Gordon Almon Van Epps and Jayne Dunn - my parents

Early Life Story of Gordon Almon Van Epps 

 --- Written by his mother, Leona Major Van Epps, in about 1952  

Gordon Almon Van Epps, son of Almon Vedder and Leona Major Van Epps, was born April 1st, 1920 at 2517 Park Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. Dr. Harding was attending physician, with Harriet Harrod (Aunt Hattie) and Mrs. Alvin Soren assisting. He was blessed by his uncle, Don Major. His father was very ill with rheumatism for four months before he was born, and the Dr. recommended we move to a warm dry climate, so we sold everything we had and left Salt Lake City via train for Mesa, Arizona, when Gordon was 5 weeks old. We stayed there for eleven months. His father got well so we moved back to Salt Lake City and stayed there for 1 ½ years, then moved to Huntington Park California, where his mother’s brother, Heber and his family lived. Gordon had a serious illness while living there. His father got a job in Orange California, where we lived for nearly 2 years. Then the company sent us to Fullerton California. His father was manager of an Implement Store there for several moths until his health failed again, so we moved to Phoenix, Arizona December 24, 1924, on recommendation of the Doctor. Gordon was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Mesa, Arizona Temple by Lorel A. Stapley, October 1, 1932 and confirmed by Ervin W. Atkerson on October 2, 1932 in the Phoenix 2nd Ward. He was ordained a Deacon by Lorel A. Stapley December 28, 1932 in Phoenix 2nd Ward. He has advanced in the Church until he is now Bishop of the North Ward in Ephraim, Utah where he has lived since July, 1952. Gordon went to the Osborn Elementary School from Kindergarten through the eight grade. Then to Phoenix Union High School from which he graduated June 3, 1938. He graduated from Phoenix Junior College, May 26, 1940. He went to Logan, Utah in September 1940 to attend the Utah State Agricultural College, from which he graduated with a BS degree in Agronomy and Botany, on June 1, 1944. The family were all there for the graduation exercises in Logan, Utah. We met his girlfriend, Jane Dunn, who later became his wife. We brought Gordon back home to Phoenix with us after the graduation. World War II was going on at the time. He enlisted in the Navy in Phoenix while he was home for the Christmas Holidays, but his draft board deferred him until he graduated in June. He was sent via train to Columbia University, New York City for training as an Officer. He graduated as an Ensign in the Navy 3 months later, one of the “90 Day Wonders.” They sent him to the University of Illinois in Champagne for 3 months training as an Engineer, after which he spent some time in Chesapeake Bay on Landing Ships. They assigned him to an LCI rocket ship as engineering Officer and sent his ship via Panama Canal to San Diego, California. He came home on a short furlough before going to the battle zone I the Pacific. He was in the invasions of the Marshall, Saipan, Philippine Islands, and others. He was on the LCI for 18 months. Got a furlough to come home for 30 days, after which he was set to Rhode Island and Florida before going on the new supply ship “Cybele” as an Officer. This ship carried supplies to the battle zones of the Pacific. Gordon stayed on it until the War ended. It was near the battleship “Missouri” near Tokyo when the surrender papers were signed. He got his honorable discharge in Okinawa. He was then a Lieutenant Senior grade. When he was home on furlough, he married Jane Dunn, daughter of Simeon ad Wanda Dunn of Hyrum, Utah on January 27, 1945. He went to Hyrum to visit her ad brought her back to Phoenix. They were married in our home at 14 West Windsor Avenue by Elder Delbert Stapley (now an Apostle in our Church) and later solemnized in the Logan Temple. Her mother came down for the wedding. After Gordon left for Rhode Island, Jane went to Hyrum for a short time, then went east to stay with him until his ship left for the Pacific. Then Jane went to Hyrum to live with her parents until Gordon came home. He got an honorable discharge from the Navy November 1945. He got home I December and how very grateful to God for his safe return to us, we were. He decided to continue with his education—he got a teaching scholarship at the Utah State Agricultural College in Logan, where they spent the next two years working for his master’s degree, which he received in 1948. After graduation he got a job teaching in the California State Polytechnic College at San Luis Obispo California where he spent four years. In July 1952 they moved to Ephraim, Utah where Gordon got a job teaching and doing research work for the Snow College, a branch of the Utah State Agricultural College. They are still living in Ephraim. Gordon is now Superintendent of the two College farms, one at Ephraim and one at Nephi Utah and doing research work. They have four lovely daughters.

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Gordon Almon Van Epps--short outline bio (written about 1958) by Jayne Van Epps as an intro.

Gordon A. Van Epps, born April 1, 1920, in Salt Lake City Utah. Parents are Almon V. Van Epps ad Leona Major Van Epps. One brother, Kenneth M. Van Epps. Attended Grammar school, high school and first two years of College in Phoenix, Arizona. Last two years of College were at Utah State Agricultural College, where graduated with a BBS in Botany. Enlisted in the US Navy in 1944. Attended Naval School at Columbia University and the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois. Served nearly 4 years on active duty during World War II, most of the time in the Pacific. At present time, holds the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the US Naval Reserve. Married Jayne Dunn in 1945 in Phoenix, Arizona, while still in the service. After termination of the War, continued education at Utah State Agricultural College, where received the Master of Science degree in Agronomy in 1948. Moved to San Luis Obispo, California and taught in California State Polytechnic College. Became active in the Branch there, was Melchizedek Assistant Group Leader and Instructor, also Sunday School Teacher - later becoming an assistant to the Branch President. When the Branch was made a Ward in 1951, was chosen as 2nd Counselor to the Bishop. Traveled 210 miles round trip at least once a month to attend Stake Meetings, and Conference through heavy traffic to Santa Barbara, California. Moved to Ephraim, Utah Juy 1, 1952. Taught part time at Snow College and work part tie with the Utah Experiment Station, USAC, in carrying on Agronomic Research in this area. At present, employed full time with the USAC Experiment Station, with an office at Snow College. Besides carrying on Experimental work in Sanpete and surrounding counties, he is Superintendent of Snow College Farm, and the Nephi Dry Farm. While living in Ephraim West Ward, taught Sunday School class, M-Men and Jr. M-Men in Mutual, also Counselor in YMMA. Served on Stake Aaronic Priesthood Committee. Since moving the the North Ward in August, has been on the High Council, Stake Senior Aaronic Priesthood Committee and Chairman of the Stake Scouting Committee.

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Gordon and Jayne with Leone and Diane

Gordon and Jayne Van Epps Family Reunion in Pinedale Arizona.(about 1881-1882)..where they told us of their new assignment to Losotho, South Africa

Van Epps Girls with Husbands in Ephraim, Utah

Dirkse Everts Van Eps (1603-1647) and Maritie Damens (1605-1682) -- my 8th great grandparents

Case study – the origins of Jan Dirkse van Eps 30 JANUARY 2015 BY YVETTE HOITINK (Yvette Hoitink, CGSM is a board-certified genealogist in the Netherlands) found by Google at: https://www.dutchgenealogy.nl/case-study-the-origins-of-jan-dirkse-van-eps/ One of my clients asked me to research the origins of her Dutch colonial ancestor, Jan Dirkse van Eps. She graciously allowed me to share the research I did for her on my website, to make it available to other Van Eps descendants. As this article is based on the research report I wrote for her, it will also give you an insight into my work process and the type of research that I do. Unfortunately, the terms of the Amsterdam City Archives website do not allow me to reproduce the scans of the original records here, although I did obtain permission to share them with my client. Background information At the start of the project, the client provided me with the following information:1 Johannes (Jan) Dirkse Van Eps, probably born in Holland to Dirck Van Eps and Maritie Damen after their marriage in 1636, perhaps in Groenlo, province of Gelderland, or Amsterdam. His sister Lysbet was born in Delfhaven, Holland.

 Johannes Dirkse Van Eps came to New Netherlands after his father died in 1647 (buried at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, although some records say New Netherland).  Jan’s mother remarried in 1649 to Hendrick Andriese Van Doesburg, and brought Jan and his sister to New Netherland some time after that. After Van Doesburg died, she married again, to Cornelis Van Nes in 1664. She became very wealthy.
Jan Van Eps married Elizabeth Janse Douw in Albany, NY in 1666, and was killed in a massacre in 1690 in Schenectady, NY.  Jan’s father, Dirck Evertse Van Eps (or Van Epen), was born in 1603 in Groenlo, town of Epse, now part of Gorssel, Gelderland. He died 16 Nov. 1647, aged 44 years.   His first marriage was to Stintje Reinders, b. 1597 and died at 39 about 1636.   He then married Maritie Adamse Damen, b. 1611 in Doesburg, in Amsterdam that same year. Her son, Jan, was born after 1636, as was a daughter Elizabeth (Lysbet). When Dirck dies, Maritie marries Hendrick Andriese Van Doesburg, 4 Dec. 1649 in Amsterdam. They go to New Netherland with his daughter, whom Maritie adopts, leaving behind her small children. Her sister, Aaltje Damen, is declared guardian, along with a weeskamer. Maritie is making several trips across the Atlantic at this time. When Van Doesburg dies in 1652 she marries Cornelis Van Nes in Albany in 1664. She becomes a very wealthy woman and there are many written accounts of her real estate dealings, and she purchases property for her son, Jan. 
Maritie died in 1682. 

