Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1859-11-16
Respectfully yours,
MRS. STOWE AND DR.. HOPKINS
"WOOING."

Rev. SAMUEL HOPKINS. D. D.-Mrs.
Stoves new story called The Minister s
Wooing, has introduced this eminent divine
to the acquaintance of thousands of indi-
viduals who never before heard of his ex-
istence. To such persons some account Of
his life, drawn from authentic sources, may
be interesting. He was born in Waterbu-
bury, Conn, September II, l721. Grad
uated at Yale College in l74l. in De-
ccmber of that year he went to NOrthamp-
ton to study divinity with the celebrated
Jonathan Edwards December %, l743,
he was ordained in Great Darlington (then
called Houssatonnoclk,) and remained there
till January Is, 1869, when on account of
the elimination of the society and the want
of support, he was dismissed by an ecclesi-
astical council. April II, 177O, he was
settled in the ministry at Newport, R. l.
In December, l776, when the British took
possession of Newport, he left town, and
retired to his family. which he had before
sent to Great harrington. During the
summer of III he preached in Newbury-
port. He afterward preached in Cantur-
bury and Stamford. In the spring of 1880
he returned to Newport, the British having
evacuated the town in the preceding fall
He found his society so much diminished
and impoverished that he had no prospects
of maintenance; but supported by week
ly contribution and the donations of his
friends, he continued to preach to them till
his death, which occurred on the goth of
December, 1908. at the age of 50 years.
DR.. Hopkins was twice married. Not
long after his settlement at Great Barring
ton he was betfothed to young woman of
that town. But the unexpected return of
a former lover of the fair lady caused her
to ask the doctor to release her from her
engagement to him. which he consented to
DO with great regret. Not daunted, how
ever, by this i'll success, he sought and won
the heart and hand of Miss Joanna Inger-
soil, to whom he was married in the year
l75S. She died August 81, 1898. On
the 10Th of September, 1874. Dr. Hopkins
married Elizabeth West of Newport, one
of his parishioners. who survived him
From these facts it will be seen how much
Mrs. Stowe has drawn on her imagination
in writing her story, and how utterly she
has disregarded dates. The time of her
novel is as late as the summer of I794.-I
This is rendered certain by the introduc-
ton of Aaron Burr, who is called on his
first appearance a member Of the United
States Senate, and it is afterward stated
that his wife is dead. /
Burr's term of service in the Senate
commenced in 1871, and terminated in
1897. Mrs Burr died in the spring of
1901. So that, at the beginning of the
story, Dr.. Hopkins was at least seventy
three years old, and had probably married
his second wife. Indeed, during his whole
in Newport he was married
man, with the exception of year after the
death of his wife. All this may not be of
much Importance, but, as many persons
will obtain all their knowledge of Dr. Hop
kins from this book, it is well that it should
be known that it is almost wholly unrelia-
bic as to the events of his life. Whether
it gives any more correct view of his relig-
lous opinions, must be decided by some one
more competent to judge 1t may be in
teresting to some to compare Mrs. Stoves
views in regard to his theology with those
IF DR.. Charming, which may be found in
lis sermon at Newport, delivered July q,
1886; published in the fourth volume of
Jhannings wolks. .- n
Boston Transcript, October %.