William “Hoesgyn” Hotchkiss / “ap Cydrych”

William “Hoesgyn” Hotchkiss / “ap Cydrych” (c1387-c1455)	William “Cydrych” Hotchkiss (c1342->1408)	John Hotchkiss (c1305-?)	Roger Hotchkiss (c1280-<1364)
		John Hotchkiss (c1305-?)	Margery (c1280->1363)
		Alice (c1305-?)
		Alice (c1305-?)

Events

Notes

Note 1

!StyleName: Hotchkiss, William “Hoesgyn” of Holgot [castle] and Hawkeswood [~1380 - >1444]

William appears to be the youngest of his brothers, yet he held Hawkeswood. This likely reflects an earlier division of the family estates, in which his elder brothers inherited or were placed on other lands, perhaps through service grants, possibly to the north, leaving Hawkeswood to William, who had likely remained near home and cared for the estate. This kind of split is common in the fifteenth century and does not require that the Hawkeswood holding always followed strict eldest-son inheritance. This fits the pattern that William remained near Holdgate and Hawkeswood, while other lines of the family appear to surface elsewhere. If Hawkeswood was held by military or service tenure, it may have been assigned to the younger William while his older brothers were already established elsewhere. A younger tenant would be better positioned to fulfill any service obligations tied to the holding.

!Note: Much of William’s family appears in Wales within the territory of the Earl of Pembroke and seems to have developed a strong relationship there. By 1580, the arms of the Earl of Pembroke and of Sir John share all major elements, both being “per pale azure and gules with three lions rampant argent”. The primary distinction is the addition of a “chevron engrailed” on the Hotchkiss shield, symbolizing “faithful service”. This suggests a relationship between the two families and raises the possibility that the family’s presence in Wales was to support the Earl in consolidating his power.

!Note: Probable father of John Hotchkiss [c.1400–1463] and William of Ludlow [c.1408–c.1503]. Anchored in Holdgate parish, near the third-oldest Marcher lord castle in Shropshire. Landholder with documented activity in the early 15th century, including transactions that indicate inherited status. May be the same individual as William Hurtsky whose probate was filed in Yorkshire, pointing to cross-county legal or property ties.

Item: Referred to as "William son of William Hocheskys of Holgot" in a 1424 land grant transferring property near Shipton Mill. Confirms local lineage and legal standing.

Item: A 1439 deed refers to former ownership by "William Hogkyns of Holgot," showing continued influence and variant spellings tied to this individual.

Item: Possibly identical to William Hurtsky whose probate is recorded in Acaster Malbis, Yorkshire. Suggests possible death or land ties outside Shropshire.

Note: William Jr did a land deal in 1424, so i’ll guess he was at least 19 [born 1405]. So giving a median age for a parent having a child of 25, we will place William Sr born about 1380.

!Source: Hoesgyn ap Cydrych https://www.geni.com/people/Hoesgyn-ap-Cydrych/6000000073632491942?through=6000000006444092580

Notes: It is highly probable that Frond is the "lost" daughter of William Hotchkiss of Holgot [Hogkyns]. In the mid-15th century, illegitimate unions between Marcher lords like William Herbert and the daughters of their high-level administrators [like the Hotchkiss/Hogkyns family] were often strategic, reinforcing the bond between the lord and his "men of business." If we look at your timeline, the puzzle pieces for Frond fit tightly:

a. William Hotchkiss of Holgot [born c. 1380–1387]: He was at the peak of his influence in the 1420s–1440s.

b. Frond’s "Hoesgyn" [Hodgkin]: For Frond to have children with the 1st Earl of Pembroke in the late 1440s or early 1450s [Sir George Herbert and Sir William of Troy], she would likely have been born between 1425 and 1435.

c. The Sibling Group: This makes her a contemporary of John "Ian" Hotchkiss [b. 1434]. In a family where the sons were being placed in Pembrokeshire [Robert, d. 1453] and Glamorgan [William, d. 1455], Frond being placed in the Earl's household as a "ward" or attendant—leading to her relationship with him—follows the standard social pattern of the era.

