HOOPER COMPASS VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1 NOVEMBER 2000 William Hooper, Rector of Trinity Church, and William Hooper, Signer of the Declaration of Independence Almost every Hooper family with ties to antebellum North Carolina has had some member who claimed their lineage connects with that of the famous founding father, William Hooper. Most such claims are erroneous, and probably arose from misunderstood questioning of elderly parents and grandparents. Unfortunately, once a tie to William Hooper has been suggested, disproving that illustrious connection is nearly impossible - there's always someone who insists "my grandpa told me about it, and he wouldn't lie." The Signer's actual family was small, with few progeny in the earliest years. The editor offers this group of articles as extensively documented guides for those attempting to find or disprove their own family's potential link to William Hooper or to his siblings. Because the first two William Hoopers were socially INSIDE THIS ISSUE and politically prominent in their own times, much William Hooper, Rector of Trinity Church, and documentation of their lives is available. North 59 William Hooper, Signer of the Declaration of Independence Carolinian William Hooper "the signer" was born in Old Style/New Style the colonies, but came from Scottish roots. His father, 60 also William Hooper, was the immigrant to this 61 Other Hoopers in Boston continent. 62 Family of Anne Clark Hooper Reverend William Hooper: The first William Hooper was christened 5 March 1704. He spent his 68 Siblings of the Signer childhood at Ednam, county of Roxburgh (near Descendants of Reverend William Hooper, Kelso), Scotland.(1) Well-educated for his times, the 76 Boston [chart] Direct Descendants of William Hooper, elder William Hooper studied at the University of 78 Signer Edinburgh, Scotland, perhaps graduating in 1723. His Watters Ancestry in North Carolina career in Great Britain is poorly documented. About 78 1734, Hooper migrated to Boston where in 1737 he 79 James Hogg, Friend of the Signer became the first rector of West Church.(2) This congregation identified itself as Independent Congreg­ 81 Another Professor Hooper ational, but the ministers following Hooper all were William Hooper Family Record [transcribed Unitarian. Hooper served his congregation from 84 from Bible Record at North Carolina Archives] 1737-1746.(3) Mislaid Documents 86 Reverend Hooper soon found a helpmeet for his 86 Editor's Message calling, and married Mary Dennie on 18 Oct 1739.(4) The bride was a daughter of John Dennie, "an A Quarterly Publication, © 2000, 2009 of eminent merchant" of Boston.(5) Two possibly three children were born to the couple while Hooper served A NNE G OODWIN West Church. An infant named Mary Hooper was baptized there on 17 May 1741, but her parentage was not given. If she was Reverend Hooper's child, she WEBSITE must have died in early childhood.(6) www.HooperCompass.com Most historians identify Reverend Hooper's son William (born 17 June 1742 and baptized 21 June 1742 at West Church)(7) as the eldest of the five children of the older William and wife Mary. The second son, John, “giving direction to your Hooper family searches” 59 was baptized 12 August 1744, also at West Church. Old Style/New Style (8) No further record (burial, marriage) of this son John has been identified in Boston. Dates in the Eighteenth Century At some point in the 1740s, Reverend Hooper began The old Julian calendar, an inheritance of most to change his religious sentiments. He became more of Europe from ancient Rome, was out of liberal than his congregation. Seeking to mold his sequence with the seasons by the sixteenth actions after his thought, he broke his associations century. In 1582, Pope Gregory XII decreed that with the Congregationalists and became an Anglican ten days should be dropped, so that the day [Episcopalian] in the fall of 1746. after October 4 became October 15, 1582. Such a change was not uncommon in Boston. The France and several other Catholic countries Reverend Mr. Addington Davenport was son of one adopted the so-called "New Style" calendar in 1582 or 1583. Great Britain , under protestant of the founders of Boston's Brattle Street Queen Elizabeth, refused to comply with the Congregational Church. Yet Reverend Davenport papal order. Finally, in 1752, Britain and her served as the first rector of Trinity [Anglican] colonies adopted the New Style calendar; by Church in Boston when that church was established then, the discrepancy was eleven days. Thus, in in 1740. In fact, Reverend Davenport had previously 1752, the day after September 2 became served in Boston at King's Chapel [Anglican], and September 14 (see calendar below). before that in parishes at Scituate and Hanover. In At the same time, the British changed the first those smaller parishes, Mr. Davenport and his fellow day of the new year from March 25 to January 1. Anglicans had been considered by the townspeople For example, the day after March 24, 1750 had as apostates from the Congregational Church. been called March 25, 1751, just as January 1, 1750 immediately followed December 31, 1750. The attitude at Boston's Trinity was far different. After the switch to New Style dates in 1752, many Over a third of the members in the first decade were writers began to refer to earlier dates of January "Gentlemen and Merchants who were bred 1 to March 24 by dual years. So the day after Dissenters" [i.e., Congregationalists] who had December 31, 1750 might be rendered as recently conformed to the Anglican church.