2^nd generation

Thomas Benoni Hopson

(abt 1765-after 1850)

Catherine Hoppes

(b. abt. 1774-after 1840)

            Thomas Benoni Hopson was born in Cumberland, Virginia, in about 1765, the son of William Hopson.  He married in about 1790 Catherine Hoppes, daughter of John Hoppes and Hanna Rhyne, who was born about 1774 in North Carolina.[1]

            At some point, either before or after their marriage, before the children were born, Benoni moved to North Carolina. 

Virginia, the northern neighbor of North Carolina, was the source of most of its people in the 17^th and 18^th centuries.  According to Powell's history of North Carolina, "Many North Carolina settlers were descendants of the yeoman farmer class in England who reached North Carolina by way of Virginia.  They or perhaps their parents had been indentured servants—sturdy, ambitious, industrious people who came to find a better life in America.  In return for their passage they agreed to work for a period of time to repay whoever advanced the money.  Having served the term of their indenture, they were at liberty to work for themselves, and in order to avoid any stigma that might have been attached to their recent status they left Virginia and settled in North Carolina.  This simple fact explains why so many North Carolinians can trace their ancestors to a Virginia origin but not beyond that.  These were people who generally owned no land, and did not leave wills or other legal records."[2]  We don't know for sure that William Hopson falls into this category, but there is a good possibility that he does.

Powell describes this area as follows:  "The mountain region of North Carolina is a part of the great Appalachian system extending from New Hampshire into northern Alabama.  On the east these mountains are known as the Blue Ridge because a blue haze seems perpetually to hang over them.  Beyond are the Great Smoky Mountains, the crest of which forms the dividing line between North Carolina and Tennessee  .... This is extremely rugged country ....

"The forbidding mountains, ancient home of the Cherokee Indians, were simply bypassed until near the end of the 18^th century.   Daniel Boone ... blazed trails through the mountain passes and led settlers to the distant grasslands that became Tennessee and Kentucky."[3]

            Benoni and Catherine's children, all born in North Carolina, were as follows:[4] 

i.          Littleton Hopson born about 1790 

            ii.          Mary Hopson, b. about 1792

            iii.         Hannah Hopson, born abt 1800, North Carolina.

            iv.         John Hopson, b. 9 June 1802, Wilkes NC, d. 16 Dec. 1888 Mitchell, NC

                                    m. Elizabeth

            v.         Joseph Hopson, b. 11 May 1803, NC; d. 2 Aug 1892 Mitchell, NC

                                    m. (1) Lany Hoppes 26 Apr 1830, m. (2) Olive Stanley.

            vi.         George C. Hopson, b. abt 1805, NC, d. abt 1870, Mitchell, NC,

                                    m. about 1834 Julia Stanley

            vii.        Thomas Hopson, b. abt 1809, NC

            viii.       Sarah Hopson, b. abt 1810, Wilkes, NC; d. 1893-1903, Peppers Cr.,

McDowell, NC

            ix.         William Hopson, b. abt 1826, Mitchell, NC; d. 20 Jul 1864, Gallatin, TN

            Benoni Hopson appears in the 1800 census of Wilkes Co., NC and in the 1810 census of Buncombe Co., NC (where his name is spelled Hobston). 

            The 1820 Burke County, NC census names just heads of households and lists the number of other males and females by age group.  The following is the entry for Benoni Hobson (spelled with a B) on page 19:

 Benoni Hopson          1 male over 45

                                    1 female age 26-44       (Catherine)

                                    1 male 16-17                (John)

                                    1 female 10-15 (Sarah)

                                    3 males 10-15              (Thomas, George, Joseph)

                                    1 male 0-9 and 1 female 0-9 - ???

Littleton was about 30 at the time but does not appear with this family.  He did not marry until 1821.

The 1830 North Carolina census has neither Benoni nor Littleton Hopson listed as a head of household. 

In 1833 Yancey County was formed from Burke and Buncombe Counties, and in the 1840 census we find Benoni Hopson in Yancey County, NC[5]:

            Benoni Hopson           1 male 70-79

                                                1 female 60-69   (Catherine)

                                                1 female 20-29   (could be Sarah, age 30, b. 1810)

                                                1 female 30-39   (could be Hannah, age 40, b. 1800)

                                                1 male 10-15       (William, age 14, b. 1826)

            In the 1850 census of Yancey Co., NC, what remains of the Benoni Hopson family appears as follows:

                        Benoni Hopson, 80

                                    Hannah 50 (his daughter)

                                    Benoni 20 (Hannah's son)

            From the census it appears that Catherine died sometime after 1840 and Benoni died after 1850.

-- Any corrections, additions, and kind, constructive criticism are welcome. Full credit will be given for anything you submit. --

You are the person to visit Those Old Kentucky Homes since             02 February, 2007.