Elijah Tompkins married Frances Woodward on October 12, 1802. She was the daughter of Samuel Woodward and Elizabeth (nee unknown) Jasper. In a memorial of 1823 Elijah stated that he wanted some land that had been reserved for the heirs of Samuel Woodward as he had married Samuel's daughter and had bought the claim of Samuel Jr.
The following is a letter written regarding Frances' mother Elizabeth. More commonly known as "Mammy Hopkins":
Lord Palmerston's Reward of a Venerable Amazon
To the right honourable the Secretary of War, etc. The memorial of Elizabeth Hopkins, wife of Jeremiah Hopkins, Sergeant of the 104th (New Brunswick) regiment of foot.
Most humbly sheweth;
That she was born of British parents at Philadelphia, in the year 1741; has her husband, six sons, and a son-in-law, viz. Jeremiah Hopkins, (husband) Samuel Woodward, Timothy Woodward, Robert Woodward, Nathaniel Woodward, Archibald Woodward, Nish Hopkins (sons), James McDonough (son-in-law), serving his Majesty in the 104th; and during the course of her life, from her zeal and attachment to her king and country, she has encountered more hardships than commonly fall to the lot of her sex. That in the year 1776, being with her husband (John Jasper, her 1st) a sergeant of marines, on board the brig Stanley, tender to the Roebuck, she was wounded in her left leg, in an engagement with three French vessels, when she was actually working at the guns.
That the marines having landed at Cape May, in America, her husband was taken prisoner by a Captain Plunket, of the rebel army, near Mud Fort Nied, and sentenced to suffer death; that by her means he was enabled to escape, with 22 American deserters, to whom she served arms and ammunition; and on their way to join the army their party was attacked by the enemy�s light horse; she was fired at, and wounded in her left arm; but, undismayed, took a loaded firelock, shot a rebel, and brought his horse to Philadelphia (the headquarters of the army), which she was permitted to sell to one of General William Howe's aide-de-camps.
That after many fatigues and campaigns, her first husband died, and she married (Samuel Woodward) a soldier in Colonel Chamber's corps; was with the troops under command of General Campbell taken at Pensacola, having, however, during the siege, served at the guns, and tore her very clothes for wadding. That having exchanged at the peace of 1783, from attachment to the royal cause, she embarked on board a transport with part of Delancy's and Chamber's corps, was shipwrecked on Seal Island, in the Bay of Fundy, when near three hundred men, numbers of women and children, were lost; she suffered unparalleled distress, being pregnant, with a child in her arms; remained three days on the wreck; was taken up with her husband and child by fisherman off Marble-head, and shortly after being landed, delivered of three sons, two of whom are in the 104th, the other dead: lastly, that she had the honour of being mother of 22 children, viz. 18 sons and four daughter, seven of the former being alive, and three of the latter.
That memorialist humbly prays, that you may consider her a fit object for some allowance from the compassionate fund, toward her maintenance in her old age, having lost all her property, and as a reward for her long and faithful services to her king and as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
Frederickston, New Brunswick, 12 April 1816.
The subject of this memorial is a wonderful old woman much above 70, and was well and hearty at Quebec two months ago. In consequence of her memorial, she obtained a pension of 100L. a year. The following is another instance of strength of mind; at Fort Erie, the pride of her heart, her twins, fell: also McDonough, her son-in-law. On hearing the news, she called her children around her, made them an animated speech, charged them to be revenged on the Yankees for their loss; and next time they went action they were cheered and encouraged by Mammy Hopkins, the name goes by in the regiment.
Edinburgh Evening Courant, 9 September 1816, page 4, col. 4-5
We are well aware of the bravery of the 104th Regiment and feel we owe a great deal of respect and loyalty to all they held dear. The military services of the regiment ended in 1814 and no recruits filled up the ranks. In 1814 the regiment was sent to Quebec where it remained for a year or until the war ended. After leaving Quebec the regiment did garrison duty in Montreal until the 24th of May 1817 when it was disbanded and the remnant of the 104th was sent home by water to Halifax and Saint John and given two months pay and grants of land. They were settled chiefly on the St. John between the military post at Presque Isle and the Indian reserve. Sergeant Jeremiah Hopkins was granted lots 13 and 14 fronting on the east side of the Saint John River in the parish of Kent, Carleton County (as it is today). Richard Hopkins, son of Jeremiah was granted Lot 12 next to his father, and Sergeant Nathaniel Woodward and his brother Robert, sons of Mammy Hopkins, received Lots 6,7, 10, and 11 at the same time.
Children of Samuel Woodward and Elizabeth (nee unknown) Jasper:
1. Robert born 18 January 1790, baptized 22 July 1792 as recorded by Anglican Church of Woodstock, New Brunswick. He enlisted 22 March 1805, in 104th Regiment of Foot. He was discharged 24 May 1817.
2. Samuel enlisted 9 December 1803 and was discharged 24 May 1817.
3. Nathaniel enlisted 21 March and was discharged 24 May 1817.
4. Timothy enlisted 9 December 1803, killed in action on the 29 May 1813.
5. Archibald enlisted 22 March 1811, died of wounds on 31 May 1813.
6. Frances married Elijah Tompkins on 12 October 1802.
