Based on traditional Scottish naming patterns, William was the oldest son of James(4) HOPKIRK and Anne WRIGHT. There is no record of Williams(5) birth, but he was undoubtedly the son of James(4) HOPKIRK and Anne WRIGHT, based on family letters and other conclusive evidence. Click here to read a letter written by Isabelle HOME to her children in the USA in 1841. William, like his father, was a shoemaker by trade in Melrose. To learn more about Isabelle Home's brother Robert and their family, go here. Our thanks goes to Graeme Glass for allowing us to present this wonderful article.
Based on Walter HOPKIRK'S family history, his father William HOPKIRK was born December 25, 1780. We have since found William's christening record of 7 Janaury 1781 in Jedburgh recorded as William HOBKIRK, the son of James HOBKIRK and Ann WRIGHT.
William HOPKIRK and Isabel HOME were married on 27 August 1803 in Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland.
Isabel HOME was born in 1783 in Hornecliffe, Northumberland, England to John HOME and Elizabeth MILLAR
Their children were all born in Melrose, Scotland:
Elizabeth(6),c.16Sep1804. Died at sea between 1846 and 1850, while returning to Scotland.(no issue)
James(6), c.08Mar1807. James died in April of 1841. See letter dated June 30, 1841. (no known issue)
John(6), b.01Apr1809(USA branch)
William(6), b.9May1811, married (Mary) Jane REDPATH(USA branch)
David(6), c. 23Oct1814. Was in Iowa, USA around 1840. Died at sea prior to 1851. (no known issue)
Robert(6), c25 Nov 1817(New Zealand branch)
Walter(6), c.22 Apr 1821(USA branch)
Alexander(6), c.26Jun 1823(New Zealand branch)
William, like many of his younger brothers and nephews, became a shoemaker and bootmaker.
At some point, probably right after the bridge was built in 1826 between Melrose and Gattonside, William moved his family to Gattonside and probably operated his own shoemaker business in the small town of Gattonside. His eldest, and only, daughter would have been 22 years old at that time. Below is the home the family lived in Gattonside, it is still there today.
William
Hopkirk, shoemaker of Gattonside, passed away on 18 June 1854 at age
73. He was buried on 20 June 1854 per Melrose Parish records. Her is a copy of that death record.
Below is a photo of Isabella Home Hopkirk, taken prior to 1857 when
photography was in its infancy. We are deeply indebted to John Samuel
Hopkirk, a descendant of Alexander(1823-1907) listed above, for sharing
this photo with us.The photo was located in the bible of Alexander's
son John Brown Hopkirk, amd undoubtedly travelled with the family when
they moved from Scotland to New Zealand. Isabella is probably wearing some kind of bonnet. At this link is Isabella Home Hopkirk's death certificate.
Go to son Alexander's page,,,,,above,
to see information on the house in Gattonside sold by Alexander HOPKIRK
to Robert SPOTTISWOODE in 1880. Robert was Alexander's deceased wife
Agnes' brother.Alex had moved to New Zealand, but it is believed he had
retained ownership of the old HOPKIRK family residence in Gattonside.
Here is the 1880 sale record. Here is the map of Gattonside as of 1859. It
is similar to the maps drawn from memory by Alexander's son Joe aome
years after the family had travelled to New Zealand. Joe's map #1. Joe's map #2.
Below is
what is believed to be the old William Hopkirk and Isabella Home
Hopkirk home sold by their son Alexander Hopkirk(1823-1907) in 1880 to
his brother-in-law Robert Spottiswoode. At this link is the info about the sale. This information comes from descendents of Robert Spottiswoode still living in Gattonside and nearby Gattonside.
The picture below is of the Gattonside Post Office in the early 1900's and is believed to by the old Hopkirk Home.
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This page last updated on 30 July 2017
