the payment thereof unto Benjamin Eldred, if before my decease I shall not have paid and discharged the same then I do ordain my executor to pay it or so much as shall be unpaid at my decease.

I give unto my sister Katherine Hopkins, the wife of Edward (sic) Hopkins, all my lands, tenements and hereditaments in Clenton and Clun in the County of Salop, during her natural life, and, after her decease, to Matthew Hopkins her son, to him and his heirs forever. Further, whereas I and John Eldred aforenamed purchased the Fleet and keeping the Palace of Westminster jointly, to us and our heirs forever, since which said purchase the said John Eldred, for and in consideration of the sum of eight thousand pounds, &c. &c. hath released all his right, title and interest of the said office and keeping of the Palace of Westminster to me and my heirs forever, and for non-payment of the said eight thousand pounds at the several times aforementioned I have made to him a lease for three score and ten years, as by the said lease doth likewise appear, whereof the "counterpaine" is amongst my writings, now for the payment of the said sum of eight thousand pounds, as all my debts and legacies, I do ordain and appoint Henry Hopkins, my nephew, whom I do make my sole executor, to see paid and discharged. In consideration whereof and for the due accomplishment of the same I do give and bequeath unto the said Henry all that my manor or capital messuage called the Fleet, otherwise "the King's Gaole of the Fleete," situate in the parish of St. Brides London, with the office of "Boarden of the Fleete," &c. &c., and also the keeping of the Palace of Westminster, called the old and new Palace, with the benefits and rents of the shops and stalls in Westminster Hall and without &c. &c., in as large and ample manner as I and M' Eldred had and purchased the same from Sir Robert Tirrell, Knight. Also I give unto the said Henry Hopkins my farm or messuage of Thickho, in the County of Essex, and all my lands, tenements and hereditaments belonging to the same, &c. ; provided that if the said Henry Hopkins do sell the office of the Warden of the Fleet, for the performance of this my last will and follow not the course I have by the same set down then I do, by this my will, appoint him to pay out of the said purchase money to his brother Edward Hopkins two hundred pounds, to his brother Matthew Hopkins two hundred pounds and to every one of his four sisters before named one hundred and fifty pounds apiece. I advise him to continue the execution of the office in M' James Ingram, &c. &c., because he is a sufficient and able man for the place, well acquainted therewith and one that I have always found very honest and most ready to do me any service for the good of the office.

Bequests are made to the poor of St. Brides, to my servant Robert Freeman, my loving friend James Weston Esq., my loving friend Sir Paul Pindor, Knight, to Mr John Eldred's son Nathaniel, my godson, to my servant John Lightborne, and his son, my godson, to the children of Josias Piggott, to my kinsman Willowe Eve and to his wife Judith, my niece. The witnesses were Robert Holmes, Edward Hopkins and Virgill ReyScroope, 6.

nolds.

HENRY HOPKINS, Esq. Warden of the Fleet, 30 December, 1654, proved 24 January, 1654, by Edward Hopkins, brother and sole executor. I desire to lie in my own ground in St Bride's church, near my uncle and predecessor Sir Henry Lello, if I expire in London or near thereunto; to which parish I give & bequeath five pounds if I be buried there. Of my temporal estate,- -first, because there is the greatest need, I give and

