Ann Hopkins Smith was a granddaughter of John Lucas and Judith Marsom by their eldest daughter Hannah Lucas.   Hannah Lucas (1737-1815) married William Smith of Olney, Buckinghamshire in Hitchin in 1766 and they had two daughters, Ann Hopkins Smith (1768-1851) and Mary Smith (1770-1857). 

Both daughters were devout Quakers and neither of them married.  In 1807 through the will of their mother Hannah’s brother Joseph Lucas (1739-1807) both of them inherited a substantial estate.  

Ann Hopkins Smith became a noted philanthropist as well as participating in many social causes such as the anti-slavery movement and penitentiary reform.

Bequests

Munificent Bequests Of Miss Ann Hopkins Smith.—This excellent lady, a member of the Society of Friends, late of Olney, Bucks, died on the 12th of June last, at the advanced age of 83 years, and left the following charitable bequests, free of legacy duty. She erected, in her lifetime, 12 almshouses at Olney, for the reception of 12 single women, to whom she allowed 5s. each weekly, and by her will has bequeathed the sum of £5200 Three per Cent. Consols, in trust, as a permanent endowment for the same; also £700 Three per Cent. Consols, in trust as a fund for keeping the buildings in repair, &c. Miss Smith also erected a school-room, in her lifetime, at Olney, and has bequeathed the sum of £1500 Three per Cent. Consols, in trust, the dividends of which are to be applied towards its support. The school is to be conducted on the British system, but entirely free from all Government control or interference. The sum of £1500 Three per Cent. Consols, in trust, dividends to be laid out in clothing to be distributed among the poor persons who usually attend the Independent and Baptist meetings at Olney ; to the British and Foreign Bible Society, £2000 Three per Cent. Consols ; the Friends’ School at Ackworth, £1000 ditto ;. the Friends’ School at Penketh. £500 ditto; the Friends’ School at Sibford. £ 100O ditto; tho London Female Penitentiary, £500 ditto; the Society in London for the Improvement of Prison Discipline, £ 1000 ditto. Miss Smith also left numerous other legacies.

John Cleveley Watercolours

I have been slowly gathering information about Ann Hopkins Smith over the years, but found this interesting reference to her regarding an auction at Christie’s of some paintings by John Cleveley with the following provenance given:

PROVENANCE:
Ann Hopkins Smith of Olney, Buckinghamshire (a Quaker philanthropist), died 1851, and thence by descent (labels on the backing boards of the first and third watercolours with inscription ‘August 1st 1851 This set of 8 Watercolour Drawings was left to Stafford Allen, and two others, by their relative Ann Hopkins Smith, of Olney, (S. Allen subsequently acquiring the other share). John Clevely painted the series from original sketches made by James Clevely his brother, who was carpenter on board Captain Cook’s vessel the Resolution’ and on the fourth with inscription ‘…1851. This set of 4 Water Color Paintings was left to Willm. Allen by His relative Ann Hopkins Smith of Olney – who died ….. 1851 James Cleveley was Carpenter on board the Resolution’ on a label on the backing board) to Mrs Dorothy Upcher (née Allen) (d.1969) and thence to her grandson, the present owner.

The link to the original sale by Christie’s is here, but as that link may not remain I extracted the section on Provenance.   JOHN CLEVELEY — MS Word copy of extracted section on provenance of watercolours.

The inference here is that Ann Hopkins Smith acquired the original paintings as part of the bequest of her late uncle Joseph Lucas, who was active as a merchant shipowner in the South Seas whaling trade. The description in the provenance through Christie’s does not mention this connection. In fact it could not be used in the provenance of the paintings, but it an interesting close connection. Stafford and William Allen were both involved in the settling of the estate of Ann Hopkins Smith and themselves were beneficiaries.