Arthur Hopton (died 1607)

Sir Arthur Hopton (died 20 November 1607), of Witham, Somerset, was an English politician. He was member of parliament for Dunwich in 1571, and for Suffolk in 1589. He was made a Knight of the Bath at the coronation of King James I.[1]

For The English ambassador to Spain, see Arthur Hopton (diplomat).

Sir Arthur Hopton MP, JP, KB
MP for Suffolk
In office 1588–1589
High Sheriff of Somerset
In office 1583–1584
MP for Dunwich
In office 1571–1572
Personal details
Born	c. 1545 Blythburgh, Suffolk
Died	20 November 1607(1607-11-20) (aged 62) Witham Friary, Somerset
Resting place	St Mary, Witham Friary
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Rachael Hall
Children	5 sons, 11 daughters
Parents	Sir Owen Hopton; Anne Etchingham
Alma mater	Gray's Inn
Occupation	Politician and landowner
Awards	Order of the Bath 1603

He was the first son of Owen Hopton and Anne, elder daughter of Sir Edward Echyngham and Ann Everard.[1] He married Rachel, daughter of Edmund Hall of Greatford, Lincolnshire.[2] Rachel was the niece of William Willoughby, 1st Baron Willoughby of Parham, whose sister Dorothy Willoughby was the wife of Sir Ralph Hopton (died 1571). Sir Ralph, who was a kinsman of the half-blood to Arthur Hopton, made himself responsible for Rachel's upbringing, arranged her marriage to Arthur, and settled the reversion of most of his lands upon them in tail male, including his estate of Witham Friary in Somerset.[3] Arthur himself was co-executor to his uncle Robert Hopton (died 1590) and guardian of Robert's daughter Dorothy,[4] who married Arthur's son Owen Hopton.

Family

The children of Arthur and Rachel Hopton are shown as follows:[5][6]

• Robert Hopton, c. 1575-1638, of Witham, married Jane, daughter and heir of Rowland Keymis of the Vaudrey, Monmouthshire.[7][5]
• Owen Hopton, married Dorothy, daughter and heir of "Sir" Robert Hopton (both died 1609).[5]
• (Sir) Thomas Hopton (4th son, born c. 1584), of University College, Oxford (1602, aged 18), knighted 1633, died 1638.[5]
• (Sir) Arthur Hopton (5th son, born c. 1588), diplomat, knighted 1638, died 1650.[8][5]
• Dorothy Hopton, married (1) William Smith of Burgh Castle, Suffolk, and (2) Sir Nathaniel Bacon of Stiffkey, Norfolk (died 1623).[9]
• Catherine Hopton, married Sir George Morton, Bt., of Milborne St Andrew, Dorset (died 1661).
• Selina Hopton, married (1) Henry Bodenham of Fugglestone St Peter, Wiltshire (died 1595), and (2) Robert Baskett, of Dewlish, Dorset (died 1613).
• Willoughby Hopton, married Sir Thomas Hobart of Little Plumpstead, Norfolk (died 1623).
• Frances Hopton, (? married (1) Rice Jones, of Asthall, Oxford (died 1615), and (2) Sir Giles Fettiplace of Poulton, Wiltshire (died 1641).[10])
• Anne Hopton, married Richard Cole of Nailsea Court, Somerset (both died 1650).
• Rachel Hopton, married ----- Thomas of Herefordshire.
• Jane Hopton, married Richard Bingham of Melcombe Horsey, Dorset.
• Philadelphia Hopton, married Sir John Ernley, of (Whetham House, Calne), Wiltshire.[11][5]
• Margaret Hopton, married (1) Sir John Rogers of Bryanston, Dorset (died 1613),[12][5] and (2) Sir Robert Banister of Passenham, Northamptonshire.

References

1. G.M.C., 'Hopton, Arthur (d.1607), of Blythburgh, Suff. and Witham Friary, Som.', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer 1981), History of Parliament Online.
2. Marriage Settlement, 22 May 1566, Suffolk Record Office (Ipswich) ref. HA30/369/11 (Discovery Catalogue).
3. R. Virgoe, 'Hopton, Sir Ralph (1509/10-71), of Witham, Som.', in S.T. Bindoff (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1509-1558 (from Boydell and Brewer 1982), History of Parliament Online; R. Virgoe, 'Hopton, Sir Ralph (c.1510-71), of Witham Friary, Som.', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer 1981), History of Parliament Online.
4. Will of Robert Hopton of London (P.C.C. 1591, Sainberbe quire).
5. 'Hopton', in F.T. Colby (ed.), The Visitation of the County of Somerset in the Year 1623, Harleian Society Vol. XI (1876), pp. 56-57 (Internet Archive). From Harleian MS 1141.
6. W.L. Rutton, 'Pedigree of Hopton of Suffolk and Somerset', in J.J. Howard (ed.), Miscellanea Genealogica et Heraldica, 3rd Series Vol. III (Mitchell and Hughes, London 1900), pp. 9-12, and notes pp. 81-86 (Internet Archive).
7. J.P. Ferris/S. Healy, 'Hopton, Robert (c.1575-1638), of Ditcheat, Som. and Llanthony Abbey, Mon.', in A. Thrush and J.P. Ferris (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1604-1629, (from Cambridge University Press, 2010), History of Parliament Online.
8. A.J. Loomie, 'Hopton, Sir Arthur (1588–1650), diplomat', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (2004).
9. 'Hundred of Shropham: Eccles', in F. Blomefield, ed. C. Parkin, An Essay Towards a Topographical History of the County of Norfolk, Volume I (William Miller, London 1805), at pp. 407-08 (Hathi Trust).
10. These marriages are attributed to Frances Hopton by Rutton, Pedigree of Hopton, but to Frances, daughter of Sir Arthur Hopkins, by J.W.W., 'Fettiplace, Giles (d.1641), of Poulton, Wilts', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer 1981), History of Parliament Online.
11. M.W. Helms/L. Naylor, 'Ernle (Earnley), John (c.1620-97), of Burytown, Blunsdon, Wilts', in B.D. Henning (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1660-1690 (from Boydell and Brewer 1983), History of Parliament Online.
12. P.W. Hasler, 'Rogers, John I (c.1555-1613), of Bryanston, Dorset', in P.W. Hasler (ed.), The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1558-1603 (from Boydell and Brewer 1981), History of Parliament Online.

Parliament of England
Preceded by Robert Hare Robert Coppyn	Member of Parliament for Dunwich 1571 to 1572 With: William Humberston	Succeeded by Robert Coppyn Richard Sone
Preceded by Sir Robert Jermyn Sir John Heigham	Member of Parliament for Suffolk 1588 to 1589 With: Anthony Wingfield	Succeeded by Edmund Bacon Sir Clement Heigham