Hopestill Smith

Female Abt 1685 - Aft 1759  (~ 74 years)


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  • Name Hopestill Smith 
    Born Abt 1685 
    Gender Female 
    Died Aft 9 Oct 1759 
    Person ID I13907  Sorensen-Remington Family Tree
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 

    Father John Smith,   d. Abt 1 Sep 1729, South Kingstown, RI Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Phillis Unknown,   d. Bef 9 Mar 1740/41, South Kingstown, RI Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F05382  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 1 Joseph Northup,   b. Abt 1665,   d. Bef 1726  (Age ~ 60 years) 
    Children 
     1. Hopestill Northup
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F05381  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family 2 Henry Northup,   b. Abt 1688,   d. 25 Sep 1747  (Age ~ 59 years) 
    Married Bef 13 Apr 1741 
    Last Modified 7 Aug 2018 
    Family ID F05410  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • 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.