  Research goal The goal of my client was to find out when and where Johannes (Jan) Dirkse van Eps was born. A total of six hours was authorized for this research. Research notes Analysis of known information Jan van Eps was probably born between 1636 and 1649. The civil registration of births in the Netherlands doesn’t start until 1811. Prior to that, church records of baptisms are the closest record to a birth. Most churches started recording baptisms in the early to late 1600s. Baptisms between 1636-1649 may not have recorded, or the registers may have been lost. The migration pattern of the Van Eps family is unusual. There were few people from the Achterhoek (the area of Gelderland where Groenlo is located) who went to Amsterdam, let alone New Netherland. Most people who did migrate like this were merchants. Most people who went to Amsterdam, did not return to the Achterhoek. Since Dirck van Eps married and died in Amsterdam, Amsterdam seems the most logical place to search for the baptism. Alternatively, Jan could have been baptized in Delfshaven. If his sister was born there, the family must have lived there at some point. Even though Jan is listed as Marritje’s son in her will, we must not rule out the possibility that Jan was Dirck van Eps’ son of his first marriage as wills do not always explicitly mention step-relations. ‘Everts’ is a patronymic meaning ‘son of Evert.’ In the 17th century, patronymics were widely used in Holland and not everyone used a surname. It is possible that records do not use the “Van Eps” name but are under patronymics instead. “Epse” is not a part of Groenlo. There is a village called “Epse” in the same province (Gelderland) in the current municipality of Gorssel, but it is located about 25 miles north-west of Groenlo. Epse has never been a part of the jurisdiction of Groenlo. It may be that Dirck’s family was originally from Epse and took the name Van Eps when they moved to Groenlo. Amsterdam records To define when Jan could have been born, it is important to establish when his parents were married and when his father died exactly. Marriage records of Dirck Everts van Eps A search for Eps* in the index of publication of marriage banns in Amsterdam on the Amsterdam City Archives website revealed the marriage record: Publication of the banns of Dirck Evertss van Eps and Marritie Damen, 19 April 1636 Source: City of Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands, marriage register February 1635 – February 1638, call number 674, p. 107, Van Eps-Damen, 19 April 1636; “Ondertrouwregisters 1565-1811” [Registers of marriage banns 1565-1811], Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 5 September 2014)Abstract: 19 April [1636] Appeared Dirck Evertss van Eps, shoemaker, widower of Stijntie Reijnders, living in the Hasselaersteech [Hasselaer alley], and Marritie Damen, from Doesburgh, age 25, living at the Conincxgracht [King’s Canal], assisted by Judith Sanders were “meue” [hard to read. Perhaps dialect for “moeie” or aunt] were joined in marriage. [signed] Derck Everdtsen van Eps Marriten Daemen
This record shows that Dirck Everts van Eps and Marritien Damen married in Amsterdam shortly after 19 April 1636. Both signatures are rather unpracticed. Still, the fact that they could both sign their names shows they were better educated than many of the people at that time since there were several people who only signed with a mark. The first marriage of Dirck van Eps to Stijntien Reijnders was not found by this search. A search for D* Ever* did turn up the marriage. Publication of the banns of Dirck Evertss and Stijntie Reijner, 24 April 1631 Source: City of Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands, marriage register February 1635 – February 1638, call number 674, p. 128, Evertss-Reijner, 19 April 1636; “Ondertrouwregisters 1565-1811” [Registers of marriage banns 1565-1811], Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 5 September 2014)
Abstract: [24 April 1631]
Appeared Dirck Everts from Groll [Groenlo] shoemaker age 27, living in the Hasselaersteech [Hasselaer alley], assisted by Berent Geritsen his uncle, who declared to have his father’s consent, and Stijntie Reijner, from Lichtenvoorde, age 33, living in the Warmoes[straat] [Warmoes street] [signed] Derck Evret [mark]
The two signatures share some characteristics, but are also different in their spelling and the way some of the letters are formed. The main difference is in the forming of the initial D, but that could be explained because the 1631 record uses a capital D while the 1636 record uses a regular D. Despite the discrepancies in the writing of the signature, there are enough points of overlap between the two marriage records to conclude that this must be the same person: Both men were called Derck Everts Both men were shoemakers In 1636, Derck Everts van Eps was widow of Stijntie Reijniers, the name of the bride in 1631. In both records, Derck Everts lived in the Hasselaersteeg. Since the 1631 record does not list a previous spouse, this must be Dirck van Eps’ first marriage. That places the earliest time of birth for Jan Dircks van Eps in 1631. Burial records for Dirck Everts van Eps The latest possible birth date for Jan Dircks van Eps is nine months after his father’s death. The index of burial records of Amsterdam at the Amsterdam City Archives website was searched for Eps*, which located the burial of Dirck van Eps. Burial of Dirck van Eps, 16 November 1647 Source: Nieuwe Kerk en Engelse Kerk [New Church and English Church] (Amsterdam, Noord-Holland), burial register 1642-1668, call number 1055, p. 40v, Dirck van Eps, 16 November 1647; “Begraafregisters voor 1811” [Burial registers before 1811], index and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 5 September 2014)
Translation: Dirck van Eps at the Haerlemmerdijck [Dike to Haarlem] at ditto [16 November 1647] 10 guilders This shows that Dirck van Eps, living at the Dike to Haarlem, was buried in the New Church or English Church on 16 November 1647. 10 guilders was owed for the funeral. The rest of the people on the page had to pay 4, 5, 8 or 10 guilders. There were different classes based on the level of luxury of the funeral: the quality of the pall, the number of bells being rung and the location of the burial. Since 10 guilders was the highest rate on the two pages, it suggests that Dirck van Eps was well-to-do. The name Van Eps is very uncommon in Amsterdam. The 1647 date is consistent with the second marriage of Maritgen Damen and also matches the known information that the client provided. This must be the correct burial. He must have moved from the Hasselaersteegh to the Haarlemmerdijk between his 1636 marriage and 1647 death. Since Dirck van Eps died shortly before 16 November 1647, Jan van Eps must have been born in August 1648 at the latest. This gives us a span for his birth date of 1631 to 1648. The search for Eps* in the burial records also showed another burial that might be relevant: Burial of Evert Dircks van Eps, 1 September 1655 Source: Heiligewegs- en Leidsche Kerkhof [Holy Road and Leiden Churchyard] (Amsterdam, Noord-Holland), burial register January 1653 – April 1662, p. 42v, Evert Dircks van Eps, 1 September 1655; “Begraafregisters voor 1811” [Burial registers before 1811], index and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 5 September 2014)Translation: Ditto [=1 September 1655] Evert Dircksen van Eps son of the late Dirck van Eps.
This shows that Evert Dirck van Eps, the son of the late Dirck van Eps was buried in Amsterdam on 1 September 1655. Since Van Eps is an uncommon name in Amsterdam and there was just one Dirck van Eps at that time that we know of, this must be a brother of Jan van Eps. This shows that the family was still living in Amsterdam in 1655. A search in the index of Amsterdam burials for Stij* or Christi* [Christina is the Latin version of Stijntjen] between 1631 and 1637 did not return any burials for a Stijntje Reijnders. This could mean that she died elsewhere. Baptismal records in Amsterdam So we now know that Dirck van Eps had at least three children: Jan Dircks van Eps Lijsbeth Dircks van Eps, presumably baptized in Delfshaven Evert Dircks van Eps, buried Amsterdam 1 September 1655. No contemporary records have yet been found that show the family living in Delfshaven, the presumed place of birth of Lijsbeth. At this point, the only proven place where the family lived was Amsterdam, so those records will be searched first. A search for Eps* between 1600 and 1680 in Amsterdam showed two entries with a (Van) Eps:2 Grietje Eps was listed as a mother with the baptism of Annetje, daughter of Jan Cornelisz and Grietje Eps on 11 December 1616 Lijntje van Eps was listed as a mother with the baptism of Joannes, son of Luijcas Jansz and Lijntje van Eps on 14 July 1626. No mentions of a Dirck van Eps were found, neither as father nor as witness. A search in the index of baptisms for Ma* Da*me* as mother between 1600 and 1680 returned 15 results of a Marijtje Damen/Dames or variations, but none with a husband Dirck or variations. A search in the index of baptisms for Dir* as father combined with a Ma* as mother between 1637 and 1648 returned 153 results. The whole list was checked for names that sounded like they could have been variation of Dirck Evertse van Eps and Maritje Damen but none were found. A search in the index of baptisms for Dir* Ev* as father between 1631 and 1648 returned 7 results, but none with a wife called Stijntje or Maritje or variations thereof. A search in the index of baptisms for St* Rei* as mother between 1631 and 1636 returned two results for a Stijntje Reinders or variations, but none with a Dirck or variations as husband. Since the indexes of Amsterdam baptismal records are complete for his period, this means that Dirck van Eps’ children were probably not baptized in Amsterdam. Since children in this region during this period were baptized within days of their birth, this means that Jan Dircks van Eps probably was not born in Amsterdam. Orphan chamber The orphan chamber was a government agency responsible for overseeing that minors had guardians and that their estates were administered properly. In Amsterdam, the orphan chamber kept their own lists of burials to see who died leaving orphans. Since Dirck van Eps died leaving minor children, he should be listed there. Any guardians that were appointed may indicate where the family lived. Scans of these orphan chamber burial records are available at the website of the Amsterdam municipal archives. The scans for November 1647 were consulted and Dirck van Eps’ entry was found. Dirck van Eps’ entry in burial book of the orphan chamber, 16 November 1647 Source: Orphan chamber (Amsterdam, Holland), burial registers for the Nieuwe Kerk [New Church], 1641-1693, call number 10, unpaginated, Dirck van Eps, 16 November 1647; “5004: Archief van de Weeskamer: begraafregisters” [5004: Archive of the Orphan Chamber: burial registers], finding aid and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (https://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 5 September 2014)Abstract: Dirck van Eps at the Haerlemmerdijck [Haarlem dike] near the West India House “inde Stadt Grol,” leaves children. 