Hopkins (Y-DNA)

From Mayflower DNA
Revision as of 18:20, 17 April 2026 by MayflowerDNA1620 (Talk | contribs) (→‎Paper Trail)

Jump to: navigation, search

Status summary

As of December 30, 2015:

As of May 21, 2021

  • Big Y-700 testing of two Y-DNA descendants of Stephen Hopkins have posted.

IMPORTANT Read me First

Paper Trail

For more information see: Austin, John D., Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: vol. 6 Hopkins and Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society Lineage database. Names in bold font have Y-DNA descendants who have Y-DNA tested.

First Generation

Stephen Hopkins[1] was the son of John Hopkins & Elizabeth Williams, baptized the "last of Aprill" 1581 at All Saints Church, Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England[2] He died at Plymouth sometime between the writing of his will (6 Jun 1644) and his inventory (taken 17 Jul 1644)[3]

Stephen was twice married. His first wife had the given name of Mary and they were married before 13 May 1604 (when their first known child, Elizabeth, was baptized), likely in Hampshire, England.[4] Mary was buried at Hursley, Hampshire 9 May 1613.[5] He was next married at St Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, London, England 19 Feb 1617/8 to Elizabeth Fisher[6]

While currently unproven, many sources, including the Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society believe he was the Stephen Hopkins who was a passenger aboard the "Sea Venture" which left Plymouth England in Jun 1609 (among a fleet of nine ships). The fleet was struck by a hurricane and the Sea Venture ended up becoming ship-wrecked in the Bermuda islands.[7]

Also see: WikiTree profile as well as a 2007 Novel by Caleb Johnson: Here I Die Ashore...

Stephen had three children by his first marriage: Constance, Giles and Damaris (the last died young). By his second wife, he had Oceanus (d. young), Caleb (never married), Deborah, Damaris, Ruth and Elizabeth.

Second Generation

Giles Hopkins[8] was baptized Hursley, Hampshire 30 Jan 1607[/8]. He married Katherine Whelden at Plymouth 9 Oct 1639 and had ten children: Mary, Stephen, John (d. young), Abigail, Deborah, Caleb, Ruth, Joshua, William (prob. never married), and Elizabeth (d. young).

Third Generation

Stephen Hopkins married[9] Mary Merrick 23 May 1667 Eastham and had nine[10] children (born Eastham): Elizabeth (1668), Stephen (1670), Judah (1677/8), Samuel (1682), Nathaniel (1684), Joseph (1688), Benjamin (1690) and Mary

Caleb Hopkins apparently married twice[11], first Mary Williams about 1684 and second, bef 1700 Mary ____. By his first wife he had two sons: Caleb (c1684) and Nathaniel (c1684). By his second wife he had two more children: Thomas (c1700) and Thankful (Truro 1709).

Joshua Hopkins married Mary Cole 26 May 1681 Eastham and had eight children (born Eastham): John (1683/4-1700), Abigail (1686), Elisha (1688), Lydia (1692), Mary (1694/5), Joshua (1697/8), Hannah (1700) and Phebe (1702).

Fourth Generation

Stephen (II)] was born Jul 1670 Eastham and died 9 Apr 1733. He married Eastham 19 May 1692 Sarah Howes and they had ten children: Jonathan (1693-1716/7 unm.), Sarah (1694), Rebecca (c1697), Thankful (1700), Elkanah (1702-1720 unm.), Thomas (1705 m Thankful Clark), Ebenezer (1706/7 m Rebecca Crosby), Mary (1708/9), Phebe (1711) and Hannah (1714).

Judah was born Eastham Jan 1677/8 and died Harwich 7 Jan 1748. He married twice, first Eastham 14 Apr 1702 Hannah Mayo then Harwich 12 May 1720 Hannah Mayo. By his first wife he had: Mercy (1703), John (1704 m Mehitable Crosby), Martha (1705), Rebecca (1707), Judah (1710 m Mercy Lincoln), Stephen (1711/2 m Rebecca Mayo), Desire (1714), Sylvanus (1716/7 m Ruth Berry), Hannah (1719) and Samuel (1720/1 unm.)

Samuel was born Eastham Mar 1682 and died abt 1748. He married 5 Dec 1702 Lydia Rich and they had: Richard (1707 m Ruth Gage), Reliance (1709 d.y.), Moses (1711 d.y.), Lydia (1713), Reliance (bp 1715), Sarah (1717), Susanna (1719), Moses (1721/2 m Hannah Berry), [https://pilgrimhopkins.com/heritage-lineage-descendants-fifth-generation-23/#805 Theodorus (1726 m Hannah Hurd & Lydia ____ Smalley), Nathan (1729 unm.), Huldah (bp 1731).

