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Brentford Families - Hopkins
Walter Hopkins and Edward Hopkins - are they related?
Dawn Welch nee Hurdwell writes in August 2010: "My uncle Walter Hopkins is on the war memorial outside the library, he was killed in action at Ypres on the 25th of august 1915 age 21. He was my was my mums brother and his parents was Alice and Walter Hopkins of 313 high street Brentford.On the new memorial there is a Edward Hopkins killed in action on the 25th of December 1915 age 30 that lived at the same address, would you know of any connection between them?"
Research findings
I think your Hopkins family were at 98 Whitestile Road in 1911? In the census Walter junior was living at home, age 17, his father was a 'cowman' and must have become an ironmonger when he moved to 313 High Street a couple of years later (trade directories show a Walter Hopkins, ironmonger, 313 High Street in 1913 and he is recorded at this address in 1928 and 1933 (without an occupation).Walter and Alice had a large family: 11 children are shown in the 1911 census, including three who died in infancy. Walter senior was 39 years old in 1911 and had been married 18 years, so is too young to be the father of Edward Hopkins on the war memorial, who was born around 1885. Walter was born in Hampshire around 1871/2: in the 1901 census his birthplace is recorded as Axford, in 1911 Barnsfoot(?).
Perhaps the link was theough an earlier generation? The marriage of Walter Hopkins to Alice Maud Mary Harwood took place at St Paul's, Old Brentford on 17 July 1893. Walter's occupation is milkman, address 10 Grove Road. His father: Frank Hopkins, a labourer.
A search for Walter's father in the 1881 census located 'Francis' Hopkins, wife Jane and son Walter (9) (one of eight children) at Chilton Candover Hants, Walter's birthplace was Preston Candover (within 3 miles of Axford). Francis was a farm labourer.
Was Edward, born 1885, a younger son of Francis? A search of the 1891 census found Francis and family still in Chilton Candover with one more son born around 1883, John Hopkins. So - no Edward.
Would it be possible to trace back Edward Hopkins to establish a link? I was not able to find Edward in 1901 or 1891 censuses - he should be born around 1885 and was the son of Mr. and Mrs Hopkins according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, but I could not find his birth registration in Brentford area between 1884 and 1886 inclusive.
In 1911 there were just two Edward Hopkins, born around 1885, living in Middlesex, but neither were in Brentford. So he is a bit of a mystery.
One further possible link: Edward served as a Private in the Royal Fusiliers 9th Battalion. Walter Hopkins was also a Private in the Royal Fusiliers, but in the 4th Battalion.
Is Edward Hopkins part of your family and is he connected to the Brentford Hopkins family headed by Walter Hopkins? If you can help please email and I will forward to Dawn.
TopPage published October 2010