Robert was born about 1517 in Shropshire, England, the son of William Hotchkiss / Hoskins and Jone.
He died before 19 OCT 1558 in Codicote, Hertfordshire, England.
He had three marriages/partners. His first wife was Elynor Hodgkinson, who he married in ABT 1535. The place has not been found. Their eleven known children were Dorothee (c1535-?), William (c1536-c1539), Joan (c1537-c1539), Robert (c1538-1539), Robert (c1539-?), William [II.] (c1539-?), Alice (c1540-?), Margaret (c1540-?), Henry (c1541-?), 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).
His third wife was Isabell, who he married in AFT SEP 1557. The place has not been found. They had no known children.
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| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT 1517 |
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| Death | BEF 19 OCT 1558 |
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Note 1
!Notes: Probate Steps for the Alveley Estate. Each step is the court calling some live person to appear.
1. Roger dies [in 1534] →
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 [possibly underage, apprenticed, or abroad].
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 [Warwickshire], Worcester, and Houghton Regis [Bedfordshire]—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 [August], Robert Jr I [September], and Maude [November]. 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 [daughter of Robert]
Born ~1537 before things got complicated. Traveled with parents as an infant.
John Hotchkiss [son of Richard]
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 [son of Robert]
Born abt 1536. Buried in Southill, Bedfordshire 2 Jun 1539. Traveled with his family as a toddler.
Robert Jr. I [son of Robert]
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 [children of Robert]
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 [daughter of Richard]
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 [Robert Jr. I, Joan, Maude] 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[s] Robart
Country England
Last name Hoskyns
Spouse's first name[s] 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 [Parish Registers]
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[s] 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 [Parish Registers]
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[s] John
Notes Labourer of Warminster. [Wiltshire Quarter Sessions records, the property of Wiltshire County Council, transcribed in 1949 when they were deposited in the Public Record Office].
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
Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D946201
PROB - Records of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury
Division within PROB - Wills and Letters of Administration
PROB 11 - Prerogative Court of Canterbury and related Probate Jurisdictions: Will Registers
PROB 11/41 - Name of Register: Noodes. Quire numbers: 40-77
Catalogue description Will of Robert Hodgekin or Hodgekyn, Gentleman of Codicote, Hertfordshire
Reference: PROB 11/41/167
Description: Will of Robert Hodgekin or Hodgekyn, Gentleman of Codicote, Hertfordshire
Date: 19 October 1558
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
Image: Available at above address.
Transcription:
In the name of god amen. The xxiiyth day of July in the year of our lorde
god m V d lviij [1558]. Seing that nothing in this world is more sertyn than deathe and that
tyme of stathe so uncertaine to all men, I Robert Hodgekin of Codicote in the countie of
Hertfordshire gentleman being seke in bodie and hole and good and parfite memory doo
ordayn and make this my testament and last will in manner and formme.
I bequeath my soule to allmighty god, the blessed Lady and to the holly
Blissed Saints in heaven. And my bodie to be buried where myn executors shall think
best. Also I bequeath in the churche of Codicote to the hie aulter for offeringe and to this
negligentlie forgotten xx d. ffurther I give and bequeath to Robert Penne and Dorothee
his wife and my daughter all that my pece of land lying in Doesell feeld conteyning
by estimation three acres of land: the which I purchased of one Jefrey and all further
right title or Have of yeil[d]s as I have or have had of John Michell of or concerning one
cloase tallied per yerese [years] and one pece of underw'[od]e lying in Doesell maede [made] to have and
to hold all the said lande and underw'[od]e unto the said Robert Penne and Dorothee and to
theires of their twoo bodies lawfully begotten and for default of suche issue to re-
maner to theires of the said Dorothy forev'[er]. Also I bequeath to the said Robert Pen'
and Dorothee and trussingbed standing in the chamber in my house at halibarde in
Codicote ober the seller not the fetherbedd and all that belonging to [the] abodde and free
rosare, a forfor and other implementes not being in the famil[y] chamber. Also I give to
the said Robert Penne and Dorothee free beastes and free bullocke and xxx sheepe
the which be already appointed and marked for the said Dorothee. Also I give to
the said Robert Penne and Dorothee our wuod Cubboard standing in the hall in my
said house at halibarde. The residue of my goods not bequeather I give and bequeath
to Isabell my wif[e], which Isabell I ordain and make my soole executor, taking
my debtes, paying my debtes and fulfilling this my last will and bequeathal and
further to ordayne and dispoase for the heethe of my soule to the pleasure of god, as
he shall thinke moost best. Also I ordayn and make my cousin John Dawood prync'[ipl]e
unto the Childres Hodgkines to be overseer of the same. Without being Witnes, John
Penne the other esquiter [executor]. John Anritiy visar of Dawood. Michaell Hodgekin, John &
Mychell, Willm Lowtin and other & me Robert Hodgekin.
