Salem

I tried to inherit my character from Popham to Providence and ended up being forced onto Popham. I guess I needed to wait for server end. Have I essentially lost this character now?

Yes, Popham needs to have ended to inherit a Pophamian's estate on Providence. I would assume you can no longer inherit your original character's estate, but you will be able to inherit your new character's. Hopefully you planned your estate near the end of your first character's life, and visited the family statue a few times.

You cannot inherit the character from Popham to Providence, until Popham has ended. Your best bet it to try and visit the statue a few times and plan your estate until the end to get it back on Providence. Once you inherited, the inheritance reset.