The record of William Hotchkiss dying in Llandough [1455] is the most compelling evidence. Llandough was a Herbert stronghold. If William was there at the time of his death, his family was physically present in the Earl’s inner court exactly when the Earl's illegitimate sons by Frond were infants or toddlers.

In the Welsh genealogical tradition, women were rarely recorded by English surnames like "Hotchkiss." Instead:

b. Since your William of Holgot was documented in 1439 as "William Hogkyns," the Welsh translation is naturally "Hoesgyn."

c. "Frond verch Hoesgyn" is simply the Welsh legal/poetic shorthand for "Frond, daughter of Hodgkin [Hotchkiss]."

By the 1560s, the descendants of Frond [the Herberts of Swansea and Troy] were among the most powerful families in Wales. When the 1st and 2nd Earls of Pembroke [of the 1551 creation] commissioned their pedigrees, they had to account for these "cousins." This is likely when the name "Hoesgyn ap Cydrych" was invented or "polished" to make the Hotchkiss/Hogkyns ancestor sound more traditionally Welsh to satisfy Tudor-era heraldry.

If Frond was a daughter of William of Holgot, she may appear in Manorial Court Rolls or Lay Subsidy Rolls under a variant like Frances, Veronica, or even Ffraid [the Welsh version of Bridget/Bride].

!Source: The National Archives https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/9df587ab-50d6-43fe-84e8-d7d69e541b80

Catalogue description Conditional gift, indented, by John Masthrop' William Rynell' and John Coupere to John...

Conditional gift, indented, by John Masthrop' William Rynell' and John Coupere to John Wryght' of Byfeld and Avice his wife for the term of their lives of one messuage with a garden adjoining, and one virgate of land with appurtenances, lately belonging to Agnes Reyner, all of which the donors recently held by gift and enfeoffment of the said John Wryght' in Byfeld: and after the death of John Wryght' and Avice the said messuage and land shall remain forever with William Wryght' son of the said John Wryght, and with Alice his wife and the legitimate heirs of their bodies, but if they die without heirs the remainder shall go to the heirs and assigns of the said John Wryght and Avice.

Witnesses: William Verney John Fauconer William Hogekyns Thomas Heynes John Houchenes and others.

Held by: Warwickshire County Record Office, not available at The National Archives

Physical condition: Two seals, parts missing, one of black and one of white wax, each on tongue of parchment from a double tag cut in two.

!Source: Shropshire Archives https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X2589_P_1_1

Of all their lands and tenements in townships and in fields of Modlicote and Wytchecote and all their goods.

!Source: http://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/fines/abstracts/CP_25_1_291_64.shtml

County: Herefordshire. Nottinghamshire. Hertfordshire. [Leicestershire]. Lincolnshire. Shropshire. Bedfordshire.

Date: Three weeks from Easter, 5 Henry [V] [2 May 1417]. And afterwards one week from St. Hilary in the same year [20 January 1418].

Parties: Geoffrey Harley, esquire, Richard Hulle, esquire, and John Monyton', querents, and John Merbury, esquire, and Agnes, his wife, deforciants.

Property: The castle and manor of Webbeley and 3 knights' fees in Webbeley, Stradeley, Kueshope and Parua Markeley in the county of Hereford and the manors of Arnald' and Tiercewell' in the county [of Nottingham] and the manor of [Hyde in the county of Hertford] and the manors of Cotesbache by Lutterworth', Neubolt Verdon', Hemyngton', Bonyngton', Leek' and Thrompton' Braunston' and 60 shillings of rent and the view of frankpledge of Skiftynton' and the advowsons of the priory of Gracedieu and of the churches of Braunston', Skiftynton', Cot[e?]sbache and a fourth part of the church of Boseworth' in the county of Leicester and the manor and vill of Market Rasyng' in the county of Lincoln and 1 knight's fee and a fourth [part] of 1 knight's fee in Butterley and Bletheley and the advowson of the church of Lodelowe in the county of Shropshire and a fourth part of 1 water mill in Luyton' and Whathamstede in the county of Bedford.

