John(7) Brown HOPKIRK was the sixth son of Alexander(6) Home HOPKIRK and Agnes SPOTTISWOODE
John was born 20 Aug 1867 at Markinch, Fife, Scotland.
His mother, Agnes Spottiswoode, died in 1870, when John was less
than 3 years old. A couple years later his father took the remaining
family to New Zealand.
On 28 December 1893 John Brown Hopkirk married Emily Gertrude
Pilcher in Wellington, NZ. Emily was born 13 April 1870, the daughter
of Henry John PILCHER and Maria Martha MOY. Her paternal grandparents
were Thomas William PILCHER and Harriet CATCHPOOL
View
John Brown Hopkirk and Emily Pilcher
wedding day photo, 31 people total.
Our thanks goes to Donna Thompson and Joyce Campbell of Scotland for
supplying this and many other wonderful photos mailed to the Spottiswoode relatives in Gattonside,
Scotland, by Joseph Hopkirk in New Zealand over 100
years ago. Peter Lyal, a Spottiswoode
descendant, is now in possession of many of the original photos saved by Agnes Spottiswoode in Scotland. Many of the original letters and
photos were mailed from New Zealand by Joseph Hopkirk,
brother to John Brown Hopkirk. Here
is Donna and Peter.
Here is the above wedding photo with names added in the photo.
Identification of John Brown Hopkirk and Emily Pilcher wedding attendees
Detailed list of attendees, in a word document.
At the time of their marriage, or shortly
thereafter, John Brown HOPKIRK received, or purchased, a giant bible.
This bible has old family photos and birth information back into the
1700's located in the front of the bible. Go here to see the bible and this wealth of old HOPKIRK Family information located inside.
This
bible is probably one of the most important pieces of family history,
as it was created by John Brown Hopkirk in the 1890's, when he was able
to quiz his father Alexander, about family history. Alexander was born
in 1823, so was 18 years old when his own grandfather, James HOPKIRK,
passed away in 1841. The bible has family information back to the
1700's which confirms the paper trails discovered by previous family
genealogists.
John(7) Brown HOPKIRK married Emily Gertrude PILCHER, and they had the following children:
Cyril(8) Spottiswoode Moy HOPKIRK, born 30 Oct 1894. He died 25 Sep 1987. Cyril at age 21 months.
David(8) Hamua HOPKIRK, born 5 Nov. 1895 at Hamua, NZ. He died 21 May 1955.
John(8) Keith HOPKIRK, born 25 Jun 1897. He died 22 Mar 1899.
Gertrude(8) Emily HOPKIRK, born 4 Apr 1899. She died in 1991. Is this Gertrude?
Kenneth(8) Home HOPKIRK, born 27 Apr 1901. He died 1 May 1988.
Jean Pilcher HOPKIRK, born 9 June 1903. She passed away on 1 May 1984.
Oswald(8) Robert HOPKIRK, born 11 Dec 1907. He died in 1990. Oswald at 10 months old
Joseph(8) Edward(Jack) HOPKIRK, born 13 Mar 1912. He died 9 Aug 1984.
As of 1898, John Brown Hopkirk was the sole schoolteacher in Hamua, New Zealand. At that time it was a very remote and forbidding place. Hamua is located near Pahiatua.
See the living flag demonstration, created by the Grand Marshall, John Brown Hopkirk, and the children from the Brooklyn School in honor of the visit from the Duke and Duchess of York. See the wording about the event.
John Brown Hopkirk passed away on 6 December 1949 in Wellington. He was 82 years old.
Emily passed away on 28 July 1950 at 80 years of age.
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This page last updated on 25 April 2015
