Stephen Hopkins sailed on the Mayflower in 1620. Was one of the Londoners or strangers recruited for the voyage. He was called Master, and only two other of the 17 free men on the voyage were styled. Stephen was called a tanner or leather maker at the time of the Mayflower voyage. He seems to have originated from the family of Hopkins, alias Seborne, located for several generations at Wortley, Wooton Underedge, Gloucester County, England. Although Stephen of the Mayflower may well have been a son of Stephen Hopkins, a clothier of Wortley, who also had a son Robert Hopkins of London. Two indentured servants (Edward Doty and Edward Lister) came with Hopkins on the Mayflower.

Stephen Hopkins was probably the young man of that name who served as minister's clerk on the vessel Sea Venture which sailed from London June 2, 1609, bound for Virginia. The ship was severely damaged in a hurricane and the company was washed ashore on the Bermuda "Isle of the Divels" on July 28, 1609. The 150 survivors were marooned on the island for nine months, building two vessels which ultimately took them to Virginia.

During the sojourn, Stephen Hopkins encouraged an uprising by his fellows upon the grounds that the Governor's authority pertained only to the voyage and the regime in Virginia, not to the forced existence in Bermuda. For his remarks, he was placed under guard, brought before the company in manacles and sentenced to death by court-martial. "But so pentent hee was and made so much moane, alleadging the ruine of his Wife and Children: in this his trespasse", according to William Starchey's record of the voyage, that friends among his cohorts procured a pardon from the Governor.

The two newly built vessels, Patience and Deliverance, arrived at Jamestown on May 24, 1610, but no evidence has been found of Hopkins' residence there, and it is presumed he soon returned to his family in England . While Hopkins was very religious, he was contentious and defiant of authority and possessed enough learning to undertake to wrest leadership from others.

Stephen Hopkins was not only one of the first men among the Pilgrims, but he had extraordinary fortune in being concerned with many of the first things that happened to the colonists, whether for good or evil. Thus, he was one of the signers of the first Declaration of Independence in the New World- the famous Compact, drawn up and signed in the cabin of the Mayflower, November 21, 1620. He was a member of the first expedition that left the ship to find a place for landing; he was in the first party that went ashore at Plymouth Rock; he was the first white man of the colony to entertain an Indian at his house overnight. He went, with Gov. Winslow and Squantum, on the first embassy sent to Massasoit to conclude a treaty; he was a member of the first Council of Governor's Assistants after the incorporation of Plymouth- a position to which he was chosen for three years in succession (1632-1635); and to this we may add that his two servants, Edward Leister and Edward Doty, fought the first duel on record in New England. He is repeatedly mentioned in the records of the colonies.

He seems to have been Fairly prosperous, for toward the close of his life we find him purchasing a share in a vessel of 40 to 50 tons, valued at two hundred pounds sterling.

On June 6, 1644, he made his will. The exact date of his death is unknown; but it must have been before July 17, for then his inventory was taken. In his will, witnessed by Gov. Bradford and Capt. Standish, he passes by his oldest son, Giles, and makes Caleb, the only son of his second wife, his heir and executor.

Will of Stephen Hopkins- The last Will and Testament of Mr. Stephen Hopkins exhibited upon the Oathes of mr 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 b eburyed 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 lawfull Debts be payd thirdly I do bequeath by this my will to my sonn Giles Hopkins my great Bull wch is 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 unto 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 wch is in the keepeing 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 half of the Curld Cowe wth Ruth and an yearelinge heiffer wth out a tayle in the keeping of Gyles Hopkins at Yarmouth Also I do 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 wch do belong to my house as linnen wollen beds bedcloathes pott kettles pewter or whatsoevr are moveable belonging to my said house of what kynd soever 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 their division to be equally devided amongst the Survivors. I do also by this my will make Caleb Hopkins my sonn and heire apparent giveing and bequeathing unto my said sonn aforesaid all my Right title and interrest to my house and lands at Plymouth wth all the Right title and interrest wch doth might or of Right doth or may hereafter belong unto mee, as also I give unto my saide heire all such land wch of Right is Rightly due unto me and not at 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 allottments 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 or 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 way 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 I do by this my will appoynt 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 shall make the severall divisions parts or porcons legacies or whatsoever 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 disposeing in marriage or other wise for the best advancnt of the estate of the forenamed 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

Baptism: October 29, 1581, Parish of Wooton Underedge, Gloucester Co., England

Marriage: Abt. February 19, 1617/18, Whitechapel, London, England

Constance, sometimes call Constanta in records. Governor Bradford wrote of her, between March 6 and April 3, 1651, that " Constanta is also maried, and hath 12 children all of the living, and one of them married."