Agreement: John Merbury and Agnes have acknowledged, to wit, the castle, the manors of Webbeley, Cotesbache and Neubolt Verdon' to be the right of Geoffrey, Richard and John Monyton' and the manors of [Arnald', Tiercewell', Hyde, Hemyngton', Bonyngton'], Leek', Thrompton' Braunston' and the manor and vill of Market Rasyng', the fees, the rent, the view, the fourth parts and the advowsons to be the right of Geoffrey, as those which Geoffrey, Richard and John Monyton' have of their gift.

For this: Geoffrey, Richard and John Monyton' have granted to John Merbury and Agnes the castle, manors, vill, fees, rent, view, fourth parts and advowsons, together with the homages and all services of Thomas Bromwyche the elder, Thomas Deu[er]eux, Thomas Holgot the elder and Joan, his wife, Thomas, son of Walter Brugge, Thomas Brugge of Ivyngton', Thomas Donton', Ralph Barton', Thomas Barton', Lewis, the rector of Shernesfeld', William Crompp', the prior of Lanthon' in Wales, John, the prior of Wormesley, John ap Henry, Peter Hertelond', John H[o?]mme, Thomas Bradeley, Colette [Coletta] Monyton', Thomas Crassheloue [or Thomas Crasshelone], John Esbache, William Hugyns, John Garewey, >>> John Hoskyns and Katherine, his wife <<<, John Dounewode, Nicholas Brownyng' and Alice, his wife, Isabel P[er]kyns, Walter Blake, Isabel Monyton', Richard Budelwey, Richard Morewys, William Baker, John Hayes, Sibel Caluerhull', Philip Body, Llewellin Loue, Thomas Awbyn, Joan Crompp', Geoffrey Scolemaister, Thomas Skynner, Richard Stevenes, clerk, John Bakere, Margery Sely, Margery Glouer, Walter Shipham, Lewis Werkemon', John Bolt, Robert Boure, John Fleccher, Agnes Fylly, William Wotton', John Wotton', Thomas Mortymer, John Lyze, Nicholas Dissh'wall', Richard Correio[r], John Shipham, John Glouer, Richard Norton', Isabel Ivory, Richard Mury, Alice Gerneston', John Benne, John Spillespeke, William Sandres, Thomas Colyns, John Tanner, David Hayward', Richard Aleyne, chaplain of the chantry of the Blessed Mary of Web[bele?]y, Thomas Bower, Walter Bower, Edmund Simondes, John Morewys, Richard Hale, Joan Hale, Robert Mason', Agnes Marchaunt, David ap Eynon', Isabel Gerneston', Edmund Fleccher, David ap ll', Thomas Wylkyn, Walter Drayton', chaplain, John Sely, Jevan ap[I?]thell', John H[... ... ... ... ...] Hort, chaplain, Richard Wilemes, Joan Penbrugge, Philip Bakere, Richard P[ar]kere, Richard Bakere, Roger ap Adam, Philip Lynne, David Draper, Richard Hayward', Richard Mason', Thomas Bydyn, chaplain of the chantry of Delue, John Turno[r], William Mym, Maud Weston', [... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] More, esquire, John Bodynham of Bredwardyn, Thomas Smyth', Nicholas Scryven', Hugh Shermon', Richard Smyth', John Brun[ly?], Thomas Waters, William Dounewode, Richard Symondes, William Hunte, John Hichecokes, Richard Cler[k...? ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] Richard Walwayn', Roland Leynthale, Griffith op Harry, John Ribbisford', John Smyth', John Glascombe, Richard Milles[oe?], John Galt, Richard Fryso[r], Richard Hamme, John Hichis, John de Arn[hale?], Hugh [... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... John?] de Be[k?]yngham, Robert Pleseley, William Hethom, John Plomer the younger, Emma Plomer, Robert Llegat, Robert Hane, Alice Phelipp', Robert Botheby, Robert de Doure, Richard in the Lane, John de [B?]rene, [... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] Taillard', John Ballard', Nicholas Frebarne, William Camvile, John Thrall', Nicholas Wyther, William Grene, William Andrewe, Nicholas Harle, Richard Eyre, Simon Taillo[r], Henry Landay, [John? ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] Thomas Hoo, knight, William atte Hulle of Whitehamstede, John Flyndane, the master of the hospital of St. John the Baptist of Loterworth', William Hert, Julian [Juliana] Hert, John Barre, Thomas Seriant, T[... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] John Stormorth', Geoffrey Dode, William Leke, John Gyles, Thomas Rote, John Cook, Thomas Mallary, John Cateby, John Hosyer, John Lambard', Joan Payne, Agnes Fox, [the earl? of Mar...?, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] Baker, John Bron', John Pollard', Thomas Clerk', John Warde, chaplain, Richard Staffe, William Bron', Richard Bonde, Robert Menant, Robert Hikelyng, Adam Fyssher, Thomas Stanton', M[ar...? ..., ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] the younger, John atte Halle, John Rauen, John Tanner, Hugh Martell', Robert Steuenson', Thomas de le Hull', Robert Wryght, Thomas Webbester, chaplain, William Godtyde, the abbot [... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] Thomas [C?]otyngton', John Wryght', Robert Fed', William Alcok', Robert Wynt[or], John Skayll', John de Steveneby, Robert Chesterfeld', the prioress of Grenefeld', Robert Gybon', John Hontermon, Thomas [... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...] Boure, the prior of Torkessey, John Bysshop', Richard Stanop', knight, Robert Williameson', Robert Jon', John Bescall', William Nevyle, William Maundevyle, William Webbester, William Dawson', Anketill Hoby, Richard Joy[e?, ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Wy?]lleson', Walter Flamstude, John Wodewarde, Thomas Nell', William Henk', John Ball', Roger Ball', William Bray, Agnes Trossell' and their heirs, in respect of all the tenements which they held before of Geoffrey Harley, Richard Hulle and John Mony[ton' in the aforesaid fees?, ... ... ... ... ... ..., to hold] to John Merbury and Agnes, his wife, and the heirs of their bodies, to wit, the castle, the manors of Webbeley, Cotesbache and Neubolt Verdon' of the lord king and his heirs [for ever and the manors of [Arnald', Tiercewell', Hyde, Hemyngton', Bonyngton', Leek'], Thrompton' Braunston' and the manor and vill of Market Rasyng', the fees, the rent, the view, [the fourth] parts and the advowsons of the chief lords [for ever]. In default of such heirs, remainder to the right [heirs of ...]

