Hopkin’s Corner Pioneer Cemetery
Location:
3rd Sideroad and 1st Line (north), Campbellville, Milton, Halton Region, Ontario, Canada.
Concession 1, SE Lot 4, Nassagaweya Township.
GPS:
Latitude: 43.45645°N
Longitude: -79.99437°W
History:
Thomas Hopkinson, a native of Darbyshire, England and his wife, Anne, bought part of Lot 4 Concession 1 in 1845. In 1864, he sold one quarter acre to James Hirst and other trustees of the Methodist Church. All the children in the area attended Sunday School classes in the little church that was built. The Evangelists also held services there.
Thomas Hopkinson had at least four children: George, John, Thomas Jr., and Amie (Mrs. Wm. Woolsey). Anne Hopkinson died in 1877 at 78 and Thomas in 1882 in his 80th year.
In 1911, the C.P.R. bought the old frame church. The May family of Lot 7 Concession 1 bought it from them and used it as a residence.
Mr. Charles Laking and Mr. Ben Johnson ran a Sunday School at this church and at the Mountsberg Methodist church. Mr. Laking was also a circuit preacher.
Over the years there has been some confusion as to the correct name of the location and the cemetery. It has been previously referred to as Hopkinson’s Corners but it’s now generally agreed that the correct name is Hopkin’s Corner. In reply to a query from me, Audrey Allison, of the Nasagiweya Historical Society, sent me the following quote from Nassagaweya, Campbellville and Surrounding Area by June Andrews:
“Residents of the southern part of the township attended the Mountsberg Methodist Church, a frame building erected in 1854. There was also a church and cemetery near the jog in the Second Line in Lot 4. It was dismantled and moved to the May property on Lot 7 Con 1. It was known as the Hopkin’s Corner Church. Mr. Charles Laking and Mr. Ben Johnson ran a Sabbath School at these two churches. Mr. Laking was also a circuit preacher. He recalled arriving at the Mountsberg Church one time to find it filled to capacity with an Evangelical meeting in process. He sat to the side so as not to interfere but was called upon to preach, then to lead in prayer. He always remembered the church ringing with the anthems. He also recalled camp meetings when people pitched their tents in the bush for a couple of weeks”.
In 1982 it was recorded that a fence and plaque stating “Pioneer Cemetery” mark the site, but, due to vandalism, no stones remain. However, since 2023 a somewhat illegible stone has appeared in the cemetery and has been recorded in this transcript.
Dorothy Kew, 2024
Transcription purchase:
No transcription has been made available for purchase, because the cemetery had so few stones.