Elizabeth of Donwich

Personal and Family Information

Elizabeth was born about 1410, the daughter of unknown parents. The place is not known.

She died in 1479 in Donwich, Norfolk, England.

Her husband was William Hotchkiss. They were married, but the date and place have not been found. Their five known children were John (c1426-<1506), Thomas (c1428-c1518), David (c1430-c1492), Meridith Ap (c1433-?) and Richard (c1436-1506).

Events

Notes

Note 1

!Stylename: Elizabeth of Donwich, Lady of Hawkswood [~1410 - 1479]

!Note: The 1479 will of Elizabeth Hawkeswood—also recorded as Hawkwood or Hawkewood—of Donwich, Norfolk, may represent a direct connection to the Hotchkiss family. Based on the date, region, and use of "Hawkswood" as a title , she is a strong candidate for the widow of William Hotchkiss of Ludlow , whose sons were born between 1426 and 1436. The “Lady of Hawkswood” designation likely reflects her holding of, or association with, the Hawkswood estate rather than a hereditary surname.

Donwich , a once-prosperous East Anglian port town, was a key maritime center in the 14th century. Its decline due to coastal erosion in the following centuries is well-documented, but at the time of Elizabeth’s death, it still held regional importance—particularly for gentry connected to trade or coastal holdings.

Her will survives in the Norwich Consistory Court’s probate register under the reference NCC will register Caston 23 . While not digitized, it is accessible via microfilm or in Norfolk Record Society vol. 16 A–Hi. This document may provide further insights into her estate, heirs, and property—key for establishing a definitive genealogical link.

Given the timeline, geography, and the Hawkswood title, Elizabeth of Donwich stands as a plausible match for William’s wife and the matriarch of the Ludlow-Shrewsbury line. Verification will depend on a full review of the will contents.

Sources:

Norfolk Wills & Probate: Transcript on Findmypast

Norwich Consistory Court, Caston Register: Catalog Entry – Norfolk Record Office

!Source: Norfolk Wills & Probate https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=PRS%2FNORFWILLPROB%2F008944&tab=this

First name Hawkewood)

Document type Will

Last name Hawkeswood Or Hawkwood

Archive reference NCC will register Caston 23

Title Hawkeswood , Elizabeth, of Donwich

View source website View source website

Year 1479

Record set Norfolk Wills & Probate

Date 1479

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Residence Donwich

Subcategory Wills & Probate

County Norfolk

Collections from Great Britain, England

Country England

!Source: Item NCC will register Caston 23 - Hawkeswood , Elizabeth, of Donwich

https://nrocatalogue.norfolk.gov.uk/index.php/hawkeswood-hawkwood-hawkewood-elizabeth-of-donwich

Norwich Consistory Court Probate Records: Wills >> Will Registers >> Will register 16 >> Hawkeswood ,

Reference code NCC will register Caston 23

Title Hawkeswood , Elizabeth, of Donwich

Date 1479

Level of description Item

Name of creator Diocese of Norwich, Consistory Court; 11th century-; ecclesiastical court; Norwich, Norfolk

Repository Norfolk Record Office

Scope and content Will.

Conditions governing access Not to be produced to the searchroom.

Finding aids Norfolk Record Society vol. 16 A-Hi.

Existence and location of copies Make a note of the CatalogueRef and Date and use microfilm MF 30.

Place access points Suffolk » Dunwich [unidentified], Suffolk

Genre access points Probate » Wills

Status Catalogued