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Lynn Hopewell has been working on a history of the Hopewell family of Lenoir County, North Carolina for 35 years. The attached PDF file is the latest version of the Hopewell Family History.

You may download this PDF file and read and print it. You cannot change it.

Please advise Lynn (See Contact Lynn page) for any corrections or additions.

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Below is an abstract of the first chapter of the book.

Cover: A U.S. Navy photograph of the pre-World War II destroyer Hopewell, DDS 181. Pollard Hopewell, Jr., descended from the Immigrant, Hugh Hopewell, was the only child of Pollard Hopewell and his wife, Catherine Hebb who were married December 19, 1785. Pollard, Jr. was born sometime between 1786 and 1789. He was orphaned at an early age. His father died in 1796 and his mother died on August 5, 1799. Pollard, Jr. was left in the care of his uncle, James Hopewell. Pollard, Jr. was appointed 4 June 1812 a midshipman from St. Mary's County, Maryland. He never married.  He reported aboard Chesapeake 21 August 1812^a.  The story of the incident which makes his name worthy for naming a ship is as follows.

The Norfolk-built frigate Chesapeake has been called by one leading historian an "odd duck". From the refusal of the ship to go down the ways on the first attempt to launch her to her capture by HMS Shannon in the War of 1812, the frigate was a hard-luck ship. Given the parsimonious approach to naval expenditures taken by President James Madison's administration, it is not surprising that the outbreak of war with England in June of 1812 found Chesapeake in a terrible material state.

Pollard Hopewell was killed when the British frigate Shannon overtook their ship on 1 June 1813.  He appears to have been on the quarterdeck of Chesapeake when she passed forward alongside Shannon and the first broadside from Shannon killed or wounded nearly everyone on the quarterdeck. The Captain is credited with the saying, "Don't give up the ship!" The crew was forced to give up the ship. 

There have been two Destroyers named after Midshipman Pollard Hopewell, DD181 and DD 681. The first Hopewell (DD-181) was launched by Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Va. 8 June 1918; sponsored by Mrs. Orote Hutcheson; and commissioned 22 March 1919 at Portsmouth, Va., Lt. Comdr. R. E. Rodgers in command.  Under Lend-lease, she was decommissioned 23 September 1940 and was transferred to Great Britain as part of the destroyers-bases exchange. Renamed Bath, the ship was manned by the Norwegian Navy and was sunk in August 1941.
 

The Hopewell Family of North Carolina. Copyright © 2003 by Lynn Hopewell. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews, or for the personal and professional use of genealogists and family members. For information address Lynn Hopewell, 7590 Cannoneer Court, Warrenton, Virginia 20186-9720; 540-349-2488. E-mail: lynn@hopewell.org. Web: www.hopewell.org.

 FIRST EDITION

Designer: _______________

_______________________________________________________________

Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Hopewell, Harry Lynn Jr., 1937‑ 

The Hopewell Family of North Carolina, Variously Residing in Buncombe, Craven, Green, Lenoir, and New Hanover Counties; and Portsmouth, Virginia, Being The Descendants of James H. Hopewell of Maryland.

 Bibliography: p.__

Includes index.

ISBN _______________

_______________________________________________

03 04 XXX  4 3 2 1

Dedication

   Dedicated to the memory of my aunt

Vera Farrow Hopewell Whitford

 1916 - 1987

who was the first to study the Hopewell family and was my companion and partner on many courthouse and cemetery trips, tracking down our Hopewell kin.

Contents

Chapter 1 The First Hopewells in North Carolina......................................... 1

James H. Hopewell................................................................................................... 1

Sarah Sanderson....................................................................................................... 2

Chapter 2 James H. Hopewell (Jr.)...................................................................... 5

Chapter 3 Egbert Oliver Hopewell....................................................................... 7

James Franklin Hopewell......................................................................................... 8

Roy Eugene Hopewell........................................................................................ 9

Coy Ray Hopewell............................................................................................. 9

George Caton Hopewell..................................................................................... 9

Hilda........................................................................................................ 9

Rupert...................................................................................................... 9

Robert...................................................................................................... 9

Thomas Gary............................................................................................ 9

Janice Jewel 9

James Woodie.......................................................................................... 9

Brenda Kaye............................................................................................ 9

Richard Ray 9

Egbert Oliver Hopewell...................................................................................... 9

Carrie Leether Hopewell.................................................................................... 9

John Millard Hopewell............................................................................................ 10

Ann Susan Hopewell........................................................................................ 10

Paul Millard Hopewell...................................................................................... 10