16 [November 1647] – 3 [children] [Margin:] 8 January 1648 Maritge Damen the widow deposited the last will of her husband, created before public notary Hendrick Schaeff on 7 October 1647, which states she can remain in the estate. The record is hard to read but enough words can be read to discern the meaning. Dirck van Eps died at the Haerlemmerdijck near the West India House, “inde Stadt Grol” [in the City of Grol, presumably the name of a house or inn], leaving behind three children. The note in the margin shows that Dirck van Eps had a last will drafted 7 October 1647, just six weeks before his death. This suggests he may have been ill. He left provisions that the estate should remain intact and that his widow could benefit from it so it wasn’t to be administered by the orphan chamber. Delfshaven baptismal records According to the Repertorium DTB [Overview of church records], Delfshaven baptismal records of the Dutch Reformed Church start in 1609, with a gap between 1612 and 1633.3 They are complete since 1633. An index of these records is available on the Digitale Stamboom [Digital Family Tree] website of the Rotterdam City Archives.4 The index also contains the baptismal records of surrounding places like Rotterdam, Kralingen and Ridderkerk. A search for Eps in the Digital Family Tree returned several records in the 18th century, but none before 1700. A search for Dir* as Father between 1631 and 1648 returned 250 results, the maximum number of results for this database. Refining the query by also searching for second person Ma* as mother between 1636 and 1648 yielded 82 results. The list of fathers names was browsed for any names that seem to match Dirck Evertse van Eps. The following results were found: Anna, baptized Rotterdam (Dutch Reformed) 24 January 1641, daughter of Dirck Evertsse and Maertgen Arens. Witnesses: Aij Janssen, [no first name] van Bergen, Harmen Janssen, Annitgen Gerts, Maddelentgen Aerents. Aeltge, baptized Rotterdam (Dutch Reformed) 24 August 1642, daughter of Dirck Eeversen and Maertgen Arens. Witnesses: Arij Janssen, Lisbet Gerts. Neeltge, baptized Rotterdam (Dutch Reformed) 1 November 1644, daughter of Dirck Evase and Maertge Krijne. Witnesses: Thomas Willemse, Kors Janse, Aeltge Rolofs and Annetge Dirckx. The first two baptisms must be siblings since the names of the parents match apart from minor spelling variations and the first witness matches as well. The name of the mother of the third child (Maertge Krijne) does not match the mothers’ names of the first two (Maertgen Arens). It could be a different couple, or there could have been a mistake in the mother’s name, or the father may have remarried. None of these women seem to match Maritgen Damen, and Rotterdam is not the same place as Delfshaven. A search for Ma* Da*me* as Mother between 1636 and 1648 in the index of baptisms at the Rotterdam Digital Family Tree only found women named Marija or Maertge Dammes and variations. None of them had a husband named Dirck. No evidence for the Van Eps family was found in the index of church records of Delfshaven. Since it is unknown where the information came from that Lijsbeth was born in Delfshaven, the truth of that story cannot be ascertained. Rotterdam Notarial Archives Rotterdam was the nearest large city to Delfshaven. An index of notarial records of Rotterdam is available online at the Rotterdam City Archives website.5 This index was searched for Eps which returned a last will dated 19 June 1634 that referred to a Martha Eps that does not seem relevant. A search for Damen returned 100 results, the maximum for this database. A search for Damen and Dirck returned 8 index entries but all were for different people. Groenlo baptismal records According to the overview of church records, Groenlo baptismal records only start in 1684.6 If Dirck van Eps returned to Groenlo and had children there, their baptisms were not recorded in any records that survive to this day. Doesburg baptismal records According to her marriage record, Marijtgen Damen was from Doesburg. According to the overview of church records, Dutch Reformed baptismal records in Doesburg started in 1613, with a gap between 1639 and 1649.7 If they went back to her place of birth, it is possible that their oldest child’s baptism is recorded between 1636 and 1649. The website Digital Resources Netherlands and Belgium indicates that there is no online index for Doesburg Dutch Reformed baptisms.8 Scans are available online at Familysearch.org. These images were browsed for the period 1636-1639, reviewing every baptism that started with a father named Dirck or variations, but no baptisms of Dirck Everts van Eps and Maritgen Damen or variations were found.9 Part of the volume was poorly legible because of apparent water damage, but that affected only three entries. Amsterdam notarial archives Notarial records can sometimes provide information about birth places or previous places of residence. Since Amsterdam is the only place that we know for certain where Dirck Evertse van Eps lived after his marriage, Amsterdam notarial records may provide more information. The Amsterdam notarial archives are very extensive and contain 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles) of records. A partial index is available in the form of a card catalog, created by former archivist Simon Hart. He seems to have had a particular interest in New Netherland and trade so these records are well-represented. The card catalog is arranged by geographical name or family name. Each card contains a reference to the source and an abstract of the record. Van Eps references in Simon Hart card catalog of Amsterdam notarial records Source: “En t/m Escallier,” card catalog, call number 59, entries for “Van Eps;” “Archief van S. Hart: (gedeeltelijke) toegang op de notariële archieven” [Archive of S. Hart: (partial) index on notarial archives], finding aid 30452; Amsterdam City Archives, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.Abstracts: 31 July 1646. Notary H. Schaeff, call number 1323 p. 231v, notary H. Schaeff Harmen Hanss, from Niekerck in Hessen, enlisted as soldier under director Stuyvesant in the service of the West India Company, owes to Dirck van Eps, innkeeper, 32 “carolus” guilders for his equipment, will be repaid from his salary. 18 March 1651, notary Henrick Schaff, call number 1300 p. 43
Marritgen Damen, widow of Dirck van Eps and wife of Henrick Andriesz, freeman in New Netherland, about to depart for New Netherland, gives power of attorney to Jan Arnoldus Huydekoper at the “Benningenpad (Beuningenpad?)” outside the “Regulierspoort” [city gate] in Amsterdam, to receive from the Dutch East India Company and the West India company and other companies the wages owing to her.25 March 1651, notary Henrick Schaeff, call number 1300 p. 47
Baerendt Leferinck, master tailor in Amsterdam and holding the mortgage of a house and yard in the Oude Lievelderstraat in Groenlo, as left behind by his uncle and guardian Evert van Eps and his wife Geeske van Eps and mortgaged to him for 125 “daalders” [dollars] at 30 “stuiver” [5 cent pieces] at 6% per years, Lubbert van Eps, son of Evert van Eps and cobbler in Amsterdam, and Pieter Pietersz. De With, merchant in Amsterdam and appointed by last will as fellow guardian of the minor children of Dirck van Eps, son of Evert van Eps, give power of attorney to Barent Schoemaker, citizen of Groenlo, to sell said house and yard.4 November 1655, notary H. Schaeff, call number 1305 p. 112.
Pieter de Witt, from Amsterdam, lying ill in his bed, guardian appointed by last will over the children of Dirk van Eps, whose mother is in New Netherland, gives power of attorney to Aaltgen Damen, from Doesburg, to protect the interests of the children.
20 October 1668, notary Jan Volkaertsz Oli, call number 1520, p. 245 Lijsbeth Dircx van Eps, housewife of Gerrit Banckers living in Albany in New Netherland, according to power of attorney dated 6/16 July 1668 before D. van Schelluijne, secretary in that location, being one of the relict children of the late Dirck van Eps and on accord of the death of one of her brothers, owner of 300 guilders, being half of the 600 guilders that her mother Marytgen Damen owed to fulfill her paternal inheritance, and that was kept by Pieter Pietersz de With, in his lifetime merchant in this location, according to his manuscript of 16 December 1649, of which the other half belongs to her brother Jan van Eps, declares that Marritgen Laurens widow of Pieter Pietersz de With paid her in full. 28 December 1668, notary Jac. De Winter, call number 2297 – III, p. 19-22 Elisabeth van Eps, housewife of Gerrit Baenken, living in Albany in New Netherland, having power of attorney by her husband (created before D. van Schelluyne secretary at Albany 6/16 July 1668), and Abel de Wolf, merchant in Amsterdam, declare to have settled accounts et cetera of the trade in New Netherland until this moment, totaling in wages, invested capital et cetera 7416-10-8 “carolus” guilders [7416 guilders, 10 “stuivers” or 50 cents, and 8 pennies]. She declares to have received from Abel de Wolff 9416½ “carolus” guilders of which she remained indebted 2000 guilders according to the recorded obligation. The sum was paid by De Wolff in several payments. Has furthermore received 300 “carolus” guilders for grain coming from the bouwerij [farmstead] the “Schenhectide” to be received and sold by De Wolff for their mutual profit. 