Baptism: St. Leonard's, Shoreditch, London, England

Marriage: Abt. May 1626

Came to America on the Ann in 1623. He was named in 1634 to lay out highways in Plymouth, and served as arbitrator, surveyor of highways, and on juries. By 1645 he had settled at Eastham where he served as clerk, selectman, deputy, constable, surveyor, excise collector, and on court committees.

The will of Nicolas Snow of Eastham is dated November 14, 1676.

Baptism: January 25, 1598/99, St Leonard's, Shoreditch, London, England

Marriage: Bef. 1628, Plymouth, MA

Giles (Gyles) Hopkins cane on the ship Mayflower with his family. He volunteered with his father and brother, Caleb to go up against the Pequot Indians in 1637. He moved from Plymouth to Yarmouth in late 1638 or early 1639 and probably met his wife there. They occupied the first house traditionally built by the English on Cape Cod below Sandwich.

Giles took the oath of fidelity at Yarmouth and was named a surveyor of highways, March 7, 1642/3.

He was conveyed 100 acres by his brother, Caleb on October 28, 1644. He moved to Eastham, where he served as highway surveyor in 1660, 1662, and 1671.

His will was dated January 19, 1682, and a codicil, dated March 5, 1688 were admitted to probate April 16, 1690. Will of Gyles Hopkins- To all Christian people to whome these presents shall com know ye that I Giles Hopkins of Eastham being sick and weak of Body and yet of perfit memory do declare this as my Last will and Testament on this ninteenth day of January in ye year of our Lord 1682.

I bequeath my Body to ye grave in decent burial when this Temporal Life of mine shall have an end and my soul to god that gave it in hopes of a blessed Resurection at ye Last day.

2ly my will is that my son Stephen Hopkins shall possess and Injoy all my Upland and meadow Lying and being at Satuckit that is to say all my upland and meadow on ye southerly side of ye bounds of ye Towne of eastham that is to say all my Right and title Intrest and claime to all those Lands from ye head of Namescakit to ye southermost part of ye long pond where mannomoyet cart way goes over to Satuckit and from thence to ye head of manomoyet river and so as our Line shall run over to ye south sea all ye Lands between thos bounds and ye westermost bounds of ye purchesers at satuckit river all these Lands I give Unto my son Stephen Hopkins and to his heirs forever: and half my stock of cattill for and in consideration of ye above sd Land and half stock of cattel my will is that after my decease my son Stephen Hopkins shall take ye care and oversight and maintaine my son William Hopkins during his natural Life in a comfortable decent manner.

3ly my will is that all my Lands at Palmet both purchesed and unpurchesed both meadows and upland and all my Lands at Pochet and my third part of Samsons neck and what other Lands shall fall unto me as a purcheser from ye fore mentioned Bounds of my son Stephen Hopkinses Lands and potanomacot all these fore specified Lands I give unto my sons Caleb and Joshua Hopkins to be equaly devided between them: further my will is that if either of my sons Joshua or Caleb Hopkins dye having no Issew that then these Lands which I have given them to be equally devided between them fall to him that surviveth.

4ly. I give unto my wife Catorne Hopkins and to my son William Hopkins the improvment of too acres of meadow Lying at ye head of Rock Harbor during my wifes Life and ye one half of that too acres I give Unto my son william during his Life and after ye decease of and after ye decease of my wife and son william I do give this above sd too acres of meadow to my son Joshua Hopkins and his heirs forever: as also after my decease I give Unto my son Joshua Hopkins a parcel of meadow Lying at ye mouth of Rock Harbor according to ye bounds thereof specified in ye Towne Records of Lands: it I give unto my son Caleb Hopkins a parcel of meadow Lying at Little Nameskeket according to ye bounds thereof specified in ye Towne Book of Records of Lands.

It. I give unto my wife my now dwelling House and halfe my Land and halfe my orchard that is by my house: by Land I mean half my Land that is about my house both fenced and Unfenced during my wifes natural Life, and then ye above sd housing and Lands to fall unto my son Joshua Hopkins; the other half of my Land and orchard I give to my son Joshua Hopkins after my death that is to say ye other half of my Lands Liying about my house.

It. I give unto my son Caleb Hopkins one pair of plow Irons.

It. I give Unto my son Joshua Hopkins one payer of plow Irons.

It. I give Unto my son Joshua Hopkins my carte and wheels.

It. I give unto my wife ye other half of my stock and moveables I say to my wife and my son William or what parse of ye moveables my wife shall see cause to bestow on my son William Hopkins.

It. I do appoint my son Stephen Hopkins to be my true and Lawful executor of this my Last will and testament to pay what is payable and Receive what is due.

And to ye truth and verity hereof I have hereunto sett my hand and seal ye day and year above written.

