Working Theory: Transition from Hawkeswood to Hawkinge and Nash
This research explores the plausible transition of the Hotchkiss family line from Hawkeswood (Shropshire) to Kent, culminating in the Hawkins family’s long-term residence at Nash Court in Boughton-under-Blean.
· 1303 Property Sale in Shropshire:
o A grant is recorded from John fitz Nicholas of Northwod to Hugh le Mon of Hokswode, witnessed by William de Hokeswod.
o This marks the divestiture of property by John and William Hotchkiss, likely transferring Hawkeswood to their brother Hugh.
· 1294–1295 Donation of Hawkinge Manor:
o William, son of John de Flegh, donates the Manor of Hawkinge and Flegis Court to St. Radegund’s Abbey during the 23rd year of Edward I’s reign.
o This is the last known private ownership of Hawkinge before it becomes abbey land.
o Since this donation occurred in 1294–1295, and William was the son of John who already held Boughton and Nash Court by 1271, it implies the Flegh family held Hawkinge for at least 23 years.
· Possible Identification:
o The names and dates suggest William de Hokeswod, William de Flegh, and William Hawkins may be the same person, or at least closely related.
o All were sons of John, active around the same time, and involved in the transition or donation of a manor.
o For now, they are referred to as John and William de Flegh/(possibly de Hokeswod, Hawkins) pending further evidence.
· Doubt Concerning the Norfolk Flegg Line:
o A Flegg family from Norfolk has attempted to associate itself with William de Flegh, but the details are chronologically implausible.
o The Norfolk line includes John de Flegg (b. c. 1190 – d. 1242) and William de Flegg (b. c. 1220 – d. 1278).
o However, the donation of Hawkinge and Flegis Court to St. Radegund’s occurred in 1294–1295, at least 16 years after the Norfolk William’s reported death.
o Their claim also conflates unrelated individuals and offers no clear ancestral connection, casting serious doubt on the association.
o This conflicting claim appears in a genealogical PDF: Seeking My Roots – G002217.pdf and is expanded upon in Bigelow Society – Flagg History.
o Thus, the Norfolk de Fleggs can be confidently ruled out as ancestors of the Hawkins of Nash.
· Ownership of Nash Court Prior to 1300:
o By 1271, John, father of William, was already paying a knight’s fee for Boughton, which included Nash Court, in right of Agnes and Eleanor, younger daughters and heirs of Maud de Averenches.
o This predates William’s donation of Hawkinge to the church during the 23rd year of Edward I’s reign (1294–1295), confirming that Nash was already in family possession.
o The proximity to Whitstable, just 7 miles from Boughton-under-Blean, further supports a family-based landholding pattern.
o Dodeham alias Northwood is noted as part of the surrounding area historically connected to Whitstable and Nash, suggesting deeper local ties.
· Connection to Dover Castle through Sir Roger de Northwode:
o Sir Roger de Northwode (c. 1215–1286) was Constable of Dover Castle until about 1259, and held the office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.
o He was also involved in numerous public and ecclesiastical works in Kent, including restoration of the Monastery of St. Sexburge.
o His role suggests close ties between the Northwode family and Dover Castle — the very office to which the Barony of Folkestone and Hawkinge owed service.
o This reinforces the plausibility that John de Northwod et de Hoxwode or his son William may have been involved in duties at Dover Castle, or gained land in Kent through that service.
o It is possible that Roger de Northwode, through family connection to Sybil and the Baskervilles, called the family to service. The use of "de Flegh" might reflect an association with flag-bearing or banner service, possibly tied to Dover Castle.
o Tensions at Dover Castle were heightened during this period due to:
§ Military campaigns in Wales
§ French threats along the Channel
§ Internal unrest like the Barons’ War
o These events increased demand for trusted Marcher lords and knightly families.
o The Cinque Ports were obligated to provide naval support; Dover Castle’s increased strategic needs could easily have prompted recruitment or resettlement of military families such as the Northwodes or Hotchkisses into Kent.
o It is possible that John and William first traveled to Kent for the funeral of Laurette de Braose, John’s first cousin twice removed, who died in 1266 near Canterbury and was the wife of Robert FitzPernel Earl of Leicester. Given the family’s Northwode inheritance and Ysolda’s connection to Kent, the father and son may have remained to manage property or arrange marriages locally (for William)—events that ultimately established the Hawkins line at Nash Court, following their earlier association with the Hotchkiss and Hokeswod names.
