Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File B.L.Wt. 2216-300, David Hopkins, S.C.
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(8-1776)
SERVICE                      NUMBER
S.C. Hopkins, David    B.L. Wt. 2216-300
CONTENTS
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[left page blank]
David Hopkins
     No. 2216.
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DEPARTMENT OF WAR.
[printer's mark]
Regulations for the heirs of Officers and Soldiers of the Revolutionary Army, who were slain by the enemy, or who have died since the war, and have not received land from the United States.

By an act of Congress of the 16th September, 1776, it is provided that the Officers and Soldiers who engaged for, and continued to serve during the war, or until discharged by Congress, and the heirs of such Officers and Soldiers as shall be slain by the enemy, shall receive land in proportion to their rank.

N. B. Those who engaged for three years, or for any other period than during the war, or who died of sickness, fatigue, or casualty, are not entitled to land from the United States.

The following declaration (and enclosed blank form of heirship) must be filled up and signed by the proper authorities:

State of South Carolina
District [pre-printed "County" crossed out] of Chester

I, Sarah Hopkins heir at law of David Hopkins
do, upon oath, testify and declare, to the best of my knowledge and belief, that said David Hopkins did enter the service in 17____, for the term of five years and served as a Captain in the Regiment No. 3 under the command of Colonel ______________ of the continental line; and that he continued in the service aforesaid until the close of the war

I further declare that I have never received a warrant for the bounty land promised to David
Hopkins on the part of the United States; nor do I believe that he ever received it, or transferred his claim to it in any manner whatsoever: therefore,

Know all men by these presents, That I Sarah Hopkins aforesaid, do hereby constitute and appoint William H Clowney to be my true
and lawful attorney, for me and in my name to demand and receive from the Secretary of War of the United States, a warrant [italicized] for the quantity of land due to me as aforesaid; and my said attorney is hereby fully authorized and empowered to constitute and appoint one or more substitutes or attorneys under him, for the special purposes above expressed.
Attest,                     Sarah hir [her] X mark Hopkins
William Woods,

[printers mark]

Personally appeared the abovenamed Sarah Hopkins subscriber to the foregoing declaration, and made oath to the same, and in my presence acknowledged the power of
attorney thereto subjoined to be hir [her] free act and deed, for the purposes therein mentioned.

Attest,
William Woods, Justice of the Peace

[printer's mark]

In testimony that the above written William Woods was a magistrate authorized to administer oaths, and take acknowledgments, &c. [etc.] in the State of _____________ 
at the above date, and that his name there subscribed appears to me to be his usual signature, I have hereunto affixed the x district county seal, and subscribed my name and quality, at Chester Court House this Seventh day of May
1838
J Rosborough Clerk of Chester
District Court    C. Clerk, &c.
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In the name of God amen, I David Hopkins of the State of South Carolina Chester District being weak of body but of perfect mind & memory thanks be given unto God Calling. Calling unto mind the Mortallity [mortality] of my body & Knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make & ordain this my last will & testament that is to Say, principally & first of all. I give & reccommend [recommend] my Soul to almighty God that gave it and my body. I reccommend [recommend] to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discression [discretion] of my Executor and to teaching Such wordly [worldy] Estate wherewith it has pleased god to bless me in this life I give & demise and dispose of the same in the following manner & form. First it is my wish and desire that my Son Ferdinand Hopkins whom I do constitute make and ordain my whole & soul Executor will support and maintain my wife Mary & her Sister Anna as comfortable as circumstances will allow as long as they live.  Secondly & lastly as all my other children Namely Newton Mary and George Washington have been advanced (with negroes and other property as they married off. I do now give and bequeath to my Son Ferdinand Hopkins all and Singular my Lands Messuages and tennaments [tenaments] of whatever discription [description] or place they lye [lie] in the United States of America or in Europe by him freely to be posessed  [possessed] & enjoyed by him his heirs executors administrators and assignees for ever and do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disanull [disannul] all every other former testament, wills legacies bequests and executors by me in any wise before named willed or bequeathed. Rattifying ]ratifying] & Confirm this & no other to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this Second day of March One thousand eight hundred & thirteen being the thirty seventh & thirty eighth of american [American] Independance [Independence].
Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced and declared
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by the said David Hopkins as his last will & testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto Subscribed our names.

