William was born about 1477, the son of unknown parents. The place is not known.
His wife was Margaret. They were married, but the date and place have not been found. They had no known children.
| Event | Date | Details | Source | Multimedia | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birth | ABT 1477 |
Note 1
!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