THE HOPTON FAMILY

Edwin and Elizabeth Hopton (née Barrell) arrived in Australia from London in 1857 aboard the "Sydenham".

They brought their 1st two children (Edith Maria, and William Henry Dickson) with them, and were accompaned by Elizabeth's sister-in-law, Caroline Barrell wife of William Barrell and Stella Vick, Edwin's half-sister's daughter.

Associated names

Adams
Ayland
Barrell
Burdett
Groves
Hammet
Hardgrave
Hewitt
Hibgame
Holdsworth
Kite
Lancashire
Selman
Vick
Wellwood
Wilmot
Woodward
Woon
Zahel

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John Hopton was born in 1783 at Westbury-on-Trym, Gloucestershire. He married Mrs. Martha Lancashire (1780-1865) in 1811 at St. George's, Bristol. (Martha had three chldren from her first marriage.) John and Martha Hopton had seven children, Maria (1811), William (1812), John (c. 1814), James (1817), Robert (1818), John Henry (1820) and Edwin (1822). John died in infancy and Robert and John Henry both drowned on the same day. John died in 1876 at Horfield, near Bristol aged 93.

Edwin Hopton and Elizabeth Barrell married at St. John's Church, Paddington, London on 26^th September 1854. They had ten children, Edith Maria (1855) who married William Hewitt, William Henry Dickson (1856) who married Jessie Sarah Ellis, Martha Emmeline (1859), Florence Elizabeth (1861) who married Stephen Thomas Brown Woodward, Alfred Edwin (1862) who married Sarah Wellwood, Charlotte Augusta (1864), Theresa Kate (1866) who married Herbert Sydney Hammet, Alice Maude (1868), Thirza Myrtilla (1870) and Stella Louise (1871) who married William Francis Burdett.

Edwin, Elizabeth, Edith, Dickson and Caroline left London on 20^th July 1857 and arrived in Hobson's Bay (Melbourne) on 3^rd November 1857. Caroline's husband (Elizabeth's brother), William Barrell had arrived a couple of months before, coming ahead to search for work and lodgings.

The family lived in Richmond for a short time before moving to Geelong. Edwin Hopton was to become a well-known identity in Geelong. He was largely responsible for the separation of West Geelong from Geelong and became the first Town Clerk of the new Borough. In 1881 he was elevated to Mayor of West Geelong. He owned several properties in Geelong, later moving to "Swanville" on the Moorabool River at Fyansford and later again to a property known as "Woodlands" also at Fyansford. It was here that he became well-known for his vineyard and various types of fruit trees, including the "Hopton" apple. He imported grape vine cuttings from America, among them a special variety known as "Lubrusca" (a native American grape) from which wine was made. In 1880 Edwin Hopton was appointed Inspector of Vineyards. In 1887 he entered fruit at the London Exhibition and received a framed certificate and bronze medal for his exhibit. He continued to be quite a force in local affairs, always ready to fight the cause for the betterment of the district.

Edwin and Elizabeth retired to "Amhurst" in Armadale, Melbourne where they celebrated 50 years of marriage in 1904. Edwin died in 1909 and Elizabeth in 1914 - both are buried in Boroondara Cemetery, Kew.

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