                       D. Hopkins [drawn seal]
Charles Sims
Wm Sims
C.S. Sims

[later addendum]

South Carolina
Chester District ⎬ I Peter Wylie Judge & Clerk
of the Court of Ordinary of said District do
hereby certify that the foregoing contains a true copy of the Last Will & Testament of Col David Hopkins decd of record in this office

In testimony whereof I have hereunto
set my hand & seal this 23 day of April
1838
Peter Wylie J&CCO
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Certifyed [Certified]
Copy of the
Will of
Ferd Hopkins

Okay from $1...
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South Carolina Chester District

In the name of God and I, Ferdinand Hopkins Senior of the State and district aforesaid being weak of body, but of a disposing and proper mind do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to Say
1st  All my just debts are to be paid
2nd  It has been my intention to give to my Children with out exception at the death of the longest Survivor of me or my beloved wife and equal Share or dividend of my estate but from a reverse in the Conduct of Doctor Andrew Park who married my daughter on the eighth of February last which reverse has unexpectedly transpired  Since his marriage I consequently make my will as will be seen below.
3rd  I leave to me beloved wife Sarah Hopkins who I nominate and appoint my executrix the whole of my estate both real and personal So long as she remains my widow to be freely and fully enjoyed by her and at her discretion to make distribution of Such portions thereof having due regard to the injunctions hereafter mentioned to my Children as Justice, and propriety will equitably require desiring that any gift or loan of peoperty So made be fairly valued and that she keep an account thereof and that advance funds be discounted for at their value fixed at the time of the advancement or advancements
4th  I hereby make known that I give the Said Doctor Andrew Park nothing or in other words no part of my estate and hereby forbid under all circumstances the Said Doctor Andrew Park having any thing to do with Said estate.  Yet as I value and regard my daughter, my wife is at liberty to lend property to my daughter returnable at my wife's discretion; she is desired to keep an account thereof and the value thereof in Such Case and Should Doctor Andrew Park decease before my daughter it is my wish and desire that my Said daughter Shall receive her equal Share of my estate and that the distribution of my Said estate in Such case be made equal at Such proper time or times as justice will dictate amongst all my Children to wit Wade Hopkins David George Washington Hopkins Mary Thompson Park and John William Anderson Hopkins
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If it Should occur that one or more trustees Should be found necessary for the management of the portion or portions of one or more of my children timely application to the Court or proper authority for the appointment of fit and proper person to act therein is then desired  My intention is  explicitly to prevent Doctor Andrew Park from the owner ship of any part my estate but as stated to my wife and children and decidedly desirous and it is positively the intention of my devise that my wife and children shall enjoy my whole estate in equitable proportion and succession in perpetuity of my said estate can be continually so arranged.
5th  As I have given no Share or advanced any dividends of property to my children it is my will and desire that the distribution of my estate be made agreeable the the true intent and meaning of the above and to effect these objects and to prevent Controversies it is my wish and desire that at the death of my beloved wife application be made through or by the advice of some Competent Attorney to the Court having Competent authority for the management of such estate as She leaves or for a Conclusive Settlement and division of said estate as the case may be according to the above will
6th  Having appointed my beloved wife executrix I hereby nominate Mr James F Woods and Mr John Rosborough executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and Setting aside all former wills by me made
Witness my hand and seal this twentieth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty five and in the fiftieth year of the independence ot the United States of America.
Ferd. Hopkins {Seal}
Signed Seal and acknowledged in the presence of us who in the presence of the testator & of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses there to.
Alxr Quay
Geo Kennedy
Jno Kennedy
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South Carolina}
Chester District}

I Peter Wylie Judge & Clerk of the Court of Ordinary of Chester District do hereby certify that the foregoing writing contains a true copy of the Last Will & Testament of Ferdinand Hopkins Senr. desd in this office
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal of office this 23rd day of April 1838

Peter Wylie J&CCOCD
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Rev. War Section.

