One of the first ancestors my grandmother ever told me about was Stephen Hopkins, who came here from England on the Mayflower. But my grandmother didn’t tell me that it wasn’t his first trip across the Atlantic Ocean. Or about the troubles he got into. In 2015 I started reading (listening to) a book about him, Here Shall I Die Ashore: Stephen Hopkins: Bermuda Castaway, Jamestown Survivor & Mayflower Pilgrim by Caleb Johnson. What an adventurous life he led!
My 10th-great-grandfather, Stephen Hopkins, was baptized 30 April 1581 at Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, and died at Plymouth Colony, before 17 July 1644, when his will was proved. He married (as his first wife) c. 1603, Mary (—), who died before 9 May 1613, when she was buried in Hursley, Hampshire, England.
Stephen married (as his second wife) 19 February 1618 in Whitechapel, London, England, Elizabeth Fisher. Stephen and his pregnant wife Elizabeth came here together on the Mayflower in 1620, with their daughter and two children from his first marriage. Elizabeth gave birth to their son, Oceanus, on board the ship during the voyage. My grandmother delighted me with that tidbit of information!
There is a great biographical sketch of Stephen’s life on Caleb Johnson’s Mayflower History website: Stephen Hopkins
Stephen & Elizabeth were original settlers of Plymouth, the oldest town in New England, which was incorporated in 1620.
Mary & Stephen were the parents of three children, all baptized in Hursley:
1. Elizabeth Hopkins, born before 13 March 1604, died young.
2. Constance Hopkins (my 10th-great-grandmother), baptized 11 May 1606, died in October 1677 in Eastham, Massachusetts. Constance was 14 when she came over on the Mayflower. She married c. 1627 in Plymouth, Nicholas Snow, who was born c. 1600, and died 15 November 1676 in Eastham. They lie buried in Cove Burying Ground in Eastham.
3. Giles Hopkins (my 9th-great-grandfather), baptized 30 January 1608, died before 16 April 1690, when his will was proved. Giles was 12 when he came over on the Mayflower. He married 9 October 1639 in Plymouth, Catherine Whelden, who was baptized 6 March 1617 in Basford, England, and arrived in Plymouth with her parents in 1638, and probably died shortly after her husband, daughter of Gabriel & Jane (—) Whelden.
Elizabeth & Stephen were the parents of seven children:
1. Damaris Hopkins, born c. 1619 in England, probably died young. Damaris was probably a baby when she came over on the Mayflower.
2. Oceanus Hopkins, born at sea before 11 November 1620, probably died before 1623.
3. Caleb Hopkins, born c. 1622 in Plymouth, died before 3 April 1651 in Barbados. He was a seaman.
4. Deborah Hopkins, born c. 1624 in Plymouth, died there c. 1674. She married (as his first wife) c. 1645, Andrew Ring, who was born c. 1618 in Leiden, Netherlands, and died 4 March 1694 in Plymouth, son of William & Mary (Durrant) Ring.
5. Damaris Hopkins, born c. 1628 in Plymouth, died there before 18 November 1669. She married there (as his first wife) after 10 June 1646, Jacob Cook, who was born 20 May 1618 in Leiden, and died 11 December 1675 in Plymouth, son of Francis & Hester (Mahieu) Cook.
6. Ruth Hopkins, born c. 1630 in Plymouth, died there before 3 April 1651.
7. Elizabeth Hopkins, born c. 1632 in Plymouth, disappeared and presumed dead by 5 October 1659.
Last Revised: 7 September 2024