Thomas Hopkins in Oyster Bay

Thomas Hopkins, a native of Dorset, England immigrated to Plymouth, Massachusets in 1636, spent years in Rhode Island as one of the first settlers of Prividence and eventally settled and died in the settlement of Littleworth of Oyster Bay. How did he end up in Oyster Bay, a small town on the north shore of Long Island?

Thomas was the son of William Hopkins and Joanna Arnold. He had the distinction of having individuals such as Benedict Arnold and Stephen Hopkins (signer of the declaration of independence) there is no question that Thomas was born into families that would foster good education, fortune and prestige.

Therefor, it is not surprising that from 1652 to 1672 Hopkins served in a number of civic positions in Providence, including Commissioner, Deputy, and member of the Town Council. In 1676 King Philip's War raged in Rhode Island and most of Providence was destroyed. While Hopkin's two oldest sons, William and Thomas, either remained in Providence or returned there shortly after the war, Hopkins and his youngest moved to Oyster Bay, on Long Island and remained there. Hopkins' son predeceased him, and his daughter-in-law, Elizabeth, then married Richard Kirby. It was in the home of Kirby that Hopkins was living when he died in 1684.

Photo of Thomas Kirby (descendent) document coutrsy of the Oyster Bay Historical Society.