May 21, 1915.

Mrs. W. Farr Gilliam,
Main Street,
Union, S. C.

Madam:
In response to your letter dated the sixteenth instant, furnishing the correct data relative to David Hopkins, you are advised that in the papers on file in this Bureau it is stated that David Hopkins was a Captain of the 3d South Carolina regiment, and served five years, to the end of the War; and a Warrant numbered 2216, for 300 acres of bounty land on account of his service as Captain of South Carolina troops, was issued June 2, 1838, for the benefit of Sarah Hopkins and other heirs, whose names are not stated.
David Hopkins died prior to July 1836, but there are no particulars of service and no dates of birth and death given.  The following members of the family are referred to.
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David Hopkins and wife Mary.
Children
Ferdinand Hopkins.
Newton Hopkins.
Mary Hopkins.
George Washington Hopkins.

Ferdinand Hopkins Senior and wife Sarah.
Children.
Wade Hopkins.
David George Washington Hopkins.
Mary Thompson Park wife of Dr. Andrew Park, mar. Feb. 8, 1825
John William Anderson Hopkins.

There are no dates nor ages given.
Very respectfully,
G M Saltzgaber
Commissioner.

Hopkins - 2 -
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Act of Congress of the
2d July 1836
directs the 5 years full
pay of a Captain, to
be paid to the legal
representatives of
David Hopkins, decd
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State of So. Carolina - Chester District-
I Peter Wylie, Judge & Clerk of the Court of Ordinary of Chester District hereby certify
that Col David Hopkins, died leaving a will, and in that will, constituting and appointing his
son Ferdinand Hopkins, as his sole Exer and that the said Ferdinand Hopkins is now dead
leaving his widow Sarah Hopkins, Exer & Jas. F. Wood and John Roseborough Exer of his Will.  
John Rosebrough did not qualify, and Jas. F. Wood who did qualify with the widow is now dead, and his widow Sarah Hopkins is now Sole Execr of this said last will & testament
of Ferdinand Hopkins decd who was sole exer of Col David Hopkins decd
22d Feby 1836
Signed Peter Wylie J&C CO

Sarah Hopkins - power of attorney to the Honb Jas. Rogers - Ho. of Reps
to claim the money from govt dated 20 Feby 1836
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House of Rep. March 29th 1838

Sir
By an act of Congress approved the 2d of July 1836, was established the claim of the heirs of Col David Hopkins, to five years commutation pay as a Captain in the continental service in South Carolina during the war of the revolution.  The heirs now seek the bounty land, to which they concieve themselves justly entitled, & request my agency in this matter as their immediate representative.  Please to inform me if the evidence before Congress on the subject of the commutation pay will be sufficient to establish the claim to land.
Yours &c
W. K. Clowney

No 70,237
Report 3d Feby 1836
Act 2d July 1836 - to pay the legal representatives the 5 yrs past pay of a Captain
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Copy of will of Col D Hopkins
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CAPITAL STOCK $40,000.00
FANT BROTHERS COMPANY
INCORPORATED
MERCHANTS

W. F. GILLIAM, PRESIDENT
J. ROY FANT, VICE PRESIDENT
THOS. McNALLY, TREASURER

DEALERS IN
GROCERIES, HARDWARE
WAGONS, FERTILIZERS
GRAIN, HAY, ETC

UNION, S. C.  May 16th, 1915.

The Commissioner of Pensions,
Washington, D. C.,
Sir.
Yours of the 11th, saying the names of David Hopkins and Benjamin James are not among those of the Virginia troops, received, in reply to same, will say that David Hopkins was born in Virginia in 1737, but enlisted in the 3rd S. C. Provincial Rangers Fort - Died 1824 - Wife was Mary Glenn of Cumberland Co., Va.
Benjamin James was born in Virginia but served in the S. C. Continental Line - Died 1826 - Wife was Jean Stubs.  In case, with this information, you find any thing on record, I would appreciate, very much, a copy of same.