28 December 1668, notary Jac. De Winter, call number 2297-III, p. 22,23 Elisabet van Eps, having power of attorney from her husband Gerrit Baenken at Albany in New Netherland, declares to owe to Abel de Wolff, merchant in Amsterdam, 1600 “carolus” guilders for the account of Engbertus Hugo, apothecary, because of the settlement of the account with Abel de Wolff for goods traded in New Netherland. To be paid on return of the first ships from New Netherland with 4% interest. The risks at sea are taken by Elisabeth van Eps. 28 December 1668, notary Jac. De Winter, call number 2297-III, p. 23, 24 Elisabet van Eps, having power of attorney from her husband Gerrit Baenken at Albany in New Netherland, declares to owe to Abel de Wolff, merchant in Amsterdam, 400 “carolus” guilders for the account of Barent Holthuysen, merchant in Amsterdam, because of the settlement of the account with Abel de Wolff for goods traded in New Netherland. To be paid on return of the first ships from New Netherland with 4% interest. The risks at sea are taken by Elisabeth van Eps. 28 December 1668, notary Jac. De Winter, call number 2297-III, p. 28,29 Lijsbeth Dircx van Eps, housewife of Gerrit Bancken, living in Albany in the colony New Netherland, temporarily in Amsterdam, having power of attorney of Cornelis van Nes, former commissioner, and Marritje Damen (spouses), also living in Albany. Since she is about to depart she gives power of attorney to Abel de Wolff and Jan Hendricxsz Sijbingh merchants in Amsterdam to claim the sum of 3500 “carolus” guilders on behalf of Marritje Damen, from Schaep Esq. in Doesburg, with past interest and to invest the money again with interest. 5 February 1684, notary Jac. De Winter, call number 2323, p. 131 Geertruyd de Wolf widow of Gerrit Janss Groenewouw also known as Kuyper gives power of attorney to Gerrit Bancken and Elisabeth van Eps (spouses) living in Albany in the colony of Renselaerswijck in New Netherland to claim there all outgoing debts of them, and especially to demand 1039 guilders 18 “stuivers” [5 cent pieces] owing to her from the estate left behind by Juriaen Jansz Groenewouwt, her brother-in-law in Albany. Note about the amounts: The “gulden” [guilder] was the main unit of coin in the Netherlands. There were different types of guilders. The “Carolus gulden,” named after emperor Charles V, was worth 20 “stuivers” [5 cent pieces] and often used to describe amounts. These records give us the following information: Dirck Evertse van Eps was an innkeeper in Amsterdam on 31 July 1646. His inn could have been the “Stadt Grol” [City of Groenlo] that was mentioned in the orphan chamber records. Inns were often named after the place of origin of the innkeeper and Groenlo was his place of birth according to his 1631 marriage record.
Dirck Evertse van Eps was the son of Evert and Geeske van Eps from Groenlo. They owned a house in Groenlo in the Lievelderstraat [road to Lievelde]. After Evert and Geeske’s death, this house belonged to their heirs: their son Lubbert van Eps and the children of their deceased son Dirck van Eps. The house was mortgaged to Baerendt Leferinck, master tailor in Amsterdam. His name Leferinck also points to an origin near Groenlo, since Leferinck is a farm name that is common to that area. On 25 March 1651, Lubbert van Eps, together with the guardian of his brother Dirck van Eps children and Baerendt Leferinck give permission to sell the house. Elisabeth van Eps and Jan van Eps were brother and sister and the children of Dirck Evertse van Eps and Marytgen Damen. Together, they were entitled to 600 guilders from their father Dirck Evertse van Eps’ estate. They used to have another brother. This is consistent with the conclusion that Evert Dirckse van Eps who died in 1655 was also a son of Dirck van Eps. It does not seem likely that any of these records provides additional information about the place of birth of the children of Dirck Evertse van Eps, so the originals of these records were not consulted at this time. Transport registers of Amsterdam To see when Dirck Evertse van Eps lived in Amsterdam, the index of transport registers was consulted. Transport registers record real estate sales. An online index is available on the website of the Amsterdam City Archives.10 A search for Eps* in the index of transport registers showed three results for a Jan Epstrop in the 1700s, but no relevant results. A search for Di* Ev* in the index of transport registers returned 14 results, all in the 1600s. Three of the entries involved real estate in the Haerlemmerstraet, another name for the Haerlemmerdijck. The Haerlemmerdijck was the place where Dirck Everts van Eps lived when he died according to the burial records and the orphan chamber records. These three records were retrieved. Purchase of a house by Dirck Evertsz, 7 December 1635 Source: Schout en Schepenen [Sheriff and Aldermen] (Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands), register of transport of houses sold by execution, October 1630-13 April 1639, call number 2166, p. 227, heirs of Barent Evertsz Keteltas to Dirck Evertsz, 7 December 1635; “Transportakten voor 1811” [Transport registers before 1811], index and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 8 September 2014)Abstract: 21 January 1633 was sold to Dirck Everts “varentman” [sailor] a house and yard in the Haerlemmerstraet on the north side across the “West indisch huijs” [West India House], having the heirs of Barent Everts Ketelas to the east and west side, sharing a wall, the yard to be fenced on the east side in the middle of the joined wall, from the street to the [river] IJ in the back, left by Barent Everts Keteltas for the sum of 5420 guilders which Dirck Everts paid 7 December 1635. This tells us that Dirck Everts purchased a house across from the West India House at the Haerlemmerstraat in 1633. This must be the same house as where he died in 1647, when the orphan chamber listed him at the Haerlemmerdijck near the West India House. It is remarkable that his occupation is listed as a “varentman” [sailor], not shoemaker or innkeeper. Still, the location of the house makes it very unlikely that this is not the correct man. Sale of a house by Dirck Everts, 3 May 1645 Source: Schout en Schepenen [Sheriff and Aldermen] (Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands), register of transport of real estate, 6 May 1644-9 May 1645, call number 40, p. 230, Dirck Everts to Pieter Stockman, 3 May 1645; “Transportakten voor 1811” [Transport registers before 1811], index and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 8 September 2014)Abstract: [margin] sold fl. 5354 [guilders] Dirck Everts “Lichterman” [skipper with a light cargo] sold and transported to Pieter Stockman “grootschipper” [skipper of large cargo] a house and yard in the Haerlemmerstraet outside the dike, neighbors: Claes Claes van Medenblick to the east and Lieven Jans with a communal led gutter and fence to the west, stretching in front from the street to the back towards the house of Cornelis Adriaens Hogeboom. Bondsmen: Jan Arents “Maeckelaer” [realtor/agent] and Tjaers Wijvels Stockviskoper [stockfish salesman]. 3 May 1645 In this record, Dirck Everts, a skipper transporting light cargo, sold a house in the Haerlemmerstraat to Pieter Stockman. The neighbors are different than the 1633 purchase but the location to the north side of the Haarlemmerstraat is consistent with that house. It is possible that the neighbors sold their houses in the meanwhile. Sale of a house by Dirck Everts, 6 April 1646 Source: Schout en Schepenen [Sheriff and Aldermen] (Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands), register of transport of real estate, 27 April 1645-9 June 1646, call number 41, p. 120v, Dirck Everts to Branckgen Huijerts, 6 April 1646; “Transportakten voor 1811” [Transport registers before 1811], index and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 8 September 2014)Abstract: [margin] 5200 guilders Dirck Everts “drooghgasterijhouder” [inn where food was served, not just drinks] sold and transported to Branckgen Huijberts “waterscheepman” [water ship man], a house and yard in the Haerlemmerstraat “buijttendijx” [outside the dike] past the second street to the side, neighbors Lucas Pietersen “kistemaecker” [chest maker] to the east and Claes Thomassen Ditmer to the west, both sides with communal walls and lead gutters, stretching from the street in front to the back towards Adriaen Claes Prigge “teercoper” [pitch buyer], the well that is located between this house and the house of Lucas Pieters is shared between the two houses. Bondsmen: Hendrick Agges, “lijnslager” [rope maker] and Sijmon Reijers “coopman” [merchant]. 6 April 1646 In this record, an innkeeper named Dirck Everts sells his house in the Haerlemmerstraat between the houses of Lucas Pietersen and Claes Thomassen Ditmer to Branckgen Huijberts. The reference to the “drooghgasterijhouder” [inn keeper] makes it very likely that this record is about Dirck Evertse van Eps. The location of this house is also similar to the 1635 house as it is located on the Haarlemmerstraat. Research on all of the neighbors might reveal which of the houses is the house purchased in 1633/1635. Sister Elisabeth Elisabeth van Eps was married to Gerrit Bancken before 20 October 1668, when she appeared before the public notary as his wife. Their marriage record may reveal her place of birth. A search of the index of Amsterdam marriage banns for Ger* Ba* as groom between 1647 (16 years after first marriage of father) and 1669 (married before 20 October 1668) returned 25 results, but none with an Elisabeth or Lijsbeth as partner. It seems likely that they married in the colonies rather than in the Netherlands. A search of the index of Amsterdam baptisms for Ger* Ba* as Father between 1647 and 1680 returned 158 results, including one for a Gerrit Baenken. Baptism of Annetie Baenken, 12 December 1659 Source: Oude Kerk [Old Church] (Dutch Reformed, Amsterdam, Holland, Netherlands), baptismal register July 1651 – March 1667, call number 9, p. 255, Annetie Baenken, 12 December 1659; “Doopregisters voor 1811” [Baptisms before 1811], index and digital images, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 9 September 2014)Abstract: On Friday 12 [December 1659] baptized by Rev. Schotanus: […] [parents] Gerrit Baenken Lijsbeth van Eps [child] Annetie Witness: Dirck de Wolff This shows that Gerrit Baenken and Lijsbeth van Eps had their daughter Annetie baptized in the Old Church in Amsterdam on 12 December 1659. This means that the mother, at least, was in Amsterdam around this time, perhaps both parents. Dirck de Wolff may be related to Abell or Geertruyd de