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HOPKINSON, Francis (1737-1791)
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HOPKINSON, FRANCIS, (Father of Joseph Hopkinson), a Delegate from New Jersey; born in Philadelphia, Pa., September 21, 1737 (O.S.); was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia in 1757; the first native American composer of a secular song in 1759; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1761 and commenced practice in Philadelphia; secretary of a commission of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania which made a treaty between the Province and certain Indian tribes in 1761; appointed collector of customs at the port of Salem, N.J., in 1763, and at New Castle, Del., in 1772; settled in Bordentown, N.J., in 1774 and resumed the practice of law; member of the Provincial Council of New Jersey 1774-1776; member of the executive council from January 13 to November 15, 1775; was admitted to practice before the bar of the supreme court of New Jersey on May 8, 1775; elected an associate justice of that court in 1776 but declined the office; Member of the Continental Congress from June 21 to November 18, 1776; a signer of the Declaration of Independence; chairman of the Continental Navy Board at Philadelphia, 1776-1778; returned to Philadelphia in 1777; treasurer of the Continental Loan Office in 1778; judge of the Admiralty Court of Pennsylvania in 1779 and reappointed in 1780 and 1787; member of the constitutional convention in 1787 which ratified the Constitution of the United States; judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania 1789-1791; died in Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1791; interment in Christ Church Burial Ground.

Brown University
John Hay Library
Providence, RI
Papers: In the Rhode Island College Papers, 1763-1804, 0.8 linear foot.
Subjects covered include Chancellor of the College from 1764 to 1785, Stephen Hopkins.

Copley Press, Inc.
J. S. Copley Library
La Jolla, CA
Papers: 1776, 1 page.
A letter from Stephen Hopkins to General Artemas Ward written on September 25, 1776. Stephen Hawkins requests an anchor, two magazines, and ammunition to equip a warship.

The John Work Garrett Library Evergreen House
Baltimore, MD
Papers: In the Signers Collection, 1770-1826, 60 documents.
Subjects covered in the papers include Stephen Hopkins.

Massachusetts Historical Society
Boston, MA
Papers: In the William Shirley Papers, 1731-1762, 1 box.
Correspondents include Stephen Hopkins.

The Morgan Library
Department of Literary and Historical Manuscripts
New York, NY
Papers: 1755, 1 item.
A letter from Stephen Hopkins to William Johnson written on June 12, 1755. Stephen Hopkins congratulates William Johnson on becoming head of the militia.

Papers: 1758, 1 item.
A warrant from Stephen Hopkins to Thomas Richardson, General Treasurer. The warrant is to pay Thomas Vernon 5 pounds for postage, to be charged to the Colony of Rhode Island.

Papers: 1774, 1 item.
A letter from Stephen Hopkins to Joseph Clark written on August 9, 1774.

The Rosenbach Museum & Library
Philadelphia, PA
Papers: 1758, 2 pages.
A letter from Stephen Hopkins to James De Lancey written on September 26, 1758. Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island, informs Governor James De Lancey of New York of the theft of some church plates from Porto Plata, Santo Domingo, on a New York vessel, and asks him to take to proper measures.

Papers: In the A. S. W. Rosenbach Signers of the Declaration of Independence Autograph Collection, 1756-1818, 56 items.
Other authors include Stephen Hopkins.

Papers: 1756, 1 item.
A letter from Stephen Hopkins to Sir Charles Hardy written on June 24, 1756. Stephen Hopkins requests the permission of the Governor of New York for a shipload of flour to be purchased in New York and transported to Rhode Island, in spite of trade regulations during the French and Indian War.

University of Pennsylvania
Special Collections, Van Pelt Library
Philadelphia, PA
Papers: In the University of Pennsylvania Miscellaneous Manuscripts Collection, 1784-1934, 10 item.
Other authors include Stephen Hopkins.

  • Albrecht, Otto Edwin. Francis Hopkinson, Musician and Patriot, 1737-1937. [Philadelphia: n.p., 1938].
  • Hastings, George E. The Life and Works of Francis Hopkinson. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1926.
  • Hills, Ratcliffe Mellen. The Flag Myth Involving Francis Hopkinson. [Hartford?, Conn.: The Author?, 1950].
  • Hopkinson, Francis. Account of the Grand Federal Procession in Philadelphia, July 4, 1788. [Philadelphia?: Mathew Carey?, 1788].
  • ------. America Independent: Or, The Temple of Minerva: An Oratorial Entertainment. Washington, D.C.: C.T. Wagner, 1978.
  • ------. The Battle of the Kegs. Illustrated by Paul Galdone. New York: Crowell, [1964].
  • ------. Colonial Love Lyrics. Boston [etc.]: The Arthur P. Schmidt Co., 1919.
  • ------. Comical Spirit of Seventy-six: The Humor of Francis Hopkinson. Edited with an introduction by Paul M. Zall. San Marino, Calif.: Huntinton Library, 1976.
  • ------. Errata, or, The Art of Printing Incorrectoy: Plainly Set Forth by a Variety of Examples Taken from a Latin Grammar, Lately Printed by Andrew Stewart, for the Use of the College and Academy of This City. Philadelphia: [Printed by William Bradford], 1763.
  • ------. The First American Composer. Boston: [etc.] The Arthur P. Schmidt Co., 1918.
  • ------. Francis Hopkinson's Lessons: A Facsimile Edition of Hopkinson's Personal Keyboard Book: An Anthology of Keyboard Compositions & Arrangements Copied in Hopkinson's Own Hand. Washington, D.C.: C. T. Wagner, 1979.
  • ------. The Miscellaneous Essays and Occasional Writings of Francis Hopkinson, Esq. Philadelphia: Printed by T. Dobson, 1792.
  • ------. My Days Have Been So Wondrous Free. [n.p., n.d.].
  • ------. An Ode for the 4th of July 1788. [Philadelphia]: Printed by M. Carey, [1788].
  • ------. Ode from Ossian's Poems. For Voice and Harpsichord (or piano-forte). New York [etc.]: G. Schirmer, 1920.
  • ------. The Old Farm and the New Farm: A Political Allegory. With an introduction and historical notes, by Benson J. Lossing. 2d ed. New York: A.D.F. Randolph, 1864.
  • ------. Plan of an Improvement in the Art of Paper War. [California]: Zamburghers, 1962; ([San Francisco]: Grace Hoper Press).
  • ------. A Pretty Story, from G. K. Hall & Co. With All Good Wishes, Christmer, 1970. [New York: G. K. Hall, 1970].
  • ------. Science. A Poem. Philadelphia: Printed by William Dunlap, in Market-street, 1762.
  • ------. Seven [i.e. eight] Songs for the Harpsichord or Forte Piano. Edited by Maurice Hinson and Anne McClenny Krauss. Chapel Hill, N.C.: Hinshaw Music, 1987.
  • ------. Songs. [n.p., n.d.]
  • Sonneck, Oscar George Theodore. Francis Hopkinson, The First American Poet-composer, 1737-1791 and James Lyon, Patriot, Preacher, Psalmodist, 1735-1794. New introduction by Richard A. Crawford. New York: Da Capo Press, 1967.