Nathaniel was born Eastham Mar 1684 and died Harwich 13 Sep 1766. He married Harwich 26 May 1707 Mercy Mayo and they had David (1707 m Mary Godfrey), Jeremiah (1708/9 unm.), Elizabeth (1711), Nathaniel (1713 d.y.), Bethia (1715), Nathaniel (1717 m Abigail Merrick), Mercy (1719/20), Reuben (1722 m Elizabeth Clark), Samuel (1724 m Mehitable Snow), James (1726/7 unm.) and Theophilus (1728/9 m Tabitha ELDRIDGE Kendrick)

Joseph was born Eastham 1688 and died Harwich 24 Apr 1771. He married Harwich 17 Apr 1712 Mary Mayo and they had: Isaac (1712/3 m Thankful Smith & Elizabeth GOULD Avery), Joseph (1715 m Mary Berry), Mary (1716), Jonathan (1719/20 m Rebecca Freeman), Hannah (1722), Nathan (1726-1727), Prence (1729 d.y.), Prence (1731 m Patience Snow), Nathan (1733 m Phebe Clark) and Elizabeth (1738).

Benjamin was born Eastham Feb 1690 and died Harwich 22 Mar 1745. He married Harwich 13 Feb 1717/8 Rachel Lincoln and they had: Benjamin (1718/9 likely unm.), Giles (1720/1 likely unm.), Seth (1722/3 m Elizabeth Cahoon), Rachel (1726), Samuel (1728 m Sarah Wiley but likely no ch.), Solomon (1733 likely unm.) andws Edward (1735/6 likely unm.)


Caleb (II) was born Truro abt 1684 and died there bef 20 Sep 1741. He married Truro 8 Oct 1719 Mercy Freeman and they had: Constant (1720 m Phebe Paine), Mary (1722), Thankful (1724), Caleb (1726 m Mary Paine, Jane Vernon & Mary Williams), Jonathan (1728 likely unm.), Simeon (1731/2 m Bette Cobb), Mercy (1734), James (1736 m Mehitable Merriman), Joshua (1738/9 likely unm.) and Abiel (dau 1741).

Nathaniel was born Truro abt 1684 and there in 1752. He married twice, first Lydia then Sarah. By his first wife he had: Mary (1719/20), Sarah (1723), Isaac (1725 m Elizabeth Higgins & Lydia Newcomb), Lydia (1727), Phebe (1729), John (1732 m Lydia Snow), [https://pilgrimhopkins.com/heritage-lineage-descendants-fifth-generation-32/#988 Elisha (1738 m Elizabeth Snow), Priscilla (1740) and Elizabeth.

Thomas was born Truro abt 1700 and died there in 1754. He married Truro 10 Feb 1724/5 Deborah Bickford and they had: Samuel (1727 m Peggy Rich), Hannah (1730), Thomas (1730/1 m Keturah Dyer), Rebecca (1732), poss. Deborah (1733 d.y.), Apphia (1734), Deborah (1736), Michael (1739 likely unm.), Caleb (1741 d.y.), Caleb (1743 m Thankful Paine), Mary (1745), Sarah (1747/8) and Jeremiah (1750).


Elisha was born Eastham 17 Dec 1688 and died there 1 Feb 1741/2. He married Barnstable 9 Oct 1712 Experience Scudder and they had: John (1719 m Rebecca Nickerson), Elizabeth (c1720), Elisha (c1721 m Hannah Wing), Mary (1726), Experience (dau c1728) and Barzillai (c1732 m ?Lydia Eldridge & Martha Godfrey).

Joshua was born Eastham 20 Feb 1697/8 and died Eastham South Parish in 1780. He married 1 Oct 1724 Priscilla Curtis and they had: Joshua (1725 m Rebecca Sparrow), Priscilla (1728) and Hannah (1729).

