Essex

HOPKINSON, David

Vermont Historical Magazine, No. XI, October 1867, p 1001
(extracted from a section on the history of Guildhall, Essex County, Vermont)

David HOPKINSON joined the settlement [Guildhall, Essex County, Vermont] in 
1779. He was a man of good capacity and was quite prominent in the affairs 
of the town. He was chief judge of the county court for the years 1811, 
1812, 1815, and 1816. He had quite a family of children, and two of his sons 
were permanent settlers. One of them, David HOPKINSON, Jr., was for many 
years a prominent and influential citizen. He represented the town in the 
Legislature of the State a goodly number of years [from p 1005: 
representative 1821, 1822, 1823,1824, 1826, and 1829], and was assistant 
judge of the county court for the years 1827 and 1830. His widow still 
survives him, but his children are much scattered, none of his family having 
a permanent residence in town at the present time. He died suddenly in 
November 1837.

From page 1006: The second term of the County Court was held at Brunswick, 
commencing on the third Monday of June 1801; at this term tavern licenses 
were granted to eleven different men in various towns in the county [Essex 
County], among whom are: David HOPKINSON..."

From page 1004: For a long time the river was, in winter, the principal 
highway. When the river road through the town was first laid out is not 
known, but it appears to have been permanently established in May 1792 by 
Eben W. JUDD, Benoni CUTLER, David HOPKINSON and Simon HOWE, who were a 
committee appointed for that purpose by the Legislature.

From page 1004: It appears to have been the practice of Benning WENTWORTH, 
British Governor of the Province of New Hampshire, in granting town charters, 
to reserve for himself, in the southeast corner of each town 500 acres, which 
was termed the "Governor's right." Being a Loyalist, he was, in the time of 
the Revolution, under the necessity of abandoning the country including these 
"Rights," and in 1798 this Governor's Right, in this town [Guildhall], was 
sold at vendue for taxes; portions of which were bid by the following 
individuals: Haynes FRENCH, Eleazer ROSEBROOK, Jeremiah EAMES, Jr., Jesse 
HUGH and Gerard CLARK. This tract afterwards became the property of David 
HOPKINSON, Sr.; was subsequently owned by his sons, David and Joshua; now 
owned by Thomas H. CARBEE and William HOPKINS. [William HOPKINS married to a 
HOPKINSON?]

Submitted by Cathy Kubly