Robert Hotchkiss / Hoskins

Personal and Family Information

Robert was born about NOV 1538, the son of Robert Hotchkiss / Hoskins and Elynor Hodgkinson. The place is not known.

He died in SEP 1539. The place is not known.

Pedigree Chart (3 generations)

Events

Notes

Note 1

!StyleName: Hotchkiss / Hoskins, Robert, Jr I [1538 - 1539]

!Note: 1539–1542 in England - Context:

This period saw major disruption from the Dissolution of the Monasteries, which shuttered not just religious houses but also church-run hospitals, schools, and poor relief. The fallout from the Pilgrimage of Grace led to executions and heightened tension in the north. Combined with land seizures, Cromwell’s fall, royal instability, and sporadic disease outbreaks, the result was widespread displacement, hardship, and family fragmentation. These conditions likely explain the high rate of early deaths, remarriages, and child relocations during this time.

!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: Warwickshire Baptisms https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=R_21906760904&tab=this

First name Robrt

Mother's last name -

Last name Hopkins

Place Barford

Sex Male

County Warwickshire

Birth year -

Country England

Baptism year 1539

Source Warwickshire Baptism Index 1538-1900

Baptism date 23 Jan 1539

Record set Warwickshire Baptisms

Father's first name Robrt

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Father's last name Hopkins

Subcategory Parish Baptisms

Mother's first name -

Collections from England, Great Britain

Note: Gregorian Calendar

!Source: Warwickshire Baptisms https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FWARWICKSHIRE%2FBAP%2F001200618&tab=this

First name Robert

Country England

Last name Hopkins

Archive Warwickshire County Record Office

Birth year -

Archive reference DR0048/1

Baptism year 1539

Document type Parish registers

Baptism date 23 Jan 1539

Register type Baptisms, marriages & burials

Father's first name Robert

Register year range 1538-1631

Father's last name Hopkins

Page 5

Mother's first name -

Record set Warwickshire Baptisms

Denomination Anglican

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Place Barford

Subcategory Parish Baptisms

County Warwickshire

Collections from England, Great Britain

Note: Gregorian Calendar

!Source: Warwickshire Burials https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=R_21906761048&tab=this

First name Robert

Place Barford

Last name Hopkins

County Warwickshire

Sex Male

Country England

Birth year -

Source Warwickshire Burial Index 1538-1900

Death year 1539

Record set Warwickshire Burials

Burial year 1539

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Burial date 16 Nov 1539 <<<< Wrong date from next record which was Maude Hopkins’ burial.

Subcategory Parish Burials

Residence -

Collections from England, Great Britain

Father's first name Robert

!Source: Warwickshire Burials https://www.findmypast.com/transcript?id=GBPRS%2FWARWICKSHIRE%2FBUR%2F000449031&tab=this

Record set Warwickshire Burials

Page 11

First name Robert

Burial date 29 Sep 1539

Last name Hopkins

Archive Warwickshire County Record Office

Burial year 1539

Archive reference DR0048/1

Death year -

Event type Baptisms, marriages & burials

Denomination Anglican

Records year range 1538-1631

County Warwickshire

Category Birth, Marriage & Death

Country England

Subcategory Parish Burials

Place Barford

Collections from England, Great Britain

Document type Parish registers