Rufus Hopkins

Rufus Hopkins (February 10, 1727 – August 1809) was a sailor and businessman who served as a Deputy in the Rhode Island General Assembly from 1772 to 1775, and again from 1781 to 1785.

[2] Around 1766 he associated with a group including his father, Nicholas, Joseph, John and Moses Brown, and Jabez Bowen in a project to utilize a bed of iron ore found in Cranston and the building of Hope Furnace.

[3] While working at the furnace, he was appointed as a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Providence County, serving in this capacity for several years.

The children of Rufus and Abigail were John, an unnamed daughter who died the same day she was born, and Silvanus, who lived one year.

[3] Hopkins died in Scituate in 1809, at the house of Mr. Andrew Ralph, and was buried in the North Burial Ground, Providence.