Newport Rhode Island History

An 1856 Newport Mansion designed by Architect Richard Upjohn this historically significant mansion is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its is said to be the first Italianate Stick-Style house in the United States.

"Villalon" was built as a summer residence for Hamilton Hoppin (1821-1885), a wealthy (and somewhat mysterious) New York businessman. According to his niece, Louise: "My recollections of my Uncle Hamilton Hoppin are few and shadowy. He went early to New York and engaged in business. What his business was, I don't remember. Something heavy, like iron, I think!"

One of 12 siblings, Hoppins family could trace their ancestry back to the early settlers. Originally from Northumberland in the north of England, the Hoppins eventually established themselves in Providence, Rhode Island, as merchants "dealing in dyestuffs, drugs and chinaware, importing from the West Indies and China."

HAMILTON HOPPIN

Hamilton Hoppin was born 25 April 1821 in Providence, Rhode Island, the son of Thomas Coles Hoppin and Harriet Dunn Jones.1 He died of tuberculosis of the liver on 29 January 1885 at 32 West 21st Street in New York City and was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Brooklyn.2 His father, Thomas Coles Hoppin (1785-1850), was a Providence merchant engaged in the West India and China trade.3 His maternal grandfather was William Jones (1753-1822), Governor of Rhode Island from 1811 to 1817.4

Hamilton Hoppin married, on 6 October 1849, to Louisa Howland, daughter of Samuel S. Howland and Joanna Hone.5 She was born 6 July 1826 in New York City and died in 1898.6 Samuel S. Howland (1790-1853) was a merchant in New York City.7 Louisa Howland was a descendant of Pilgrims John Howland and Edward Tilley of the Mayflower.8

Hamilton Hoppin and Louisa Howland had three children: and Emily Howland Hoppin, (1854-?), Hamilton Louis Hoppin, (1857-1921), and Samuel Howland Hoppin, (1858-1933). It is known that Samuel Howland Hoppin was educated in private schools in Dresden, Paris and Brussels, attended Harvard as an undergraduate and graduated from Columbia Law School in 1881.9 He and his brother Hamilton Louis Hoppin at one time practiced law together in New York City.10 Although they both married, they left no surviving children.11 Emily Hoppin evidently never married.

According to Hamilton Hoppin's death certificate, he had been a resident of New York City for 43 years when he died—despite the fact that he lived in Middletown, Rhode Island from 1856 to 1878. This means that he came to New York at the age of 21 in 1842. His first appearance in the city directories, however, is in 1848, as a broker at 88 Wall Street.12 He lived at 362 Fourth Street with his older brother, William Jones Hoppin (1813-1895), a lawyer and the Commissioner for Rhode Island in New York City.

After his marriage to Louisa Howland in 1849, Hamilton Hoppin was listed as a merchant in the 1850 New York City directory, living at 12 Washington Square, the home of his father-in-law.13 From 1850 to 1854 he was in business with James Bogardus, the cast iron architect, under the name Bogardus & Hoppin.14 They were originally engaged in the manufacture of "eccentric mills"—a type of cutting machine. Hoppin's participation in the business may have been as a venture capitalist, for nothing else about his career suggests and training in machinery, architectural design, or iron casting.

At the time of the 1855 state census of New York City he was living on East 22nd Street in a stone house worth $12,000.15 He and his wife had bought it in 1853 from the executors of her father's estate for $14,000.16 His household consisted of his wife and child, as well as six servants, including a coachman and a waiter.

By 1860, Hamilton Hoppin was living in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he had built a home called Villalon. In the 1860 census of Middletown he was listed as a merchant owning $15,000 worth of real estate and $35,000 worth of personal estate.17 For purposes of comparison, the average wealth per household in 1860 Rhode Island was $3553 and in the entire United States it was $2,319.

Internal Revenue tax records from 1864 show that his annual income totaled almost $10,000 and that his wife had a separate income of just over $4,000. He was also taxed on three two horse carriages and one horse carriage, as well as 692 ounces of silver plate. In another year during this period (1862-1866) he was also taxed for a "pianoforte."18 The 1865 state census of Middletown shows the house was made of wood and that in addition to his wife and three children, Hamilton Hoppin's household consisted of six servants. His "occupation" was listed as "gentleman."19

His 1870 worth was still $50,000, but his real estate was worth $20,000 and his personal estate $30,000.20 Between 1860 and 1870, the average wealth per household in Rhode Island had risen to $5,295, but in the entire United States had dropped to $1,871.

