Hopper

• References:
  • [Noltie family memoir]

  • Benjamin Hopper:
    • "Unsung North-East Men of Trafalgar", Tony Henderson, The Journal newspaper, Newcastle, June 21, 2005.

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • Records of Carr of Etal, Northumberland.
  • Records of the Earls of Erroll.

  • Benjamin Hopper:
    • Trafalgar Geordies and North Country Seamen of Nelson's Navy 1793-1815, Tony Barrow, 2005.

Thomas Hopper, born 1724,
mar St Margaret's church (see images), Durham (see entry), 16 Jan 1751 [using [NJ] date format, note that at the time this was regarded as the end of 1750],
to Margaret Smirk [born 1729, "at Shiels" (perhaps this is North Shields or South Shields in Tyneside), dau of John Smirk, think NOT Margret],
both of them worked in the service of Sir William Carr of Etal, Northumberland,
they would have worked at Etal Manor,
in 1762 Isabella Carr, dau of Sir William Carr, married James Hay, 15th Earl of Erroll,
Thomas and Margaret's dau became a maid to Isabella Carr prob. 1770,
Sir William Carr died 1777,
Etal was inherited by the Earl of Erroll,
Thomas and Margaret both continued working in the service of the Earl of Erroll, Thomas was steward, Margaret was housekeeper,
their dau married the Earl's valet 1780,
they retired with a pension from the Earl of Erroll,
and they lived in old age "in the Black Horse Entry" (unidentified) in Durham,
when their dau's husband Henry Nolty was away on the Continent, his business in Edinburgh failed and she returned in c.1792 to her parents in Durham with her child,
the 15th Earl's younger son William Hay, 17th Earl of Erroll inherited Etal, and changed his name to Carr 1795, but then had to give up Etal on succeeding to the Earldom 1798,
Margaret died first, Durham,
Thomas died after, Durham, think c.1810, age c.86 yrs,
had issue:

1. Mary Hopper, born 18th Feb 1754,
   she became maid (must be 1770) to Isabella Carr, wife of 15th Earl of Erroll,
   she met Henry Nolty 1770 (her age 16), he was working as the Earl's valet,
   the Earl died 1778,
   she and Henry continued working for his widow,
   mar 1780 to Henry Nolty and had issue.

   
   

2. Benjamin Hopper,
   apparently born 1775 [mother would be age 46],
   served for 24 years in the Royal Navy,
   "was in several engagements in the late war" [Noltie family memoir, c.1839], this would refer to the Napoleonic Wars (1803-15),
   apparently [Barrow, 2005] lists him as age 30, "from Etal in Northumberland", on the ship Colossus at the Battle of Trafalgar 1805,
   he was the only son that survived his parents,
   he retired from the navy 1830 with a pension,
   in winter 1834 he went into Greenwich Hospital (Royal Naval Hospital for sailors, later became the Royal Naval College).

Etal church. Etal Manor in background.
See larger and full size.
Photo 2003 by Phil Thirkell. See terms of use.

Greenwich Hospital, 1752.
See full size. From Wikimedia Commons. See more images.

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