William Hotchkiss / Hoskins

Personal and Family Information

William was born about AUG 1539, the son of Robert Hotchkiss / Hoskins and UNKNOWN. The place is not known.

His wife was Johana Powis, who he married on 13 MAY 1559 in St Bartholomew, Ashperton, Hereforshire, England. Their only known child was Joan (c1560-?).

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Notes

Note 1

!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.

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 & 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: Bedfordshire Baptisms https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=R_951804326&tab=this

First name William

Father's first name Robarte

Last name Hawkins

Father's last name Hawkins

Sex Male

Mother's first name -

Baptism year 1539

Record set Bedfordshire Baptisms

Baptism date 20 Aug 1539

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Place Houghton Regis

Subcategory Parish Baptisms

County Bedfordshire

Collections from England, Great Britain

Country England

!Source: Bedfordshire Baptisms https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=XAUTO%2FFHS%2FBEDFORDSHIRE%2FBAP%2F00185338&tab=this

First name William

Country England

Last name Hawkins

Notes -

Birth year -

Document reference Parish Register

Baptism year 1539

Archive Bedfordshire Archives

Baptism age -

Denomination Anglican

Baptism date 20 Aug 1539

Description All Saints

Father's first name Robert

Status Child

Father's last name -

Year of baptism transcribed 1539

Mother's first name -

Record set Bedfordshire Baptisms

Mother's last name -

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Place Houghton Regis, All Saints

Subcategory Parish Baptisms

County Bedfordshire

Collections from Great Britain, England

!Note: Likely twin.

!Source: Herefordshire Marriages https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=XAUTO%2FFHS%2FHEREFORDSHIRE%2FMAR%2F00040600%2F1&tab=this

First name William

Country England

Last name Hawkins

Spouse's first name Johan <<<< Johan, otherwise I will continuousely mix he up with the men.

Sex Male

Spouse's last name Powis

Year 1559

Spouse's sex Female

Marriage date 13 May 1559

Record set Herefordshire Marriages

Description St Bartholomew

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Place Ashperton, St Bartholomew

Subcategory Parish Marriages

County Herefordshire

Collections from England, Great Britain