lucy hopkins blakesley

This page details the ancestry of Lucy Hopkins Blakesley

She is the paternal grandmother of the author

Lucy Lucinda Hopkins

born April 25 1881 in Geneva NY

died July 29 1966 in Hopewell NY

Photo ca 1899

LUCY’S PARENTS

William Hopkins born July 26 1857 probably in Italy Hill NY. No death date on his tomb stone. Obit says Nov. 16 1931 - Jerusalem NY census records for 1930 - living with son David age 72.

Ellen Kennedy born Sept. 8 1862 in Italy Hill NY. Died in Geneva NY of Typhoid Pneumonia. Death records say April 9 1888 age 26 years 7 days. Buried in Italy Hill Cemetery. Why was Ellen’s photo cropped, whose hand is on her shoulder ? No dates, probably before marriage. No ring on her finger..

Lucy’s siblings - other children of William & Ellen

David Hopkins born June 1883 - died Aug. 14 1970. Lived near Penn Yan NY

Mary [Charles] Deane born June 1885 - died March 14 1967. Lived in Penn Yan NY

Clarabell [Grant] McLoud born July 23 1886 - died May 15 1953. Lived in Italy Hill NY All were born in or near Geneva NY The author remembers these people

Lucy told the following story to the author.

She was 7 years old when her mother died. She remembers her father dressed her mother, put her in a casket with an inner glass lid & buried on the farm [in Geneva ?]. When he moved to Italy Hill he dug her up. When he opened the outer lid Lucy said her mother looked like she was just sleeping with beautiful long black hair & a fair complexion . When the casket was moved the glass cracked & she instantly turned black. He reburied her in Italy Hill Cemetery when Lucy was about ten.

Above left: William & Ellen Kennedy Hopkins Cemetery monument. William remarried in 1895. Her name was Eliza A. Case. He was 38, she was 45. They did not have any children together. Eliza’s name is on the other sid of this monument. She was born 1850 - died 1923.

The original of the above right photo is marked “Lucy Blakesley’s mother”. Can’t be. Lucy’s mother Ellen died at age 26. This is probably her step mother Eliza. Lucy did’nt like her. Said she was a witch. Sure looks like a witch ! Or is this Lucy’s grandmother Julia Davis Hopkins ?

John [1832-1908] & Julia A. [1832-1910] Hopkins. Little is known about them. They show up in the Town of Italy census in 1860, 1870, 1880 & 1900. They were married about 1856. They had possibly seven children including William. John was a farmer. After John died Julia shows up in the 1900 & 1910 census living with son William. Her obituary says she died at her granddaughter Lucy Blakesley’s home in Italy Hill Sept. 9 1910. Julia’s parents were William & Ann Hufford [?] Davis. John & Julia are buried in Italy Hill Cemetery.

Matthew Kennedy: b. June 27 1830 in Kells parish of Kirkcudbright, Scotland, d. March 1 1906

Emily S, Madison: b. 1836 in Allegeny Co. NY. d. Sept. 3 1901. Her parents were William & Emily Madison. Matt & Emily married March 1860 in Burrville Allegany Co. NY. Matt & Emily are buried in Italy Hill Cemetery.

In addition to Lucy’s mother, Ellen, they had 7 other children. The following information is from Matthew’s Civil War pension , Italy Hill Cemetery records & George K. Kennedy’s property debt records [1939].

Frank born [Oct.] 1859 - died 1877

Matthew Jr. born & died 1872

Henry P. born April 20 1863 [7 months after Ellen ?] - died after 1898. Birth year probably 1864.

George K. born March 12 1865 - died Aug. 25 1939.

William born May 4 1867 - died Sept. 17 1944

Mary born April 20 1869 - died Oct 23 1900 {town record}. Married name also Kennedy,

Harriet born Jan. 29 1880 - died Feb.4 1965. Married Frank Lafler.

MATTHEW KENNEDY MONUMENT ITALY HILL CEMETERY, YATES CO. NY

For more about Lucy’s ancestors see LINK LUCY HOPKINS#2