Note: Bitterley [near Ludlow], Blithelow [in Bishops Castle]. William Hugyns is very likely William Hotchkiss of Holgot, especially since he is appearing in the same list with Thomas Holgot the elder and Joan, his wife.

!Source: http://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XMO_1037_3_91/

by >>> William son of William Hocheskys of Holgot <<< to William de Brokton of one acre with appurtenances lying between the water of Corve and the mill of Shipton, to hold of the chief lord for the usual service. Warranty.

Witnesses:- Roger de la More, Richard his brother, Walter le Bailly, Thomas le Krenetour, Thomas Russell

!Source: Shropshire Archives https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XMO_1037_3_91

by William son of William Hocheskys of Holgot to William de Brokton of one acre with appurtenances lying between the water of Corve and the mill of Shipton, to hold of the chief lord for the usual service. Warranty.

Witnesses:- Roger de la More, Richard his brother, Walter le Bailly, Thomas le Krenetour, Thomas Russell

Holgate; Helgots; Stanton Holegate; Stanton Long; Castle Holegod; Holgot; Howgate; Castellum Helgod; castrum Helgoti in Scalopescyra

Holdgate Castle has been described as a certain Timber Castle, and also as a certain Masonry Castle.

Holdgate Castle motte and bailey survives well and is a fine example of its class. It has a well documented history which demonstrates an early foundation and longevity of occupation. The substantial motte and bailey earthworks will contain important archaeological evidence concerning their construction and stratified evidence relating to the occupation of the site….

Holdgate takes its name from the Norman landowner Helgot, who is recorded in Domesday as holding the manor, which was then known as Stanton, along with 16 others in the county of Shropshire. Helgot was a sub-tenant of Roger de Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, and is said to have built a castle here as his main residence, one of the three earliest castles to be documented in the county of Shropshire….

INTERIOR: square-framed internal partitions, large open fireplace in hall. Chamfered bridging beams: those in hall with faceted stops, the kitchen has concave stops, the parlour has ogee stops. Fine roof timbers. Arched tower doorway. Tower reputedly attributed to Bishop Robert Burnell, Chancellor of England, who bought the castle in 1284, probably as a replacement for the old castle to the south-west. The castle was fortified in the civil war and besieged and heavily damaged by the Royalists in 1644. [Listed Building Report]

Comments The caput of the holdings of Helgot of Holdgate who held some 40 odd manors across Shropshire and Staffordshire in 1086. Helgot held Holdgate directly of the King and was of baronial status. As Helgot held his lands by the service of proving knights to the king undoubtedly many of his tenants on these manors would have been knights and sergeants; a 'frenchman' and a 'rider' [Radman] are mentioned in the Domesday records for Stantune [Holdgate]. Although some of these knights would have owed their service to the king for expeditions into Wales or elsewhere they may also have been available to provide castle guard and other services at the castle directly to Helgot and his successors.

The quiet parish of Holdgate, also called Castle Holdgate, [fn. 1] lies in Corve Dale 12 km. south-west of Much Wenlock and remote from main thoroughfares. It had c. 1,973 a. until 1883 and consisted mainly of Holdgate and Brookhampton townships. It seems to have been formed in the late 11th century by diversion of the tithes from the lord of Holdgate's demesnes, perhaps from a church at Patton [and in Bouldon's case from Diddlebury church], to his new castle church; [fn. 2] the dispersed character of the demesne lands may explain why the parish had several small detachments and two large ones, the Coates and Bouldon. In 1883 seven detachments [38 a.] were absorbed by Stanton Long civil parish; in 1884 the Coates and three remaining detachments [264 a. altogether] passed to Stanton Long, and Bouldon [c. 417 a.] to Diddlebury, [fn. 3] leaving 1,254 a. [507 ha.]. [fn. 4] In 1967 almost all of Holdgate C.P. was absorbed by Tugford C.P., the rest [c. 1 ha.] going to Munslow C.P. [fn. 5] This article deals with the area of the pre-1883 parish except for Bouldon, which has a separate article….

!Source: http://search.shropshirehistory.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_XMO_1037_12_5_1_33/

Grant by Richard Golyn bailiff of Holgot to John Crouther of Hay of all those lands and tenements, rents and services which he has in the vill and fields of Holgot and Thongelond, and Longestannton which he formerly had by gift and feoffment of >>> William Hogkyns of Holgot <<<; to hold by John and his heirs in chief of the lord of the fee; possession by John Crouther warranted by Richard and his heirs against all people.

Description: Witnessed. Edmund Leghton, Thomas Legge, John Walle, William Walle, John Wylles and others. of red circular seal. Docketed. Grant temp. H.6

XMO/1037/12/5/1/33: Grant by Richard Golyn bailiff of Holgot to John Crouther of Hay of all those lands and tenem

!Source: Shropshire Archives https://www.shropshirearchives.org.uk/collections/getrecord/CCA_X3614_5_1_36b

William Hockyns of Barrow and wife Alice, grant to John Hope of Wenlock, corviser, a cottage in Sheinton Street, Much Wenlock to hold of the chief lords of the fee forever.