Wolf, with whom Elisabeth was handling business affairs in the notarial records. This record shows that Gerrit Baenken and Lijsbeth van Eps were already married by 12 December 1659, or the record should have mentioned that the child was illegitimate. Since Lijsbeth’s parents only married in 1636 and few girls married before they were 20, this makes it likely that Lijsbeth was the eldest child, born around 1637. Baptismal records of Amsterdam revisited Since we now know that Dirck van Eps was living in Amsterdam in 1631 (first marriage), 1633 (purchase house) 1636 (second marriage), 1645 (sale of a house) 1646 (innkeeper, sale of a house) and 1647 (death) and no contemporary record indicates he lived elsewhere, Amsterdam is the most logical place for his children to have been born. We now know that he had three children: Evert, Jan and Elisabeth/Lijsbeth. Of these three, Evert is rather uncommon and Jan and Elisabeth are very common. A search for children named Ever* born in Amsterdam between 1631 and 1649 in the index of baptisms show 225 entries.11 Limiting the search to also include fathers named D* limited the list to just three children: Evert, son of Dirck Evertsz and Jannetje Jans, baptized (Dutch Reformed, Nieuwe Kerk) 29 September 1643 Evert, son of Dirck Evertsz and Jannetjen Jans, baptized (Dutch Reformed, Oude Kerk) 4 August 1647 Evert, son of Dirck Jansz, baptized (Evangelical Lutheran, Lutheran church) 5 August 1640. The original entries for these three baptisms were consulted to see if there were any indexing errors, but there weren’t any. The first two entries listed Jannetje Jans as the mother, not Maritgen Damen. The third entry did not list a mother, but the patronymic (Jans) doesn’t match. Also, since this child was baptized in a Lutheran church, his parents were probably German rather than from Gelderland. So none of these three children is a match for Evert, son of Dirck Everts van Eps. A search for children named Ever* born in Amsterdam between 1636 and 1649 in the index of baptisms, with a mother Mar* show 26 results. None of them have a father named Dirck or variations or a mother with last name Damen or variations. Despite a range of search strategies, the baptisms of the children of Dirck Everts van Eps have not been found in Amsterdam. The index is complete in the sense that all surviving records have been indexed. The information in the index does not say whether all records have survived. Evert must have been named after his paternal grandfather, Evert van Eps. That makes it likely that he was the eldest son, as the eldest son was traditionally named after the paternal grandfather. That would make Jan the second son. Lijsbeth may have been named after the maternal grandmother, as was customary for the eldest daughter. Jan may have been named after the maternal grandfather, as was customary for the second son. Jan was probably not born posthumously (after the death of his father), or he would have been called Dirck, as it was customary to name a posthumous child after the father. If Lijsbeth was indeed the eldest child, as she was married at most 23 years after her parents’ marriage, Jan was probably the third child born to Dirck van Eps and Marijtgen Damen. There may have been miscarriages or other children who died young. Since Dirck van Eps and Marijtgen Damen married in 1636, and Jan van Eps was probably the third child and born while his father was still alive, he was probably born between 1641 and 1647 (death of his father). Summary The research was partially successful. Unfortunately, no baptismal record for Jan Dircks van Eps has been found to tell us exactly when and where he was born. He does not occur in the indexes of Amsterdam baptisms and in the Doesburg baptismal records. Baptismal records in Groenlo only start in 1684 so his baptism was not recorded there either. Research into his parents showed that Amsterdam was his most likely place of birth, despite the fact that he does not appear in the indexes of the Amsterdam baptismal records. His father Dirck Evertse van Eps lived there in 1631 (first marriage), 1633 (purchase house) 1636 (second marriage), 1645 (sale of a house) 1646 (innkeeper, sale of a house) and 1647 (death). Jan must have been born between 19 April 1636 (publication of the marriage banns of his parents) and August 1648 (9 months after his father’s death). Based on naming traditions and the fact that his sister was already married by 1659, he was most likely the third child and born while his father was still alive, which would put his birth date between say 1641 and 1647. Map of Amsterdam Map of Amsterdam. Frederik de Wit, 1688. Credits: Wikipedia The research turned up several other records relating to the Van Eps family, which gives the following timeline: DATEPLACEEVENT 24 April 1631AmsterdamMarriage banns of Dirck Evertss and Stijntie Reijner 21 January 1633AmsterdamDirck Evertsz purchases a house on the Haerlemmerstraet cross the West India House. 19 April 1636AmsterdamMarriage banns of Dirck Evertss van Eps and Marritie Damen 3 May 1645AmsterdamDirck Everts sold a house on the Haarlemmerstraat (uncertain if this is the same person/house as in 1633) 6 April 1646AmsterdamDirck Everts sold a house on the Haarlemmerstraat (uncertain if this is the same person/house as in 1633) 13 July 1646AmsterdamDirck van Eps, innkeeper, lend 32 guilders to Harmen Hanss for his equipment to join the West India Company as a soldier. 7 October 1647AmsterdamDirck van Eps writes his last will before public notary Hendrick Schaeff 16 November 1647New Church and English Church, AmsterdamBurial of Dirck van Eps 8 January 1648AmsterdamMaritge Damen appears before the orphan chamber to show that her late husband’s will allows her to remain in possession of his estate. 18 March 1651AmsterdamMarritgen Damen, widow of Dirck van Eps and wife of Henrick Andriesz is about to depart for New Netherland and gives power of attorney to Jan Arnoldus Huydekoper to receive wages owing to her from the East India Company and the West India Company. 25 March 1651AmsterdamThe heirs of Evert van Eps and Geeske van Eps (including the minor children of Dirck van Eps, son of Evert) give power of attorney to Barent Schoemaker to sell the house in Groenlo that they inherited. 1 September 1655Holy Road and Leiden Churchyard, AmsterdamBurial of Evert Dircks van Eps, son of Dirck van Eps 4 november 1655AmsterdamPieter de Witt, ill, guardian over the children of Dirk van Eps, whose mother is in New Netherland, gives power of attorney to Aaltgen Damen from Doesburg to protect the interests of the children. 12 December 1659Old Church, AmsterdamBaptism of Annetie, daughter of Gerrit Baenken and Lijsebet van Eps. 6/16 July 1668AlbanyGerrit Banckers gives power of attorney to Lijsbeth Dircx van Eps. 20 October 1668AmsterdamLijsbeth Dircx van Eps, housewife of Gerrit Banckers in Albany, is satisfied by the widow of Pieter Pietersz de With for her half of the inheritance of her father Dirck van Eps. Her brother Jan is entitled to the other half since their brother died. 28 December 1668AmsterdamElisabeth van Eps, housewife of Gerrit Baenken, settles her account with Abel de Wolf. She received 9416½ and remains 2000 guilders in debt. 28 December 1668AmsterdamLijsbeth Dircx van Eps, housewife of Gerrit Bancken in Albany, gives power of attorney to Abel de Wolff and Jan Hendricxxz Sijbingh to claim 3500 guilders on behalf of Marritje Damen from Schaep Esq. in Doesburg. 5 February 1684AmsterdamGeertruyd de Wolf gives power of attorney to Gerrit Bancken and Elisabeth van Eps in Albany to claim all outgoings debts of them, in particular the 1039 guilders 18 “stuivers” owing to her from the estate left behind by Juriaen Jansz Groenewouwt, her brother-in-law in Albany. Need help with your colonial ancestors? As you can see from this case study, there are several records available in the Netherlands for Dutch colonial ancestors. Baptismal, marriage and burial records can tell us when they were born, married and died. Transport registers, orphan chamber records and notarial records can provide information about property, business transactions and family relationships. Many people settled their affairs before a notary before getting on a ship. But it doesn’t end there: The Van Eps case shows them appearing before Dutch notaries years after they immigrated to New Netherland. Merchants especially, can often be found in notarial records in Amsterdam for decades after their departure. These notarial records are available in the reading room at the Amsterdam City archives. The card catalog of the notarial records created by Simon Hart means they can be searched efficiently. If you have Dutch colonial ancestors and would like me to research them in the Netherlands, please contact me for a quote. Their records are waiting to be found. Notes Email from client to Yvette Hoitink, details withheld for privacy reasons. “Doopregisters voor 1811” [Baptisms before 1811], index, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 5 September 2014) W. Wijnaendts van Resandt, Repertorium DTB [overview of church records], 2nd edition (The Hague: Central Bureau for Genealogy, 1980), entry for Delfshaven; PDF, Centraal Bureau voor Genealogie (http://www.cbg.nl/download/Repertorium-dtb-totaal-ocr.pdf : accessed 5 September 2014) Rotterdam City Archives, Digitale Stamboom, index (http://rotterdam.digitalestamboom.nl/search.aspx : accessed 5 September 2014) “Zoeken in uittreksels” [search abstracts], index of notarial archives, Gemeentearchief Rotterdam (http://www.gemeentearchief.rotterdam.nl/ : accessed 5 September 2014) W. Wijnaendts van Resandt, Repertorium DTB, entry for Groenlo. W. Wijnaendts van Resandt, Repertorium DTB, entry for Doesburg. “Gelderland,” overview of links, Digital Resources Netherlands and Belgium (http://www.geneaknowhow.net/digi/resources.html : accessed 5 September 2014), entries for Doesburg. “Netherlands, Gelderland Province, Church Records, 1405-1966,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 05 September 2014), path: Nederlands Hervormde > Doesburg > “Dopen 1613-1639, 1649-1676, 1705-1811 Index, Dopen 1705-1811.” “Transportakten voor 1811” [Transport registers before 1811], index, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 8 September 2014) “Doopregisters voor 1811” [Baptisms before 1811], index, Stadsarchief Amsterdam (http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl : accessed 8 September 2014)

