not known. However, while he was gone, his wife, Mary died. She was buried in Hursley on 9 May 1613, and left behind a probate estate which mentions her children, Elizabeth, Constance and Giles.
Stephen was back in England by 1617, when he married Elizabeth Fisher, but apparently had every intention of bringing his family back to Virginia. Their first child, Damaris, was born about 1618. In 1620, Stephen Hopkins brought his wife, and children, Constance, Giles, and Damaris on the "Mayflower" child Elizabeth had apparently died.) Stephen was a fairly active member of the Pilgrims shortly after arrival, perhaps a result of his being one of the few individuals who had previously been in Virginia. He was a part of all the early exploring missions, and was used almost as an expert on Native Americans for the First few contacts. While out exploring, Stephen recognized and identified an Indian deer trap. And when Samoset walked into Plymouth and welcomed the English, he was housed in Stephen Hopkins house for the night. Stephen was also sent on several ambassadorial missions to meet with the various Indian groups in the region.
Stephen was an assistant to the Govenor through 1636, and volunteered for the Pequot War of 1637 but was never called to serve. However, by the mid 1630s, Stephen was occasionally running a foul of the Plymouth authorities, as he apparently opened up a shop and served alcohol. In 1636, he got in a fight with John Tisdale and seriously wounded him. In 1637, he was fined for allowing drinking and shuffleboard playing on Sunday. Early the next year he was fined for allowing people to drinkexcessively in his house: guest William Reynolds was fined, but the others were acquitted. In 1638, he was twice fined for selling beer at twice the actual value. Also in 1638, Stephen Hopkins maidservant got pregnant from Arthur Peach, who was subsequently executed for murdering an Indian. The Plymouth Court ruled Stephen was financially responsible for her and her child for the next two years (the amount remaining on her term of service.) Stephen, in contempt of court threw Dorothy out of his household and refused to provide for her, so the court committed him to custody. John Holmes stepped in and purchased Dorothy's remaining two years of service from him: agreeing to support her and her child. Then once again we learn that in 1639, Stephen was fined for selling a looking glass for what it would have cost if bought in the Bay Colony.
Stephen Hopkins died in 1644, and made out a will, asking to be buried near his wife, and naming his surviving children. His will read (per his writing) 6 June 1644: The last Will and Testament of Mr. Stephen Hopkins exhibited upon the Oathes ofmr. Willm Bradford and Captaine Miles Standish at the generall Court holden at Plymouth the xxth of August Anno dm 1644 as it followeth in these wordes vizt. The sixt of June 1644 I Stephen Hopkins of Plymouth in New England being weake yet in good and prfect memory blessed be God yet considering the fraile estate of all men I do ordaine and make this to be my last will and testament in manner and forme following and first I do committ my body to the earth from whence it was taken, and my soule to the Lord who gave it, my body to be buryed as neare as convenyently may be to my wyfe Deceased - And first my will is that out of my whole estate my funerall expences be discharged - secondly that out of the remayneing part of my said estate that all my lawful Debts be payd - thirdly I do bequeth by this my will to my sonn Giles Hopkins my bull wch in now in the hands of Mris Warren. Also I do give to Stephen Hopkins my sonn Giles his sonne twenty shillings in Mris Warrens hands for the hire of the said Bull. Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Constanc Snow the wyfe of Nicholas Snow my mare - also I give to my daughter Deborah Hopkins the brodhorned black cowe and her calf and half the Cowe called Motley. Also I doe give and bequeath unto my daughter Damaris Hopkins the cowe called Damaris heiffer and the white faced calf and half the cowe called Mottley. Also I give to my daughter Ruth the cowe called Red Cole and her calfe and a Bull at Yarmouth wxh is in the keeping of Giles Hopkins wch is an yeare and advantage old and half the curld Cowe. Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth the Cowe called Smykins and her calf and thother hlaf of the Curld Cowe wth Ruth and an yearelinge heiffer wthout a tayle in the keeping of Gyles Hopkins at Yarmouth. Also I give and bequeath unto my foure daughters that is to say Deborah Hopkins, Damaris Hopkins, Ruth Hopkins, and Elizabeth Hopkins all the mooveable goods the whc do belong to my house as linnen, wollen, beds, bedclothes, pott, kettles, pewter or whatsoevr are moveable belonging to my said house of what kynd soever and and not named by their prticular names all wch said mooveables to be equally devided amongst my said daughters, foure silver spoones that is to say to eich of them one, And in case any of my said daughters should be taken away by death before they be marryed that then the part of thier division to be equally divided amongst the Survivors. I do also by this will make Caleb Hopkins my sonn and heir apparent giveing and bequeathing unto my sonn aforesaid all my Right title and interest to my house and lands at Plymouth wth all the Right title and interest wch doth might or fo Right doth or may hereafterbelong unto mee, as also I give unto my said heire all such land whc of Right is Rightly due unto me and not prsent in my reall possession wch belongs unto me by right of my first comeing into this land or by any other due Right, as by such freedome or otherwise giveing unto my said heire my full & whole and entire Right in all divisions allotments, appoyntments or distributions whatsoever to all or any pt of the said lande at any tyme or tymes so to be disposed. Also I do give moreover unto my foresaid heire one paire of yooke of oxen and the hyer of them wch are in the hands of Richard Church as may appeare by bill under his hand. Also I do give unto my said heire Caleb Hopkins all my debts wch are now oweing unto me, or at the day of my death may be oweing unto mee either by booke bill or bills or any other rightfully due unto mee ffurthermore. my will is that my daughters aforesaid shall have free recourse to my house in Plymouth upon any occation there to abide and remayne for such tyme as any of them shall thinke, meete and convenyent & they single persons. And for the faythfull prformance of this my will, I do make and ordayne my aforesaid sonn and heire Caleb Hopkins my true and lawfull Executor. ffurther Ido by this will appoint and make my said sonn and Captaine Miles Standish joyntly supervisors of this my will according to the true meaneing of the same that is to say that my Executor & supervisor sshall make the severall divisions parts or porcons legacies or whatever doth appertaine to the fullfilling of this my will . It is also my will that my Executr & Supervisor shall advise, devise and dispose by the best wayes & meanes they cann for the disposeiing in marriage or other wise for the best advancnt of the estate of the aforenamed Deborah, Damaris, Ruth and Elizabeth Hopkins. Thus trusting in the Lord my will shalbe truly prformed according to the true meaneing of the same. I committ the whole Disposeing hereof to the Lord that hee may direct you herein. June 6th, 1644 Witnesses hereof By me Steven Hopkins Myles Standish William Bradford
Sources: 01.) The True Orgins of Mayflower Passenger Stephen Hopkins, The American Genealogist, 73 pages 161-171 by Caleb Johnson.
02.) Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: Stephen Hopkins, published by the Mayflower Society.
Birth30 January 1607/08 (9 February 1608)3028 Hursley, Hampshire, England Deathafter 5 March 1688/89 (15 March 1689) (Age 81) Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Birthabout 16244629 Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts Death23 February 1693/94 (5 March 1694) (Age 70) Plymouth, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Individuals - Placeway Family Tree
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