William [Hawkins], de Northwood, de Hokeswod, de Flegh

William [Hawkins], de Northwood, de Hokeswod, de Flegh (c1245-c1327)	John [Hotchkiss / Hawkins], de Northwod, de Hoxwode, de Flegh (c1225-<1310)	Nicholas [Hotchkiss], de Northwod (c1200-c1242)	Walter [or William] de Baskerville, de Northwode, of Botterell (c1167->1255)
		Nicholas [Hotchkiss], de Northwod (c1200-c1242)	Ysolda [or Isabella] de Baskerville, de Northwode (c1181->1266)	+

Events

Notes

Note 1

!StyleName: [Hotchkiss / Hawkins], de Northwood, de Hokeswod, de Flegh, William [~1245 - ]

This research explores the plausible transition of the Hotchkiss family line from Hawkeswood to Kent, culminating in the Hawkins family’s long-term residence at Nash Court in Boughton-under-Blean.

- A grant is recorded from John fitz Nicholas of Northwod to Hugh le Mon of Hokswode, witnessed by William de Hokeswod.

- This marks the divestiture of property by John and William Hotchkiss, likely transferring Hawkeswood to their brother Hugh.

- William, son of John de Flegh, donates the Manor of Hawkinge and Flegis Court to St. Radegund’s Abbey during the 23rd year of Edward I’s reign.

- This is the last known private ownership of Hawkinge before it becomes abbey land.

- Since this donation occurred in 1294–1295, and William was the son of John who already held Boughton and Nash Court by 1271, it implies the Flegh family held Hawkinge for at least 23 years.

- The names and dates suggest William de Hokeswod, William de Flegh, and William Hawkins may be the same person, or at least closely related.

- All were sons of John, active around the same time, and involved in the transition or donation of a manor.

- For now, they are referred to as John and William de Flegh/ pending further evidence.

- A Flegg family from Norfolk has attempted to associate itself with William de Flegh, but the details are chronologically implausible.

- However, the donation of Hawkinge and Flegis Court to St. Radegund’s occurred in 1294–1295, at least 16 years after the Norfolk William’s reported death.

- Their claim also conflates unrelated individuals and offers no clear ancestral connection, casting serious doubt on the association.

- This conflicting claim appears in a genealogical PDF: Seeking My Roots – G002217.pdf and is expanded upon in Bigelow Society – Flagg History.

- Thus, the Norfolk de Fleggs can be confidently ruled out as ancestors of the Hawkins of Nash.

- By 1271, John, father of William, was already paying a knight’s fee for Boughton, which included Nash Court, in right of Agnes and Eleanor, younger daughters and heirs of Maud de Averenches.

- This predates William’s donation of Hawkinge to the church during the 23rd year of Edward I’s reign , confirming that Nash was already in family possession.

- The proximity to Whitstable, just 7 miles from Boughton-under-Blean, further supports a family-based landholding pattern.

- Dodeham alias Northwood is noted as part of the surrounding area historically connected to Whitstable and Nash, suggesting deeper local ties.

- Sir Roger de Northwode was Constable of Dover Castle until about 1259, and held the office of Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports.

- He was also involved in numerous public and ecclesiastical works in Kent, including restoration of the Monastery of St. Sexburge.

- His role suggests close ties between the Northwode family and Dover Castle — the very office to which the Barony of Folkestone and Hawkinge owed service.

- This reinforces the plausibility that John de Northwod et de Hoxwode or his son William may have been involved in duties at Dover Castle, or gained land in Kent through that service.

- It is possible that Roger de Northwode, through family connection to Sybil and the Baskervilles, called the family to service. The use of "de Flegh" might reflect an association with flag-bearing or banner service, possibly tied to Dover Castle.

- These events increased demand for trusted Marcher lords and knightly families.

- The Cinque Ports were obligated to provide naval support; Dover Castle’s increased strategic needs could easily have prompted recruitment or resettlement of military families such as the Northwodes or Hotchkisses into Kent.o It is possible that John and William first traveled to Kent for the funeral of Laurette de Braose, John’s first cousin twice removed, who died in 1266 near Canterbury. Given the family’s Northwode inheritance and Ysolda’s connection to Kent, the brothers may have remained to manage property or arrange marriages locally —events that ultimately established the Hawkins line at Nash Court, following their earlier association with the Hotchkiss and Hokeswod names.

