William Hawkins

Personal and Family Information

William was born about 1467 in Kent, England, the son of William Hawkins and Anne.

He died about 1528 in London, London, England.

His wife was Margaret. They were married, but the date and place have not been found. Their four known children were Joanna (c1495-?), William (c1497-?), Alice (c1507-?) and Luke (c1510-?).

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Attributes

Notes

Note 1

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C7462143

C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Division within C - Records of Equity Side: the Six Clerks

C 1 - Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Early Pleadings and Proceedings, Richard II to Philip and Mary

C 1/237 - Chancery pleadings addressed to Henry Dean, Bishop of Salisbury as Keeper of the Great Seal. Detailed descriptions at item level

Catalogue description Short title: Burnet v Welshe. Plaintiffs: Richard Burnet, of Rochester, William Hawkyn,...

Reference: C 1/237/99

Description:

Short title: Burnet v Welshe.

Plaintiffs: Richard Burnet, of Rochester, William Hawkyn, of Strode, and William Yong, of Frendesbury.

Defendants: William Welshe, priest.

Subject: Claim against the estate of John Caron, otherwise called John Kerylond, late vicar of Frendesbury, of whom complainants are executors.

Kent, London.

2 documents

Date: 1500-1501

Held by: The National Archives, Kew

Legal status: Public Record

Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue C - Records created, acquired, and inherited by Chancery, and also of the Wardrobe, Royal Household, Exchequer and various commissions

Division within C - Records of Equity Side: the Six Clerks

C 1 - Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Early Pleadings and Proceedings, Richard II to Philip and Mary

C 1/441 - Chancery pleadings addressed to Thomas Wolsey, Archbishop of York and Cardinal as Lord Chancellor. Detailed descriptions at item level

Catalogue description Short title: Stynte v Meryng. Plaintiffs: John Stynte of London, ironmonger. Defendants:...

Reference: C 1/441/8

Description:

Short title: Stynte v Meryng.

Plaintiffs: John Stynte of London, ironmonger.

Defendants: William Meryng, knight, and Margaret, his wife, executrix and late the wife of William Hawkyns of London, salter.

Subject: Action of debt upon bonds given to the said Hawkyns for fish bought of him, and partly paid for in kerseys and `baskets of wykers.'. London

Date: 1515-1518

Held by: The National Archives, Kew

Legal status: Public Record

Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

!Source: The National Archives' catalogue https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D974991

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 11/18 - Name of Register: Holder

Catalogue description Will of William Hawkyns, Salter of London

Reference: PROB 11/18/241

Description: Will of William Hawkyns, Salter of London

Date: 27 November 1515

Held by: The National Archives, Kew

Legal status: Public Record

Closure status: Open Document, Open Description

-

Note: Image available for request at the same link as above.

Summary of Will from Image:

- William Hawkyns, Salter of London <<<

PROB 11/18/241 — dated 27 November 1515

This will is a full testamentary instrument, drawn up with care and foresight, consistent with a merchant anticipating travel or risk rather than imminent death.

It opens with extensive religious provisions concerning William’s soul and body, burial, and gifts to the Church,

followed by funding for church repairs and religious observances. The structure is deliberate and methodical.

- Wife

Margaret, his wife, is named explicitly and at length.

She is treated as the principal surviving spouse, with sustained discussion of her role and interests.

Margaret appears to act as executrix or chief administrator of the estate.

Much of the estate is managed through her during her lifetime.

- Children

William refers to “my children” Luke and Alice, when refering to minor children.

The phrase “my children” is used in direct association with Luke and Alice, indicating that these two were still dependents at the time the will was written.

- Luke - son

Named under “my children”, together with Alice.

Receives no independent landed bequest in this portion of the will.

His provision appears to be intended to pass through Margaret during her lifetime, consistent with minority or dependency.

- Alice - daughter

Named both as one of “my children” and individually.

After the death of Margaret, his wife, Alice is to have assigned to her and her heirs:

a messuage with appurtenances in Kingston.

This functions as a deferred settlement, consistent with Alice being unmarried at the time of the will.

The provision resembles a dowry or marriage portion held in trust until the mother’s death.

- William - son

William my son is named separately and distinctly from “my children.”

His placement and treatment indicate that he was already an adult at the time of the will.

He is handled as a primary heir rather than a dependent.

- Joanna

Joanna is not named in the will.

Her absence strongly suggests she was already married by 1515 and had received her marriage portion previously.

This fits the later family timeline and does not indicate omission or error.

- Property and Guild References

William makes a bequest to the Wardens of the Salters of London, confirming his guild affiliation and standing.

Property references are carefully structured, with future interests contingent upon Margaret’s death.

- Witnesses

Witnesses include:

William Hawkyns

Edward Mulvoy

Robert Dunnlyn

George Harryson - notable as a Hill descendant

- Interpretation and Timeline Fit

The will anticipates continued life and travel, consistent with William’s involvement in merchant shipping rather than imminent death.

William appears to have died circa 1528, not in 1515.

The structure of the will aligns cleanly with later Chancery litigation [1529–1532], particularly disputes involving:

- Margaret’s remarriage,

Alice’s property interest in Kingston,

and the inheritance rights of William’s descendants.

- Family Structure at Time of Will

Margaret — wife and executrix

William — adult heir

Luke and Alice — dependent children

Joanna — married daughter, already portioned

!Source: Surrey Court Cases 1391-1835 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBOR%2FSURREY-COURT%2F007510&tab=this

First name Alice

Source Surrey Chancery Deponents, 1391-1758

Last name Hawkens

Archive reference C 1/640/1

Year 1529-32

Archive The National Archives

Court Court of Chancery

Record set Surrey Court Cases 1391-1835

County Surrey

Category Institutes & Organizations

Country England

Subcategory Courts & Legal

Full text Kingston 1529-32: William Hawkens infant son of William Hawkens & grandson & heir of William Hawkens v William Meryng, kt husband of Margaret Meryng, formerly Margaret Hawkens, late w WH the grandfather re messuage in London & re land late estate of WH the grandfather & his dau. Alice Hawkens,[.]

Interpretation:

William I Hawkens

Died before 1529

Owned land

Had at least two children:

William II Hawkens

Alice Hawkens

Complication:

Margaret Hawkens

Remarried Sir William Meryng

Meryng is now asserting control over the estate previously belonging to William I

The Chancery Case :

William II Hawkens is suing Meryng, likely on behalf of his own son:

William III Hawkens, described as an infant

William III is the grandson and heir of William I

Goal of the suit: to reclaim or secure rights to the estate held by Meryng and Margaret,

especially any part also associated with daughter Alice Hawkens, possibly caught up in the dispute.

It’s a tidy inheritance fight with layers:

Deceased patriarch

Remarried widow

Grandson heir still in infancy

Land possibly held in trust or disputed

Daughter Alice named, which suggests her share might also be involved

or misappropriated