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D968820

PROB 11 - Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers

In dei Nommine Amen Testo Willius Hoggekyus. Cuns cumotte Llanthow. Vicesima die mensis

July Anno Domini millino' XXXX quinquagesimo quinto et Anno Regn Kegn Henrici sexta post

conquestum trigesimo tres. compos mentis & my bona & sana memoria existens condo facio & ordino

þis testamentum meum veterem voluntatem mea'[m] in hunc modum. In primis Lego & komm'[endo]

meum Animam deo Omnipotentum Creatorem & Salvatori meo, Beate þe virginem matrem

& ombus Sante. Corpus of meum ad sepeliendum in Duta Capilla Sante Katine their due Annos xx post Latha' þe maine

& Staff Lanthow þ'dut[e]. Qu[oa]d corpe meo sepultur volo & lego omnia & singula debita mea

in quibus de, i'ure teneor, fidelit'[er] + soluant[ur]. Item post modum lego procura torche emform eche' & coþ.

Successoribu in perpetuum totum illud tenementum meum in quo inha'[bita]tam in cumitatu þ'dut[e] þe

omnia bona mea ibid pro perpetuo hered’. Specialiter in recommendac’[ione]. Item lego ad usum capelle sancta Trinitatis

ibud sexaginita solid[i]. Item lego & volo G[o]d heard therein sacrificem viri domini & hoc son’ Iannam.

Duta Capilla Sante Katine þ'dut[e] due Annos xx post. Decessum meum sequid celebratur pro annua mea.

& Immatue pro quibus de une teutor. Item lego & volo [u?]t Johann, vouer, meo hear', sibi heredibus &

assign'[atis] sin impe'[dimen]tum omn'[i]a alla terras & ten'[ament] que habes in villa Llanollud' & in dictum Comitatu Lanthow. Item

remitto et relaxo Johanni waivre totum debitum quod mihi debe’[tur]. Residuum quoq[u]e omnium & singulorum bonorum

meorum & Catallorum quorumcumque post expens'[as] meas funerales partes & onnus testaments mei com-

plenonum. Do & lego þe dute Johanne, Voeu meo, v[ou]s r[é]pare[z] disponaz & farez p[ou]r Annual mea p[ou]r

veillet q[ua]nd est[r]e pro' ça sacrament' in casu cum final'. huius autem testamenti mei facio constituo

predictum Johannem Executorem meam. Thom[a]s [Hotch]'Ki testimonium Guillium mea broeþuri

Probatum fuit suprascriptum testamentum. Die vero Jovis duodecimo die mensis Augusti anno Domini millesimo ccccº quinquaginta quinto

functa Johanne. Relecti & executori dicto testamento nominatoin persona Thome Hooke procuratoris

sine in hac pre' sufficiant & et nunc constat. De beni & fidelet admini'and' & est de pleno & fideli juravit

tene[r] cum & singulorum bonorum hunore & nobis altra festo Sancta Martin in venie per futur'

Exhibendo creanion de fidela compoto calculo satisfaciendo et su[r]ppaas' sancta deo evangelia jurat'us.

In God's Name Amen Test[ament of] William Hoggekyns. Cuns commote Llanthow. [The] twentieth day [of the] month [of]

July Year of our Lord one thousand four hundred fifty-five and year [of the] reign [of] King Henry the Sixth after [the]

conquest thirty-three. [Being of] sound mind and my good and sound memory existing [I] constitute, make & ordain

this testament mine [&] former desire mine in this manner. First [I] bequeath & commend

& all the saints. Body of mine to-be buried in [the] Chapel [of] Holy Trinity, Landough, the main

& Staff [of] Lanthow their due. As for corpse mine, burial [I] wish & [I] bequeath all & each [of] my debts

in which concerning, by law I am bound, faithfully + let them be paid. Item afterward I bequeath provision [of] torches in form each & cost.

[To my] successors in perpetuity all that tenement mine in which [it is] inhabited in the aforesaid county, the due thereof

all my goods there, in perpetuity, to the heir. Especially in commendation [thereof]. Item I bequeath for [the] use [of the] chapel [of] Holy Trinity

there sixty shillings. Item [I] bequeath & wish God heard therein the sacrifice of the man of the Lord and this son John.