--
Probatum
Latin transcription:
Probatum fuit supra scriptum test[amentu]m cora[m] d’[omin]no apud London xix die mensis
Octobris anno d[omi]ni Millimo quingen Lviij. iuramentum Isabelle relicte executricis
in h[u]i[usm]o[di] test[ament]o nom[in]at[ae] de approbatum et insinuatre -- [initialled] RO. Domissage fuit administrato -- [initialled] RO.
prefat executori debu[m] -- [initialled] RO. di de pleno et fidele juristario — [initialled] RO. Moruor de pleno,
et votio compoto reddid -- [initialled] RO. mr.
--
English translation:
Proved was [the] above written will before the-Lord at London 19th day [of the] month [of]
October year [of our] Lord 1558. [The] oath [of] Isabelle, relict executrix
in this same will named [for] approval and registering -- [initialled] RO. [The] Household-matters was administered -- [initialled] RO.
aforesaid executor debts -- [initialled] RO. of full and faithful legal-undertaking -- [initialled] RO. [I] die fully,
and by-vow [the] account [was] rendered -- [initialled] RO. mr.
--
People:
Robert Hodgkin - testator
Robert Penne - husband of Dorothee
Dorothee - daughter of Robert Hodgkin and wife of Robert Penne
John Mitchell - former land owner, likely lessor = Mitchel, lessee = Robert Hodgkin which he is passing on to his heirs.
Jefrey - former land owner, sold land to Robert.
Isabell - wife of Robert Hodgkin and executor. Acting parent /guardian of children. <<<<
John Dawood - Robert Hodgkin's cousin. Principle children's overseer. Isabell still parent / guardian
John Penne - possible brother or close kin of Robert Penne, added as other executor
John Anrity, Visar of Dawood
Michael Hodekin - first cousin, son of Sir Roger
John Lowtin - present
Mychell Lowtin - present
William Lowtin - present
Children known that might still be alive [dates mostly baptisms - 9 died young]:
-- of wife Elynor:
+. Dorothee abt 1535
1. William II 1539
2. Alice 1540
3. Margaret 1540
4. Henry 1541
5. Maria 1543
-- of wife Margaret
6. Helena 1544
7. Luce Jan 1445 Julian
8. Edmonde Feb 1545 Julian
9. Kateryn Jul 1545
10. Robert 1550
11. Alice 1551
12. Joan 1552
13. Thomas 1554
14. John 1557
--
Notes: 1. A trussing bed [or trussing-bed] was a portable bed designed to be easily taken apart, packed into "trussing coffers" [chests], and transported.
Purpose: These were common among the gentry and nobility who frequently moved between different houses or traveled for business.
Construction: Unlike a "standing bed" [a heavy, permanent wooden frame], a trussing bed often featured a lighter, collapsible frame or was simply a set of high-quality bedding [mattress, bolsters, and hangings] that could be rolled up and "trussed" [tied securely] for travel.
Value: Because beds were among the most expensive items in a 16th-century household, they were specifically named and gifted in wills and inventories.
2. Free Rosare [Frieze Roser/Rosere]: This likely refers to a bed-covering or hanging made of "frieze", a type of coarse, warm wool fabric with a nap, in a "rose" color or pattern. A "rosere" often denoted a rose-colored textile or a specific floral arrangement in embroidery.
3. Forfor [Fur-fore]: Likely a fur-lined coverlet or a "forth-fore" - a front-facing hanging or valance for the bed.
4. Last child born and died 1557. Wife died Sep 1557. Location Codicote, Hertfordshire is 12.58 miles from Houghton Regis, Bedford, where some of his children wer baptized. Sadly, he still had young children, but he did have a large family to help with them. He appears to have had quite a life. He was involved in the building the family's trade way-stations. He lost numerous children and both wives. It's almost as if losing another child and his second wife was too much for him.