1790-08-13 Will (of Francis Hopkinson): Dan, Violet

Identifier
NJS-EVE-01843
Source

George Everett Hastings, The Life and Works of Francis Hopkinson (University of Chicago Press, 1926). See quotations from the will of Francis Hopkinson on p. 450. https://archive.org/details/bwb_S0-BFP-256/page/450
Event Description
In his last will and testament, made on August 13, 1790, Francis Hopkinson made the following bequest to his wife Ann Hopkinson née Borden: "I give my Negro Slaves Dan and Violet their Freedom after the Death of my Wife who shall have their Services during her natural Life." At this time, Hopkinson maintained a primary residence in Philadelphia and a secondary residence in Bordentown, New Jersey.

The will does not state their ages, but we can infer from other sources that Dan was about 19 years old and Violet was about 40 at the time the will was written out. Francis Hopkinson died about a year later in May 1791. Hopkinson's widow outlived him by about 36 years.
Event Type
Will
Date
August 13, 1790
Location of Event
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Related Place
Bordentown
Primary Participants

Dan (b. ca. 1771) {Hopkinson household}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04811
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age: 19
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791)
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro Slave...Dan"
Comment: to serve widow Ann Borden Hopkinson for her lifetime

Violet (b. ca. 1750) {Hopkinson household}
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04812
Role: Person Listed in Will
Age: 40
Status: Enslaved
Enslaver(s) of this participant:
- Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791)
Verbatim description from source:
"Negro Slave...Violet"
Comment: to serve widow Ann Borden Hopkinson for her lifetime
Additional Participants

Francis Hopkinson (1737-1791)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04809
Role: Enslaver, Testator

Ann Borden Hopkinson (1747-1827)
Person identifier: NJS-PER-04810
Role: Enslaver, Heir or Beneficiary
Record Contributor
Jesse Bayker
Resource class
Event