Stephen Hopkins: Bermuda Survivor, Jamestown Resident, Mayflower Passenger and Relative Badass

Stephen Hopkins, my 13^th great-grandfather (on my mom’s side) was, in my opinion somewhat of a badass. He chanced death more than a few times and is the only individual who was both an early resident of Jamestown and a Mayflower passenger.

Born in April, 1581 in Upper Clatford, Hampshire, England, Stephen married Mary or Constance Mary Dudley in 1603 and they had three children- Elizabeth, Constance and Giles. (I descend from Giles.) Stephen’s father (Stephen Sr.) was sheep farmer, master weaver and wool merchant and his sons followed in learning the trade. However in 1609, Stephen gained employment as a ministers clerk, where he read bible verses to the congregation, which included members of the Virginia Company. Although not particularly religious, he was recognized for his knowledge of the Bible. Later that year Stephen’s job took to the sea and he boarded the Sea Venture, one in a fleet of nine ships sent to resupply Virginia Colony. For his service Stephen was to receive free room and board, 30 acres of land in Jamestown, and a small wage sent to Mary every month. Besides caring for young children by herself while her husband was away at sea for four years Mary worked as a shopkeeper.

After two months at sea, the Sea Venture took a severe five-day beating in a hurricane until the ship finally crashed into a reef near Bermuda in late July. The legend is that Stephen Hopkins rode a wine barrel to shore. With food, water, and no inhabitants, crashing into Bermuda was actually rather fortuitous. The 150 survivors used the remnants of the Sea Venture and wood from the island to build two smaller sea going ships. Besides the crew members sent to look for land and never seen again, and Mrs. John Rolfe, who did not survive giving birth on the island, (John Rolfe went on to marry Pocahontas.) no one else died while in Bermuda, although Stephen Hopkins came rather close.

More and more Stephen Hopkins questioned the authority of Governor Thomas Gates. He also insisted that they should colonize Bermuda, and argued that because they never made it to Virginia, that their contracts no longer applied. By the end of the year Stephen was charged and tried for treason and sentenced to execution. He begged for mercy using the fact that he had a wife and young children back in England to gain sympathy, and with the help from the Virginia Company, who made requests to Governor Gates, and received a pardon.    

When they arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in May 1610, the people were in terrible shape, burning buildings to stay warm and near starvation. Stephen Hopkins stayed a couple years before returning to England when his wife Mary died. In England he learned that Mary and son William, probably born while he was beached in Bermuda, died of the plague and his other children were in the custody of the church. After claiming his children, Stephen settled in London and married Elizabeth Fisher in 1618. He worked as a tanner and merchant.

Then Stephen heard about the Mayflower voyage and signed on as a ‘stranger.’ This time he brought his wife, four children, and two indentured servants. Elizabeth gave birth to Oceanus on the voyage to the New World. Stephen and Elizabeth raised six children together- Damaris, Deborah, Caleb, Elizabeth, Oceanus, Ruth and another Damaris. The first Damaris died about 1627, and the second one was born about 1628. Back then, if a child passed it was not uncommon to use the same name for another child.

In Plymouth, Massachusetts Stephen Hopkins served in community affairs, primarily as an assistant to Governor Edward Winslow and in the militia. Stephen’s experience with Native Americans benefited the Mayflower passengers as Samoset stayed the night at his house and he was chosen by Governor Edward Winslow to meet with Massasoit, which proved instrumental in negotiating peace with the Indians that lasted over half a century.

He also owned a tavern and got himself into occasional trouble for allowing people to drink alcohol on Sundays, for permitting servants to play shuffleboard in the tavern, for people getting too drunk and overcharging for alcohol. He landed himself in jail for refusing to comply with a court order to provide for a servant of his that was pregnant with a ‘bastard’ and the father had deserted. He was released when a friend offered to take the servant in and provide for the child. More than anything, Stephen resented the court telling him how to handle the matter.

In 1644 Stephen Hopkins died in Plymouth Massachusetts. He was fairly well off by the standards of the day. Although Stephen Hopkins wasn’t perfect and he definitely made mistakes, I think some of the things he did demonstrated an impressive individual. Can you really blame him for wanting to colonize Bermuda? It couldn’t have been easy leaving his wife and young children for what turned out to be about four years, at the end of which his wife, and the son he never knew were dead. So, he took on being a single dad for about five years. Then he crossed the Atlantic yet again, this time with his family, in the Mayflower. In Plymouth Colony, Stephen proved crucial in establishing the peace between separatists and the Native Americans that lasted over fifty years.

                        My 13^th great-grandparents

Stephen Hopkins m. Mary

Giles Hopkins m. Catherine Whelden

Deborah Hopkins m. Josiah Cooke

Josiah Cooke m. Mary Godfrey

Desire Cooke m. Beriah Higgins

Thankful Higgins m. Daniel Rathbone

Sarah Rathbone m. Jacob Sawyer

David Sawyer m. Marilda

Elizabeth “Eliza” Sawyer m. Andrews Harper

David Dustin Harper m. Amanda Melvina Windom

William Harper m. Ella Tewalt

Stella May Harper m. Jessie W. Rhoads

Joseph Rhoads m. Arma Mae Erwin

Grandma Rhoads m. Grandpa Maddox

Maddox m. Chapin

Me