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Dirk Van Eps married Maritie Damens and had two children, Johannes and Lysbet, who became the wife of Gerrit Bancker, of Albany. After Dirk Van Eps' death his widow married Hendrick Andriese Van Doesburgh, and had a daughter Jannetie, born in 1653, who married Marten, son of Capt. Marten Cregier, and settled in Niskayuna. And in 1664 Maritie Damens married her third husband, Cornelis Van Ness, of Albany. She had lands in Albany, Niskayuna and Schenectady, - which after her death were distributed among her three children.

Johannes Dirkse Van Eps, the eldest son of Maritie Damen and Dirk Van Eps, married Elizabeth Janse and had three sons and four daughters, all of whom left families save one, who with his father was killed in the massacre of 1690.

He was one of the five magistrates of the village in 1676 and 1678, and named one of the five patentees in the Dongan patent of 1684.

His home lot in the village was on the north corner of State and Church streets, comprising one quarter of the block, -200 by 225 feet. This lot together with bouweries No. 2 on the bouwland, were purchased for him April 29, 1664 by his stepfather Van Ness, at the sale of Philip Hendrickse Brouwer's property in 1664. The conveyance to him is dated April 15/25, 1667, and the patent April 29, 1667, -"to Jan Van Epps, son of Maritie Damens, to confirm a conveyance to him made April 15, 1667, by Cornelis Van Nesse, of a certain bouwery or farm at Schenectady on two several parcels of land containing about 42 acres or 21 morgens 570 rods, as set forth in the grondbriefe Jun 16, 1664, together with a house and lot and another lot of ground and garden lying near the place where he inhabits at Schenectady, being in breadth and length according as is Exprest in the General's grant to him said Cornelis Van Nesse dated April 10. 1665,his eldest son Jan Baptist, inherited the above mentioned parcels of land.

Dunn Pedigree Mayflower Line to John Alden

(dates not checked for accuracy)

John Alden
1598-1687,   m. 1621
Priscilla Mullins
1603-1688

Sarah Alden
1628-1674,  m. c1647
Alexander Standish
1626-??

Sarah Standish
1660-??,  m. 1680
Benjamin Soule

Ebenezer Soule
?????,      m. 9 Aug 1733
Susanna Coomer
1712-1807

Sarah Soule
1744-1795,  m. 1767
Samuel Nichols
1743-c1802


Samuel E. Nichols
1768-??,  m. c1790
Lucy Mathews
1770--??

Sophia Emily Nichols
1798-1865,  m. 1814
Arad Silver
1793-1850

Harriet Atwood Silver
1818-1858,  m. 1847
Simeon Adams Dun
1804-1883

Charles Oscar Dunn
1855-1976,  m. 1917
Martha Jane Welch
1859-1923

Simeon Adams Dunn
1896-1976,  m. 1917
Wanda Marie Facer
1894-1970

Jane Dunn
1924-2015,  m. 1944
Gordon Almon Van Epps
1920-2016

Dunn Pedigree line from Mayflower Ancestor Myles Standish

(dates not checked for accuracy)

Myles Standish 
1587-1656,  m. 1623
Barbara Mullens
1551-1659

Alexander Standish
1676- ??,  m 1647
Sarah Alden
1628-1674

Sarah Standish
1660-??,  m. 1686
Benjamin Soule

Ebenezer Soule
1710-1792,  m. 9 Aug 1733
Susanna Coomer
1712-1807

Sarah Soule
1744-1796,  m.  1767
Samuel Nichols
1743-1802

Samuel E. Nichols
1768-??,  m. c1790
Lucy Mathews
1770--??

Sophia Emily Nichols
1798-1865,  m. 1814
Arad Silver
1793-1850

Harriet Atwood Silver
1818-1858,  m. 1847
Simeon Adams Dun
1804-1883

Charles Oscar Dunn
1855-1976,  m. 1917
Martha Jane Welch
1859-1923

Simeon Adams Dunn
1896-1976,  m. 1917
Wanda Marie Facer
1894-1970

Jane Dunn
1924-2015,  m. 1944
Gordon Almon Van Epps
1920-2016

Van Epps Pedigree Line from Mayflower Ancestor William Brewster

(Information from cousin Bland Giddings and other sources --  dates not checked for accuracy)

William Brewster 
1566-1644
Mary ??? (Love?) 

Patience Brewster
1599 - 1634,  m 1624
Thomas Prence
1600-1673

Hannah Prence
16?? -1698,  m. 1649
Nathaniel Mayo
c1627-1662

Mary Mayo  
m. 1712
Ralph Smith 

Thomas Smith
?? -c. 1805
Ruth Mayo
1725-    , m. June 1743

Thomas Smith II 
1735- c1805,  m. 1766
Urania Wright
21 Aug 1741 - 

Mercy Smith
1776-1847
Harris Giddings
1772-1842

Polly Giddings
1822-1879
Thomas B. Carter
1804-1865

Mary Reber Carter
1844-1901
Chrisitan Haverly Van Epps
1837-1904

Almon Vedder Van Epps
m.  1911
Leona Major
1885-1973

Gordon Almon Van Epps
1920-2016,  m. 1945
Jane Dunn
1924-2015

Van Epps Pedigree Line from Mayflower Ancestor Stephen Hopkins

Information received from cousin Bland Giddings and other sources, -- dates not checked for accuracy)

Stephen Hopkins
1580-1644
m. 1605
??????

Giles Hopkins
1606-1688
Catherine Weldon

Ruth Hopkins
1658 -       m.  1690
Samuel Mayo
1655-Oct 1738

Mary Mayo  
m. 1712
Ralph Smith 

Thomas Smith
?? -c. 1805
Ruth Mayo
1725-    , m. June 1743

Thomas Smith II 
1735- c1805,  m. 1766
Urania Wright
21 Aug 1741 - 

Mercy Smith
1776-1847
Harris Giddings
1772-1842

Polly Giddings
1822-1879
Thomas B. Carter
1804-1865

Mary Reber Carter
1844-1901
Chrisitan Haverly Van Epps
1837-1904

Almon Vedder Van Epps
m.  1911
Leona Major
1885-1973

Gordon Almon Van Epps
1920-2016,  m. 1945
Jane Dunn
1924-2015

Van Epps Pedigree Line from Mayflower Ancestor George Soule

Info received from cousin Bland Giddings and other sources (dates not checked for accuracy)

George Soule
  - 1680
Mary Buckett

John Soule
1632-1707,  m
(2) Esther Nash

Sarah Soule
1660-1695,  m. 1680
Adam Wright

John Wright
Mary Lucas


John Wright II
Mary Coomer

Urania Wright
m.  1776
Thomas Smith II
1735-c 1805

Mercy Smith  
1776-1847
Harris Giddings
1771-1842

Polly Giddings
1822-1879,   m.
Thomas B. Carter

Mary Reber Carter
1844-1901
Christian Haverly Van Epps
1837-1904

Almon Vedder Van Epps
m. 1911
Leona Major
1883-1973

Gordon Almon Van Epps
1920-2016
m. 1945
Jane Dunn
1924-2015

Van Epps Pedigree Line from Mayflower Ancestor Francis Cooke

(Information received from Bland Giddings and other sources)   (dates not checked for accuracy)

Francis Cooke
1581-1663 m. 1603
Hester Mahieu

Hester Cooke
1624-1670  m. 1644
Richard Wright

Adam Wright
1645-1725
Sarah Soule

John Wright
Mary Lucas

John Wright
m.  1736
Mary Coomer

Urania Wright 
m. 1766
Thomas Smith 
1735-1805


Mercy Smith
m. 1875
Harris Giddings

Polly Giddings 
1822-1879
m. 1845
Thomas B. Carter

Mary Reber Carter 
1844-1901  m. 
Christian Haverly Van Epps
1837-1904

Almon Vedder Van Epps
m. 1911
Leona Major
1885-1973

Gordon Almon Van Epps
1920-2016
m. 1944 
Jane Dunn 
1924-2015

William Brewster and Mary ??? MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS (my 9th Great Grandparents)

Mayflower Ancestors - Stephen Hopkins
From   The Pilgrim Migration

STEPHEN HOPKINS

ORIGIN: London

MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower

FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth

OCCUPATION: Tanner and merchant.

FREEMAN: In the "1633" list of Plymouth freemen Stephen Hopkins is near the head of the list, included among the assistants [PCR 1 :3]. In list of Plymouth Colony freemen, 7 March 1636/7 (as "Steephen Hopkins, gen.") [PCR 1:52]. In the Plymouth section of the 1639 Plymouth Colony list of freemen (as "Mr. Steephen Hopkins," annotated "dead") [PCR 8:173].

EDUCATION: He signed his will. The inventory included "diverse books" valued at 12s. [PCPR 1:63]

OFFICES: Assistant, 1633-36 [PCR 1:5, 21, 32, 36]. Volunteered for service in the Pequot War, 1637 [PCR 1 :61].

ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth division of land "Steven Hobkins" received six acres as a passenger on the Mayflower [PCR 12:4]. In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle Stephen Hopkins, his wife Elizabeth Hopkins, Gyles Hopkins, Caleb Hopkins and Deborah Hopkins are the first five persons in the seventh company, and Damaris Hopkins is the thirteenth person in the eighth company [PCR 12:11, 12].

In the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1634 Stephen Hopkins was assessed £1 7s., and in the list of 27 March 1634 £1 1 Os. [PCR 1 :9, 27]. "Steven Hopkins" was one of the Purchasers [PCR 2:177].

On 1 July 1633 "Mr. Hopkins" was ordered to mow where he had mowed the year before [PCR 1:15], followed by similar orders on 14 March 1635/6 and 20 March 1636/7 [PCR 1:41, 57].

On 5 February 1637/8 "Mr. Stephen Hopkins requesteth a grant of lands towards the Six Mile Brook" [PCR 1:76].

On 7 August 1638 "[l]iberty is granted to Mr. Steephen Hopkins to erect a house at Mattacheese, and cut hay there this year to winter his cattle, provided that it be not to withdraw him from the town of Plymouth" [PCR 1 :93].

On 17 July 1637 "Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth, gent.," sold to George Boare of Scituate, yeoman, "all that his messuage, houses, tenements, outhouses lying and being at the Broken Wharfe towards the Eele River together with the six shares of lands thereunto belonging containing six acres" [PCR 12:21]. On 30 November 1638 "Mr. Steephen Hopkins" sold to Josias Cooke "all those his six acres of land lying on the south side of the Town Brook of Plymouth" [PCR 12:39]. On 8 June 1642 William Chase mortgaged to "Mr. Stephen Hopkins ... all that his house and lands in Yarmouth containing eight acres of upland and six acres more lying at the Stony Cove" [PCR 12:83].

On 1 June 1640 "Mr. Hopkins" was granted twelve acres of meadow [PCR 1:154, 166].

In his will, dated 6 June 1644 and proved 20 August 1644, Stephen Hopkins "of Plymouth ... weake yet in good and perfect memory" directed that he be buried "as near as conveniently may be to my wife, deceased," and bequeathed to "son Giles Hopkins" the great bull now in the hands of Mrs. Warren; to "Steven Hopkins my son Giles his son" 20s. in Mrs. Warren's hands; to "daughter Constanc[e] Snow, wife of Nicholas ... my mare"; to "daughter Deborah Hopkins" cows; to "daughter Damaris Hopkins" cows; to "daughter Ruth" cows; to "daughter Elizabeth" cows; to "four daughters Deborah, Damaris, Ruth and Elizabeth Hopkins" all the moveable goods; if any of the daughters die, their share to be divided equally among the survivors; to "son Caleb heir apparent" house and lands at Plymouth, one pair of oxen and hire of them and all the debts "now owing unto me"; daughters to have free recourse to use of the house in Plymouth while single; "son Caleb" executor; Caleb and Captain Standish joint supervisors [PCPR 1:1:61].

The inventory of the estate of Stephen Hopkins was taken 17 July 1644 and was untotalled, with no real estate included [PCPR 1:62-63].

On 28 October 1644 "Caleb Hopkins son and heir unto Mr. Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth deceased" deeded to "Gyles Hopkins of Yarmouth, planter, one hundred acres of those lands taken up for the Purchasers of Satuckquett which said lands do accrue unto the said Steephen as a Purchaser" [PCR 12:104].

BIRTH: By about 1579 based on estimated date of first marriage.

DEATH: Plymouth between 6 June 1644 (date of will) and 17 July 1644 (probate of will).

MARRIAGE: (1) By 1604 Mary _____. She was buried at Hursley, Hampshire, 9 May 1613 [TAG 73:169].

(2) St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, London, 19 February 1617/8 Elizabeth Fisher. She died at Plymouth sometime in the early 1640s before her husband, who desired to be buried near her; Bradford indicated that both she and her husband had lived in Plymouth above twenty years.

CHILDREN:

With first wife

1. ELIZABETH, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 13 May 1604 [TAG 73:170]; living on 12 May 1613 [TAG 73:165]; no further record.
2. CONSTANCE, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 11 May 1606 [TAG 73:170]; m. Plymouth by 1627 NICHOLAS SNOW [PM 428] (in the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle "Nickolas Snow" and "Constance Snow" were the sixth and seventh persons in the seventh company, which was headed by Stephen Hopkins [PCR 12: 11 ]).
3. GILES, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 30 January 1607 /8 [TAG 73: 170]; m. Plymouth 9 October 1639 Catherine Whelden [PCR 1:134; TAG 48:5].

With second wife

4. DAMARIS, b. say 1618; probably died at Plymouth before the birth of her sister of the same name.
5. OCEANUS, b. at sea on the Mayflower voyage between 16 September and 11 November 1620; died by 1627.
6. CALEB, b. Plymouth say 1624; "became a seaman & died at Barbadoes" between 1644 and 1651 [Bradford 445].
7. DEBORAH, b. Plymouth say 1626; m. Plymouth 23 April 1646 as his first wife Andrew Ring [PCR 2:98; TAG 42:202-05], daughter of widow MARY RING.
8. DAMARIS, b. Plymouth say 1628; m. Plymouth shortly after 10 June 1646 Jacob Cooke [MD 2:27-8], son of FRANCIS COOKE [PM 144]. (Since this Damaris was still bearing children in the early 1670s, she cannot be the same as the Damaris who came on the Mayflower.)
9. RUTH, b. Plymouth say 1630; d. after 30 November 1644 and before spring 1651 [Bradford 445]; unm.
10. ELIZABETH, b. Plymouth say 1632; believed to have died by 6 October 1659 when her property was appraised "in case Elizabeth Hopkins do come no more" [MD 4:114- 19]; unm.

COMMENTS: Caleb Johnson's discovery [TAG 73:161-71] of the family of Stephen Hopkins in Hursley, Hampshire, at last definitively eliminates the suggestion that Stephen Hopkins was son of Stephen Hopkins, a clothier, of Wortley, Wooten Underedge, Gloucestershire [MF 6:3, citing "[t]he Wortley historian"].

Johnson's discovery also strengthens the argument that this was the same Stephen Hopkins who was the minister's clerk on the vessel Sea Venture which met with a hurricane in 1609 while on a voyage to Virginia [TAG 73: 165-66]. One of one hundred and fifty survivors marooned on a Bermuda, he fomented a mutiny and was sentenced to death, but "so penitent he was and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass," that his friends procured a pardon from the Governor [MF 6:3, citing William Strachey's account]. (This episode is one of the underlying sources for Shakespeare's The Tempest.)

A brief docket item in official English records raises tantalizing possibilities. On 20 September 1614, a letter was sent "to Sir Thomas Dale Marshall of the Colony in Virginia, to send home by the next return of ships from thence Eliezer Hopkins" [Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of James L 1611-1618 (London 1858), p. 253; Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, 1574-1660 (London 1860), p. 17]. Examination of the original of this record by Michael J. Wood verifies that this is the correct reading, and the docket item does not refer to Stephen Hopkins. (The letter itself apparently does not survive.)

In his listing of the Mayflower passengers Bradford included "Mr. Stephen Hopkins and Elizabeth his wife, and two children called Giles and Constanta, a daughter, both by a former wife. And two more by this wife called Damaris and Oceanus; the last was born at sea. And two servants called Edward Doty and Edward Lester" [Bradford 442). Stephen Hopkins signed the Mayflower Compact. In his accounting of this family in 1651 Bradford reported that "Mr. Hopkins and his wife are now both dead, but they lived above twenty years in this place and had one son and four daughters born here. Their son became a seaman and died at Barbadoes, one daughter died here, and two are married; one of them hath two children, and one is yet to marry. So their increase which still survive are five. But his son Giles is married and hath four children. His daughter Constanta is also married and hath twelve children, all of them living, and one of them married" [Bradford 445).

In June 1621 Steven Hopkins and Edward Winslow were chosen by the governor to approach Massasoit, and Hopkins repeated this duty as emissary frequently thereafter [Young's Pilgrim Fathers 202, 204).

Despite his social standing and his early public service, Stephen Hopkins managed to run afoul of the authorities several times· in the late 1630s. In June of 1636 while an Assistant, he was fined for battery of John Tisdale, whom he "dangerously wounded" [PCR 1:41-42). On 2 October 1637 he was fined for allowing drinking on the Lord's day and the playing of "shovell board" [PCR 1:68) and on 2 January 1637/8 he was "presented for suffering excessive drinking in his house" [PCR 1 :75). On 5 June 1638 he was "presented for selling beer for 2d. the quart, not worth Id. a quart" [PCR 1:87]; for this and other similar infractions he was on 4 September 1638 fined £5 [PCR 1:97). He dealt harshly with his pregnant servant Dorothy Temple and only the intercession of John Holmes freed him from being held in contempt of court [PCR 1:111-13). In December 1639 he was presented for selling a looking glass for 16d. when a similar glass could be bought in the Bay for 9d. [PCR I: 137).

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1992 John D. Austin published an excellent and extensive account of Stephen Hopkins and his descendants as the sixth volume in the Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants [cited herein as MF6). In 1998 Caleb Johnson published his discovery of the baptismal place of the children of Stephen Hopkins and his first wife [TAG 73:161-71]

Stephen Hopkins and ???? MAYFLOWER ANCESTORS (my 9th Great Grandparents)

Mayflower Ancestors - Stephen Hopkins
From  The Pilgrim Migration

STEPHEN HOPKINS

ORIGIN: London

MIGRATION: 1620 on Mayflower

FIRST RESIDENCE: Plymouth

OCCUPATION: Tanner and merchant.

FREEMAN: In the "1633" list of Plymouth freemen Stephen Hopkins is near the head of the list, included among the assistants [PCR 1 :3]. In list of Plymouth Colony freemen, 7 March 1636/7 (as "Steephen Hopkins, gen.") [PCR 1:52]. In the Plymouth section of the 1639 Plymouth Colony list of freemen (as "Mr. Steephen Hopkins," annotated "dead") [PCR 8:173].

EDUCATION: He signed his will. The inventory included "diverse books" valued at 12s. [PCPR 1:63]

OFFICES: Assistant, 1633-36 [PCR 1:5, 21, 32, 36]. Volunteered for service in the Pequot War, 1637 [PCR 1 :61].

