Notes
Note for: Wiley Hopkins, 31 OCT 1804 - 2 NOV 1892 Index
They lived ALL THEIR LIVES IN CAMPBELL CO., GA Burried in New Hope Methodist Church. Census: between 1840-1880. Campbell County Georgia
Will: Between 1825-1900, Campbell County Georgia.
Information on Wiley is from a combination of visits and conversations with descendants of Wiley and Frances (Rusty Hopkins and Carol Phillips), Federal Census reports, LDS reports, family Bibles, the research of Dorothy Hopkins McClendon (which is now located in the Troup County, Ga., Genealogy Library and Archives in LaGrange, Ga.), and from a book "Genealogical History of Brown, Styles, and Related Families" by Viva Skousen Brown and her sister Leah O'Donnal.
Wiley owned a lot of land and left a large family with many descendants. His homeplace is still standing and his great-grandson, Russell Hopkins, now (1997) owns it and lives nearby. It is situated on a small hill and the land he once owned can be seen for miles and miles around. Deed Book C. from Campbell Co., Ga. shows that in 1837 Wiley bought 202 1/2 acres for $305 and in 1849 sold 101 1/4 acres for $850.
Wiley and Frances appear on Campbell Co., Georgia census in 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880.
Wiley and Frances are both buried in the New Hope Methodist Church Cemetery. It is located across the street from the New Hope Methodist Church in Palmetto, Campbell Co., Ga. After Frances died, Wiley married Rebecca (Aunt Becky) Smith. Rusty told me that the story handed down through the years was that Becky smoked a clay pipe.
The will of Wiley Hopkins, as recorded in Campbell County, Georgia is as follows:
State of Georgia, Campbell County
In the name of God, Amen. I, Wiley Hopkins of said State and County, being of advanced age, but of sound and disposing mind and memory; knowing that I must soon depart this life, deem it right and proper, both as respects my family and myself, that I should make a disposition of the property with which a kind providence has blessed me. I do therefore make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others by me heretofore made:
First: I devise and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christianlike manner, suitable to my circumstances and condition in life. My soul, I trust shall return to rest with God who gave it, as I hope for salvation through the merits and atonement of the blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Secondly: I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid without delay if I have any at the time of my death by my Executor hereinafter named and appointed.
Thirdly: To my sons J. F. Hopkins, N. A. Hopkins, E. B. Hopkins, E. M. Hopkins, and H. M. Hopkins, I have already given all I desire them to have out of my estate.
Fourthly: I give, bequeath and devise to my grandchildren, viz: the lawful heirs of my son H. M. Hopkins, the south half of lot of land number fifty six (56) in the eighth district of originally Coweta, now Campbell County, containing one hundred one and one fourth acres (101 1/4) more or less; (with the exception of my residence and five acres of land surrounding it) with all the rights, members and appurtenances to the said tract of land in any wise belonging, free from all charge and limitation whatever: To their own proper use benefit and behoof forever; with full power to dispose of the same by will or otherwise as they may deem proper.
Fifthly: All the balance of my property both real and personal including my residence with five (5) acres of land around it to be laid off in such shape as to embrace the garden, lots, and woodland enough for fire wood and other purposes; shall after payment of my debts as directed in the second article of this will, vest in my wife, Rebecca Hopkins, during her widowhood. This bequest is made to my said wife in lieu of her whole dower and at her marriage or death as the case may be. I desire and direct that the residence and five acres around it vest in the lawful heirs of my son H. M. Hopkins.
Sixthly: I direct that the balance of my property at the marriage, or death of my wife Rebecca Hopkins, be divided into six equal shares. One share of which I give, bequeath and devise, to my daughter, Martha Ann, wife of Simeon Styles, if she be living at the time of my death, if she be dead then I direct that the share given to her go to her heirs. One share of which I give, bequeath and devise to the heirs of my deceased daughter, Mary, who was the wife of John Styles. One share of which I give, bequeath and devise to my daughter, Eliza, wife of Moses Duncan, if she be living at the time of my death; if she be dead then I direct that the share given to her go to her heirs. One share of which I give, bequeath and devise to my daughter, Elizabeth, wife of Peter Duncan, if she be living at the time of my death; if she be dead, then I direct that the share given to her go to her heirs. One share of which I give, bequeath and devise to my daughter, Piety, wife of Wm. Gaddy, if she be living at the time of my death; if she be dead, then I direct that the share given to her to go to her heirs. One share of which I give, bequeath and devise to my daughter, Emma, wife of Spencer Plunkett, if she be living at the time of my death; if she be dead then I direct that the share given to her go to her heirs.