Beatrice Hopewell............................................................................................ 10

Vernon Blade Hopewell................................................................................... 10

Nannie Ruth Hopewell...................................................................................... 10

Virginia Ruby Maebell Hopewell....................................................................... 10

Alice Pearl.............................................................................................. 10

John Henry. 10

Polly Jane............................................................................................... 10

David Paul.............................................................................................. 10

Edward Lee 10

George Allen.......................................................................................... 10

Ralph Wesley......................................................................................... 10

Hazel Gladys Hopewell.................................................................................... 10

Hilda C. Hopewell............................................................................................ 10

Johnnie Millard Hopewell................................................................................. 11

Will Robert Hopewell.............................................................................................. 11

Ruby Leigh Hopewell....................................................................................... 11

Virginia Joyce......................................................................................... 11

Dorothy Rachel....................................................................................... 11

Melba Kathleen...................................................................................... 11

Authur Robert Hopewell................................................................................... 11

Elizabeth Rachel...................................................................................... 12

Emmie Lou. 12

Guy Herman Hopewell..................................................................................... 12

Vida Maxine........................................................................................... 12

Guy Herman, Jr...................................................................................... 12

Rachel Pat.............................................................................................. 12

Elizabeth Jean......................................................................................... 12

George Robert........................................................................................ 12

Ray Patrick Hopewell....................................................................................... 12

Harry Lynn Hopewell....................................................................................... 12

Harry Lynn, Jr........................................................................................ 12

Robert Stewart....................................................................................... 12

Lou Ross................................................................................................ 13

Charlotte Nina........................................................................................ 13

Fred Wright Hopewell...................................................................................... 13

Vera Farrow Hopewell..................................................................................... 13

Vera Ann................................................................................................ 13

Elizabeth Mae......................................................................................... 13

Emma Susan Hopewell............................................................................................ 14

Alpheus Whitley............................................................................................... 14

Lillie Whitley.................................................................................................... 15

Burl G. Whitley................................................................................................ 15

Joseph Whitley................................................................................................. 15

Carl Whitley..................................................................................................... 15

Susie Mae Whitley........................................................................................... 15

Walter Whitley................................................................................................. 15

Mary Whitley................................................................................................... 15

Effie Whitley..................................................................................................... 15

Betty Mae Hopewell............................................................................................... 15

Cora Moore..................................................................................................... 15

Robert Lee Moore........................................................................................... 16

Jay Moore....................................................................................................... 16

Egbert Thomas Moore..................................................................................... 16

Nora O'Neil Hopewell............................................................................................. 16

Rosa Lee Webber............................................................................................ 16

Agnes Clara Belle Webber............................................................................... 16

Mary Emma Webber........................................................................................ 16

Johnny Frank Webber...................................................................................... 16

William Henry Webber..................................................................................... 16

Nannie Dora Hopewell............................................................................................ 16

Edward Rone Williams..................................................................................... 17

Nannie Hazel Williams...................................................................................... 17

Edith....................................................................................................... 17

Nevin..................................................................................................... 17

Elsie Kathleen......................................................................................... 17

Bettie Winnifred Williams.................................................................................. 17

Rachel Kathleen Williams................................................................................. 17

Nina Ruth Williams........................................................................................... 17

Ruth Annette........................................................................................... 17

Barbara Virginia...................................................................................... 17

Frances I................................................................................................ 17

Robert Michael....................................................................................... 17

Nora Gladys Williams....................................................................................... 17

Maureen................................................................................................. 18

Elizabeth Bryan....................................................................................... 18

Timothy Edward..................................................................................... 18

Frederick Lewis Wright Williams...................................................................... 18

Emma Francis Williams..................................................................................... 18

William Clyde Hopewell.......................................................................................... 18

William Carl Hopewell, II................................................................................. 18

Andrew Preston Hopewell................................................................................ 18

Edna Grace Hopewell...................................................................................... 18

Mary Susan Hopewell...................................................................................... 18

Chapter 4 Mary E. (Polly) Hopewell.................................................................. 20

James David Hopewell........................................................................................... 20

George Cleaveland Hopewell................................................................................. 20

James David Hopewell..................................................................................... 21

Gloria Jeanne.......................................................................................... 21

Donna Sue.............................................................................................. 21

Jonnie Nora Hopewell...................................................................................... 21

Wyatt Swinson Hopewell................................................................................. 21

Rena Margaritte Hopewell................................................................................ 21

Bruce George Hopewell................................................................................... 21

