Robert,
second son of Sir John Hotham IX is not shown in Glover's pedigree of the
Hothams of Scorborough [1].
He was probably born about 1492. By a charter dated 10th August 1516, John
Hotham X, his elder brother, enfeoffed Thomas Metham, Henry Eure, and George
Hotham, of the manors of Dunsforth, Brampton, and Little Usborne, for the use
of Robert, Hugh, and William Hotham, his brothers for life with remainder to
his right heirs [2].
On 4 August
1526, Thomas Metham junior, John Coppley, and John Anne, esquires and Robert
Hothome, gentleman were feoffees of a grant in special tail by Brian Hastings,
William Coppley, esquires and Thomas Rerisby, son of Ralph Rerisby, at the
special request of Thomas Portington, esquire, son and heir of John Portington,
deceased, of messuages in Leeds, a messuage in Potter Newton and the capital
messuage in Barnby Dun, Arksay, Thurnsco and Whetlay [3].
Thomas Metham and John Anne, were brothers-in-law of Robert Hotham, having
married his sisters Maud and Katherine. Brian Hastings was the youngest brother
of Isabel Hastings, the first wife of Robert's father and had married Agnes,
daughter of Thomas Portington, esquire of Barnby Dun [4].
It appears
that Robert Hotham was employed by Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmorland as his steward
in Yorkshire. In October 1537 he was involved, apparently reluctantly, in the
rebellion known as the Pilgrimage of Grace. At an enquiry, John Halom of
Calkehill, yeoman, stated that Robert Howtham, Harry Newark, William Cowrsor
and himself, were named as captains of all the commons from Beverley to
Driffield. However, the other three captains of his company "slynked
away" by little and little and left him alone [5].
In a muster
taken in Harthill wapentake in 1539 he was the leader of the Scorborough levy
of 21 men, together with William Courser, the husband of his sister Anne [6].
Robert Hotham was one of the executors of Elizabeth Metham who died in the
early 1530’s. His sister Maud, was married to Elizabeth Metham’s son Thomas
Metham [7].
Robert
Hothome of Etton, esquire, made his will on 4 August 1540, which was proved on
1 October 1540. He desired to be buried in the quire of the church in Etton. He
mentions the following family members in his will: Jane Hothome his wife,
William Hothome his son, John Anlaby, Thomas Anlaby, Isabel Anlaby, and Thomas
Coldoke [8].
The will of his wife Jane is dated 18 February 1540, which was proved on 24 May
1541. She mentions her daughters, Jane Coldoke, Isabel Anlaby and Elizabeth
Anlaby, and her brother-in-law William Hotham [9].
[1] Foster, Visitation of
Yorkshire, 1584-85 and 1612, 89.
[2] TNA: C 142/43/64 as cited in
Saltmarshe, History of the Hothams, 95.
[3] Brown, Yorkshire Deeds Vol.
1, 24, No. 57.
[4] Raine, Test. Ebor. III,
277n.
[5] Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic,
Henry VIII, vol. 12 Part 1: January-May 1537 (1890), 90.
[6] Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic,
Henry VIII, vol. 14 Part 1: January-July 1539 (1894), 310
[7] Court of Chancery: Six Clerks Office: Early
Proceedings, Richard II to Philip and Mary, C 1/858/20-21.
[8] John W. Clay, ed., Testamenta
Eboracensia: A Selection of Wills from the Registry at York, Vol. VI,
Surtees Society 106, 1902, 102.
[9] Ibid., 103.
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