Robert HOPPER (b. Abt. 1770, d. December 12, 1812)
Robert HOPPER218 was born Abt. 1770 in Ireland, and died December 12, 1812 in War of 1812. He married Jane (Jean) Duff on Abt. 1788 in Ireland.
Notes for Robert HOPPER: Abstracts - Will Book A, Belmont Co., OH, page 56: "Will of Robert Hopper - Signed July 8, 1812. Beneficiaries: Wife, Jane; Four Daughters (not named), Sons Samuel, John, James, William, Robert. Also Mary. Witnesses Eleanor Lyons, Mary Lyons, Andre Byers Executors: H. Lyons, J. Hopper, W. Ball and Wm. Denham. "
Robert Hopper and his wife sailed from Ireland to North America, and their eldest son William W. Hopper was born on the ship in 1790. Robert bought property in 1800 on Wheeling Creek, and also purchase property in Barnesville, Belmont Co., OH. Sources: History of Belmont and Jefferson Co, OH; Wills for Belmont Co., OH; Cemetery Records for Ohio.
Robert Hopper was born in Ireland and married before 1790 to Jean or Jane DUFF. Since their first child was born at sea in either August or December of 1790, it was assumed they were married before 1790. Jean Duff was born in Scotland, but raised in Ireland. Many of the Hoppers that Leona Hopper visited in Co. Tyrone, Ireland thought Robert Hopper was from their family line. One of the Co. Tyrone Hopper's remarked when introduced that he could tell Leona was one of them "because of you skin!" They were not far from Ballygawley, Cookstown, and Drumschambe, a very short distance from Scotland and England. Robert Hopper was raised in Ireland, but it is believed that he was related to the Hoppers who lived at Castle on Tyne in England. The Hoppers at Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, Ireland were Brokers and were related to the English Hopper at Castle on Tyne, England.
Tradition says that the King granted Hoppers a Manor of Land in Maryland or New York. After many years two of Robert's sons went back to claim it but too much time had elapsed and they didn't come with sufficient legal proof. Another tradition says that a Lord Hopper of Old Irish Gentry left them an estate in Maryland on which there was a castle involved. According to Duff Franklin of Whigville, Ohio, we are direct descendants of Mary, Queen of Scots, or Queen Anne.
In Ireland, the ancestral home was often called a Castle. It was determined that Robert Hopper was most likely related to the Hoppers who lived at Castle on Tyne, England. The Hoppers at Cookstown, Ireland were brokers and claimed a relationship to Victoria Hopper (noted actress) who was living at Castle on Tyne, England in 1954. Victoria's brother had tried to trace their ancestry with those at Cookstown.
It is said that Robert Hopper was accompanied by his father and a brother (perhaps John) and that they landed in New York and that Robert went to Pennsylvania. They parted in Baltimore, Maryland, then Robert and Jean went on to Fayette Co., PA. They probably went to Connellsville or "Plumsock" before they went to Ohio. Later before 1800 they went to Belmont Co., Ohio to Bellair first and then to Somerton near Barnesville. Robert Hopper was a farmer and weaver, which indicates a possible Scottish source. He was in the war of 1812 and died the same year on December 20, 1812 of his wounds. His will is on file in the St. Clairsville, Ohio courthouse naming all the children. His wife Jean Duff married Hugh Lyons after Robert's death on May 21, 1813. Through Jean Duff we are descended from the Earl of Fife. She requested at her death that her descendants bear the name, and they do so to this day.
WILL OF ROBERT HOPPER, who died 1812 (Reference Will Book A, Belmont Co., Ohio, Pages 56-73, Wills prior to 1827:
I, Robert Hopper of Belmont Co., considering the uncertainty of this most _____? ____ and being of sound mind, blessed be God for the same, do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner of the following viz: that all just debts and demands shall be paid. It is my will that my wife, Jane Hopper shall have one third of my estate real & personal during her natural life. Further it is my will that each of my four daughters, as soon as they come of age shall have one bed and bedding and wheel. Further it is my will that each of my three sons, Sam'l, John and James shall be put to trades as soon as possible and shall have the following sums as soon as James comes of age. Sam'l eighty, John eighty and James one hundred dollars. Further it is my wish that each of my two sons, William and Robert shall have, each of them, the sum of two hundred and seventy dollars. Further it is my will that at the death of my wife, Jane Hopper - her part of the estate be divided as follows: Mary, twenty dollars. Each of the other three Fifty dollars each. Further it is my will and thereby constitute my wife Jane Hopper, Hugh Lyons, Wm. Bell and Wm. Dun ham the sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal in the year of our Lord 1812 July 8th. Appraised Dec. 20, 1812 and signed by John Patterson. Included was one log cabin. (The Hugh Lyons mentioned as an executor was the 2nd husband of Jane Duff Hopper, married on May 2, 1813 by Joseph Andrews in Belmont Co., Ohio).
Quote from Mrs. Arthur Ball copied from her grandfather's article called "My Ancestral Background", "Grandfather's people were Irish. His grandfather was Lord Hopper of Ireland. The Hoppers in the U.S. fell heirs to a fortune, which had been left them by Lord Hopper when he passed away. Someone had to go to Ireland to settle the estate and bring back the money. An uncle of grandfather's was the only one able to make the trip. He went as far as New York but would go no farther. That is when steamships were first being used for passenger service. He said he would not cross the ocean in one of those ships for all the money in the world. Consequently, no one in the U. S. received the Hopper Estate." In the first place, if Robert Hopper (1) was my grandfather's grandfather he was living in the U.S. It is possible that Martin Luther's great grand father was a Lord, but he wouldn't have been called Lord Hopper as that was the family name. This story was also told to Leona in Ohio so she though there must be something in it.
