Hopestill Northup

Notes:

I have roughly estimated Joseph's year of birth.

Joseph — Hopestill Smith. Hopestill (daughter of John Smith and Phillis Unknown) was born Abt 1685; died Aft 9 Oct 1759. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

According to her father's will dated 1 Sept 1729, Hopestill (Smith) Northup had five children. I don't know whether she had children by both husbands.

Perhaps Joseph Northup, known as "Tailor Joe," 1700 - 1803 was a son. Or, perhaps one of the children was Sylvester Northup, who went to Exeter from North Kingstown, and was mentioned in the Exeter Town Council records on 12 Jan 1754, later being accepted as a resident on 12 Feb 1754. It is very possible that these are two of her children.

Although Hopestill is said to be the wife of Joseph Northup in the "RI Genealogical Register" Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 76, the Exeter Town Council records mention her as the widow of Henry Northup. Was this their mistake, or a transcriber's mistake? Or, she may have married Joseph, and later married Henry.

"Hopestill Northup, widow of Henry Northup late of North Kingstown dec., appeared in TC of Ex 9 Oct 1759 and swore that the last place of her lawful residence was in the town of North Kingstown; thus Ex TC declares that the town of NK is the last place of lawful residence of the said Hopestill Northup and TC therefore orders said Hopestill Northup to be forthwith sent out of the town of Ex and delivered to one of the overseers of the poor for the town of NK."

Other evidence that she may have been married to a Henry Northup is the following entry from the South Kingstown Town Council records: "13 April 1741 Henry Northup of North Kingstown petitioned TC SK that Phillis Smith late of SK died intestate . . . and that administration had not yet been granted . . . " (RIGR Vol. 17, p. 267), implying an interest in this estate.

The Henry referred to in this record may have just been a relative of her husband's, helping Hopestill with her mother's estate at this time. However, it seems that her brother-in-law had already died by then; at least, his will was recorded in 1740. But, the reference to Henry Northup of North Kingstown, who petitioned the South Kingstown Town Council, must refer either to Hopestill's brother-in-law, or to her deceased husband's nephew, also named Henry (unless there is another of the same name whom I haven't yet discovered). For the time being, I am assuming that it was the latter whom she married.

Notes:

Notes extracted from RI Genealogical Register, Vol. 3, No. 1, pp. 73ff (in some places quoting Bates & Chatfield; other info from John O. Austin's Genealogical Dictionary of RI):

The first record of Stephen Northup in RI was on 2 Oct 1655 when the town meeting of Providence granted to him 25 acres of land. Also, on 27 August 1656, it was ordered that Stephen Northup have a home-lot laid out to him, bordering Christopher Smith's lot; also, that he have "commonage" equal to any other townsman; and that he be able to vote with the other townsmen. [This suggests he was at least age 21 by this time.]

John O. Austin states that Stephen Northup was made a freeman in 1658, but the above date seems more likely to be correct.

It is believed that Stephen's house and lot were at the north end of town, from the description in the deed. It was probably destroyed in King Philip's War.

On 27 July 1659, Stephen sold to William Carpenter 60 acres at Rocky Hill [possibly in the area of present-day Rt. 2 in East Greenwich/North Kingstown, near fairgrounds/flea market]. On 4 June 1660 he was elected Towne Sargeant at Providence. During his term of service, John Clawson, a Dutchman, was murdered by an Indian not far from Stephen's house. Stephen spent a day warning the inhabitants of the town about the prisoner, and four days in taking the prisoner to Newport and attending the trial there. For these services, Stephen received 3 shillings per day.

On 8 February 1662, Stephen Northup sold to William Hawkins all rights between the Pawtucket and Pawtuxet Rivers. On 28 March 1666 he witnessed a deed in Providence, but his name is not on a list of inhabitants who took the oath of allegiance to the king on 31 May 1666. He had probably already moved to "Kings Towne" by this date.

On 19 May 1671, Stephen Northup took the oath of allegiance at Kings Towne (per J. O. Austin). He bought land there sometime before 5 December 1679 (settlement of the Pettaquamscutt Purchase). His property consisted of about 120 acres near the present location of the Gilbert Stuart Homestead in Saunderstown.

It has been suggested that Stephen's wife may have been a daughter of Benjamin Harrington (see RIGR, Vol. 3, No. 1, p. 75; various reasons).

In August of 1672, Stephen Northup was summoned by the colony of CT to appear there in court concerning land in RI claimed by CT. Stephen refused to obey the summons, declaring his submission to the authorities in RI.

His name appears for the last time in the official records, when on 6 September 1687 he was taxed by Gov. Andros.

Notes:

A genealogy at Rootsweb's Worldconnect has this John Smith as a brother of Jeremiah Smith b c1648. It also has the same surname for both of their wives.

John — Phillis Unknown. Phillis died Bef 9 Mar 1740/41, South Kingstown, RI. [Group Sheet]