John Hopkinson

Former owner of Bachelors Adventure and Enteprise in British Guiana, brother of Benjamin Hopkinson the elder (q.v), father of David, Jonathan, Thomas, Elizabeth (each of whom q.v.) and others, and uncle of Benjamin James Hopkinson and John Thomas Hopkinson (each of whom q.v.).   

1. Will of John Hopkinson 'formerly of Demarara and then Aigburth Hall nr Liverpool' proved 16/03/1822. John Hopkinson left £100,000 in personalty. The reconstruction of John Hopkinson's family is preliminary. Rubinstein is correct that John Hopkinson bequeathed his estates in Demera and elsewhere in trust for his nine natural children, seven sons (Thomas, the son of Rebecca Rogers 'a mulatto woman', and Benjamin, Hugh, David, Jonathan, Jonas and Samuel Hopkinson, sons of Elizabeth Rogers) and two daughters (Elizabeth, daughter of Rebecca Rogers, and Rebecca, daughter of Elizabeth Rogers), as tenants in common. (The children's mothers were sisters, women of colour, both of whom had resided in Demerara, with Elizabeth Rogers subsequently moving to Liverpool and residing in Aigburth Hall: the survivors joined in conveyance to Samuel Amory 1840 in trust for sale of the estates.) The will also however identifies further children: separate legacies (annuities of £150 p.a. each) were made to two children of Susannah Hopkinson 'a mulatto', John and Nathan, and to Joseph, son of Rebecca Rogers deceased.

2. Rebecca Rogers died c. 1809 and was the sister of Elizabeth Rogers. They were the daughters of Thomas Rogers, a neighbouring plantation owner. The same source gives James, Joseph, Thomas and Elizabeth as the children of Rebecca Rogers and Jonas, Jonathan, Hugh, Benjamin, David, Rebecca and Samuel as the children of Elizabeth Rogers. Two consecutive notices of intention to leave the colony appeared in the Demerara and Essequebo Gazette of 20/04/1816: 'John Hopkinson and two servants, in 14 days or six weeks, from April 17'; 'Elizabeth Rogers, and six children, in 14 days or six weeks, from April 17'.

3. In his will dated 27/11/1835 and proved in London 22/02/1837, Joseph Hopkinson "formerly of Aigburth Hall in the County of Lancaster and now residing in Sloane Street, Middlesex Esquire now about embarking for New South Wales" left everything including property in Demerara and Esequibo to his brother Thomas Hopkinson, and if Thomas should predecease him without issue, then to Anne Joahanna Hopkinson and Emma Roberta Hopkinson, spinsters of Liverpool, daughters of his late brother John Hopkinson.

4. Tombstone inscription for John Hopkinson in St Michael in the Hamlet, Liverpool:

Here lies the remains of James HOPKINSON Son of John Hopkinson

Who departed this life on the 15th of May 1818 Aged 18 yrs.

John Hopkinson of Aigburth Hall died 25th September 1821 Aged 60

Also Samuel, son of the above John Hopkinson who died June 11th 1824

Aged 4 years

Also Hugh Stephen Hopkinson Son of Hugh Hopkinson and Aigelle his wife, grandson of the above John born at Marseille 14th July 1836 Died in Liverpool 11 August 1838

In memory of Rebecca, the wife of John Joseph Gunning and daughter of the above John Hopkinson who died January 16th 1841

Aged 22 years

Sacred to the memory of Elizabeth Hopkinson

Who died at Wavertree on 4th of December 1859 Aged 70 years.

T71/885 British Guiana no. 568A & B.

1. PROB 11/1654; William D. Rubinstein, Who were the rich? A biographical dictionary of British wealth-holders Volume One 1809-1839 (London, Social Affairs Unit, 2009) reference 1822/2; Transactions of the Historic Society of Lancashire and Cheshire for the Year 1867-8 (Liverpool 1868), p.189.

2. Emails from Fay Whitehead, 14/11/2013 and 02/01/2014.

3. PROB 11/1872/384.

4. Email from Fay Whitehead, 18/11/2013.

We are grateful to Fay Whitehead for her assistance in compiling this entry.