Burton Gifford Hopkins

Edward married Maria Louisa B. Remington 18 Nov 1891, Warwick, Kent Co., RI. Maria (daughter of Christopher H. Remington and Almira Searle) was born 1 Dec 1876, Johnston, Providence Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the birth record, her parents are identified as John & Almira S. Remington. However, in the censuses, as in her marriage record, her father is always Christopher. I believe it must be an error in the birth record.

Stephen — Cordelia Unknown. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any part of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher.)

I think Christopher may have been named after Christopher Hall, father of Patience (Hall) Matteson, his assumed maternal grandmother.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Christopher is age 12 and living in West Greenwich with the Benoni Matteson family, which includes Alice (Barber) Matteson, and their daughters Phebe, Eunice, & Dorcas. Christopher's father Sheffield is also in the 1850 census at West Greenwich, age 37, living with Sarah Whitford, William N. Whitford, William's two sons, and other individuals who may or may not be related. There is also a Cyrus W. Remington, age 10, living with the Burrill Matteson family. Is he a brother of Christopher? Possibly Sheffield had been widowed and needed help caring for his children.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Christopher & Almira are living in Ward 6, Providence, RI, with their children Cyrus & Esther.

In the 1880 Federal Census, Christopher and family are living at Johnston, RI. They have three children: Cyrus H. 16, Esther W. 13, & Marie L. B. 3. Apparently they had gone to NY for a while, because according to census data Esther was born there.

In the 1885 RI State Census, Christopher H. and his brother Cyrus W. are both living in Johnston; both are carpenters and their birthplace is given as Coventry.

In 1900 the family is at Providence: Christopher Remington 64 (b June 1835 RI; carpenter; md 28 yrs), Almira S. 67 (b Dec 1832 RI; 2 of 4 children still living), Maria L. Hopkins 23 (dtr; b Dec 1876 RI; md 9 yrs; 3 of 5 children still living), May L. Hopkins 8 (b May 1892 RI), Pansy A. Hopkins 6 (b Feb 1894 MA), and Christopher E. Hopkins 2 (b July 1897 MA).

In 1920 Chris Remington is age 82, living in Providence with Maria Hopkins 43, Burton Hopkins 12, and Charles & May Nickolajewk 32 & 27. Maria is his daughter and May is his granddaughter. All were born in RI except Charles in Poland.

For some reason, Christopher is identified as John Remington in the birth record of his daughter Maria L. B. Remington. However, his wife is Almira S. in the birth record, as in the censuses.

Christopher married Almira Searle 18 Aug 1861, Newport, RI. Almira was born Abt 1833, RI; died 27 Apr 1901, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

I am going to make an assumption that Sheffield is a son of Thomas & Patience (Matteson) Remington (needs additional research to confirm). So far the evidence points to this.

In the 1840 Federal Census, Sheffield Remington is listed as residing in Coventry, RI. The household includes: two free white males age 0-5, one free white male age 20-30, and one free white female age 20-30. Census data shows that Sheffield was engaged in agriculture.

In the 1850 Federal Census, he is age 37 and living at West Greenwich, RI, with various family members in the household of Sarah (Nichols) Whitford, mother of Levi who married Sally Ann Remington. Thus, it seems very possible that Sheffield is a younger brother of Sarah Whitford's daughter-in-law, Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford.

In 1850 Sheffield's wife Huldah is not with him, so possibly he is widowed (or divorced?). His son Christopher b.c.1838 is also living in West Greenwich with the Benoni Matteson family. A Cyrus W. Remington, b.c.1840 is living with the Burrill Matteson family. Could Cyrus be another son? It is very likely, especially since Christopher later had a son named Cyrus.

Sheffield named a son Christopher H. He could be named after the maternal grandfather of Patience (Matteson) Remington (Christopher Hall); Patience also had a brother named Christopher. Very possibly Sheffield named a son after this (assumed) uncle and his (assumed) great grandfather.

Another point of interest is that a younger sister of Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford, Susan, married Dr. Cyrus Place, whose first wife was Rosannah Matteson, first cousin of Susan. Thus, the name Cyrus appears among the uncles in the Remington/Matteson extended family.

In 1860 at West Greenwich, the census shows Cyrus, age 19, George, age 17, & Henry C., age 15, living with various families in town. Are these all brothers, possibly sons of Sheffield & Huldah? Possibly.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Sheffield "Remeninto" is age 47 and living in Coventry, RI, at the home of John B. & Ruth Strait, along with several other individuals who may be boarders. In the 1870 Federal Census, Sheffield Remington is age 57 and living alone (keeping house) at West Greenwich, RI. He is living next to Burrill (age 35) & Caroline Matteson and family. Are these folks related to the Burrill Matteson in 1850 in whose household Cyrus Remington, age 10, was living? Probably.

Sheffield Remington was liberated from jail in Jan 1860. I don't know what his offense was -- possibly not paying his debts or taxes -- this needs more research. (source: Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Passed at the May Session, 1858; p. 226; Google Books): "Upon the petition of Sheffield Remington, praying to be released from imprisonment in the Kent county jail: Voted and resolved, That the senate do hereby advise and consent to the pardon of the said Sheffield Remington from his said imprisonment, as recommended by His Excellency the Governor."

Unfortunately, the death record at Coventry does not identify his parents, or his age. In fact, it gives no information at all about him. I have no idea where he could have been buried, as there is no record of a gravestone in the RI Cemetery Database. Of course, he may be buried in the family plot without a stone.

As an alternative to the above notes, Sheffield may be a son of Tiddeman Remington & Elizabeth Sheffield, but I have no other evidence with which to confirm this. The death record of George, Sheffield's son, says Sheffield was born in Coventry, so this leads me to favor the possibility that he is a son of Thomas & Patience.

Sheffield married Huldah Macomber Abt 1836. Huldah was born Abt 1815; died Between 1839 and 1865. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I do not know what became of Huldah Remington. She may have died before the 1850 census, which would explain why her husband and sons are scattered in different households in West Greenwich. However, the RI Death Index has a Huldah Remington listed, who died on 9 Oct 1865, at the age of 48. I can't find her in either the 1850 or 1860 census -- so who is she? The age would be right for this Huldah. Unfortunately, the RI Death Index does not identify her parents.