Janet Ann Sampson 1860-1945 & Robert Castle Hopkins 1855-1924
Married on 30 Jul 1879 in Adelaide, South Australia.

Photo: Robert & Janet Hopkins with children
From L to R: Janet Hopkins, Olive B. Hopkins, Robert Hopkins, William C.H. Hopkins and either Robert B. or Francis Hopkins seated – one of these two is missing from the photo 

Janet Ann Sampson

Second child of William and Elizabeth Sampson

Born: 2 Jul 1860 Burra, South Australia

Died: 12 May 1945 Glendalough, Perth, Western Australia

Buried: Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth – headstone not found – possibly due to cemetery reclamation of old plots

Robert Castle Hopkins

Born: 23 Mar 1855 Adelaide, South Australia

Died: 13 Mar 1924 Boulder, Western Australia

Buried: 14 Mar 1924 Boulder Cemetery, Western Australia

Occupation: Blacksmith and miner

Janet as she was known throughout her life, was registered at birth as “Jennett”. The movements of Janet & Robert appear to be as follows: 1879 married in Adelaide. By 1880 they were in Burra and then back again in Adelaide by 1883. By 1889 they had shifted to Broken Hill as their son Francis, who was born 21 Mar 1889 had “Barrier” as a middle name. In Broken Hill they lived in Wyman Street. In 1895 the Hopkins menfolk boarded the ship Marloo at Port Adelaide and arrived in Albany in August. From there they proceeded to Boulder, a town in the goldfields of Western Australia. Mr T. Sampson, presumably Janet’s brother Thomas, was on the same ship. Thomas was also proceeding to the goldfields . The object of the men going before the women was so that they could find suitable accommodation available for them. Other family members left Adelaide on the steamship Adelaide and arrived at Albany a year later in 1896. An interesting anecdote is that ” when the womenfolk arrived on the goldfields their accommodation was apparently a tin shed with a hessian lean-to”. Janet & Robert established their home at Bulong and after some years went farming in the Beverly area for about four years before returning to the goldfields and moving into 92 North Terrace, Boulder. Janet did some midwifery work in Boulder whilst Robert was a miner.

 

Photo: Home of Robert & Janet Hopkins at 92 North Tce., Boulder L to R: Myra Hopkins seated, Bram Hopkins, William Hopkins, Janet Hopkins, Robert Hopkins. Children: Assumed to be the two eldest in Bramwell F. C. Hopkins on lap (b. Jan 1912) young boy standing is Robert Alfred Hopkins (b. 1910) The ages of these children would date the photograph circa 1914. Noted that the door behind Robert Castle Hopkins has the number 92 just visible behind his hat.To the left of this house would have been the home of Janet’s sister, Amy Mckennay with her mother Elizabeth Sampson and her husband George Mckennay living at 90 North Tce

Photo: Shipping record for RC Hopkins and sons 1895

This shipping record reveals that Robert Castle Hopkins and his sons William and Francis arrived in the Port of Albany, Western Australia on 18 Aug 1895. Accompanying Robert was his brother-in-law Thomas Sampson. As the latter passenger list for the Port of Fremantle does not record their names it is assumed that they made their way to the Kalgoorlie goldfields from Albany and not Fremantle

ELECTORAL ROLL RECORDS FOR THE HOPKINS FAMILY 

1903 Kalgoorlie – Bulong
Hopkins Janet Ann                     Home duties
Hopkins William Castle Horrix    Miner
Hopkins Ada Amelia                   Home duties
Hopkins Robert Castle               Miner

1906 Swan – Beverley
Hopkins Ada Amelia                   Jurekine      Home duties
Hopkins Ethel                             Jurekine      Home duties
Hopkins Francis                        Jurekine      Farmer
Hopkins Janet Ann                     Jurekine      Home duties
Hopkins Louisa                          Jurekine      Home duties
Hopkins Robert Castle               Jurekine      Farmer
Hopkins Rupert Castle               Jurekine      Farmer
Hopkins William Castle  Horace Jurekine      Farmer

1910 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Janet Ann                   92 North Terrace Married
Hopkins Robert Castle             92 North Terrace Miner
Hopkins Robert Bramwell         309 Cnr Hay & Congdon Sts  Grocer

1914 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Francis Thomas Barrier   92 North Terrace  Shop assistant
Hopkins Janet Ann                         92 North Terrace  Married
Hopkins Robert Castle                   92 North Terrace Miner

1915 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Francis Thomas Barrier   92 North Terrace  Shop assistant
Hopkins Janet Ann                         92 North Terrace  Married
Hopkins Robert Castle                   92 North Terrace Miner

1916 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Francis Thomas Barrier   92 North Terrace  Shop assistant
Hopkins Janet Ann                         92 North Terrace  Married
Hopkins Robert Castle                   92 North Terrace Miner
Hopkins William Castle Horax        92 North Terrace Miner

1916 Kalgoorlie – Hannans
Hopkins Myra                                245 Forrest St. Kalgoorlie Housewife
Hopkins Robert Bramwell              245 Forrest St. Kalgoorlie Porter

1917 Kalgoorlie – Hannans
Hopkins Myra                                245 Forrest St. Kalgoorlie Housewife
Hopkins Robert Bramwell              245 Forrest St. Kalgoorlie Porter

1919 Perth – West Perth
Reid Emanuel Joseph  215 James St Railway employee
Reid Olive Blanche   215 James St  Home duties

1922 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Janet Ann                         92 North Terrace  Home duties
Hopkins Robert Castle                   92 North Terrace Pensioner

1925 Kalgoorlie – Hannans
Hopkins Francis Thomas Barrier   23 York St Boulder  Wood merchant
Hopkins Janet Ann                        30 Johnston St Boulder  Home duties
Hopkins Pearl                                23 York St Boulder  Home duties

1925 Fremantle – Balkatta
Hopkins Sophia Mabel                  62 Angove St. Married
Hopkins Robert Bramwell             62 Angove St. Bricklayer

1931 Perth – West Perth
Hopkins Janet Ann   215 James St
Reid Emanuel Joseph  215 James St Railway employee
Reid John Robs        215 James St Railway employee
Reid Olive Blanche   215 James St  Home duties

1937 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Cecil James                     89 King St. Labourer
Hopkins Robert Bramwell              89 King St. Labourer

1943 Kalgoorlie – Boulder
Hopkins Janet Ann  89 King St
Hopkins Robert Bramwell 89 King St  Labourer
Hopkins Sophia Mabel 89 King St

1943 Perth – West Perth
Reid Emanuel Joseph  215 James St Railway employee
Reid Olive Blanche   215 James St  Home duties

1954 Forrest – Nelson
Hopkins Robert Bramwell   Northcliffe