The Hopkins family of Catskill, New York, descend from Stephen Hopkins, of Coventry, England. "Stephen Hopkins and Elizabeth, his wife, and two children called, Giles (Gyles) and Constanta, a daughter, both by a former wife, and two more by this wife called Damaris and Oceanus, (the last was born at sea) and two servants, Edward Doty and Edward Lister." Stephen had made previous voyages and suffered shipwreck. He was always fond of the sea and of adventure. After the landing at Plymouth he was of the first company sent out to explore and report. He always held a leading position in the colony, filling important public office. He did not bend easily to the harsh rulings of the Puritans and was several times before the court charged with trifling offenses. He was thrifty and seems to have prospered. The first wife of Stephen is unknown. His second wife was Elizabeth Fisher. There will always be discussion over the parentage of John Hopkins, of Hartford, whether or not he was the scan of Stephen. The line of descent here followed is that of Giles, eldest son of the unknown mother. The office holding of Stephen Hopkins was continuous. He was a member of the governor's council from Plymouth, 1623-24-25-26. In 1637 he was one of the volunteers in aid of Massachusetts Bay Colony and Connecticut with their war with the Pequots, and in 1642 was chosen to the council of war from Plymouth. His children:
- Giles, (q. v.)
- Constance (Constanta); only daughter of first wife, born in England, came with her father in the "Mayflower"; married, in 1627, Nicholas Snow, one of the founders of Eastham, Massachusetts, who came over in the "Ann."
Children of second wife:
- Damaris, born in England, married, in 1646, Jacob, son of Francis Cook, of the "Mayflower"; she died after 1666.
- Oceanus, born at sea on board the "Mayflower" about October, 1620, died before 1627.
- Deborah, the first child of her parents born at Plymouth, 1622, married, in 1646, Andrew King, of Plymouth.
- Caleb, born in Plymouth; bore arms in 1633 and following his father's instructions followed the sea, died at Barbadoes, probably unmarried; he was the executor of his father's will; his mother's influence probably securing his preference over Stephen's first born, Giles.
- Ruth.
- Elizabeth. Stephen Hopkins died in 1644, Elizabeth, his wife, between 1640 and 1644.
(II) Giles, son of Stephen Hopkins and his first wife, was born in England, died at Eastham, Massachusetts, about 1690. He came with his father in the "Mayflower" and his first home was with them at Plymouth. He then removed to Mattachuse. In 1642 he was the surveyor of Yarmouth, and until 1662 a surveyor of Yarmouth and Eastham. In 1655 he was one of the list of freemen of Eastham. He married, October 9, 1639, Catherine, daughter of Gabriel Whelden. Children:
- Mary, born 1640;
- Stephen, September 1642;
- John, born and died 1643;
- Abigail, born October, 1644, married, May 23, 1661, William Merrick;
- Deborah, June, 1648;
- Caleb, January, 1651, of whom further;
- Ruth, June, 1653;
- Joshua, June, 1657;
- William, January 9, 1661;
- Eliza, 1664, died young.
The last six children were all born at Eastham.
(III) Caleb, son of Giles and Catherine (Whelden) Hopkins, was born at Eastham, Massachusetts, removed to Truso [perhaps Truro?], where he died in 1728. He married and had children: Caleb, Nathaniel, Thomas, Thankful.
(IV) Caleb (2), son of Caleb (1) Hopkins, removed to Middletown, Connecticut, where he married and probably died.
(V) James, son of Caleb (2) Hopkins, was born in 1736. He resided at Middletown, Connecticut, where his children were born. He married Mehitable Freeman, of the Cape Cod family of that name. Children: Freeman, Mehitable, Caleb, James, Samuel.
(VI) Caleb (3), son of James and Mehitable (Freeman) Hopkins, was born at Middletown, Connecticut, died at Catskill, New York, in 1852. He was educated in the schools of Middletown, Connecticut, and at an early age removed to New York City and for many years was engaged in the iron business with Pierson & Company. In 1830, owing to failing health, he settled in Catskill, New York, where he lived the life of a retired country gentleman until his death. He married Keturah, born in Saybrook, Connecticut, daughter of Hyland Hill. Children:
- Charles, deceased;
- Mary, married W. H. Van Orden, of Catskill;
- Louise, married J. A. Cook, of Catskill;
- John,
- Henry,
- Francis,
- James,
- Jane Vernon,
- Frederick,
- Josephine.
Keturah (Hill) Hopkins was a granddaughter of Peleg Hill, born at Saybrook, resided in Essex county, New York. He married and had children:
- Hyland, of whom further;
- James, removed to Vermont;
- Peleg (2), removed to Vermont;
- Sarah, married ———— Bishop, of Guilford, Connecticut;
- Annie, married Timothy Lee, of Williston, Vermont.
Hyland, son of Peleg Hill, removed to Catskill, Greene county, New York. He married Keturah Waterhouse, and Keturah, their daughter, married Caleb (3) Hopkins.
(VII) Henry, son of Caleb (3) and Keturah (Hill) Hopkins, was born in New York City, October 22, 1820, died October 3, 1873, at Catskill. He was educated at Catskill and Albany, New York, private schools. His entire business life was spent in the iron trade. He married, April 16, 1857, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel M. Cornell, of New York City. Children:
- Samuel Cornell, of further mention;
- Emmeline Cornell, born November 26, 1859, married Herman Livingston;
- Henry Caleb, December 11, 1862, died at Ridgefield, Connecticut, September 8, 1908;
- Charles Vernon, of whom further.
(VIII) Samuel Cornell, son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Cornell) Hopkins, was born in New York City, February 19, 1858. He was educated at St. Paul's school, Concord, New Hampshire, entered Yale University, where he was graduated in class of 1882. His residence is at Catskill, New York; where his life has been passed. He is a director of the Catskill National Bank. He married, August 21, 1897, Mary Howland, daughter of John Howland and Caroline (Hyatt) Pell (see Pell X). Children:
- Samuel Cornell, Jr., born October 21, 1899;
- Howland Pell, October 11, 1906.
(VIII) Charles Vernon, son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Cornell) Hopkins, was born in Catskill, New York, December 11, 1872. He was educated at St. Paul's school, Concord, New Hampshire, entered Yale University, where he was graduated in the class of 1896. His residence is at Catskill, New York, but much of his time is spent in travel at home and abroad.
(The Pell Line)
The Pells of New York trace to a remote English ancestry from the ancient family of that name in Lincolnshire. Rev. John Pell, rector of Southwick, Sussex, England, married Mary Holland and had sons Thomas and John. The manor of Pelham, New York, containing nine thousand one hundred and sixty-six acres of land was so constituted in favor of "Thomas Pell, Gentleman." In 1687 the estate at Pelham was more fully made into a manor by Governor Dongan in favor of John Pell, nephew and heir of Thomas, and son of Dr. John Pell, of London.
(II) Rev. John (2) Pell, son of Rev. John (1) and Mary (Howland) Pell, and brother of Thomas, First Lord of the Manor, was born at Southwyck in Sussex, England, 1611, died 1685. He was Cromwell's minister of Switzerland; was a famous linguist and mathematician, invented the sign for division; was domestic chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury; he was a Doctor of Divinity and a Fellow of the Royal Society. He married, 1632, Ithmaria (Tamar or Athama) Reginoilles.
(III) Major John (3) Pell, only son of Rev. John (2) and Ithmaria (Reginoilles) Pell, was born in London, Middlesex county, England, February 3, 1643. By the will of his Uncle Thomas he became proprietor of Pelham and Second Lord of the Manor. He arrived in Boston in 1670 with a letter of introduction to Governor Winthrop from Lord Brereton. He took possession of the estate which on October 20, 1687, was changed to "The Lordship and Manor of Pelham" by Governor Dongan of New York. He was a member of the provincial assembly for Westchester county, New York, 1691-95; captain of horse, 1684; major in 1692, in the French and Indian war, and judge of the court of common pleas for the county. He is said to have been cast away and drowned in his pleasure boat which foundered in a gale off City Point sometime in 1702. He died intestate. He married, 1684-85, Rachel, daughter of Philip Pinckney, one of the first ten proprietors of East Chester and a lineal descendant of the Pinckneys of Pinckney Manor, Norfolkshire, England. He had two sons and two daughters.
(IV) Thomas, son of Major John (3) and Rachel (Pinckney) Pell, was born at Pelham Manor, New York, in 1686, died at the Manor house, 1739. He was the Third Lord of the Manor, and became invested with the inheritance and legal rights of his father. He married Anna ————. Children mentioned in will after "my beloved wife, Anna Pell," are Ann Broadhurst, Joseph, John, Thomas, Joshua, Philip, Caleb, Mary Sands, Sarah Palmer, Beersheba. His eldest son, Joseph, Fourth Lord of the Manor, died in 1776, leaving five sons who died without issue, save John, who had six sons who died without issue, the last being Richard Moore Pell, who died at the Manor in 1868.
(V) Joshua, fourth son of Thomas and Anna Pell, was born at Pelham Manor, New York, about 1710, died 1781. He married Phoebe Palmer. Among their children are Joshua (2), Benjamin, of whom further.
(VI) Benjamin, son of Joshua and Phoebe (Palmer) Pell, was born at Pelham Manor, New York, about 1750, died in New York City, March 4, 1828. He was a merchant of New York City. He married, November 25, 1778, Mary Ann, daughter of John Ferris, of Grove Farm, Westchester County, New York. He had several sons. His daughter Maria married Jacob Treadwell Walden.
(VII) William Ferris, son of Benjamin and Mary Ann (Ferris) Pell, was born at Pelham Manor, New York, 1780, died in New York City, October 28, 1840. He was a merchant of New York, 1808-40, and founded the famous auction firm of Pell & Company. He purchased the "Garrison" ground estate at Ticonderoga. He married, November 17, 1802, Mary, born in London, England, 1783, died in New York, October 3, 1848, daughter of Morris and Ann Shipley, of England. He had sons: Clarence, Duncan, Morris, of whom further; Walden, Alfred Sands, and James K. They succeeded their father in business and were remarkable as a family for their fine physical development, three of them standing six feet tall, and were well proportioned. Duncan Pell was lieutenant-governor of Rhode Island, and his son Duncan was a colonel of the civil war on the staff of General Burnside. Alfred Sands Pell married Adelia, daughter of Colonel James Duane, first mayor of New York City after the revolution and a judge of the United States supreme court.
(VIII) Morris, son of William Ferris and Mary (Shipley) Pell, was born in New York City, 1810, died in Flushing, Long Island, 1881. He was associated with Pell & Company and made his home in Flushing. He married, March 12, 1830, Mary R., daughter of John H. Howland, born 1774, died 1849, a prominent shipping merchant of New York City; he married Sarah, born 1781, died 1847, daughter of Thomas and Anna (Rodman) Hazard, of New Bedford, Massachusetts.
(IX) John Howland, son of Morris and Mary R. (Howland) Pell, was born in New York, December 23, 1830, died at Yonkers, New York. He was mustered into the United States service as second lieutenant, Company K, Fourth Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, August 17, 1861, promoted first lieutenant, May 3, 1862, captain of Company A, (same regiment), October 14, 1862; resigned January 2, 1863. He married Caroline Hyatt.
(X) Mary Howland, daughter of John Howland and Caroline (Hyatt) Pell, married Samuel C. Hopkins (see Hopkins VIII).