- It is possible that John and William first traveled to Kent for the funeral of Laurette de Braose, John’s first cousin twice removed, who died in 1266 near Canterbury and was the wife of Robert FitzPernel Earl of Leicester, Robert. Given the family’s Northwode inheritance and Ysolda’s connection to Kent, the brothers may have remained to manage property or arrange marriages locally —events that ultimately established the Hawkins line at Nash Court, following their earlier association with the Hotchkiss and Hokeswod names.

- By 1374, John Hawkins and his wife Joane hold land in Boughton, specifically Nash Court.

- Their father, Andrew Hawkins, is presumed to have been born circa 1270 and died by 1320.

- There are no surviving records showing how the Hawkins family came to possess Nash Court, strongly suggesting it was never separately acquired.

- This supports the theory that Nash was retained when Hawkinge was donated to the abbey — a common practice for families keeping smaller estates.

- Their Inquisition Post Mortem names daughters and coheirs, including Agnes , Eleanor , Isolda , and Isabel .

- A 1271 writ for partition shows land at Folkstone and surrounding manors, including Evering, Hougham, and Boneton.

- This may refer to John de Boughton, aligning with the Hawkins family’s known holdings at Nash .

- Evidence suggests that William and Hugh le Mon may have had a brother Warren .

- A 1328 fine names Hugh son of Warin de Neenton, whose property would revert to others if he lacked heirs.

- The fourth reversion names John, son of Roger Hochkys, likely a great-nephew, suggesting a large extended family.

- This helps explain the land division and provides plausible motivation for William to sell his share of Hawkeswood and establish a new line in Kent.

- These alternate names can make tracing lineage more difficult, though context and associated witnesses often indicate they belong to the same extended family.

- Identifying patterns across land grants, inheritance clauses, and place-names like Hokeswod/Hawkeswood and Hawkinge/Nash may help clarify these relationships further.

- The Hotchkiss, Hoskins, and Hawkins surname DNA projects all show R-M269 as the most common haplogroup.

- This consistent DNA profile across all three projects supports the likelihood of shared paternal ancestry, even without a confirmed paper trail.

- While STR comparisons or segment testing would be required for specific matches, this provides strong probabilistic support for a common Norman origin.

The timing, geographic overlap, and consistent use of given names point to a strong likelihood that Andrew Hawkins descended from William de Hokeswod/Flegh/Hawkins, who gave up Hawkinge but retained nearby Nash. This transition laid the foundation for the Hawkins line that held Nash Court for centuries thereafter.

The additional connection to Warren de Neenton and the Hotchkiss / Hochkys name shows a broader network in the extended Northwode/Hokeswod family. The presence of larger family branches may have influenced William’s move to Kent. Further research into the records of St. Radegund’s Abbey, the Flegh family, land rolls in Boughton and Whitstable, and the inheritance records related to Maud d'Averanches and John de Boneton may provide more direct evidence.

* Medieval Deeds for Northwood, Stottesdon: http://www.shropshirehistory.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/theme:20080228204832

* Hasted, Edward. The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 7 : https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol7/pp2-19

* Archive.org – The visitation of Kent : https://archive.org/details/visitationofkent00camd/page/n7/mode/2up

* Wikipedia – Roger de Northwode: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Northwode

- Hotchkiss: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hotchkiss?iframe=ydna-results-overview

- Hoskins: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hoskins?iframe=ydna-results-overview

- Hawkins: https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hawkins?iframe=ydna-results-overview

* Bigelow Society – Flagg Genealogy: http://bigelowsociety.com/rod2005/flagg05.htm

* Neenton Fine Record : http://aalt.law.uh.edu/AALT4/CP25/CP_25_1_194/IMG_0007.htm

!Notes: Summary early Sidbury and Hokeswod records. Hawkswood House is about 1 mile southwest of Sidbury, so no they aren’t the same thing. That is more or less toward Chorley.

Before 1066 - Under Wiga, a franklin, Sudbury’s Saxon lord, it had been worth 20s. annually, afterwards it was waste.

1086 - Sudbury was held by Ralph de Mortimer under-Earl Roger de Montgomery as one hide. There were two ox-teams in demesne, and six serfs, six villeins, and three bordars with two teams, and there was land for two teams more. In I086 was worth 18s

1255 - Ralph d’Arraz held Sidbury as a hide and half of land. He also held Neenton as half a hide.

