Robert was born about AUG 1539 in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, England, the son of Robert Hotchkiss / Hoskins and UNKNOWN.
He had two marriages/partners. His first wife was Jane Fosse, who he married on 18 NOV 1554 in Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, England. They had no known children.
His second wife was Mary Whatlye, who he married on 26 NOV 1556 in Westbury, Wiltshire, England. Their thirteen known children were Joan (1557-1557), Anne (c1558-?), UNKNOWN (1558-1558), Elenora [George] (c1560-?), Jewell (c1561-1598), Christopher (c1561-?), Thomas “George” (c1561-?), Margeria (c1562-?), Alicia (c1564-<1568), John (1567-?), Johannes (c1570-c1570), Margareta (c1570-?) and Elizabeth (c1572-?).
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| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT AUG 1539 |
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Note 1
!StyleName: Hotchkiss / Hoskins, Robert, Jr II [1539 - ?]
!Note: Likely twin.
!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.
!Source: Bedfordshire Marriages https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=R_857638850&tab=this
First name Robarte
Spouse's first name Jane
Last name Hawkins
Spouse's last name Fosse
Marriage year 1554
Record set Bedfordshire Marriages
Date 18 Nov 1554
Category Birth, Marriage & Death
Place Houghton Regis
Subcategory Parish Marriages
County Bedfordshire
Collections from England, Great Britain
Country England
!Source: Bedfordshire Marriages https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=XAUTO%2FFHS%2FBEDFORDSHIRE%2FMAR%2F00049398%2F1&tab=this
First name Robert
Marriage county Bedfordshire
Last name Hawkins
Country England
Gender Male
Description All Saints
Marriage date 18 Nov 1554
Repository Bedfordshire Archives
Marriage year 1554
Document ref Parish Register
Marriage place Houghton Regis, All Saints
Entry number 34781
Spouse's first name Jane
Record set Bedfordshire Marriages
Spouse's last name Fosse
Category Birth, Marriage & Death
Spouse's sex Female
Subcategory Parish Marriages
Denomination Anglican
Collections from Great Britain, England