· Emergence of the Hawkins Family in Kent:
o By 1374, John Hawkins and his wife Joane hold land in Boughton, specifically Nash Court.
o His brother Richard Hawkins holds land in Whitstable, also in Kent.
o Their father, Andrew Hawkins, is presumed to have been born circa 1270 and died by 1320.
· No Acquisition Records for Nash:
o There are no surviving records showing how the Hawkins family came to possess Nash Court, strongly suggesting it was never separately acquired.
o This supports the theory that Nash was retained when Hawkinge was donated to the abbey — a common practice for families keeping smaller estates.
· Connection to the de Averenches / Crevecoeur Line:
o In 1263, Hamo de Crevecoeur and his wife Maud de Averenches died.
o Their Inquisition Post Mortem names daughters and coheirs, including Agnes (married to John de Sandwich), Eleanor (married to Bertram de Crioll), Isolda (married to Nicholas de Lenham), and Isabel (married to Henry de Gaunt).
o A 1271 writ for partition shows land at Folkstone and surrounding manors, including Evering, Hougham, and Boneton.
o One entry reads: “½ fee held by John de Boneton.”
o This may refer to John de Boughton, aligning with the Hawkins family’s known holdings at Nash (in Boughton).
· Warren de Neenton and Broader Northwode Family:
o Evidence suggests that William (b. ~1245) and Hugh le Mon (b. ~1250) may have had a brother Warren (~1257).
o A 1328 fine names Hugh son of Warin de Neenton, whose property would revert to others if he lacked heirs.
o The fourth reversion names John, son of Roger Hochkys, likely a great-nephew, suggesting a large extended family.
o This helps explain the land division and provides plausible motivation for William to sell his share of Hawkeswood and establish a new line in Kent.
· Use of Variant Names in Northwode Records:
o Many Northwode family members appear in deeds under alternate identifiers (e.g., occupational or locational surnames).
o These alternate names can make tracing lineage more difficult, though context and associated witnesses often indicate they belong to the same extended family.
o Identifying patterns across land grants, inheritance clauses, and place-names like Hokeswod/Hawkeswood and Hawkinge/Nash may help clarify these relationships further.
Y-DNA Haplogroup and Project Evidence:
o The Hotchkiss, Hoskins, and Hawkins surname DNA projects all show R-M269 as the most common haplogroup.
o They also contain a significant portion of I-M253, the user's haplogroup.
o This consistent DNA profile across all three projects supports the likelihood of shared paternal ancestry, even without a confirmed paper trail.
o While STR comparisons or segment testing would be required for specific matches, this provides strong probabilistic support for a common Norman origin.
The timing, geographic overlap, and consistent use of given names (John, William) point to a strong likelihood that Andrew Hawkins descended from William de Hokeswod/Flegh/Hawkins, who gave up Hawkinge but retained nearby Nash. This transition laid the foundation for the Hawkins line that held Nash Court for centuries thereafter.
The additional connection to Warren de Neenton and the Hotchkiss/Hochkys name shows a broader network in the extended Northwode/Hokeswod family. The presence of larger family branches may have influenced William’s move to Kent. Further research into the records of St. Radegund’s Abbey, the Flegh family, land rolls in Boughton and Whitstable, and the inheritance records related to Maud d'Averanches and John de Boneton (possibly de Boughton) may provide more direct evidence.
· Medieval Deeds for Northwood, Stottesdon: http://www.shropshirehistory.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/theme:20080228204832
· Hasted, Edward. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 7 (1798): https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp2-19
· Archive.org – The visitation of Kent (1619–1621): https://archive.org/details/visitationofkent00camd/page/n7/mode/2up
· Hawkins Family Pedigree: https://www.thedicamillo.com/house/nash-court/
· Hawkinge Village History: http://www.dover-kent.com/VILLAGES/58-Hawkinge.html
· Wikipedia – Roger de Northwode:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Northwode
· Battle Abbey Roll: The Norman Lineages (1889)
· Family Tree DNA Projects:
o Hotchkiss: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hotchkiss?iframe=ydna-results-overview
o Hoskins: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hoskins?iframe=ydna-results-overview
o Hawkins: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hawkins?iframe=ydna-results-overview
· Genealogical PDF (G002217): https://www.seekingmyroots.com/members/files/G002217.pdf
· Bigelow Society – Flagg Genealogy: http://bigelowsociety.com/rod2005/flagg05.htm
· Neenton Fine Record (AALT): http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/CP25(1)/CP_25_1_194/IMG_0007.htm