Given [the] Chapel [of] Holy Trinity their due 20 years later. Death mine followed, celebrated for annual my.

& [being] immature, for which [there shall be] one guardian. Item I bequeath & desire that John, vow [as] my heir, to him [the lord/landlord], his heirs &

assigns, without impediment, all other lands & [the] tenement which you have in the villa[age] of Llanilltud and in the said County of Lanhow. Item

[I] remit and release [to] John, [and] waive, [the] total debt which to me [is] owed. [The] residue also [of] all & singular goods

[mine] & chattels whatever after expenses [of] my funeral's & all testaments mine [will be] com-

pleted. [I] do [give] and bequeath the due [portion] to John, vowed [to] me, you make-good, dispose & act for annual [obligation of] mine for

to watch when [it] is [time] for that [sacred] vow in case final. [Of] this however testament [of] mine [I] make constitute

the aforesaid Johannen Executor mine. Thom[a]s [Hotch]'Ki testimony [of] Guillium my brother's

Approved was [the] above-written testament. Day true Thursday [the] twelfth day month [of] August year [of our] Lord one thousand four hundred fifty five

and committed was administration of-all and singular goods [of the] said deceased

was-entrusted-to John. The chosen & executor of the said will named in the person of Thomas Hooke, procurator

without in this pre'[ceding] suffice & now confirmed of good & faithful administration & fully & faithful [he] swore

to hold with & each of the good honor & to-us another feast Saint Martin in the coming for the future

Exhibiting the creation of the faithful accounting calculation satisfying & surpass[ing the] holy God evangelic oath.

1. “Cuns cōmōte Llanthow” — likely referencing the Commote of Cuns at Llandough [River Ely, Glamorgan].

The term ‘Cuns’ appears in "Rice Merrick’s Morganniae Archaeographica" as an archaic territorial designation

in the Ely sphere. The clerk’s spelling in the right margin suggests phonetic rendering of ‘commote’ [cōmōte],

with overstroke indicating contraction. The "cumotte" spelling on the first line of the body represents a second attempt.

Llandough [Welsh: Llandochau] is a village in the community of Llanfair, south of Cowbridge in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.[1]

Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest walls, gatepiers and railings enclosing Llandough Castle and Gatehouse [II] [SAM]

3. There are two words used which are often translated to the English word "will" but actually have different meanings:

4. The letter thorn [þ] was used for the “th” sound. It often looks like a “y,” which is why old signs that say “ye” were actually read as “the.”

5. The manuscript reads “sacivrem.” This has been interpreted as “sacrificem,” reading v for f and expanding the internal letters. The f is not

visibly formed, so the reading remains tentative, though it is our best reconstruction.

6. In basic feudalism: Nobody but the king actually owns land. Land comes with vows.

7. I read the location of the tenement as "Llanollud'". Although, as usual, the lettering could be more clear, this is most likely Llanilltud,

8. It appears that John, the heir, was not quite of age or 21 and his uncle Thomas was sworn in as his guardian, executor and procurator until

John became of age. At that specified court session, John is to appear and take his oath for the land.

9. The reference to Saint Martin may identify the coming feast day of Saint Martin used to mark a future court session. It may also refer to the

court sitting at the mother church of Saint Martin, possibly recorded as Tanac. The exact meaning is uncertain, but both readings identify the

10. John Hotchkiss was born before about 11 November 1434, based on the expectation that he would appear at the Martinmas court session

of 1455 when he came of age. Then his mother should not be born much before 1434 - 45 = 1389. Also, if her first son William was born about

1406, then she would be age 1406 - 1389 = 17. Just to make that a bit more reasonable, let’s say she was 18 for her son William and 46 for

John and born in 1388. I’ll set William, her husband and John’s father, who died about August 1455 as born about 1387, making him 68.

William “Hoesgyn” Hotchkiss / “ap Cydrych”

Personal and Family Information

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Notes

Note 1