  1. ↑ Pilgrim Hall Museum Stephen Hopkins biography.
  2. ↑ Roser, Susan E.,Mayflower Passenger References (from contemporary records and scholarly journals) (2011, 2015, Stewart Publishing & Printing, Canada), pp. 249-263, citing TAG 79:241-49
  3. ↑ [1] Transcription of Will and Inventory online at the Pilgrim Hall Museum website
  4. ↑ [2] Pilgrim Hopkins Heritage Society website
  5. ↑ Roser, op. cit., p. 250 from TAG 73:163
  6. ↑ ibid., it is currently unknown if Elizabeth was a maiden or a widow.
  7. ↑ [3] Pilgrim Hall Museum online biography for Stephen Hopkins
  8. ↑ Pilgrim Hall Museum Giles Hopkins biography.
  9. ↑ Stephen had a second wife, Eastham Apr 1701 Bethia LINNELL Atkins, but no children by this second marriage.
  10. ↑ Some sources give a tenth child, Samuel, born ca 1680, died young.
  11. ↑ His first wife would have been too old to have a child born in 1709.

DNA Results R1b-FGC71615

Previous Y-DNA testing

Previous Y-STR testing through the Mayflower Society and the Hopkins DNA Project] Hap'group R1b (M343;M269 etc) - Genetic Family D has suggested the Hopkins lineage belongs to the R1b-M269 Y-DNA haplogroup, which is quite common in Western Europe. The R1b clade predictor at Nevgen.org has further refined the prediction to be U106>>Z381>>L48>Z9>Z331>FGC49702>FGC12346.

NGS/WGS testing

As of 3 Jun 2025 four Big Y-700 test have been completed for Y-DNA descendants of Stephen Hopkins. The results of these tests document the Stephen Hopkins family falls under: U106>>Z381>>L48>Z9>Z331>>FGC12346>FGC49706>A10233>BY3322>A10236>FGC49708>FGC52137>FGC52139>FGC52155>FGC52156>FGC71620>FGC71615.

With enough NGS/WGS testing, we may also be able to define branches of the Hopkins family in America.

Availability of Y-DNA SNP testing

Family Tree DNA (www.familytreedna.com) currently does not offer individual Y-SNP testing and the only test they have to discover your Y-SNPs is the Big Y-700 test (regular price US $449, but they do have sales on this test from time to time). However, YSEQ does have FGC71615 for purchase (US $3.00 for the DNA sample kit and US $19.00 for the Y-SNP test).

Lineage of DNA testers

As of 3 Jun 2025 two individuals who have taken the Big Y-700 test have disclosed their lineage. 

 1. Stephen Hopkins (1581-1644)
   2. Giles Hopkins  (1608-c689)
     3. Stephen Hopkins (1642-1718)
       4. Judah Hopkins (1677-1748)
         5. Judah Hopkins (1710-1762)
           6. Thomas Hopkins (1732/3-1783)
             7. Thomas Hopkins (1764-1844)
               8. William H Hopkins (1798-1864)
                 9. Thomas H Hopkins (1821-1907)
                   10. Thomas Trison Hopkins (1840-1926)
                     11. William Wesley Hopkins (1875-1971)
                       12. Archie Benson Hopkins (1910-1990)
                         13. father of tester 
                           14. tester  
       4. Joseph Hopkins (1688-1771)
         5. Joseph Hopkins (1715-1762)
           6. Isaiah Hopkins (1741/2-1823)
             7. David Hopkins (1775-1839)
               8. Selah Hopkins (c1797-1867)
                 9. Darius Hopkins (1817-1901)
                   10. Azor Belden Hopkins (1850-1901)
                     11. Frederick Wordell Hopkins (1881-1952)
                       12. father of tester 
                         13. tester



References and External Links

  • Austin, John D., Mayflower Families Through Five Generations: vol. 6 Hopkins, General Society of Mayflower Descendants, Plymouth, MA. Third edition 2001
  • Roser, Susan E., Mayflower Increasings From the Files of George Ernest Bowman at the Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, Genealogical Publishing Co., Baltimore, MD, Second edition 1995, 1996. pp. 62-67
  • Roser, Susan E., Mayflower Passenger References (from contemporary records & scholarly journals, [www.stewartbooks.com Stewart Publishing & Printing], Canada. Second edition 2015
  • Johnson, Caleb, Here Shall I Die Ashore: Stephen Hopkins, Bermuda Castaway, Jamestown Survivor and Mayflower Pilgrim Xlibris Corp., 2007
  • Johnson, Caleb, The American Genealogist 73(1998):161-71 "The True Origins of Stephen Hopkins of the Mayflower: With Evidence of His Earlier Presence in Virginia"
  • Christensen, Ernest Martin, The American Genealogist 79(2004):241-49 "The Probable Parentage of Stephen1 Hopkins of the Mayflower"


© 2015-2024 mayflowerdna.org All Rights Reserved

Retrieved from "https://mayflowerdna.org/wiki/index.php?title=Hopkins_(Y-DNA)&oldid=16373"