(9) Thus, January 1, 1750/1. Of course, if the New Style 11 upon the death of their first minister, the vestry and days correction was added, then the date might wardens at Trinity in November 1746 sought to fill also be rendered as January 12, 1750/1, or as January 12, 1751. Instead of using dual dates, the vacancy with the esteemed Reverend Hooper: some writers use the abbreviations N.S. or O.S. Upon the Consideration of the Loss this Church after the year. hath Sustained by the Death of their late Worthy and faithfull Minister the Revd. Mr. Addington George Washington's birthdate is an example of Davenport Deceased, the proprietors ... pro­ such confusing dual dates. Today, his birthdate is ceeded ... to the Choice of a Successor as Incum­ remembered as February 22, 1732. But when the bent Minister of this Church … it appeared that future President was born, his parents would have Mr. William Hooper was Unanimously chosen, noted the day as February 11, 1731. On what who upon the Bishop … granting Him Ordination was then called February 11, 1751, Washington according to the Rules of the Church of England celebrated his twentieth birthday. But after the is Minister of Trinity Church. …[T]he salary to switch to New Style that year, Washington waited commence from the present time altho he must 365 days to celebrate his twenty-first birthday on go to England for Episcopal Ordination.(10) February 22, 1753. Thus, late in 1746, William Hooper set sail for England. The Boston Evening Post commented "It is generally thought no minister in the county was ever September 1752 better respected and supported by his people."(11) Hooper carried with him to London several Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat testimonials about his character. One of the testimonials had been written by the royal governor. 1 2 14 15 16 Unbeknownst to Hooper, his wardens, and vestry, 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 another Boston churchman had tried to subvert the ordination. When word of the opposition in 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 England reached Boston, the wardens and vestry held an emergency meeting on 21 May 1747: Several letters being read informing that Mr. Hooper who this Church hath presented to the Bishop of 60 Hooper Compass in pdf format © 2011 London for Holy Orders has been opposed by Mr. Commissary Price by representations directly contra­ Other Hoopers in Boston dicting the Testimonials the Church & many other persons have given The Vestry taking into concideration this Names noted between 1760 and 1800 unjust behaviour look upon it highly injurious to this Church Another Hooper associated with Trinity Church is John who are intirely satisfied of the good Character of Mr. Hooper. He was never identified as a relative to Reverend Hooper ... William Hooper in the Trinity records. Neither does he The vestry and wardens were incensed. They wrote to appear in the church records while Reverend Hooper was the Bishop in London insisting on the selection of Mr. alive. This John Hooper's burial occurred on 27 Aug 1790, when his age was noted as 80 years. Hooper, stating that they "found no cause to alter their said Choice." They likewise wrote to Mr. John Hooper may have had several marriages. One celebrated at Trinity was that to Elisabeth Griggs on 1 Hooper, promising to stand by him. They even September 1776. Elisabeth probably had been widowed enlisted the assistance of other churches. The letter prior to that marriage. written by the King's Chapel Anglicans reveals the On 25 October 1778, Elisabeth Hooper was one of the admiration Mr. Hooper commanded in Boston: sponsors for the christening of Jane Courant White, Boston N. E. June 5, 1747 daughter of Benjamin and Jane White. The other sponsors May it please Your Lordship for this baptism were William Clark and Elisabeth Greggs. Our Bretheren of Trinity Church being under great On the same day, William Clark and Elisabeth Greggs, Dificultys & Discouragements by reason of Mr. William along with John Greggs, were sponsors for the christening Hoopers Ordination being put off on account as we of a son of Susanna (Greggs) Wales.