Seventhly: I hereby constitute and appoint my son, E. B. Hopkins, Executor of this my last will and testament.
Eighthly: I direct that the property disposed of in the fifth and sixth articles of this will (with the exception of the residence and five acres around it) be divided in kind, or sold and the proceeds of the sale divided between the Legatees therein named, as may in the judgment of my Executor be for the benefit of said Legatees and my estate.
This 30th day of August 1889 witness my hand and seal.
(s) Wiley Hopkins (seal)
Signed, sealed and declared and published by Wiley Hopkins as his last will and testament, in presence of the undersigned, who subscribed our names hereto in the presence of said testator at his special instance and request, and in the presence of each other.
(s) C. S. Reid
(s) E. G. Duke
(s) Jas. M. Hopkins
Georgia, Campbell County
To Hon. R. C. Beaver, Ordinary of said county. The petition of E. B. Hopkins shows that on the 5th day of Nov. 1892, Wiley Hopkins, late of said county, departed this life, after having made and published a last will and testament, of which he nominated your petitioner the Executor. Your petitioner shows that the heirs at law of said deceased are as follows: J. F. Hopkins, High, Texas - - E. M. Hopkins, Ben Wheeler, Texas - - N. A. Hopkins, E. B. Hopkins, H. M. Hopkins, and Mrs. Rebecca Hopkins of Palmetto, Ga. - - Mrs. Martha Styles, Gurley, Ala. - - Mrs. Eliza Duncan, Rhett, Ga. - - Lizzie Duncan, Fairburn, Ga. - - Mrs. Piety Gaddy, Rivertown, Ga.- - Emma Plunkett, Kendall, Faulkner Co. Ark. - - Mrs. Fannie Duncan, John Styles and Wiley Styles a minor Villa Rica, Ga. - Mrs. Martha Haynes, Mrs Carrie Gentry, and Mrs. Piety Eubanks, a minor, Iron Bridge, Ala. - - Mrs. Lizzie Brown, Mesa, Maricopa Co., Arizona and Mrs. Emma Lowry, Trimble, Ala. Your petitioner produces said will in court and prays that it may be proven in solumn form: To that end he prays that the heirs at law of said deceased aforementioned be cited to appear at the cout of Ordinary of said county to be held on the 1st Monday in April 1893, and show cause if any exist, why said will should not be proven in solumn form and admitted to record as the last will and testament of said deceased and that letters testamentary issue to the petitioner in terms of the law.
E. B. Hopkins, Petitioner
State of Georgia - Campbell County
Campbell Court of Ordinary - - March Term 1893 E. B. Hopkins as executor of Wiley Hopkins having filed his petition for probate of Wiley Hopkins will in solemn form and it approving that citiation should issue to be served personally on N. A. Hopkins, E. B. Hopkins, H. M. Hopkins, and Mrs. Rebecca Hopkins, his widow of Palmetto, Ga. Mrs. Eliza Duncan, Rhett, Ga., Lizzie Duncan, Fairburn, Ga., Mrs. Piety Gaddy, Rivertown, Ga., Mrs. Fannie Duncan, John Styles and Wiley Styles, a minor, Villa Rica Ga.; ordered that the usual citation issue to be served on them two days or before the next term of this court; and that as J. F. Hopkins, E. M. Hopkins, Martha Styles, Emma Plunket, Martha Haynes, Carrie Gentry, and Piety Eubanks minor, Lizzie Brown and Mrs. Emma Lowry reside out of the state of Ga. and can only be served by substitution and a _______ for four weeks in the Campbell County Standard, a Newspaper published in Fairburn, Ga. before the April Term 1893, if said Court of Ordinary and _______orders as published constitutes such citation _______March 6th 1893.
R. C. Beavers
Ordinary
Copy of this will, marriage records from Coweta, Campbell, County, Georgia and Death certificates , were in E D Browns posession.