Robert was born about 1517 in Shropshire, England, the son of William Hotchkiss / Hoskins and Jone.
He had two marriages/partners. His first wife was Elynor Hodgkinson, who he married in ABT 1535. The place has not been found. Their ten known children were William (c1536-c1539), Joan (c1537-c1539), Robert (c1538-1539), Robert (c1539-?), William [II.] (c1539-?), Alice (c1540-?), Henry (c1540-?), Margaret (c1540-?), Maria (c1543-?) and John (c1543-c1543).
His second wife was Margaret Steare, who he married on 22 OCT 1543 in St Nicolas, Newbury, Berkshire, England. Their fourteen known children were Helena [aka Elianora] (c1544-?), Luce (c1544-?), Edmonde (c1545-?), Kateryn (c1545-?), Joane (c1546-?), Roger (c1547-c1547), John (c1548-<1550), John (c1550-<1557), Robert (c1550-?), Alice (c1551-?), Joan (c1552-?), Thomas (c1554-?), John (c1557-?) and Richard (c1557-c1557).
| | ||||||||
| | | |||||||
| | ||||||||
| | | |||||||
| |
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT 1517 |
|
Note 1
!Notes: Probate Steps for the Alveley Estate. Each step is the court calling some live person to appear.
1. Roger dies →
2. Elizabeth inherits life rights to the Alveley estate and is called in 1534 to formalize her claim.
3. William is also called in 1534 to notify him that he will inherit when his mother dies.
4. Robert [sone of William burgess and pannarius of Salop] is called in to clear up some ownership issues regarding his father Richard the acquirer and his and Roger's common grandfather William of Ludlow, likely previous owner of the land.
5. Margaret appears in 1538 — likely wife of William — acting on his behalf, suggesting he’s alive but unavailable .
6. Elizabeth dies in 1559, and the remainder interest vests in William, who is called in to pass n full ownership.
Note: The year 1539 was a defining and traumatic period for the Hotchkiss family. As descendants of minor nobility, with at least one deceased knight as grandfather and probable landholdings in multiple counties, the family navigated both personal tragedy and the responsibilities of inherited status. That year, Robert Hotchkiss Sr. and his extended household undertook multiple long-distance journeys between Barford , Worcester, and Houghton Regis —a 90-mile route that would have taken at least a week by wagon, especially with pregnant women and small children aboard.
Given the known dangers of the roads at the time, including robbery and lawless areas, they likely traveled with armed escort. These journeys—likely tied to marriage, estate, or mercantile obligations—coincided with the deaths of Joan , Robert Jr I , and Maude . Surviving sons William and Robert Jr II were likely born during or shortly after this ordeal.
The family’s presence across multiple regions, along with shifting dialects and clerical habits, led to numerous spelling variations of the surname in official records—appearing alternately as Hotchkiss, Hawkins, Hodgkins, and Hoskins. These events, combined with the burden of travel and infant mortality, reshaped the family’s structure and may explain Robert’s remarriage later that same year.
Children & Events
Joan
Born ~1537 before things got complicated. Traveled with parents as an infant.
John Hotchkiss
Born ~1538, likely in Worcester where his family was relocating.
Traveled with his father to Barford in 1539 during family movements.
Baptized 21 Oct 1539 in Worcester, likely belatedly, while accompanying his father on a return trip.
William I
Born abt 1536. Buried in Southill, Bedfordshire 2 Jun 1539. Traveled with his family as a toddler.
Robert Jr. I
Baptized 23 Jan 1539 in Barford, suggesting his parents were staying temporarily with family.
Later buried in Barford, Nov 1539 — possibly never fully well.
William II & Robert Jr II
Born August 1539 in Houghton Regis, after Robert had returned home.
Joan died shortly after the twin’s birth, and they appear to have survived.
Maude
Baptized 25 Sep 1539 in Barford, born while her mother stayed with extended family.
Died 16 Nov 1539, burial regester entry in Barford next to Robert Jr I.
Interpretation
Barford served as a central family support hub, possibly tied to their father's household.
The brothers' wives may have gone there for childbirth support, with the men traveling in and out.
John, being older and weaned, could travel easily with his father.
The year saw the loss of three children and may have deeply impacted the family's future movements and decisions.
!Note: This marriage near the home of William’s grandfather William burgess and pannarius of Salop near Hawkeswood, makes sense as his family followed the trade route to his own birthplace the Hotchkiss trade waystop of Houghton Regis. Their daughter Joan was most likely named after her mother.
!Source: Berkshire Marriages Index https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FM%2F251366982%2F1
First name Robart
Country England
Last name Hoskyns
Spouse's first name Margett
Birth year -
Spouse's last name Steare
Marital status -
Spouse's marital status -
Marriage year 1543
Licence or banns [by Banns]
Marriage date 22 Oct 1543
Record set Berkshire Marriages Index
Church St Nicolas
Category Birth, Marriage & Death
Place Newbury
Subcategory Parish Marriages
County Berkshire
Collections from Great Britain, England
!Note: I’ve only included Robert in this family because of his sister’s relationship to Newbury.
!Source: ussex, Chichester Consistory Court Wills Index, 1482-1800 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBOR%2FOR%2FCHICONSISTWILLS%2F00010675
First name Robert
Document type Registered will <<< Not a death date
Last name Hoskins
Archive reference STC I/5/160
Entry year 1546
Note [see p.164 for end of will]
Place West Wittering
Record set Sussex, Chichester Consistory Court Wills Index, 1482-1800
Original text Westwytryng, Sussex
Category Birth, Marriage & Death
Court Chichester Consistory
Subcategory Wills & Probate
County Sussex
Collections from England, Great Britain
Country England
!Source: Wiltshire Social & Institutional Records 1123-1968 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=WILTS%2FSOCIAL%2F0322610
First name John
Notes Labourer of Warminster. .
Last name Heskins
Source Wilts Record Society vol.4. Minutes of Proceedings in Sessions 1563: 1574-1592
Year 1563-92
Archive reference WRO/A1/150/1
Year as transcribed 1563-1592
Record set Wiltshire Social & Institutional Records 1123-1968
Record type Quarter Sessions
Category Directories & Social History
Place Warminster
Subcategory Social History
County Wiltshire
Collections from England, Great Britain
Country England