1280 - mention of Hokeswod along with Sidbury and Fulesworth in an assize of mort d'ancestor where Henry son of Henry le Clerk, of Sudbury attempts to reclaim his inherited land in feudal tenure from Joan late wife of Radulph de Araz who had taken possession after the death of his [Henry’s] father Henry le Clerk.

1303 - John fitz [son of] Nicholas of Northwod sells land to Hugh le Mou of Hokswood witness William de Hokeswod [grant of land at Chorley]. One source mentions Gregory and William de Hokeswode, but can’t find original reference.

1310 - Richard son of Hugh le Mou of Hokswood sells to John de Baskerville of Northwude, land which John de Hoxwode gave to Hugh, Richard’s Father in the vill and fields of Northwude. I’m not sure if this includes the land given as near Sidbury, but this is not Hokeswode as Hokeswode was already given as belonging to William and Hugh prior to the 1303 purchase.

1316 - Ralph d’Arraz is given as lord of Sidbury, but Neenton is not mentioned.

1328 - Hugh, son of Warin de Neenton. acknowledges he had gifted tenements to Thomas, the parson of the church of Neenton, who grants to Hugh, son of Warin and Joan his wife and their heirs the same tenaments at Neenton. John fil Rogi Hochkys & his heirs are listed as the 4th of the successors if Hugh and Joan had not living descendants.

John of Northwod and de Hoxwode, son of Nicholas 1303 Sells land to son Hugh, Richard’s father - William of Hokeswode is witness

Hugh le Mou of Hokswod, son of John 1310 possibly dead as son Richard is selling some land from his father to John de Baskerville of Northwude. Richard’s grandfather would be too old to be John.

So we have Richard son of Hugh, and Roger as contemporaries, possibly brothers or father/son based on other dates.

William is also likely to be related to both Hugh and John. I’m going to guess for now as Hugh’s brother, which would leave John as ancester to all 3.

!Source:Medieval deeds for Northwood, Stottesdon http://www.shropshirehistory.org.uk/html/search/verb/GetRecord/theme:20080228204832

>>> Hugh le Mon de Hawkswood <<<. GRANT of a messuage in the vill of Northwood lying between the messuages of Henry Blundell and William Blundell and extending from the highway which leads to le Euwes [Yews] to the land of Henry Blundell together with eleven and a half acres of land in the field of Northwood, one acre lying in the field by Chorley called le Leye between the lands of Baldwin de Baskereville and John Baskerville, half an acre under the hill opposite Chorley and extending to the river of Russebache, two acres lying in the field opposite Pickthorn between the land of John Baskerville on both sides, one acre lying in the same field and extending from the land of John Baskerville to the moors [ad moras] of Baldewin, one acre lying in the same field between the highway leading from Norhtwood to le Eues [Yews] and the land of William de Chorley, and six acres in the field opposite the mill of Sidbury, one acre lying between the land of Hugh Hed and the land of Nicholas de Biriton, one acre lying above Scallebrayn between the land of Baldwin de Baskerville and the land of John de Baskerville, half an acre lying above le Elfurlong between the land formerly of Hugh Hed and the land of John de Baskerville, half an acre extending towards ?Coumbesbach and lying near the land of John de Baskerville, one acre lying at le Mulnepoleshade near the land of John de Baskerville, and two acres lying in Wlueshal, one being at the top and the other extending to the river of the mill of Sidbury. Witnesses: Ralph de Arras, Knight, Guy de Glazeley, John de Ludlow in Neenton, William de ?Ribbeley,

!Note: Possible early ancesters of the Hawkins name definitely need more research. One Possibility might be this Andrew as a son of Roger Hotchkiss of Hawkeswood [abt 1280 - ?], the first person with the Hotchkiss name, as that name could also easily transform to Hawkins. The following DNA projects all show R-M269 as the most common Haplogroup, and also both have a significant portion of I-M253, my Haplogroup. They all have a similar mix and appear very closely related.

1. Hotchkiss “https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hotchkiss?iframe=ydna-results-overview"

2. Hoskins "https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hoskins?iframe=ydna-results-overview"

3. Hawkins "https://www.familytreedna.com/public/hawkins?iframe=ydna-results-overview"

!Source: Inquisitions Post Mortem, Edward II, File 65 https://www.british-history.ac.uk/inquis-post-mortem/vol6/pp139-149

Preston. A messuage, 1/2a. and 1r. land, and a toft and 6a. land, 2a. 1r. meadow, and pasture for a fat beast in the ox marsh held jointly with Stephen Haukyn his brother who survives, and the heirs of the said Andrew, of the king in chief, as of the honour of Albemarle, by knight’s service.