Signed and sealed in presence of us, ye mark of Jonathan Sparrow. Giles Hopkins (seal) Samuel Knowles. Jonathan Sparrow and Samuel Knowles witnesses to this will made oath in Court ye: 16 th: of April 1690 that they saw ye above sd Giles Hopkins signe seal and declare this to be his Last will and Testament.

Attest Joseph Lothrop. Clerk.

I ye above sd Giles Hopkins do declare where as by ye providence of God my Life has been prolonged unto me and by Reason of age and disabillity of Body Lam Incapatiated to provide for my owne support and my wifes, my will further is that my son Stephen Hopkins from this time and forward shall possess and Injoy all my stock and moveable estate provided he take effectual care for mine and my wifes Comfortable Support during our natural Lives witness my hand and seal this fifth day of march 1688/9.

Witness Mark Snow Giles Hopkins (seal) Jonath Sparrow

The within mentioned Mark Snow and Jonathan Sparrow made oath in Court April ye: 16 : 1690 that they saw Giles Hopkins within mentioned signe seal and declare ye latter part of this will within mentioned to be his Last will and Testament. Attest. Joseph Lothrop, Clerk.

Duly Compared with the original and entered April ye: 22 : 1690. Attest. Joseph Lothrop, Recorder.

Name also spelled Katherine Wheldon.

Marriage: October 9, 1639, Plymouth, MA

Burial: Unknown, Eastham, MA

He came to New England at the age of 10. He lost an eye by an arrow. Thomas and Giles Hopkins served as surveyors of highways for Eastham in 1662. Was named water bailiff of the Plymouth Colony and served many years; regulated fishing at Cape Cod. He was a cooper and builder of Mills.

Burial: Unknown, Eastham, MA

Marriage: Bef. April 1651, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

Marriage: January 3, 1666, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

Marriage: May 22, 1667, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

Burial: Unknown, Brewster Cemetery

Marriage: May 23, 1667, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

Marriage: July 27, 1668, Eastham, MA

Caleb probably married second Mary -unknown- , who died before May 22, 1728 and otherwise unidentified. Notice the gaps between the births of the older children and that of daughter Thankful, called the daughter of "Caleb and Mary " in records. The first wife Mary Williams' parents were married November 30, 1638, and she seems too old to have had a child born in 1709.

Caleb signed as one of the first seven proprietors of Pamet (or Truro), June 17, 1690. In the settlement agreement of his estate he was called a Yeoman of Truro.

Is said was a "voluntary" with his father and older brother when about 15; called "heire apparent" in father's will, while Giles was living; Caleb and Miles Standish were executors of father's will in 1644; "became a seaman, & dyed at Barbadoes" according to Gov. Bradford. Another source says he died of starvation.

#1: January 1651, Another date given for his birth

Mary is also recorded as Thankful in records.

Marriage: Bef. May 10, 1692, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

Burial: Unknown, Orleans Churchyard

Marriage: May 26, 1681, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

He served as clerk and selectman at Eastham. At Truro he was a founder of the Church, proprietors clerk, representative, Captain of Militia and special Justice of the Court of Common Pleas, he had Negroes- Hector and Moll.

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery on Rte. 6A

Marriage: August 5, 1678, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

Marriage: Abt. March 8, 1714, Third Church, Boston, MA

Marriage: May 27, 1691, Eastham, Barnstable Co., MA

He lived at Eastham, Truro, and Middletown, CT.

It's possible that her surname was either Godfrey or Rickard.

Marriage: Abt. 1694, Prob. Eastham, MA

Caleb was a farmer and yeoman, a ships clerk and was one of thefirst settlers in Truro. Meadow land was laid out to him on the Pamet River as early as June 17, 1703. He also owned meadow land at East Harbor at the time of his death.

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Truro, MA

Occupation: Farmer and Yeoman (ships clerk)

The date of death, 1774 is a family record. Tombstone has date December 1786.

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Truro, MA

Marriage: October 8, 1719, Truro, Barnstable Co., MA by the Rev. James Avery

Marriage: July 2, 1727, Truro, MA

Marriage: October 26, 1749, Truro, MA

Marriage: February 10, 1724, Truro, MA

Marriage: January 22, 1729, Truro, Barnstable Co., MA

All of his children were born at Truro, the first five by Sarah and the last two by Mary. Mary had a total of eight children, six by her first husband.

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Stone 266

Marriage: October 27, 1709

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Stone 265

Marriage: June 29, 1719, Truro, Barnstable, MA

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Stone 239B

Marriage: February 28, 1722, Truro, MA

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Stone 580

Burial: Unknown, Old North Cemetery, Stone 582

Marriage: June 25, 1724, Truro, MA (VR:55)