Ida Jacqueline......................................................................................... 21

Charlotte Mae........................................................................................ 21

Ashley George........................................................................................ 21

Tiny Lena Hopewell......................................................................................... 21

Ethel Mae Hopewell......................................................................................... 21

 Sandria Carol........................................................................................ 22

Edna Ruth Hopewell......................................................................................... 22

Chapter 5 Jesse Pridgen Hopewell..................................................................... 24

Helen Elizabeth Hopewell....................................................................................... 27

Edmond T. Pressley, Jr..................................................................................... 28

Edmond T. Pressley, III.......................................................................... 28

Patricia Jane Pressley.............................................................................. 29

Bobby Ray Pressley................................................................................ 29

Helen Adline Pressley....................................................................................... 29

Helen...................................................................................................... 29

Caroline Jane.......................................................................................... 29

James Richard........................................................................................ 29

Preface

The author is the great-grandson of Egbert Oliver Hopewell, and has been researching the genealogy of the Hopewell family for twenty years. It was my hope to include all generations down to the present in this book. However, time is passing and in the interest of getting useful material in the hands of family members sooner rather than later, I decided to proceed with less than a complete genealogy. For the first two generations, I have included all that I know. Later generations are included in a brief format, and the level of detail is quite uneven as I have more information on my own lines than I do on other's.

It is my hope to later expand this book to include a brief biographical sketch of each person of all generations. Finding the details about each life will require much assistance from other members of the family. Therefore I ask readers to send a brief sketch on themselves. (See Harry Lynn Hopewell's sketch for an example.) I also need information on the deceased. Those who would like their families included in future editions are asked to fill out the family group sheet enclosed with this book and forward it to the author.

The Hopewell family did not leave much of a written trail. They did not seem to own any land. I have run across no letters. There are no photographs of the first two generations of Hopewells except one. Yet, I am confident that these materials exist, buried in a box in someone's dresser drawer. I hope you will want to review any material on the Hopewell family you may have. If you by chance, have any corrections to the data herein, or information that would add to the knowledge of the Hopewell family, please take the time to communicate with the author. Corrections of name spellings and dates are very much needed. I am always happy to hear from cousins and anyone interested in the Hopewell and allied families. We particularly need information on the first two generations of Hopewells. I can be found at:

            7590 Cannoneer Court
            Warrenton, Virginia 20186-9720
            Home voice and FAX: 1-540-349-2488
            e-mail: lynn@hopewell.org
            Web: www.hopewell.org

In a pinch, the Virginia Historical Society in Richmond will probably always have an address for me. If you run across a photograph, that odd letter or fact please let me know. The Hopewell family is a small one and much information is in the hands of descendents. To flesh out the history of this family, all will have to help. My current research is in Maryland, trying to uncover the "Maryland roots" of James H. Hopewell, the first Hopewell in North Carolina. If you have children or grandchildren who may like to receive a copy of this book, I would appreciate receiving names and mailing addresses.

                                                                          Lynn Hopewell
                                                                         Warrenton, Virginia
                                                                         September 20, 2003

Chapter 1

The First Hopewells in

 North Carolina

The first appearance of a Hopewell in North Carolina is in 1844 when a James Hopewell appears on a Lenoir County^[1] tax record. Next, according to the U.S. censuses, the first and only Hopewell family in North Carolina appears in 1850.

Here are the 1850 and 1860 census records:^[2]

James H. Hopewell

The census record of 1850 shows no sign of the father of the Hopewell children. Only their presumed mother is listed. Neither does he appear in any later or earlier census. Our first clue to the Hopewell father is in the 1883 marriage record^[3] of his son Jesse. In it Jesse lists his parents as “J.H. and Sarah Hopewell, both dead.” Sally is a nickname for Sarah.

Earlier courthouse records in both Lenoir and Green counties were destroyed by fire.^[4] No marriage record of any other of the above children has been found in Green, Lenoir, Craven or Wayne counties.

The next clue to James H. Hopewell is found in a Lenoir County property tax record.^[5] James Hopewell appears in an 1844 list. He is added to the end of an alphabetized list and has no other details, only his name. One could speculate that he came into or departed from the county, or, at least came to the attention of the tax authorities in that year. From the age of his son, James Hopewell, 10, in the 1850 Census, we can assume he was “around” in 1840.

Finally, we know that the James Hopewell, aged 10, listed in the above census is James H. Hopewell (Jr.) who served in the 27th North Carolina. Infantry, C.S.A. and who died in 1862. His mother Sarah Hopewell filed a claim after his death.