!Note: For the following linage to work, the family would have had to have a tradition of arranged marriages, with the wife being 10 or more years younger than the husband. This actually seems likely enough at the time.

!Source: DOVER KENT ARCHIVES http://www.dover-kent.com/VILLAGES/58-Hawkinge.html

A glance at Hawkinge, especially its ancient Church and its old stone Manor House of Coomb, suggests that the place is rich in history, the threads of which it will be interesting to gather up. The pre-Nor-man history of Hawkinge is bound up with the Folkestone Hundred, in which it is situated. In Saxon times it was held by Earl Godwin, and after the Conquest was part of the possessions of the Bishop of Bayeux. After the disgrace of the Bishop and the confiscation of his lands, the parish of Hawkinge appears to have been broken up into three Manors, of which the principal one was the Manor of Hawkinge, and later the Manor House of it was called Fleggs Court.

The Manor of Hawkinge was a part of the Barony of Folkestone, and held by the Avrenches bv Knight’s service and ward * of Dover Castle. Immediately after the Conquest, this Manor was held on strictly Military tenure, but a century later the holding was more in the nature of fee simple, and the estates became hereditary. In the year 1156 this Manor was held by Osbert de Hawking, and it continued in that family till it became extinct, and the next to hold it was the Fleghs, who remained in possession until the reign of Edward 1., during which time the Manor House acquired the name of Flegg’s Court. "William Flegh, in the year 1295, gave this Manor and the Church, which it is presumed that be or hie predecessors had built upon it, to St. Radigund’s Abbey, which had only four vears previous to that date been founded. The Manor and the Church continued in the possession of the Abbot and Canons of that Abbey until its dissolution, when it went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it continues a possession of the See of Canterbury at the present time.

!Source: Hawkinge History 1246-1900 https://www.hawkinge-tc.gov.uk/your-community/history/

This is a william son of john: 1275 William son of John de Flegh gave his Old Manor House ‘Flegis Court’ in the Hundred of Folkestone,

>>> Hawkynge <<< and Evering, as well as the church to the Abbot and convent of St Radegund’s.

!Source: A rchaeological Desk-Based Assessment in Advance of the Proposed Development of Land at Coombe Wood Lane, Hawkinge, Kent. March 2022 https://www.swatarchaeology.co.uk/pdf/2022/49%20-%202200301%20Land%20adjacent%20to%20Coombe%20Wood%20Lane%20Hawkinge%20DBA.pdf

5.4.4 The Manor of Hawkinge was a part of the Barony of Folkestone and held by the

Avrenches Knight’s service and ward of Dover Castle. After the Conquest, this Manor

was held on strictly Military tenure, but a century later the holding was more in the

nature of fee simple, and the estates became hereditary. In the year 1156 this Manor

5.4.5 In 1275, William son of John de Flegh gave his Old Manor House ‘Flegis Court’ circa 1km

to the east in the Hundred of Folkestone, Hawkynge and Evering, as well as the church

!Source: British History Online, Parishes: Hawking https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol8/pp147-151#:~:text=To%20the%20northward%20is%20Hawkinge%2Dmill%20green%2C%20from%20a%20windmill%20on%20it%2C%20near%20which&text=in%20the%2023d%20year%20of%20which%2C%20William%2C,of%20John%20de%20Flegh%2C%20gave%20all%20his

THE MANOR OF HAWKING, alias Fleggs-court, by which latter name it is usually called, was antiently held of the barony of Folkestone, or Averenches, by knight's service, and ward to Dover castle, by a family who took their surname from it; one of whom, Ofbert de Hawking, held it in manner as above-mentioned, in king Henry II.'s reign, of William de Albrincis. After they were extinct here, it came into the possession of the Fleghs, in which it continued till the reign of king Edward I. in the 23d year of which [1294-5], William, son of John de Flegh, gave all his manor in the hundred of Folkestone, in Haueking and Evering, together with the church of Haueking, to the abbot and convent of St. Radigund; at which time the mansion of this manor had acquired its present name of Fleghs-court. In which situation this manor continued till the dissolution of the abbey in the 27th year of king Henry VIII. when it came into the king's hands, who, two years afterwards, granted the scite of the abbey, with all its possessions, in exchange, to the archbishop Cranmer: and he, that year, authorised by an act, reexchanged it again with the king. Notwithstanding which, this manor, but whether by any particular exception in the last exchange, or by some future grant, I have not found, became again soon afterwards part of the possessions of the see of Canterbury, where it still continues, his grace the archbishop being now entitled to the inheritance of it, Mr. Kelsey, of this parish, is the present lessee of it.

