The history of Waterbury, Connecticut - citizen hylbom blog

152 HISTOKY OF WATEEBURY.
1. John ; 2. Stephen ; b. 1665 ; m. Sarah, d. of Lieut. Thomas
Judd and Hannah . He
had children, Thomas, Sarah and
Eachel, and d. 1T04. 3. Ebenezer ; b. 1669, and m. Mary
Butler, d. of Samuel of Wethersfield, Jan. 21, 1691. 4. Jo-
seph ; m. Hannah, d. of Paul Peck of Hartford, April 27,
1693. 5. Dorcas; m. Jonathan Webster, May 11, 1681. 6.
Mary ;
m. Samuel Sedgwick.
Jolm Hopkins, the son of Stephen of Hartford, came to
Mattatuck to tend his father's mill. The mill was built ap-
parently in 1680, and John probably took charge of it at that
time. He did not however become a proprietor immediately.
Perhaps he was not then of age. His name is not on either
of the fence-division lists, so frequently referred to. The father
had a house lot granted him, Feb. 5, 1680-81, wdiich was
probably intended for the son. The latter is first mentioned,
Feb. 6, 1682, (1682-3,) when Dea. Lankton's forfeited allotments
were confirmed to him by the committee. He was then
called " the present miller."
Jolm Hopkins was one of the most respected and influen-
tial of the early settlers of Waterbury. He ground the peo-
ple's corn, " corn being suitable to grind," and was one of the
youngest of the original proprietors. He subscribed to the £60
settlement of the first minister; was townsman in 1692, and
several times afterwards; constable in 1702 ; grand juror for
two years; deputy in 1704, and many times from 1708 to 1726;
justice of the peace from 1725 to 1729, inclusive. He held
the office of town clerk in 1713. He wrote his own signature
in a fair hand ;
but his chirography was generally bad and his
ink poor, making the records, as kept by him, difficult to deci-
pher. He was also tavern keeper from 1712 to 1718, inclusive,
and probably earlier, and "ordinary keeper" in 1714 and
1715. He obtained, too, military honors so much sought for
in his day, being sergeant in 1714, ensign in 1715, and lieu-
tenant in 1716. After the latter date, he was known as Left.
Hopkins. When the new meeting house came to be seated
in 1729, he was one of the revered dignitaries who were voted
" into the first pew at the west end of the pulpit."
John Hopkins' house lot was situated on the corner of East
Main and Bank streets. It contained two acres, and was