Their connection with Armley began when Adam de Hopton married Margery, the daughter of Thomas Headon of Armley, some time during the 13th century. By this marriage Adam Hopton aquired land in Armley. When he died in 1284 he expressed a wih to be burried in the Church of St. Peter in Leeds.
Sometime during the 15th century , the Hoptons built themselves a residence in Armley. It was known as Armley Hall.
During the civil war the Hoptons werer ardent Royalists, and like many other families gave unstintingly to the support of the king. Sir Ralph Hopton died in 1642. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Ingram Hopton, who served in the Royalist army. He was killed in the battle of Winceby near Horncastle in 1643. During this battle he is reputed to have met with Oliver Cromwell face to face, and dealt the Roundhead commander the hardest blow he had in his life.
The civil war and its aftermath sounded the death knell for Armley Hall. With the death of Ingram at the age of 29, there was no direct male heir, and the estate passes to Ingram's 9 year old daughter, Mary. In 1649 Cromwell came to power. The Hopton's lands were sequestered, rents were taken for the benefit of the Commonwealth. The upkeep of the Hall became impossible, Over the following years part was demolished and the remainder was leased as a farm house.
(The Above information taken from an article by Betty Smith, in a booklet on the History of Armley)
As if all this isn't amazing enough, one of the Hoptons mentioned in Thoresby's tree was Christopher Hopton, who married margaret Danby, the daughter of Sir Christopher Danby, who was High Sheriff of Yorkshire. And in danger of the completely incredible - Sir Christopher Danby's mother was Margaret Scrope who was apparently a direct descendant of Edward III (and it seems many Kings and nobles from around Europe!) I think we take all this with a huge pinch of salt!!! The connection between my Hopton ancestors and this illustrious family is not proven, (though new evidence from papers belonging to Ulric Hopton does suggest a link!).
In any case, by the time of the 1851 census, there were only 2 Hoptons listed in the Armley/Wortley area: William Hopton , my 2xGreat Grandfather, son of the deceased Christopher Hopton , aged 10 years old, working part time at the mill and his half sister Jane Hopton, (the natural daughter of Elizabeth Hopton and Christopher Pickering). If their link to the illustrious Hoptons of Armley Hall (and so to Royal lineage) is true - how are the mighty fallen !!
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