The

SECOND GOVERNOR

of

CONNECTICUT

was

EDWARD HOPKINS

A rich British Merchant and trader who emigrated to America in the ship "Hector," and upon returning to England became Keeper of the Fleet Prison," famous in reigns of Mary and Elizabeth

EDWARD

HOPKINS

E

DWARD Hopkins, the second governor of the colony, was,

like his predecessor, John Haynes, a wealthy English landholder. He was born at Shrewsbury in 1600, and early in life became a merchant. While his headquarters were in London he carried on an extensive business with many foreign

countries.

While yet a young man Hopkins had made a comfortable fortune, and when in 1637 he concluded to emigrate to America he was classed as a rich man. For a long period he had worshipped at St. Stephen's parish, in Coleman street, London, where the Rev. John Davenport was the preacher and Theophilus Eaton a member. These three friends, Hopkins, Davenport, and Eaton, sailed for America in the ship Hector in 1637. Hopkins landed in Boston and proceeded to Hartford which he made his future home. Eaton and Davenport remained in Boston a few months and then went to Quinnipiac where they laid the foundation of the present New Haven in 1638. Soon after arriving in Hartford, Hopkins became a prominent citizen, and in 1639 was chosen the first secretary of the colony. The next year he was elected governor,

and continued in office every other year from 1640 to 1654. In the alternate years he was usually deputy governor and very often a delegate from the colony. His mercantile habits followed Governor Hopkins to his new home, for we are told he carried on a trading business in Hartford and established trading-posts far up the Connecticut river. Although a man of extensive business affairs and very active all his life, the governor never enjoyed good health and constantly suffered from disease. His wife also suffered from mental derangement, which was a source of constant anxiety to the governor.

In 1654 Governor Hopkins sailed for England on a business trip and with the full intention of returning to his adopted country; but circumstances prevented him from following out his plan. Soon after his arrival in England he inherited from his brother the position of "Keeper of the Fleet Prison," on Farringdon street, London, and his title was Warden of the Fleet. This was the King's prison as far back as the twelfth century, and obtained a high historical interest from its having been the place of confinement of religious martyrs during the reigns of Mary and Elizabeth. Hopkins afterward became a commissioner of the admiralty and navy and a member of Parliament. Governor Hopkins died in London in either March or April, 1657. He was characterized afterward by a writer as being "eminent for piety, kindly nature and patient endurance of suffering and affliction."

The Governors

of Connecticut

About a year previous to his death Governor Hopkins received a letter from his friend Davenport, of New Haven, suggesting the pressing need of a collegiate school in that town. He was requested to aid the enterprise; and in replying the governor wrote, April 30, 1656: "If I understand that a college is begun and like to be carried on at New Haven for the good of posterity, I shall give some encouragement thereunto." When he died one year later and the contents of his will became known, it was found that "New England was his chief heir," as Dr. Bacon aptly remarked in recent years.

This will, dated March 7, 1657, set aside one thousand pounds of his estate for grammar schools in Hartford, New Haven, and Hadley, divided as follows: Hartford 400 pounds, New Haven 312 pounds, Hadley 308 pounds, and Harvard College 100 pounds. He also left five hundred pounds to be given "for upholding and promoting the Kingdom of the Lord in those parts of the earth." This sum was, somewhat peculiarly, given to Harvard by a decree of chancery in 1710, and the trustees invested it in a township purchased from the "praying Indians," and called the place Hopkinton, in honor of the donor. The school founded by the bequest in Hadley opened in 1667, and afterward became the Hopkins Academy. In 1889 the property was valued at $57,325. The 400 pounds for Hartford were invested in local real estate, and a school erected in 1665. In 1778 it was named

9