HISTORY OF BEAVER COUNTY, PA ROSTER OF TROOPS IN THE WAR OF 1812
Captain David Knowles' company, 138th Regiment, Pennsylvania Militia, commanded by Lieut.-Col Robert Miller, under order of Major-General Mead, dated January 1, 1814, service commencing January 12th, 1812 and ending February 22, 1814: Captain, David Knowles; ..
Captain David Clark's company of the same regiment, and for the same period, was recruited in the section north of Ohio and west of the Big Beaver rivers, with headquarters at Darlington: Captain, David Clark; Lieutenant, James Dunlap; Ensign, Archibald Stewart; Sergeants, James Davidson, John McCanless, John Imbrie, Andrew Reed; Corporals, David Tidball, Francis Johnson, John Edgar, John Curry; Privates:
Adams, Asa Boal, Daniel Boies, David Allsworth, Benjamin Bond, James Clelland, John Aughenbaugh, P. Beer, John Carson, John Cannon, Michael McMinn, Thomas Ross, James Campbell, Matthew Malone, Emley Russel, Robert Crum, Isaac Miller, Samuel Reed, John Courtney, Jacob Moore, William, Sr. Shingledecker, Michael Chambers, John McCullough, James Swaggers, George Caldwell, William McCready, Hugh Stacey, John Cooglar, Benjamin Moore, Andrew Stephenson, D. Dixon, William Moore, William Suman, John Duff, William Miller, Robert Stinginger, George Dunlap, John McCready, Daniel Stephenson, John Elder, John McCarter, James Sever, Charles Filland, Thomas McCaskey, William Sample, John Hoge, William Marquis, James Truesdale, James Hatfield, Adam Marquis, Robert Vance, John Hannah, Samuel McCaskey, John Woods, Andrew Hughes, John Moore, John White, John Hunter, James McKibben, James White, Nicholas Hope, Adam McKeehan, John White, Nathaniel Hopper, Robert Marshall, J. Wickershaw, Adam Kagler, Henry Nesbit, Francis Wilson, William Losier, Stophel Parks, Samel Warner, Henry Laughlin, James Ruggle, Jacob Young, Philip Leslie, James Reed, William Young, William Leslie, George Reed, Robert Morrison, James Reeve, Archibald
This roster is from the Adjutant-General's office, Harrisburg, PA. It is not complete, but is the best that could be had at this late date. Additional items will be found in the Centennial address of Hon. Warren S. Dungan. (Volume II, Centennial Section.)
Tombstones in Richland Cemetery, St. Clairsville, OH.
Very Old Stone: In memory of Andrew P. Happer, who departed this life Oct 17, 1837 in the 59th year of his age. He was for many years a ruling elder in the Richland Congregation, Presbyterian. May - wife of Andrew P. Happer, died July 15, 1863, age 71 years, 5 mo, 5 days.
Very Old and crumpled stone: In memory of Paul _______ Happer and wife Mary Happer, who departed this life August 1838. (Inset): The above stands for Paulinus, son of Andrew P. Happer and Mary Norton and grandson of John Happer and Margaret Patton, emigrants from N. Ireland about 1770.
Mary C. Happer -- child. (daughter of Andrew P. and Mary Norton)
Sarah A. Happer (daughter of Andrew P. and Mary Happer)
In memory of Jane S. Happer -- daughter of Andrew P. and Mary -- died 2/3/1837 in the 16th years of age.
In another cemetery in St. Clairsville, OH:
In memory of Theron Happer, son of A.P. and Mary Happer, who died 8/18/1823 -- aged 11 mo. 6 da. (Same Stone) Samuel B. McCune, son of Dr. ______ and Nancy McCune, who d. July 1823 -- age 1 year 10 mo.
On a stone slab lying flat on the ground there is an inscription in memory of Elisabeth and Alexander Anderson, the wife and son of a minister (Jos.) O There is a verse written by A.P. Happer eulogizing the wife for the faithful care of a blind son.
Tyrone County Library Committee
A note from the Tyrone County Library Committee, Reference County Library Depot, Omagh (Armagh) Ireland, indicates the term "castle" originating in the fortified medieval castle, was later applied to fortified country houses, and today (Sep 19, 1951) many big country houses are know locally as "the castle".
More About Robert HOPPER and Jane (Jean) Duff: Marriage: Abt. 1788, Ireland.
Children of Robert HOPPER and Jane (Jean) Duff are:
+William W. HOPPER, b. August 07, 1790, At Sea, d. December 08, 1862, Malaga, Monroe Co, OH.
+Samuel HOPPER, b. July 08, 1792, d. 1831, Coshocton Co., OH.
Martha HOPPER, b. Abt. 1794, Morgan Co, OH, USA, d. date unknown.
Polly HOPPER, b. Abt. 1795, Morgan Co, OH, USA, d. date unknown.
+Robert HOPPER, b. September 27, 1797, Bellair, Ohio, d. August 16, 1879, Barnesville, Belmont Co., OH.
Jane HOPPER, b. May 26, 1800, Morgan Co, OH, USA, d. date unknown.
+John HOPPER, b. March 27, 1802, Morgan Co, OH, USA, d. Abt. 1886, Illinois.
+James HOPPER, b. May 18, 1804, Belmont Co, OH, d. November 09, 1865, Sharon, Noble Co, OH, USA (Sharon Cemetery).
Betsy HOPPER, b. June 22, 1806, Morgan Co, OH, USA, d. January 22, 1872.
Mary HOPPER, b. Abt. 1807, Kirkwood Twp., Belmont Co., OH, d. date unknown.
Robert HOPPER (b. Abt. 1770, d. December 12, 1812)
Notes for Robert HOPPER: