Elizabeth Hopkins

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After locating New Brunswick Fencibles Officer’s Coatee in the York Sunbury Historical Society collection I have been just a little bit curious about the New Brunswick Regiment.  I found this newspaper article while looking for information about the 104^th and their winter march in Daniel Johnson’s vital statistics.  It would be fun to learn more about Elizabeth Hopkins, she sounds like she was an incredible person.

Transcribed by Daniel F. Johnson.

Volume 25 Number 1457
Date April 17 1867
County York
Place Fredericton
Newspaper The Head Quarters

The following curious memorial and note, taken from the Quebec ‘Gazette’ of 1817 will interest many of our readers. To the Right Honorable Secretary of War – The memorial of Elizabeth HOPKINS wife of Jeremiah HOPKINS, Sgt. of the 104th New Brunswick Regt. of Foot – Most Humbly Sheweth – That she was born of British parents at Philadelphia in the year 1741; has her husband, six sons and a son-in-law, viz.: Jeremiah HOPKINS (husband), Samuel WOODWARD, Timothy WOODWARD Robt. WOODWARD, Nathaniel WOODWARD, Archibald WOODWARD, Nicholas HOPKINS (son); James McDONOUGH (son-in-law) serving his Majesty in the 104th and during the course of her life, for her attachment for her king and country, he has endured more hardships than commonly fell to the lot of her sex. In the year 1776, being with her first husband, John JASPER, a Sgt. of Marines on board the brig “Stanley”, tender to the “Roebuck” she was wounded in her left leg in an engagement with three French vessels, when she was actually working at the guns. The Marines having landed at Cape May in America, her husband was taken prisoner by Capt. PLUNKETT of the army near Mud Fort Head? and sentenced to suffer death; and by her means he was enabled to escape with 22 American deserters, to whom she served arms and ammunition, and on their way to join the army, the party was attacked by the enemy’s light cavalry. She was fired at and wounded in her left arm, but undismayed, took a loaded firelock, shot the Rebel and brought his horse to Philadelphia (the headquarters of the army) which she was permitted to sell to one of General Sir William HOWE’s aides de camp. That after many fatigues and campaigns, her husband died and she married Samuel WOODWARD, a soldier in Col. CHAMBERS’s corps; was with the troops under General CAMPBELL at the taking of Pensacola, having however during the seige served at the guns and tore off her clothes and used them for wadding. Having been exchanged at the Peace of 1783 from attachment to the royal cause, she embarked on board a transport with a party of Delancey’s and Chamber’s corps, but was shipwrecked on Seal Island in the Bay of Fundy whenn nearly 300 men and numbers of women and children were lost; that she suffered unparalleled distress being pregnant with a child in her arms; remained three days on the wreck; was taken up with her husband and child by a fisherman off Marblehead, and after being landed was of delivered of three sons, two of whom are now in the 104th Regt., the other dead; lastly, she had the honor of being the mother of 22 children, viz. 18 sons and 4 daughters, seven of the former being alive and three of the latter. That your memorialist humbly prays that you may consider her a fit object for some allowance from the commissariat fund towards her maintenance in her old age; and having lost all her property, and as a reward for her long and faithful service to her King and as in duty bound will ever pray. – Fredericton (York Co.) 12th April 1816. The subject of this memorial is a womderful old woman of much above 70 and as well and hearty at Quebec in January 1817. In consequence of her memorial, she obtained a pension of 100 pounds a year. The following is another instance of her strength and mind. At Fort Erir, the pride of her heart, her twins fell; also McDONOUGH, her son-in-law. On hearing the news she called her children round her, made them an animated speech, charged them to be revenged on the Yankees for that loss; and the next time they went into action, they were cheered and encouraged by ‘Mammy Hopkins’ – the name she goes by in the Regt. – ‘Hamilton Spectator’

Volume 30 Number 1823
Date April 8 1871
County Carleton
Place Woodstock
Newspaper Carleton Sentinel

d. Kent (Carleton Co.) Richard R. HOPKINS, age 69 years 9 mos. 6 days, last one remaining of 22 children. He likewise served in H.M. 104th Regt. in Canada and was the youngest s/o late Jeremiah HOPKINS and Elizabeth HOPKINS, left wife, 6 children, 16 grandchildren. Funeral sermon preached by Rev. Charles McMullin. (see poem)

Volume 20 Number 763
Date December 3 1858
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper Religious Intelligencer

d. 22nd Sept., Kent (Carleton Co.) Nathaniel WOODARD, age 67 native of this Province and 20th child of late Elizabeth HOPKINS who was the mother of 22 children, 3 sons at one birth. He was a member of the Baptist Church.

Volume 30 Number 1083
Date April 12 1871
County Saint John
Place Saint John
Newspaper The Daily Telegraph

d. Kent (Carleton Co.) Richard R. HOPKINS, age 69 years 9 mos. 6 days. Deceased was the last one remaining of 22 children. He likewise served in H.M. 104th Regt. in Canada and was the youngest s/o the late Jeremiah HOPKINS and Elizabeth HOPKINS. He leaves a wife, 6 children, 16 grandchildren. Funeral sermon preached by Rev. Charles McMullin.

Article:  Elizabeth Woodward: Loyalist Castaway — © Stephen Davidson

Government Records

Lemuel John Tweedie (Image via Wikipedia)

MC300-MS60 York-Sunbury Historical Society Collection Description  (page 272)

If you are interested in any of these files then please contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

“This series contains a listing of provincial and county government records, which are housed in the Government Records Section of the Provincial Archives.  The items included were created by or delivered to the government body responsible for the matter at hand.  Researchers must note that the “RS Number” following the item description is the code necessary to retrieving the item from Government Records.  The material in this series dates between 1788 and 1911.

1  York County Council Minutes, 1818-1827; RS160A1/1a.

2  York County Council Minutes, 1828-1829; RS160A1/1b.

3  York County Council Minutes, 1840-1850; RS160A1/1c.

4  Record of insolvent debtors of York County, 1858-1859; RS160. RS443B3a.

5  Minute book of Prerogative Court (Probate Court) of York County, 1825-1854; RS75C2.

6  Assessment book for the Parish and Town of Fredericton, 1846; RS160C1/1b.

7  Assessment book for statute labour on public roads in Fredericton,  1835-1836; RS160 C1/1c.

8  Circulars from the Provincial Secretary, William F. Odell, to George Dibblee, Clerk of the Peace for York County, 1841, 1842-1843, concerning returns of the Magistrate, and the Return of Writ served to Michael Fisher, who is being sued by John F. Taylor, 1841-1843. RS160 Bld. 1841-1844 RS443A Michael Fisher 1842.

9  Writ to the Sheriff of York County, for collection of debt and damages owed to Peter Watson by John and Samuel Larlee, signed by A.B. [Clopper], June 9, 1828. RS459A “1828 John Larlee”

10  Minute book of the Supreme Court of Judicature, held at Fredericton, York County, July 1788-July 1791; RS33/76.

11  Correspondence of the Secretary of State of Maine, pertaining to the case of Daniel Hopkins, resident of Maine, arrested in New Brunswick for horse theft, December 27, 1855; RS347/13.

12  Report approving the route explored by Richard Simonds for the Great Road from Fredericton to St. John, signed by John C. Vail, Samuel Nevers and L.B. Rainsford, May 20, 1826;  RS341A3.

13  Petition of Charles Tracy, the Magistrates, Parish Officers, and other inhabitants of the Parish of Blissville to Lieutenant-Governor Sir William Colebrooke protesting the residence of Charles Wetmore, Clerk of the Inferior Court of Sunbury County, being Fredericton rather than in Sunbury County, 1833; RS345B5.

14  Statement of monies paid by Thomas H. Peters, Deputy-Treasurer at Miramichi, for drawbacks of goods exported between November 30, 1836, and December 31, 1837; RS24.1838.

15  Record book used by the Crown Land Office to record timber cut without license and sums paid for its release, 1824, the King’s Casual Revenue in account with the Acting Receiver-General, 1824-1830, and to list monthly petitions for timber licenses, March-October, 1824; RS107/12/4/6.

16  Poll book for the election of members to the House of Assembly from Sunbury County, 1795; RS157J2/9.

17  Poll book for the election of members to the House of Assembly from Sunbury County; 1819; RS157 J2/10

18  Poll book and returns from the Parish of Kingsclear, York County, July 14, 1856; RS160J1j.

19  Visitors Book kept by Lieutenant-Governor Lemuel Tweedie, 1907-1911; RS360/1.

20  Minute books, ledgers and letterbooks of the Maritime Bank, which went bankrupt, 1873-1896; RS53C2.

Lilian Maxwell Genealogical Correspondence

MC300-MS3 York-Sunbury Historical Society Collection
Description (page 97)

If you are interested in any of these files then please contact the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.

“Lilian Mary Beckwith Maxwell (1877-1956) was born in Fredericton, the daughter of Charles Beckwith and Mary Helen Glasier.  She graduated from the University of New Brunswick in 1898 with a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction in English.  She attended Wellington Teachers’ Training School in Massachusetts and the Provincial Normal School in Fredericton, and taught in Ludlow and Saint John.  She married James Brown Maxwell, an engineer.  After living in the United States for a short time, they, with their three children, settled in Fredericton.

Lilian Maxwell was a charter member of the York-Sunbury Historical Society, and wrote for the Society as well as for newspapers and magazines.  She had several books published including The History of Central New Brunswick and The River St. John and Its Poets.  She was a member of the Senate of the University of New Brunswick and received an honorary Doctorate of Laws from that Institution.  She was also a charter member of the Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and of the Governor Carleton Chapter of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire.

Her other interests included art and antiques.  Maxwell was a very active member of the Historical Society and in some cases in this series, it is difficult to differentiate between her personal correspondence and research and that done on behalf of the Society.  She produced a great many family genealogies and responded to numerous inquiries in the form of letters to Maxwell, which date from 1932 to 1965.  They are arranged by the surname of the main family being researched.  The names in brackets are also mentioned in the correspondence and the date following the name refers to the date of the inquiry.  In many cases, the amount of genealogical information actually provided is minimal.  This series measures 50 centimeters.”

1   General information on genealogical procedure: 1938-1953
2   Abrahams (Abrams); 1938
3   Adams; 1937-52
4   Agnew; n.d.
5   Ahearn; 1947
6   Ansley; 1939
7   Allan (Allen); 1934-1943
8   Allison (Ellison); 1946
9   Anderson; 1944
10   Appleby; 1940
11   Armstrong; 1965
12   Arnold; n.d
13   Atchison; 1943
14   Atkinson; 1951
14a  Austin; 1949-1964
15   Ayer; 1950-1952
16     Babbit; n.d.
17     Bagley; 1944
18     Bailey; 1954
19     Barker; n.d.
20     Bassett; 1939
21     Baxter; 1937
22     Beach; 1942
23     Bearisto; 1950
24     Beckett; 1938
25     Beckwith; 1936-1940
26     Bedell; 1955
27     Derris (Dennis); 1958-1959
28     Bishop; 1944
29     Blakeney; n.d.
30     Bogert; (Bogart); 1965
31     Bonney; 1938-1953
32     Bowden; 1948
33     Bowen; 1944
34     Boyd; 1951
35     Radford; 1945-1948
36     Bradley; 1937
37     Brand; 1944
38     Brannen; 1931
39     Briggs; 1946
40     Brittain;1937
41     Brown; 1936
42     Brownell; 1937
43     Buchanan; 1937
44     Burnett; 1944
45     Burt; n.d.
46     Burton; 1949
47     Caldwell (Rowell); 1937
48     Calhoun; 1939
49     Calkin; 1965
50     Cameron (Lint; Cook); 1947
51     Camp; 1948
52     Campbell; 1935
53     Carl; n.d.
54     Carleton; 1936
55     Carlin (Carling); 1939
56     Carlisle; 1950
57     Carmen (Haight); 1950
58     Carmichael; 1938
59     Carney; 1950
60     Chase (Moore; Keezer); 1943-1944
61     Chestnut; 1951
62     Chipman; 1931
63     Clark; 1939
64     Clements; 1930
65     Cliff; 1935
66     Close; n.d.
67     Coates; 1946
68     Coddington; 1946
69     Cody; 1965
70     Cole; 1940
71     Coleman; 1934
72     Compton; 1947
73     Condon; 1950
74     Cook (Lint); 1934
75     Coon; 1933
76     Cougle (Allan; Lockwood); n.d.
77     Coulthard; 1964
78     Cox; n.d.
79     Crandall; 1941
80     Crane; 1939
81     Crighton; 1939
82     Croft (Simonds); 1945
83     Crouse; 1941
84     Cunningham; 1936
85     Cyr (Sears; Crock); 1946
86     Dailey; 1940
87     D’Amours; n.d.
88     Davidson; 1934-1946
89     Davis; 1949
90     Day; 1939-1942
91     DeVeber; n.d.
92     Doak; 1943
93     Dow; 1945
94     Drummond; 1940
95     Dunham (Close); n.d.
96     Earle (Fraser; Rapalje; Emerson); 1946
97     Ebberson; 1950
98     Edmonds; 1938
99     Edmondton; n.d.
100   Elliot (Murchie); 1937-1952
101   Ellis; 1951-1952
102   Emery; 1937
103   Estabrooks; 1955
104   Estey (Morehouse; Hartt; Cunningham); 1957
105   Finnimore; n.d.
106   Fitzgerald;l 1938-1939
107   Foreman (Moore); 1946
108   Forrester; 1947
109   Foshay (Jones; Dayton) 1940
110   Foster (Wortman); 1942-1949
111   Fowler (Bostwick; Odell; Cables); 1934
112   Fox (104th; Moran); 1946
113   Fraser (Frazer; Leonard; Rapelie; Grigor; Baby; Earle; Hoare; New Brunswick Fencibles; Calder) 1949
114   French (Bennet); 1931
115   Fuller; 1943
116   Gage (Goucher); 1949
117   Gallant (Haches; Hacheys); 1965
118   Gamble (Howe); n.d.
119   Garden (Balloch; Thompson; Hewlett; Green); 1936
120   Garrison; 1946
121   Gaskin; 1937
122   Gault; 1941
123   Gaynor; n.d.
124   Gethchell (Jay; Jessey; Barnard; Fowler; Brown); 1948
125   Gilbert; n.d.
126   Gill; 1931
127   Glasier; n.d.
128   Glendenning (Perkins); 1953
129   Golden; 1947
130   Good; 1965
131   Gorham; 1933
132   Graham (Mitchey; Mitchell; Jackson); n.d.
133   Grant; 1953
134   Graves; 1949
135   Gray (Scott); 1954
136   Greenough; 1946
137   Gregory; 1938
138   Gunter; n.d.
139   Guyon (Guion; D’Amours; Freneuse); n.d.
140   Hailes (Sproule); 1943
141   Hall (Hart); 1933
142   Handy; 1939
143   Hanson; (Baldwin); 1953
144   Harding (Price; Fownes); 1954
145   Harley; 1956
146   Harper (Hastings); 1939
147   Harris; n.d.
148   Hartt; n.d.
149   Harvey; n.d.
150   Hatfield; 1938
151   Hatheway; n.d.
152   Hatton (Crerar); n.d.
153   Hawkins; n.d.
154   Hayes (Baxter); 1937
155   Hazen (Harley); n.d.
156   Henry; 1940
157   Hewlett (Whiting); 1942
158   Hierlihy; n.d.
159   Hill; n.d.
160   Hillman; n.d.
161   Hopkins (Bennison); 1948
162   Hopps (Bradford); 1954
163   Hovey; 1937
164   Howard; 1952
165   Howlet; n.d.
166   Hubbard; n.d.
167   Hunter; n.d.
168   Huston (Inches); 1938
169   Jackson; 1949
170   Jacob; 1953
171   James; 1940
172   Jarvis; n.d.
173   Jenkin; 1941
174   Jenks; 1948
175   Jewett (Beckwith; Juet); 1933-1948
176   Johnston (MacBeath); 1939
177   Jones; 1952
178   Keenan; 1965
179   Kennedy; 1934
180   Kenny (Kinny; Barlow; Kenney); 1934
181   Kent; n.d.
182   Ketchum; 1950; 1950-1953
183   Kimball; 1952
184   Lamoreaux; 1946
185   Lan (Long); 1946-1947
186   LaTour; n.d.
187   Lattie; 1949
188   Lawrance; 1938
189   Lawson; 1940
190   Leonard (Earl; Fraser); 1948
191   Lint; 1946
192   Lipsett (Coomb); n.d.
193   Little; 1942
194   Lord; 1953
195   Lounsbury; 1945
196   Ludlow; n.d.
197   MacBean; 1934
198   MacMillan; 1948
199   MacNaughton (Kerr; Gunn; Johnson-Johnston; Burnett; MacBeath); 1939
200   McCumber; n.d.
201   McGlinchey (Bailey); n.d.
202   McLeod (McLean; Price; Pond; MacKenzie); n.d.
203   McNeil (McNeal); n.d.
204   Manuel; 1952
205   Manzar; 1941
206   Marsh (March; La Marche); 1941
207   Mauger; 1933
208   Maxwell; 1948
209   Mersereau; 1933
210   Miles; n.d.
211   Millage; 1943
212   Mills (Olmstead); 1937
213   Minard; 1968
214   Minchin; 1946
215   Mitchell (Anderson); 1938
216   Mott; 1954
217   Mowry; 1939
218   Murray; 1931
219   Myler; 1933
220   Nadeau; 1941
221   Needham (Jouet; Yerxa; Fraser; Nadeau); 1947
222   Nevers (Innis; Gidney); 1953
223   Odell; 1942-1944
224   O’Meara (Meade); 1944
225   Oren (Coloured); n.d.
226   Owen (Medely; Kent; Wade; Arnold; Young); 1947
227   Paddock (Robinson); n.d.
228   Paine; 1952
229   Palmer; n.d.
230   Parent; 1937
231   Patterson; 1938
232   Peck (Pack); 1942
233   Perkins; 1938-1953
234   Perley; n.d.
235   Peters (Inches; Glasiers); 1938
236   Phair; 1952
237   Phillips; 1952
238   Pickard (Brill); 1941
239   Polley; 1933
240   Pond; 1950-51
241   Post (Bogart); 1938
242   Power; 1939
243   Price; 1947
244   Purdy (Currie); 1933-1949
245   Rand; 1943
246   Randall; 1935-1949
247   Rapalje (Vanderbury; Vanderburg); 1932
248   Raymond; 1945
249   Reid; 1931
250   Reynolds; 1950
251   Rideout; 1950
252   Roberts; 1938
253   Rockwell; 1948
254   Rosborough; n.d.
255   Ruby (Roby; Howe); 1952
256   Russel (Marsh); 1953
257   Ryerson; 1937
258   Saunders (Allen; Tabor); 1941
259   Say; 1950
260   Schrivner; 1933
261   Secord (Mabee); 1946
262   Seely (Ziele; Uziele); 1948
263   Segee (Noble); 1940
264   Sentall; 1932-1934
265   Sharp; 1945
266   Shaw; 1940-1947
267   Sherman; 1947
268   Sherwood; 1969
269   Shvieler; n.d.
270   Simonds; n.d.
271   Smith; 1935
272   Snider; 1945
273   Sqrague (Bonney); 1941
274   Sproule; 1931
275   Steeves; 1954
276   Stephenson (Coon); 1933
277   Stilson; 1945
278   Stow; 1939
279   Strange; 1933
280   Street; n.d.
281   Sutton; n.d.
282   Sypher; 1938
283   Terrill (Earle); 1928
284   Thomas (Bowden; Blaicher; Bleaker; Blackard; Blucher); 1939-940
285   Thorton; 1952
286   Tibbits; 1952
287   Tingley; 1965
288   Todd; 1936-1938
289   Tomson; n.d.
290   Towers (McLaughlin); 1953
291   Townsend (Waugh; Carney); 1948
292   Trafton; 1947
293   Trecartin; 1948
294   Tribe; 1946
295   Turner; 1939-1943
296   Vail; 1938-1940
297   Valentine; n.d.
298   Vandenburg (VanAllen); 1933
299   Vanderbeck (Underhill); 1935
300   Van der Burgh; n.d.
301   Vardy (Verder); 1933
302   Vogler; 1937
303   Wallace; n.d.
304   Walsh; n.d.
305   Ward (Salisbury; Ayer; Finney; Dixon); 1939;1950
306   Wardell (Riseley); 1950
307   Webb; n.d.
308   Webster; 1939-1945
309   Welch; 1939
310   Weldon; 1952
311   Whelpley; 1941
312   Whitmore (Babbidge; Lyons); 1948
313   Lyon; 1959
314   Wilkinson; 1941
315   Williams (Reid; Morris; Van Buskirk); 1946
316   Willoughby (Herbert); 1939
317   Wilmot; 1932
318   Wilson; n.d.
319   Winslow (Winterbottom; Moodie); 1942
320   Woodforde (Winslow); 1940
321   Wolley (Slocum); 1940
322  Wortman; 1940
323  Yerxa; 1934-1942
324  Yeomans (Ferguson; Vanduson); 1946
325  Young; 1935
326  Hamlyn; 1956
327  Grasse (Bubar; Howland; Degrasse; Phillips); 1956-1961
328  Ketcheson; 1956
329 Goldrup (Gooldrup); 1956