From the above evidence, it is reasonable to conclude that his father was James H. Hopewell.

From where did James H. Hopewell come? There is only one piece of evidence. All census records of J.H. Hopewell's children show their parents as being born in North Carolina, with one exception. In the 1900 and 1910 census, Jesse Pridgen Hopewell consistently cites his father's birth state as Maryland. On the entire census page, North Carolina is shown as the birthplace of each parent of every person listed except for this one line. Thus, it is not likely that this is an error.

Some idea of where the James Hopewell family lived in 1850 can be deduced as follows. James’s son Egbert Oliver Hopewell married Susan Winefred Waller (see below.) In the 1850 census for Lenoir County the Hopewell household was entry 531. Egbert was three years old.

The Waller household was listed as entry 532. Susan was shown as five years old. Obviously the families lived next door to each other. One of Susan's and Egbert's daughters was Nora O’Neil Hopewell who married Joseph J. Webber. Their daughter Rosa Lee Webber married Robert Franklin Ewell. Frank remembers his mother-in-law showing him a house in the Woodington section (in the area of Jim Smith Road) in which her mother (Susan Waller) was raised. About a half-mile from this area is the Waller family graveyard. In it are the graves of Susan Waller's parents. This indicates the location of the Waller and therefore the Hopewell homestead.

An index to Lenoir County deeds for the 1800s shows no property owned by Hopewells.

The author has queried many members of the Hopewell family, especially the grandchildren of Egbert Oliver Hopewell, son of James H. Hopewell. Egbert Oliver Hopewell died in 1905 so none alive today knew him. No Hopewell today recalls their parent ever speaking of their Hopewell grandfather. Neither do they recall their parents speaking of any first cousins from the Hopewell side of the family (these would have been the children of Egbert's sisters Martha, Betsey and Nancy of whom we know nothing.)

There is only one hint that must be viewed with great skepticism. Several great-grandchildren of James H. Hopewell told the author that their parents had said of their grandfather—“he was a full-blooded Irishman.” Several also told a story that two brothers had emigrated from England, one settling north and one south.

Sarah Sanderson, Presumed Wife of James H. Hopewell

Who was Sally Sanderson listed along with the Hopewell children in the 1850 census? Compare the 1850 with the 1860 census listings. The data offer an intriguing set of possibilities.

In the 1850 census, Sally and Nancy have Sanderson as their last name, as distinct from the Hopewell children. However, in the 1860 census, all have the Hopewell surname.

Here are some possibilities:

1.      Sally was married to a Sanderson and had Nancy. Then he died. Sally could have been keeping house and taking care of the Hopewell children who were not hers.

2.      Same situation except Sally was not married but had Nancy.

3.      In 1850 was Sally not married to James, but had children by him and named them Hopewell? This is unlikely because illegitimate children, by law, took their mother's name.

4.      Sally later married James Hopewell and Nancy took his name. This is supported by the fact that:

·        Sally is a nickname for Sarah.

·        Sarah was named as Jesse’s mother in his marriage license.

So are the two new children, Mary and Jesse listed on the 1860 census Sally's children by James; and the others are James' by an unknown mother?

Contradicting this is that Sarah was also listed in James’ civil war record as the name of his mother. But does this mean that she was his birth mother or that, because she raised him, he considered her his mother?

Deciding between these possible explanations and scenarios is difficult. This family history will list Sally as the mother of all the Hopewell children, but the above reservations must be remembered.

No trace of Sarah Hopewell is found in the Lenoir, Green or Wayne County censuses of 1870 or 1880. James is dead. Jessie and Polly are living away from home —the 1870 census shows them boarding and working at other farms in Lenoir county.^[6] Possibly Sarah Hopewell died between 1860 and 1870 although she would have been only aged 50 in 1870. Alternatively, since the children were all grown, she could have moved out of Lenoir County. However, she has not been found in any other North Carolina Census index.

No photographs or letters of James or Sarah have been found.

Of the children of James and Sarah Hopewell, we know a lot about four, and nothing of the rest.

For Elizabeth, Martha and Nancy, no information has ever been found.^[7] Research on statewide death records in Georgia and North Carolina are possible research approaches.

James H. Hopewell, (Jr.) is covered in Chapter 2.

Egbert Oliver Hopewell is covered in Chapter 3.

Mary E. "Polly" Hopewell is covered in Chapter 4.

Jesse Pridgen Hopewell is covered in Chapter 5.

This page last edited: June 25, 2008 Copyright© 2006 by Lynn Hopewell.