Hopkins was the son of Sir Richard Hopkins, steward and MP for Coventry, and his wife Sarah Button, daughter of John Button of Buckland, Hampshire, and granddaughter of William Jesson who was also MP for Coventry.
[2] He actively opposed the King, and urged on the crowd in Coventry which greeted the captive Monmouth enthusiastically in 1682.
Coventry was forced to surrender its charter in 1683 and a number of officials and council members were removed as a result of the town's perceived disaffection.
[3] When King James II visited Coventry in September 1687, he stayed at Hopkins's house and wanted toe bestow favours on him, but did not gain his support.
The church contained plaques commemorating these family members, and flat stones marked their burial places.