The existence and location of this cemetery is verified in a June/July 1949 article p. 130-131 of "The Long Island Forum" written by William Robertson Coe, II, son of William Robertson Coe of Long Island's Planting Fields. He transcribed some of the gravestones listed in the Hopkins Family Plot and I, Lee Ashmore, researched and added the biographical material.

The cemetery is also mentioned in the deed of sale in 1867 when Silas Hopkins, son of William M. Hopkins 1760-1841 & Elizabeth (Downing) Hopkins 1760-1850, sold the farm to William Hall. Silas insisted upon a right of way to the cemetery and the right of Hopkins to continue burials there, which continued until at least 1895. Alvin Hopkins 1835-1910, son of Silas, and his family are buried in the East Hillside Cemetery of Glen Head, Nassau County, NY.

Isaac Hopkins 1840-1903, the son, grandson and great grandson of former Hopkins's slaves is buried in Calvary African Methodist Episcopal Church Cemetery with his wife Matilda in Glen Head, Nassau County, NY. At least three former slaves of the William Hopkins family are buried in the Hopkins Family Plot off Cedar Swamp Rd. with simple stones marked AH, JH & SH.

The High Farms residential development of Glen Head was built on the original site of the Hopkins farm. The house that Silas built was destroyed in 1965 to make way for St. Hyacinth's elementary school, which still occupies the site. The Hopkins gravestones have since been removed. Any help finding them would be greatly appreciated as not all of the stones were transcribed by Mr. Coe and that information is now sadly lost to history.

These Hopkins descend from a line of Thomas & Joanna (Arnold) Hopkins who came from England to MA in 1634 and quickly removed to Rhode Island to escape the intolerance of their Quaker religion. Rhode Island Governor Stephen Hopkins 1707-1785, signer of the Declaration of Independence, is included in their line.

Four Hopkins are included on a 1775 list of Oyster Bay, Queens County, NY freeholders opposing British rule. They were key players in the fight for American Independence and later in the early abolition of slavery in the northern United States.

[email protected]



The cemetery map location is approximate.