ESTATE: In the 1623 Plymouth division of land "Steven Hobkins" received six acres as a passenger on the Mayflower [PCR 12:4]. In the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle Stephen Hopkins, his wife Elizabeth Hopkins, Gyles Hopkins, Caleb Hopkins and Deborah Hopkins are the first five persons in the seventh company, and Damaris Hopkins is the thirteenth person in the eighth company [PCR 12:11, 12].

In the Plymouth tax list of 25 March 1634 Stephen Hopkins was assessed £1 7s., and in the list of 27 March 1634 £1 1 Os. [PCR 1 :9, 27]. "Steven Hopkins" was one of the Purchasers [PCR 2:177].

On 1 July 1633 "Mr. Hopkins" was ordered to mow where he had mowed the year before [PCR 1:15], followed by similar orders on 14 March 1635/6 and 20 March 1636/7 [PCR 1:41, 57].

On 5 February 1637/8 "Mr. Stephen Hopkins requesteth a grant of lands towards the Six Mile Brook" [PCR 1:76].

On 7 August 1638 "[l]iberty is granted to Mr. Steephen Hopkins to erect a house at Mattacheese, and cut hay there this year to winter his cattle, provided that it be not to withdraw him from the town of Plymouth" [PCR 1 :93].

On 17 July 1637 "Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth, gent.," sold to George Boare of Scituate, yeoman, "all that his messuage, houses, tenements, outhouses lying and being at the Broken Wharfe towards the Eele River together with the six shares of lands thereunto belonging containing six acres" [PCR 12:21]. On 30 November 1638 "Mr. Steephen Hopkins" sold to Josias Cooke "all those his six acres of land lying on the south side of the Town Brook of Plymouth" [PCR 12:39]. On 8 June 1642 William Chase mortgaged to "Mr. Stephen Hopkins ... all that his house and lands in Yarmouth containing eight acres of upland and six acres more lying at the Stony Cove" [PCR 12:83].

On 1 June 1640 "Mr. Hopkins" was granted twelve acres of meadow [PCR 1:154, 166].

In his will, dated 6 June 1644 and proved 20 August 1644, Stephen Hopkins "of Plymouth ... weake yet in good and perfect memory" directed that he be buried "as near as conveniently may be to my wife, deceased," and bequeathed to "son Giles Hopkins" the great bull now in the hands of Mrs. Warren; to "Steven Hopkins my son Giles his son" 20s. in Mrs. Warren's hands; to "daughter Constanc[e] Snow, wife of Nicholas ... my mare"; to "daughter Deborah Hopkins" cows; to "daughter Damaris Hopkins" cows; to "daughter Ruth" cows; to "daughter Elizabeth" cows; to "four daughters Deborah, Damaris, Ruth and Elizabeth Hopkins" all the moveable goods; if any of the daughters die, their share to be divided equally among the survivors; to "son Caleb heir apparent" house and lands at Plymouth, one pair of oxen and hire of them and all the debts "now owing unto me"; daughters to have free recourse to use of the house in Plymouth while single; "son Caleb" executor; Caleb and Captain Standish joint supervisors [PCPR 1:1:61].

The inventory of the estate of Stephen Hopkins was taken 17 July 1644 and was untotalled, with no real estate included [PCPR 1:62-63].

On 28 October 1644 "Caleb Hopkins son and heir unto Mr. Steephen Hopkins of Plymouth deceased" deeded to "Gyles Hopkins of Yarmouth, planter, one hundred acres of those lands taken up for the Purchasers of Satuckquett which said lands do accrue unto the said Steephen as a Purchaser" [PCR 12:104].

BIRTH: By about 1579 based on estimated date of first marriage.

DEATH: Plymouth between 6 June 1644 (date of will) and 17 July 1644 (probate of will).

MARRIAGE: (1) By 1604 Mary _____. She was buried at Hursley, Hampshire, 9 May 1613 [TAG 73:169].

(2) St. Mary Matfellon, Whitechapel, London, 19 February 1617/8 Elizabeth Fisher. She died at Plymouth sometime in the early 1640s before her husband, who desired to be buried near her; Bradford indicated that both she and her husband had lived in Plymouth above twenty years.

CHILDREN:

With first wife

1. ELIZABETH, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 13 May 1604 [TAG 73:170]; living on 12 May 1613 [TAG 73:165]; no further record.
2. CONSTANCE, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 11 May 1606 [TAG 73:170]; m. Plymouth by 1627 NICHOLAS SNOW [PM 428] (in the 1627 Plymouth division of cattle "Nickolas Snow" and "Constance Snow" were the sixth and seventh persons in the seventh company, which was headed by Stephen Hopkins [PCR 12: 11 ]).
3. GILES, bp. Hursley, Hampshire, 30 January 1607 /8 [TAG 73: 170]; m. Plymouth 9 October 1639 Catherine Whelden [PCR 1:134; TAG 48:5].

With second wife

4. DAMARIS, b. say 1618; probably died at Plymouth before the birth of her sister of the same name.
5. OCEANUS, b. at sea on the Mayflower voyage between 16 September and 11 November 1620; died by 1627.
6. CALEB, b. Plymouth say 1624; "became a seaman & died at Barbadoes" between 1644 and 1651 [Bradford 445].
7. DEBORAH, b. Plymouth say 1626; m. Plymouth 23 April 1646 as his first wife Andrew Ring [PCR 2:98; TAG 42:202-05], daughter of widow MARY RING.
8. DAMARIS, b. Plymouth say 1628; m. Plymouth shortly after 10 June 1646 Jacob Cooke [MD 2:27-8], son of FRANCIS COOKE [PM 144]. (Since this Damaris was still bearing children in the early 1670s, she cannot be the same as the Damaris who came on the Mayflower.)
9. RUTH, b. Plymouth say 1630; d. after 30 November 1644 and before spring 1651 [Bradford 445]; unm.
10. ELIZABETH, b. Plymouth say 1632; believed to have died by 6 October 1659 when her property was appraised "in case Elizabeth Hopkins do come no more" [MD 4:114- 19]; unm.

COMMENTS: Caleb Johnson's discovery [TAG 73:161-71] of the family of Stephen Hopkins in Hursley, Hampshire, at last definitively eliminates the suggestion that Stephen Hopkins was son of Stephen Hopkins, a clothier, of Wortley, Wooten Underedge, Gloucestershire [MF 6:3, citing "[t]he Wortley historian"].

Johnson's discovery also strengthens the argument that this was the same Stephen Hopkins who was the minister's clerk on the vessel Sea Venture which met with a hurricane in 1609 while on a voyage to Virginia [TAG 73: 165-66]. One of one hundred and fifty survivors marooned on a Bermuda, he fomented a mutiny and was sentenced to death, but "so penitent he was and made so much moan, alleging the ruin of his wife and children in this his trespass," that his friends procured a pardon from the Governor [MF 6:3, citing William Strachey's account]. (This episode is one of the underlying sources for Shakespeare's The Tempest.)

A brief docket item in official English records raises tantalizing possibilities. On 20 September 1614, a letter was sent "to Sir Thomas Dale Marshall of the Colony in Virginia, to send home by the next return of ships from thence Eliezer Hopkins" [Calendar of State Papers, Domestic Series, of the Reign of James L 1611-1618 (London 1858), p. 253; Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, 1574-1660 (London 1860), p. 17]. Examination of the original of this record by Michael J. Wood verifies that this is the correct reading, and the docket item does not refer to Stephen Hopkins. (The letter itself apparently does not survive.)

In his listing of the Mayflower passengers Bradford included "Mr. Stephen Hopkins and Elizabeth his wife, and two children called Giles and Constanta, a daughter, both by a former wife. And two more by this wife called Damaris and Oceanus; the last was born at sea. And two servants called Edward Doty and Edward Lester" [Bradford 442). Stephen Hopkins signed the Mayflower Compact. In his accounting of this family in 1651 Bradford reported that "Mr. Hopkins and his wife are now both dead, but they lived above twenty years in this place and had one son and four daughters born here. Their son became a seaman and died at Barbadoes, one daughter died here, and two are married; one of them hath two children, and one is yet to marry. So their increase which still survive are five. But his son Giles is married and hath four children. His daughter Constanta is also married and hath twelve children, all of them living, and one of them married" [Bradford 445).

In June 1621 Steven Hopkins and Edward Winslow were chosen by the governor to approach Massasoit, and Hopkins repeated this duty as emissary frequently thereafter [Young's Pilgrim Fathers 202, 204).

Despite his social standing and his early public service, Stephen Hopkins managed to run afoul of the authorities several times· in the late 1630s. In June of 1636 while an Assistant, he was fined for battery of John Tisdale, whom he "dangerously wounded" [PCR 1:41-42). On 2 October 1637 he was fined for allowing drinking on the Lord's day and the playing of "shovell board" [PCR 1:68) and on 2 January 1637/8 he was "presented for suffering excessive drinking in his house" [PCR 1 :75). On 5 June 1638 he was "presented for selling beer for 2d. the quart, not worth Id. a quart" [PCR 1:87]; for this and other similar infractions he was on 4 September 1638 fined £5 [PCR 1:97). He dealt harshly with his pregnant servant Dorothy Temple and only the intercession of John Holmes freed him from being held in contempt of court [PCR 1:111-13). In December 1639 he was presented for selling a looking glass for 16d. when a similar glass could be bought in the Bay for 9d. [PCR I: 137).

BIBLIOGRAPHIC NOTE: In 1992 John D. Austin published an excellent and extensive account of Stephen Hopkins and his descendants as the sixth volume in the Five Generations Project of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants [cited herein as MF6). In 1998 Caleb Johnson published his discovery of the baptismal place of the children of Stephen Hopkins and his first wife [TAG 73:161-71]