| Rhode Island History |
Life of Stephen Hopkins |
|
1689
Rhode Island re-emerged as a separate colony.
|
|
|
1689–97
King William’s War: the French attack Block Island three times.
|
|
|
1703–13
Queen Anne’s War: Rhode Island supplied some soldiers; commissioned
privateers.
|
1707
Stephen Hopkins born on March 7 in Cranston; the family later moves to a farm in
Scituate.
1726
Marries Sarah Scott, both 19.
1731
Elected town solicitor in Scituate.
1732
Serves in the General Assemby as representative for Scituate.
|
|
1736
A slave trade ship sailed from Providence for the first time.
|
1735–38
Continues in General Assembly.
|
|
1739–48
King George’s War: 35 Newport merchants were commissioned as privateers.
|
1742
Moves to Providence.
1753
Wife, Sarah, and two sons die.
|
|
1754–63
The French and Indian War: Rhode Island merchants lost over 200 ships.
|
1754
Delegate to the Congress of Albany. Hopkins and Benjamin Franklin lobbied fellow
delegates for a colonial “union.”
1755
Marries Anne Smith
1765
Publishes The Rights of the Colonies Examined to denounce the Stamp Act
which the British government levied on the colonies which had no representation in
Parliament.
|
|
1772
RI patriots burned the H.M.S. Gaspee striking the first blow for
freedom.
|
1772
Stephen Hopkins was Chief Justice at the time; no one was ever prosecuted.
1774
The Rhode Island General Assembly elected Stephen Hopkins and Samuel Ward as
delegates to the First Continental Congress.
1776
Hopkins signs the Declaration of Independence for Rhode Island.
|
