Dr. Arthur HOPKINS

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  General Notes:

Dr. Arthur Hopkins, the father of Mrs. Joseph Cabell, was probably born in New Kent County, about 1690. He married, about 1710-1715, Elizabeth Pettus, of New Kent; bought land on "ye Byrd Creek" in Goochland County, in 1731 (in the deed he is styled "Arthur Hopkins of St. Paul's Parish Hanover county physician"), and moved to that county prior to 1734. He was appointed a justice of the peace for Goochland in 1737; was high sheriff, 1739­-1741; and was a member of the vestry of St. James North­am Parish. There are several references to him in old Dr. Cabell's papers, going to show that they were very good friends. He entered for, patented, bought, and sold much land in the present counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, and Goochland, during 1731-1750. In 1751, he bought lots in the new town of Beverley at Westham. He was a colonel in 1752, and a citizen of Albemarle in 1762. His will, dated May 31, 1765, recorded March 12, 1767, mentions wife Elizabeth, sons Samuel, John, Arthur, William, and James, "my married daughters and their husbands [names not given], . . . my single daughter Isabella, my son-in-­law Col. Joseph Cabell to be her guardian," etc.

His son Samuel was the father of Gen. Samuel Hopkins, of Kentucky. His son James, who died in this county in 1803, left the most remarkable will I ever read, naming many of his relatives, emancipating his slaves, many of whom could then read, and requiring his executors to have the others "taught enough to enable them to read the word of God."

Arthur married Elizabeth PETTUS.