bequeath to my sister Judith Eve thirty pounds per annum, with that stock I have at Ashdon and household, provided that none of it may come into her husband's hands but be disposed of for her own subsistence. I will that my executor defray the charges of the commencement of our nephew Henry Dalley at Cambridge and allow him some competent means for his subsistence until he obtain some preferment there or abroad. I will that my executor take special care of our dear sister Margaret Tompson and her two children, with two more of sister Dally's, according as the estate will arise to and according to their several deserts, which are very different, and so are their necessities. And this I reserve the rather to him because he is equally related with me unto them all. To master James Jackson, fellow of Clare, that ten pounds which his brother, master Richard Jackson, oweth me and all that household stuff he possesseth of mine in Clare Hall. I give unto Henry Hopkins, now at Barbadoes, ten pounds; unto my godson William Hall, the son of William Hall at Lackford, one silver tankard which is now in my possession at the Fleet. To my loving friends Doctor Thomas Paske, master James Ingram, Doctor John Exton, Doctor William Turner, Dr Robert King, Doctor John Leonard, Doctor Cornelius Laurence, Master William Hall of Lackford, Master John Sicklemore, Master Charles Jones, Master John Fifield, Master Charles Bushie, Master Jackson, Master Peele, Master Moungague (sic) Newse and Master Wilson, fellows of Clare Hall, Master Thomas Hall of the Exchequer, Master Thomas Rivett, Master Thomas Newcomen, Master Cutbert Macklin, Master Henry Walthew, to each of them a ring of thirty shillings price, with this motto inscribed-Pro eo non pereo. The like I give to my loving cousins, Mr John Harris of Elton, Master Edward Mathewes of Burraton and my brother, Master William Lowe of Hereford. To the poor of the parish of Elton, where I was born, ten pounds, to be disposed of at the discretion of my executor and my cousin John Harris. To my servant Richard Walker five pounds and I will that my executor continue him in the place of Tipstaff of the Exchequer as long as he behaves himself well. To my servant Matthew Pitt the place he now holds of Tipstaff in the Common Please, during his good behavior, and ten pounds in money, with all my wearing clothes & do commend him to the care of my executor as judging him very fit his employment here as long as he continue it. I give unto Thomas Lell the son of Thomas Lello, draper, ten pounds; unto Mistress Bridget Exton, the daughter of my most loving friend, my crimson damask canopy and my best crimson quilt.

I do make and constitute my dear and loving brother Edward Hopkins, merchant, sole executor, &c.; and to my said executor all that office of Warden of the Fleet and Keeper of the Palace of Westminster in as ample a manner as I had it from my uncle Sir Henry Lello, Knight. To my said brother and executor all that my farm of Thickho, in the parish of Ashdon, to him and his heirs forever and all else, &c. &c.

Henry Hopkins.

“There haue bin many interlinings but all of my owne hand."

H. Hopkins.

The witnesses were William Ball, Henry Nevill and John Milett.

Aylett, 41.

EDWARD HOPKINS, esquire, at his house in London, 7 March, 1657, proved 30 April, 1657, by Henry Dalley, nephew and sole executor.

If

any debts shall appear to be due in New England that they be paid out of my estate there. As for the estate I have in New England (the full accompt of which I left clear in my books there, and the care and inspection whereof was committed to my loving friend Capt. John Culleck) I do in this manner dispose. To eldest child of Mr Mary Newton, wife of M' Roger Newton of Farmington and daughter of Mr Thomas Hooker deceased, thirty pounds; and also thirty pounds to eldest child of M' John Culleck by Elizabeth, his present wife. To Mrs. Sarah Wilson, the wife of M' John Wilson, preacher of the gospel, and daughter of my dear pastor, M Hooker, my farm at Farmington, &c. To Mr Susan Hooker, the relict of Mr Thomas Hooker, all such debts as are due to me from her upon the Account I left in New England. The residue of my estate to my father, Theophilus Eaton, Esq., Mr John Davenport, Mr John Culleck and M Goodwyn, in trust, &c.—to give some encouragement in those foreign plantations for the breeding up of hopeful youths in a way of learning, both at the Grammar School and College, for the public service of the country in future times.

Of the estate in England one hundred & fifty pounds per annum to be paid to M' David Yale, brother to my dear distressed wife, for her comfortable maintenance and to be disposed of by him for her good, she not being in a condition fit to manage it for herself; this income to be paid in quarterly payments. The thirty pounds per annum given me by the will and testament of my brother Henry Hopkins, lately deceased, to be given to our sister Mr Judith Eve, during her natural life, and to be made up to fifty pounds per annum. To my sister M Margaret Thomson fifty pounds within one year after my decease. To my nephew Henry Thomson, eight hundred pounds, whereof four hundred pounds to be paid him within sixteen months after my decease, and the other four hundred pounds within six months after the decease of my wife. To my niece Katherine Thomson, but now Katherine James (over and above her portion of five hundred pounds formerly given her), the sum of one hundred pounds. To my nieces, Elizabeth and Patience Dallye, two hundred pounds each, provided they attend the directions of their brother or aunts, &c., in disposing of themselves in marriage. To brother Mr David Yale two hundred pounds; to brother Mr Thomas Yale two hundred pounds; to my sister M Hannah Eaton two hundred pounds. Within six months after the decease of my wife the sum of five hundred pounds to be made over into New England according to the advice of my loving friends Major Robert Thomson and Mr Francis Willoughby (for public ends, &c.). Twenty pounds apiece to M' John Davenport, Mr Theophilus Eaton and Mr Culleck; a piece of plate of the value of twenty pounds to my honored friend Mr Wright; (a bequest) to my servant James Porter; to my friends Major Robert Thomson and Mr Francis Willoughby twenty pounds each in a piece of plate; to my servant Thomas Hayter; to my sister Yale wife of David Yale twenty pounds; to John Lello, a youth with sister Eve, twenty pounds; to my nephew Henry Dally, M.A. in Cambridge, my land and manor in Thickoe in the County of Essex and I appoint him executor, and Major Robert Thomson and Mr Francis Willoughby overseers, of my will.

Ruthen, 141.

Edward Hopkins, governor of Connecticut, one of the early settlers of Hartford, an abstract of whose will is given above, was born in Shrewsbury, England, in 1600, and died in London, March, 1657. For action of the General Court of Connecti

cut in relation to his legacy to Theophilus Eaton and others, trustees, see Colonial Records of Connecticut, edited by J. H. Trumbull, vol. i. p. 374; and for correspondence in relation to it, see the same volume, page 578. The £500 for "public ends" was paid to Harvard College under a decree in chancery in 1710. With it a township of land was purchased, which was named Hopkinton in honor of the donor. See Savage's notes on Winthrop's New England, vol. i. 1st ed. pp. 228-30; 2d ed. pp. 273-5, where large extracts from the will of Gov. Hopkins are made. It seems from the wills here abstracted that he was the son of Edward or Edmund Hopkins, that his mother was Katherine, sister of Sir Henry Lello, and that he had two brothers, Henry and Matthew; and four sisters, Abigail, Margaret, Patience and Judith. For an account of the insanity of his wife, see Winthrop's New England, vol. ii. 1st ed. p. 217; 2d ed. p. 266. Another early settler of Hartford was John Hopkins, who could not have been a brother of Gov. Edward, though he may have been related. He was the ancestor of President Mark Hopkins of Williams College, and of the late Mark Hopkins, Esq., an enterprising citizen of San Francisco, Cal.-EDITOR.]

THOMAS YALE of London, merchant, the poorest of what is stamp'd with my Creator's image and most unworthy his mercy; 29 September, 1697; proved 17 January, 1697. As to my temporal estate here, in India, and elsewhere, &c. To my dear mother Mrs Ursula Yale and my beloved brother Mr Elihu Yale. The hereditary estate in the county of Denbigh to my brother Elihu Yale's male issue, if he have any. Failing such, then to the heirs male of my uncle Thomas Yale, in New England and to his right heirs forever.

The Revd Doctor John Evans of London and Mr Robert Harbin of London to be trustees and overseers.

Then follows an account of his estate.

Lort, 26. ·

July, 1721. Undecimo die em com° Catharina Yale viduæ Relča Elihu Yale nup põae Sci Andrea Holborn in Com Middxiæ ari defti hēntis etc. ad admstrandum bona jura et credita dei defti de bene etc. jurat. Admão de bo: non etc. emt mense Febrii 1727.

Admon. Act. Book 1721 P. C. C.

[The name Ursula here given as that of the testator's mother, shows that he and his brother Elihu, the founder of Yale College, were sons of David Yale and not of Thomas, as has been asserted (REG. iv. 245; Savage's Gen. Dict. iv. 666). This agrees with the entry on the register of the private school of William Du Gard, where Elihu (there written Eliah) is called the son of David (REG. xiv. 201). Du Gard had previously been head master of Merchant Taylors' School, London.EDITOR.]

ROBERT THOMSON (residence not stated in will), 14 April, 1691. To my wife, in addition to her jointure, my household stuff, plate, coach and horses and five hundred pounds; and, during her natural life, the profits of my houses, lands and stock at Gelford in New England, the rents of my farm at Culpho and Felsham, in the county of Suffolk, and of that bought of M' Denham in Kent. I give unto my wife and son Joseph five hundred pounds to dispose as they know is my mind without being accountable to any. I will that there be not above three hundred pounds expended on my funeral in mourning and all other expenses. I will that what is expended on those one thousand apiece (which I have by deed settled on my daughters Ashhurst, Clark, Miller and Duckinfield) of land at Nipmugg in New England be made up a one hundred pounds to each for their further settlement, as Mr Staughton shall direct. To my grandson William Thompson, son of my deceased son William, during his natural life, after he shall attain the

age of twenty five years, Esham in Lincolnshire, with its appurtenances, bought of my cousin Oldfield, and the farm in Kent bought of M' Denham, and that, in the mean time, my executors receive the profits and lay them out in land for his use as aforesaid; and this in discharge of the twelve hundred pounds which my executor is to pay after his decease to his first son, then to the second son (and so on); failing male issue, to my grandson Joseph, son of my son Joseph (in the same order, &c.); then to my daughters that shall be living, during their natural lives, and after their deaths to such of their sons as are or shall be baptized Robert. Whereas upon my son William's marriage I did settle several lands in Yorkshire and Kent upon my brother Glover and son Clarke in trust, &c. &c.

On examining M Richard Bradly's account of Kintledg, I found an overweight which, for the reasons writ in my waste book, may be my just right, yet, least there should be an error, I will that his heirs or executors be paid the sixty four pounds. I give unto each of my grandchildren (except Joseph Ashurst) that shall be living at my death, when they marry or come of age, fifty pounds. My dear wife & son Joseph to be executors. The witnesses were Ann Cunliffe, Henry Scoupholme, John Rooke and William Watson.

The testator declared it to be his will 12 March, 1693. Signed and delivered in presence of Henry Scoupholme, Mary Watson and A. HatProved by Joseph Thomson, 6 December, 1694. Confirmed by decree 34 Session Trinity, 1695. The receipt of the original will acknowledged by Joseph Thomson 13 July, 1695. Box, 42.

way.

Sententia pro valore Testamenti Roberti Thompson, nuper de Stoke Newington in comitatu Middlesexiæ armigeri defuncti etc. etc. in judicio inter Franciscam Thompson, relictam, et Josephum Thompson, filium, dicti defuncti, executores hujusmodi negotium promoventes, ex una, et Dominam Elizabetham Ashurst (uxorem domini Willielmi Ashurst, militis) Mariam Clerke (uxorem Samuelis Clerke armigeri) Annam Miller, viduam, et Dominam Susan Duckingfeild (uxorem Domini Roberti Duckingfeild Baronetti), filias naturales et legitimas dicti defuncti, ac Guilielmum Thompson nepotem ex filio ejusdem defuncti, partes contra quas idem negotium promovetur, &c. &c. 1695. Irby, 201.

In connection with the foregoing it may be well to note that Thomas Sprigg of London, merchant, in his will of 19 May, 1675, proved 14 January, 1678, appointed Mr Maurice Thomson, Col. George Thomson, Sir William Thomson and Major Robert Thomson his executors and trustees, &c.

King, 10.

[Major Robert Thompson of London purchased of the Rev. Henry Whitefield of Guilford, Ct., who returned to England in 1651, his property in that town including the famous **stone house" built in 1639-one of the oldest buildings in New England now standing. The property remained in Thompson's family "to the great detriment of the town till October 22, 1772, when Andrew Oliver, Esq., of Boston, as attorney for Thompson's heirs, sold it all to Mr. Wyllys Elliott for £3000 of the current money of Massachusetts." (Smith's Guilford, p. 92.) Savage (Gen. Dict. iii. 288) conjectures that Thompson married a sister of Gov. Hopkins. We see by the Hopkins wills that the governor had a sister Margaret who married a Thompson; but the names of her children, Henry and Katherine, are not found as the children of Robert Thompson in the probate of his will. It is possible, however, that they and their mother died after 1657 and before 1691. Several letters from Major Robert Thompson are printed in flutchinson's Collection of Papers. Winthrop, in his History of New England, under 1639 (vol. i. p. 307 of 1st ed., p.