Stephen Hopkins (politician) - Political and Mercantile Pursuits

Political and Mercantile Pursuits

Hopkins began his public service at the age of 23, when in 1730 he became a Justice of the Peace from the newly formed town of Scituate, a position he held continuously until 1735. Also, in 1731 he became the clerk of Scituate, which position he held for 11 years, until moving to Providence in 1742. Following his tenure as Justice of the Peace, Hopkins became a justice of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions, sitting on this court from 1736 to 1746, and being the clerk of this body for the last five of these years. Other positions he held during this time period include President of the Town Council, Deputy, and Speaker of the House of Deputies. In 1744 he was elected as a Deputy from Providence, which position he held for seven years, also being the Speaker of the House of Deputies during two of those years.

In 1742 Hopkins sold his farm in Scituate and moved to the settled part of Providence. Here he devoted much energy to commercial interests which would help small Providence grow. He became a merchant who built, owned, and outfitted ships, and in 1745 he was part owner of the privateering vessel Reprisal, in partnership with John Mawney, Sheriff of Providence, and son of Colonel Peter Mawney. In the mid 1750s, the Boston portraitist, John Greenwood, was commissioned by a group of sea captains and merchants, including Hopkins, to create a satirical painting. The men were stopped at a major trading port in Suriname on the north coast of South America where Greenwood was living at the time. Greenwood concocted a 22-figure tavern scene, showing himself among the affluent traders, many of whom were intoxicated.

One of Hopkins' enterprises later in life was as a manufacturer, and he became a partner with the four brothers, Moses, Nicholas, Joseph, and John Brown in establishing the Hope Furnace. This enterprise was concerned with iron works which made pig iron and cannons for use during the Revolutionary War. After its establishment, Hopkins' son, Rufus, managed the business for four decades.