Note:  Round stamp at bottom:
PENSION
MAY 18 1915
U. S. 
OFFICE.
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CAPITAL STOCK $40.000.00

FANT BROTHERS COMPANY
INCORPORATED 
MERCHANTS

W. F. GILLIAM, PRESIDENT
J. ROY FANT, VICE PRESIDENT
THOS. McNALLY, TREASURER
UNION, S. C.,

As to James Sims will say that he was born in S. C. or Va, April 28, 1742.  He was a brother of Capt. Charles Sims, who was, I think, with the S. C. troops.  Wife was Elizabeth Sanders.
Thanking you in advance for an early reply I am,
Yours very truly,
Mrs. W. Farr Gilliam,
Main St., 
Union, S. C. 

Note:  Round stamp is present at bottom:
PENSION
MAY 18 1915
U. S.
OFFICE.
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Note:  An oval stamp present at top:
REVOLUTIONARY & 1812 WARS
SECTION 
SEP 10 1929
BUREAU OF PENSIONS

1206 Canal Bank Bldg.
New Orleans, La.
Sept. 4 - 1929.

Mr. R. Herrell, Chief Recorders Division,
Revolutionary or Pension Department.
Washington, D. C.

Dear Sir:
Our family are in possession of a liberal amount of data, including reports on war service, personal letters addressed to friends and sons, of Col. David Hopkins of S. C.  The information we have thoroughly checked proved very conclusively that there were two different Col. David Hopkins, one from Va. and one from S. C., but, we have no information to enable us to authenticate who the father of Col. David Hopkins of S. C. was.
The war records reveal that he began service in 1775 but does not confirm when his service ended, however, his personal letters to his sons, Ferdinand and Newton, which are most interesting, reveal that he was loyal in the service until the close, and that he personally compensated some of his soldiers.  In Congressional report Feb. 29-1848, House of Rep. #271, 30th Congress, 1st. session, Vol. 2- recommends the claims of the heirs of David Hopkins.
Report from Representative Briggs, 3-2-1861, H. R., 98, 36 Congress, 2nd. Session, Vol. 2, reccommends [recommends] the claim of Ferdinand Hopkins.
I have been given a note, but without the numbers and dates on it that it was recommended that the heirs of David Hopkins be reimbursed for the money he paid his soldiers out of his own pocket.
These facts would suggest that Col. David must have received a pension and if so his fathers' name would likely be registered.
In Gen. Sumpters' Brigade records we find from S. C. also, "John Hopkins served in Col. Brandies' regiment in 1782".
In one of Col. Davids' letters he says, "The action continued until almost sun down, when we beat them off the ground.  We had four killed and Gen. Sumpter badly wounded.  He is recovering.  They had sixty or seventy men killed and wounded".  We think that this John was the brother of Col. David Hopkins, if so pension records might assist in determining this.
Your kind assistance and attention to this wanted information will certainly be appreaciated [appreciated].
Yours truly,
Mrs Zula Lee Arnold.
Mrs Zula Lee Arnold [handwritten]
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Rev. and 1812
War Sections

September 10, 1929.

Mrs. Zula Lee Arnold
1206 Canal Bank Building
New Orleans
Louisiana.

Dear Madam,
I advise you that from the records of this Bureau it
appears that David Hopkins was Captain of the 3rd South Carolina
Regiment, War of the Revolution and served five years, to
the end of the war.  He died prior to February 22, 1836, his
age and names of parents are not given.

Warrant No. 2216 for three hundred acres of bounty
land was issued June 2, 1838, on account of the above named service
of David Hopkins.  Application for the bounty land was made
May 17, 1838, in Chester District, South Carolina, by one Sarah
Hopkins, heir-at-law of said David Hopkins.

The following family data appear in the papers on file,
no ages are given.

The only children of David Hopkins and wife Mary of
Chester District, South Carolina, in 1813:
Ferdinand Hopkins
Newton Hopkins
Mary Hopkins
George Washington Hopkins.
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Children of Ferdinand Hopkins, Sr., and wife Sarah, of Chester
District, South Carolina, in 1825:
Wade Hopkins
David George Washington Hopkins
Mary Thompson Park, wife of Dr. Andrew Park,
married February 8, 1825
John William Anderson Hopkins.

Very truly yours,
E. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner