North Scituate in Providence County, Rhode Island — The American Northeast (New England)
Stephen Hopkins • 1707-1785
Signer of the Declaration of Independence
Scituate Heritage Trail
| — | Historic Scituate, Rhode Island | — |
Stephen was one of Rhode Island's two signers of the Declaration of Independence. William Ellery of Newport was the other signer. Stephen is depicted in the back row in this famous John Trumbull painting as the only gentleman wearing the Quaker top hat. Stephen, being of advanced age, had palsy. It had worsened by 1776. He affixed his signature by holding his right hand with his left and stated: "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."
Stephen Hopkins was elected the first town moderator of Scituate in 1731 as the town was being formed and town clerk in 1732. The minutes (shown left) are from April 29, 1732, when he was town clerk. Note his signature.
Brothers Stephen & Esek Hopkins grew up off Danielson Pike at his Uncle Joseph Wilkinson's Great House. It was located near St. Mary's Lane opposite Darby Road. The house had a furnace fire in the early 1900s and was destroyed.
Before establishing an official Town Hall, the town clerk's home served as the office. Pictured is one of the earliest town clerk's offices, as is clearly identified in the photo. It is believed to have been in South Scituate, one of the
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Hopkins was elected Governor of Rhode Island nine times between 1755 and 1767. The letter he penned (shown right) to the House of Deputys on March 17, 1758, recommends defending the coast from enemies. Note his signature. The enemy Hopkins was referring to was the French. The British were engaged with them during the Seven Years' War (also referred to as the French and Indian War) which began in 1754 and ended with the Treaty of Paris in 1763.
Hopkins's 1764 work The Rights of Colonies Examined established the basic terms of colonial opposition to British taxation, which later led to the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776. Rhode Island was the first colony to declare independence from Britain on May 4, 1776.
In 1742, Stephen Hopkins built a small, unpretentious house (below) off South Main Stree, Providence. George Washington was a guest here twice.
Erected 2021 by Town of Scituate, Rhode Island. (Marker Number 7.)
Topics and series.
Location. 41° 49.974′ N, 71° 35.477′ W. Marker is in Scituate, Rhode Island, in Providence County. It is in North Scituate. It is on Danielson Pike west of Silk Lane, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 195 Danielson Pike, North Scituate RI 02857, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Quiet Corner and in Greater Providence. It is also in the American Northeast, in New England, and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Scituate, Rhode Island (here, next to this marker); Owen Soldiers' Monument (approx. ¼ mile away); Old Congregational Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Scituate Honor Roll (approx. ¼ mile away); Revolutionary War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Korea Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Scituate Honor Roll (approx. ¼ mile away); The Richmond Mill Bell (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scituate.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 3, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
