Family and Education

1st s. of (Sir) Owen Hopton by Anne, da. and coh. of Sir Edward Echingham. educ. G. Inn 1562. m. Rachel, da. of Edmund Hall^† of Gretford, Lincs., 5s. 11da. suc. uncle Sir Ralph Hopton 1571, fa. 1595. KB July 1603.

Offices Held

J.p. Som. from c.1573, sheriff 1583-4, col. of musters c.1588; j.p. Suff. from c.1590, grain commr. 1586.1

Biography

In 1571, when Hopton was returned for Dunwich, his father was knight of the shire for Suffolk. His direct patron, however, may have been one of the Wingfields. By 1588, Hopton had himself sufficient standing to be elected to the county seat, though the family were gradually mortgaging and losing the greater part of their Suffolk property. Hopton himself removed to Somerset soon after this Parliament, troubled by litigation and burdened by debts. In his second Parliament he took charge of the bill dealing with Orford harbour (13, 14 Feb. 1589) and was on the committee of a legal bill (17 Feb.). He died on 20 Nov. 1607.2

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: G.M.C.

Notes

• 1. Rylands Eng. ms 304; Suckling, Suff. ii. 137, 147; Vis. Som. (Harl. soc. xi), 57-57; C142/304/50; Egerton 2345, f. 33; Lansd. 35, f. 136; 48, f. 146; 73, f. 162; 94, f. 137; f. 157; SP12/121, f. 30; HMC Hatfield, xi. 385.
• 2. APC, xv. 151, 311; xiii. 265; xvi. 45, 69, 73, 93, 232; svii. 314; xviii. 340, 361l; xxii. 243; xxviii. 410; xxix. 462; CSP Dom. 1547-80, p. 650; 1581-90, pp. 240, 390, 403; 1591-4, p. 178; 1595-7, p. 155; Hist. Colls. Suff. RO, Blois mss; Townshend, 17; D’Ewes, 433; C142/304/50.