!Source: THE HISTORY AND TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY OF THE COUNTY OF KENT., By EDWARD HASTED, Efq F. R. S. and S. A., M.DCC.XCIX., https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c5/The_history_and_topographical_survey_of_the_county_of_Kent_%28IA_b28772155_0008%29.pdf

!Source: Durobrivis, Chapter 9, Thirteenth-century baronies. https://www.durobrivis.net/survey/db-ke/09-baronies.pdf

1263 Hamo de Crevocoeur and his wife Maud de Averches both died by April 5. Their IPM states, [1]

563. Hamo de Creuequer alias de Creuker, de Crewker and Maud de Avereng' alias de Averenches, de Haverenges, sometime his wife.

Robert de Creuker, son of Hamo de Creweker the younger, and nephew of the said Hamo deceased, aged 24 and more, is his heir….

Writ, to the sheriff of Essex. 5 April, 47 Hen. III., concerning lands held by the said Hamo of the inheritance of the said Maud, sometime his wife.

The said Hamo, who married Maud, sister and heiress of William de Averenches, begat of her four daughters, viz.—Agnes married to John de Sandwyco, Iseult , who was married to Nicholas de Lenham and had one son, name John, now aged 12, Ellen alias Eleanor married to Bartholomew de Kyriul, alias Bertram de Criel, and Isabel married to Henry de Gaunt; and the said Agnes, John, Ellen and Isabel are heirs of the said Maud….

Folkstone manor, with its hamlets, viz.—Walton, Newenton, Alcham, Achangre and Terlingham, which falls to the pourparty of Sir John de Sandwico and Sir Bertram de Crioll in right of Agnes and Eleanor, younger daughters and heirs of the said Maud including mills, wreck of sea, woods in the park of Herstling, and in Eeyndenn and Neweton, and customs called Mortonefar', Watelselver, Wodelode, &c. held with its appurtenances, advowsons and hundred, of the king in chief by knight's service, doing 20s. yearly to the king for the liberty of the hundred, and 15s. for the guard of Dover.

All the tenents ought to give a subsidy of 21l, 14s. 9d. for making the lord's eldest son a knight, and as much for marrying his eldest daughter.

[Saxthorpe ?] and Steyfeykeye, in co. Norfolk. 4 fees held by Sir William de Valenc'.

Londun, Ox . . , enn, Swynefeld and Walemer. 5 fees held by Sir Nicholas de Crioll.

Tankerton. 1 fee held by the brethren of Holmed. ¼ fee held by the abbot of . . . .

!Source: THE ORIGINS OF WHITSTABLE. BY GORDON WARD, M.D., F.S.A. https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65df7835178a9d2b20f8d501/t/675809ee27500836f83ffe2f/1733822959562/archaeologia-cantiana_057-07_the_origins_of_whitstable.pdf

This individual is associated with a Wiltshire Inquisition Post Mortem record dated between 1242 and 1377. The names and dates align closely with John and William Hawkins , who were responsible for the 1294–1295 donation of the Manor of Hawkinge and Flegis Court to St. Radegund’s Abbey. They retained the adjacent Nash Court estate, which became the long-term seat of the Hawkins family in Kent.

The Wiltshire entries strongly suggest that William and John le Haukere were the same individuals involved in that donation — likely appearing in these records due to ongoing legal obligations, land transactions, or ecclesiastical claims tied to the Abbey and its holdings.

Wiltshire, bordering Kent, was within the geographic sphere of Folkestone barony interests. These records may reflect transitional property holdings or residual duties related to the Kent estates, especially as such matters often spanned decades. The presence of Thomas le Haukere may represent either a close kin or administrative witness tied to the same affairs.

This reinforces the identification of this individual as part of the core Hawkins line descending from the Hotchkiss / Hokeswod family of Shropshire.

!Source: Wiltshire Social & Institutional Records 1123-1968 https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=WILTS%2FSOCIAL%2F0006786&tab=this

Source 1327-1377 covered by transcription printed by The Index Library, Chadwick-Healey Ltd.

William [Hawkins], de Northwood, de Hokeswod, de Flegh

Personal and Family Information

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Notes

Note 1