Descendants of Richard Hopkins

Richard Hopkins was the eighth child of Hezekiah and Martha Hopkins, born in 1804 in Pennsylvania. He moved to Ohio with the family in 1820, and married Hannah Wharton there in 1827. They had 7 children. Hannah died in 1846, and Richard moved to Camden (later called Pennville), Indiana in 1847, where he was prominent in the Quaker meeting there. He married Martha Hillis in Camden in 1848. They had 2 children before Richard died in 1852. Richard is buried in Pennville, Jay County, Indiana.

Richard Hopkins was a member of the Camden Preparatory Meeting. He was made a trustee of the meeting house land in 1848. He was Clerk of the men's meeting from April 12, 1849 until June 12, 1851. During his last few months as Clerk, his brother William had to fill in for him during his absence. He died on Jan 20, 1852 at the age of 47.

Quaker Data

Date	Meeting	Event	Explanation
12-4-1804	Haddonfield	born in Haddonfield
12-5-1827	Miami, Ohio	married Hannah Wharton
3-25-1829	Miami, Ohio	dis jH	disowned for joining Hicksites
6-25-1845	Miami, Ohio	gct Westfield MM	sent to Westfield
8-27-1845	Westfield, Ohio	rocf Miami MM	received in Westfield
12-30-1845	Westfield, Ohio	gct White Water MM	sent to White Water
1-27-1847	White Water, Ind	rocf Westfield	received, White Water
10-25-1848	White Water, Ind	con mcd	married contrary to discipline
2-14-1850	Camden, Ind	appointed to PM comm.
1-20-1852	Camden, Ind	died in Pennville

When he died, Richard owned the following real property:

West 1/2 NE 1/4 sec 27 twp 24
N of range 12 E - 80 acres

lots 5 & 6, block 2, Camden original plat

--Jay Co Probate Records, Box 9, 1862

This property had to be sold to pay his debts, which were greater than his total assets. He was a merchant, and had been ill for some time prior to his death, so he died insolvent.

Richard Hopkins' Will

November 11, 1851
Jay County, Indiana
Will Records, Vol. A, 1846-1867

Know All Men that I Richard Hopkins of the county of Jay and the State of Indiana do hereby Make this my last Will and Testament.

I give and bequeath to My wife Martha Hopkins all my Estate both Real and Personal of which I may die possessed hereby conveying to her all privileges and immunities the same as held by Myself for the following purpose (to wit) First to dispose of so much and of such part as she may deem best and sufficient for the payment of All My debts and such demands against me.

The residue to be held by her as above stated for her own benefit and behoof and that of my Children of whom I appoint her sole Guardian and protector.

I also appoint her as sole and only Executrix to this My last will leaving her to choose whomever may best suit herself to advise and assist her in the administration thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunder set My hand and affixed My Seal this Eleventh day of November AD 1851.

Richard Hopkins {Seal}

In Testimony Whereof we the undersigned as Witnesses have hereunto subscribed our names the said Richard Hopkins acknowledging the within signature to be his for the use and purpose therein above named on the day and year within named.
William Hopkins
John Grist

Proof of Will

State of Indiana
Jay County SS
Jay Probate Court February Term 1852

The Following examination and proof as to the last will and testament of Richard Hopkins late of said County deceased was taken in open court at the Term aforesaid. William Hopkins one of the subscribing Witnesses to the last Will and Testament of the said Richard Hopkins being duly affirmed in open court and upon his affirmation says that he was a subscribing Witness to the last Will of Richard Hopkins, that the Will here presented dated November Eleventh 1851 is the same Will that the testator signed in the presence of the said deponent and at the time of signing the same the testator declared the same to be his last Will that the deponent attested the same together with John Grist in the presence of the said testator at his Request and that the said Testator at the time of executing the said will was over twenty one years of age that he was of sound mind and memory and that he was not under any coercion or restraint at the time of the signing the said will and further said not.
William Hopkins
John Grist

Subscribed and affirmed in open court this February 16th of 1852.
Ira Denneg, Clerk

In Witness whereof I Ira Denneg Clerk of the Jay Probate Court hereunto subscribe my name and affix the seal of said court at Portland this 16th day of February A.D. 1852.
Ira Denneg, Clerk {Seal}

After his death, Richard's widow, Martha, and her two sons continued to live in Pennville. Sometime between 1870 and 1880, they moved to Carroll County, Iowa. Morris farmed there, and Lukens was a hotel keeper. By 1900 both sons had moved to Waterloo, Black Hawk County, where they both lived until their deaths. Richard's son by Hannah Wharton moved to Ohio between 1850 and 1860, finally settling in Galion, Ohio. His daughters Emily and Ann continued to live in Indiana. See their details in the report below.

Descendants of Richard Hopkins

I've prepared a register report for Richard Hopkins in pdf format.

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This file was last updated on 2/20/2012.