Despite his residence in Rhode Island, Hamilton Hoppin maintained offices in New York City until 1872, where the directories from 1860 to 1863 list him as a lawyer.21 Thereafter no occupation was listed for him, but he was evidently in business with Samuel Wetmore (1802-1885), one of the witnesses to his will and whose father was in business in Rhode Island with Hamilton Hoppin's father Thomas C. Hoppin and uncle, Benjamin Hoppin.22.

From 1873 to 1878 there is no listing for Hamilton Hoppin in the city directories, but in 1879 he reappears as a resident. The 1880 census shows him living at 9 West Ninth Street in the 15th Ward.23 He was listed as a "retired merchant." His three children were still at home, and there were five servants in the household.

After 1863 Hamilton Hoppin's exact occupation is somewhat of a mystery. The 1864 income tax included money invested in "U.S. Securities," i.e. bonds sold by the Federal Government during the Civil War. He, like Samuel Wetmore, may have retired from active business and concentrated on investments.

Hamilton Hoppin made his will in 1869 while living in Middletown. His bequest to his wife Louisa reveals something of his lifestyle:24

all my wardrobe, clothing, jewelry, books, pictures, furniture, plate, porcelain, glass, household utensils, silver ware, watches, engravings, horses, carriages, harnesses, farming and gardening tools, statues and all other objects and articles of taste or art...

He also mentioned "any stocks, bonds, or other investments which I may hold or be interested in at the time of my death" and inheritances he was evidently expecting from his father's and grandfather's estates. The witnesses to his will were his erstwhile business partner Samuel Wetmore, G.M. Wheaton, and A.L. Vanderbilt.

Although no portrait or photograph of Hamilton Hoppin has been located, an 1866 United States passport application contains the following physical description: 5 feet 9½ inches tall, hazel eyes, brown hair, oval face. straight nose, and pale complexion.

Some interesting links:
http://www.aginc.net/battle/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Agincourt
http://www.geocities.com/beckster05/Agincourt/AgCampaign.html
 
 

25 NOTES

1. William Waterman Chapin, Stephen Hoppin, Nicholas Hoppin, etc. (Providence, R.I.: typescript, 1916), p.9.
2. Manhattan, New York, Death Certificate, Hamilton Hoppin, #516934, 29 January 1885.
3. Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island: Genealogical Records and Historical Sketches of Prominent an Representative Citizens and of Many of the Old Families vols. (Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1908), pp. 8-9.
4. Ralph S. Mohr, Governors of for Three Hundred Years 1638-1954 Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (Providence, R.I.: State of Rhode Island, Graves Registration Committee, 1954), pp. 126-127.
5. Franklyn Howland, A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and Their Descendants of the Unites States and Canada, together with an Account of the Efforts Made in England to Learn of their English Ancestry, etc. (New Bedford, Mass.: the author, 1885), p. 357.
6. 
   
7. His will, dated January of 1851, shows that he was quite wealthy. After making generous bequests in the thousands of dollars to various relatives and charities, he left the bulk f his estate in trust to his children. [New York County, New York Wills, 105:353ff.] Louisa Howland, in her will of 31 January 1896, mentions a trust under the terms of her father's will worth $125,000. [New York County, New York Wills 580:276].
8. Edward Tilley was the father in law of John Howland, thus anyone descended from Howland also descends from Tilley.
9. William F. Mohair, ed., Who's Who in New York (City and State) 1914: A Biographical Dictionary of Contemporaries (New York: Who's Who in New York City and State, Inc.,
   1914, p. 365.
10. Obituary of Hamilton Louis Hoppin, New York Times, 19 April 1921.
11. ibid., see also Hoppin Genealogy, p. 9, showing death dates for Hamilton Louis Hoppin's sons, and obituary of Samuel Howland Hoppin, New York Times, 2 May 1921.
12. Doggett's New York City Directory, 1848/49 (New York: John Doggett, Jr., 1848).
13. Doggett's New York City Directory, for 1850/51 (New York: John Doggett, Jr., 1850). Samuel S. Howland, retired merchant of the firm of Howland & Aspinwall, also resided at 12 Washington Square.
14. The New York City Directory, for 1852/53 (New York: Charles R. Rode, 1852); The New York City Directory, for 1853/54 (New York: Charles R. Rode, 1853); and Trow's New York City Directory, for 1853/54 (New York: John F. Trow, 1853).
15. 1855 State Census, 3rd Election District, 18th Ward, New York City, New York, Dwelling #199, Household #259.
16. New York County, New York, Deeds 670:187.
17. 1860 US Census, Middletown, Newport County, Rhode Island, p. 189.
18. Internal Revenue Tax Assessment Lists for Rhode Island, 1862-1866 (Washington: National Archives, 1974), 7 microfilm reels [National Archives Microfilm Publications; M788].
19. 1865 State Census, District No. 2, Middletown, Newport Co., Rhode Island, p. 75.
20. 1870 US Census, Middletown, Newport County, Rhode Island, p. 393.
21. Trow's New York City Directory....for the year ending May 1, 1860, ...1861, ...1862, ...1863, (New York: John F. Trow, 1859-1862).
22. Trow's New York City Directory....for the year ending May 1, 1864, ...1865, ...1866, ...1867, ...1868, ...1869, ...1870, ...1871, ...1872 (New York: John F. Trow, 1863-1871). Samuel Wetmore had offices at the same address as Hamilton Hoppin. For more on the Wetmores, see James Carnahan Wetmore, The Wetmore Family of America, and Its Collateral Branches: with Genealogical, Biographical, and Historical Notes (Albany: Munsell & Rowland, 1861), pp. 326-328, 365-367.
23. 1880 US Census, New York City, New York, Enumeration District 174, page 1.
24. New York County, N.Y., Wills 338:249.
25. United States Passport Applications #28536 - 1866.

The son of a reverend, Gardner Blanchard Perry (1829-1899) purchased the Newport Rhode Island lodging estate in 1891, which he renamed "Montpellier". The Perrys (who made their fortune in Buenos Aires, Argentina) owned the property for 20 years.

In 1916, hotelier Louis P. Roberts bought the property (renamed "Shadow Lawn") for $19,000. Upon the death of Mrs. Adelaide B. Roberts, John P. Collins bought the estate for $11,500 at a public auction in 1945. The Collins' eventually converted the house into apartments which catered predominantly to officers from the nearby Navy Base. In 1959, the land was subdivided into 6 house lots, including the main house. A further eight lots were added, and it was during this period of ownership when the most changes to the integrity of the building, landscape and setting were culminated.

A local contractor, Hugh D. Finnegan, bought the property in 1983, proceeding to renovate and convert the property into its present use as an inn.

A mother and son from Livingston, New Jersey, Selma and Randy Fabricant, acquired the estate which they renamed "Agincourt Inn". To date, the Fabricants have embarked on an extensive restoration of the property and were rewarded for their efforts with the 1996 induction into the National Register of Historic Places.

Substantial in scale, this 49' x 52' three-story wood-framed structure, with a full basement of brick, is capped by a low hipped roof with three chimneys. Its main three bay facade (with central entry fronts on the street) is overlaid with an Italianate arcaded open porch with wood spooled railings. Inside are such interesting features as pastel stained glass windows and genuine elephant skin wallpaper.

ABOUT ARCHITECT RICHARD UPJOHN (1802-1878)

Generally regarded as the "father" of the Gothic Revival movement in America, Richard Upjohn was to play an increasing role in shaping the direction of American architecture in the latter half of the 19th century. Although noted for his ecclesiastical commissions, (exemplified by his Gothic Revival designs for Trinity Church in New York City), Upjohn also developed plans for a number of civic buildings, as well as designs for over 90 residences throughout the Northeast.

Born in Shaftsbury, England, Upjohn was apprenticed and trained as a cabinet maker. In his late 20s, he emigrated to America with his family, initially settling in New Bedford before relocating to New York. In 1834, he moved to Boston, where he occasionally worked for Alexander Parris, a leading architect of the period. In 1839, however, he relocated back to New York City, hired as a draftsman to prepare renovation designs for Trinity Church on Broadway. Here his career blossomed as these renovations evolved into a major commission, designs for a new building for Trinity Church (1839-1846).

His reputation now firmly established, Upjohn's prolific career was to go on to span some four decades. A deeply religious man, he was not just concerned with aesthetics but also conscious of maintaining the integrity of his profession. Consequently, he established the American Institute of Architects in 1857, serving as its first president until his resignation in 1876.

In Newport, Rhode Island, Upjohn designed "Kingscote", (1841) the Edward King House (1845-1847) and "Villalon". Experience history firsthand at our Newport Rhode Island Mansion!