Robert Fiske (abt. 1521 - bef. 1602)

Born about 1521 in Laxfield, Suffolk, England

Ancestors

Husband of Sybil (Gould) Fiske — married about 1550 in Suffolk, England [uncertain]

Husband of Joan (Unknown) Fiske — married about 1572 in Laxfield, Suffolk, England

Descendants

Died before 28 Jul 1602 before about age 81 in St. James, South Elham, Suffolk, England

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Biography

Robert Fiske was born in Suffolk, England.

Robert Fiske, son of Geoffrey Fiske and Alice Dalling, was born about 1521, probably in Laxfield, Suffolk, England. It should be noted that his father incorrectly appears in some accounts as "Richard" and is called "Geoffrey (Richard) Fiske" in Myrtle Stevens Hyde's 2016 3-part account of this family.^[1]

Robert was taxed at Laxfield in the subsidy of 34-35 Henry VIII [1542-1544] and again on 17 April 1545 in goods valued at £13, on which a 'benevolence' of 13s. was exacted. He was taxed there again on 4 March 1545/6, when he was taxed 12s. in goods at Laxfield.^[1][2]

As early as 1554, Robert was of Fressingfield, Suffolk, where the baptism of his sons were recorded: Richard on 16 July 1554 and Eleazar on 31 May 1556. The records of the baptisms of his eldest son, William, and of his other children have not been found.^[2]

One widely quoted source for Fiske family genealogists is Matthias Candler, born in 1604 and educated at Cambridge. He authored the "Candler Manuscript" now housed at the British Museum. His account of the family has not been independently verified but contains some harrowing accounts of religious persecution, if true.

Robert is said to have "fled for religion in Q. Maries dayes",^[1] with Candler claiming that it was probably soon after 1556 that Robert and Sybil moved to St. James Parish, South Elham, Suffolk.^[2]

In the Suffolk lay subsidy of 10 Elizabeth [1567-1568], Robert was taxed at St. James South Elmham 2s. 8d.,^[1] in lands valued at £1.^[2] He was later found in South Elmham on 10 October 1575, when he witnessed his brother William's will, and again on 2 January 1578/9 as a witness to William's codicil.^[1][3]

Marriages and Children

Robert was first married to the widow Sibilla (Gold) Barber by about 1522. Sibilla brought a son, Nicholas Barber, to the marriage.^[1] Robert and Sibilla had the following children together (birth order uncertain):

• William, named in Robert's will;^[1] eldest child, born about 1550; died by 17 May 1620; married Anna Austye and had issue ^[2]
• Jeffrey, named in Robert's will;^[1] born about 1552, died by 23 July 1629, married Mary Cooke and had issue^[2]
• Richard, baptized at Fressingfield 16 July 1554; died young^[2]
• Eleazear, named in Robert's will;^[1] baptized at Fressingfield 31 May 1556, died by 4 July 1615, married Elizabeth _____, died without issue^[2]
• Elizabeth, named in Robert's will;^[1] born about 1558, married Robert Barnard^[2]
• Thomas, named in Robert's will;^[1] born about 1560, buried 26 February 1610/11, married Margery _____ and had issue^[2]

Robert's wife, Sibilla, was buried at St. James, South Elmham on 30 April 1571.^[1]

Robert married second to Joan (surname unknown) who was buried 3 August 1587 at St. James, South Elmham.^[2] They had no children together.

Robert's sons William, Jeffrey, and Thomas Fiske had descendants who settled in America.^[4]

Will

Robert's will dated 10 April 1590 was proved on 28 July 1602 at Metfield, Suffolk by his executors (sons, Eliezar and Geoffrey (or Jeffery) Fiske). [Archdeaconry of Suffolk, Ipswich Probate Registry 1602-1603, folio #144; Will #47 Robert Fiske].^[2][3]

Last Will of Robert Fiske, "whelewright" of Fressingfield and St. James Parish in South Elmam, Suffolk County, England, "trusting and stedfastlie beleiving to be saved by the death and precious bloudshedding of our lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

To my eldest son William Fiske, my tenement called Hoves, in the parish of St.James, according to the custom of the manor, he paying to my daughter Elizabeth, now the wife of Robert Barnard, or to the said Robert, in the dwelling house of my said tenement called Hoves, £18 (in instalments).

To my son Eliezar and to Elizabeth, his wife, all my freehold lands in St.James, Elmham, [they] paying yearly to my son William 2-1/2d., for their lives, and paying to my son Thomas Fiske, at the dwelling house of the said tenement called Hoves, £8, as follows; £4 within one month of my decease and £4 at the end of a year following that payment. The free lands are to pass to my son Thomas, if Eliezar and Elizabeth fail to be bound for the above payment. On the death of Eliezar and Elizabeth (and of Thomas, if tenant of the free lands), the free lands are to pass to my son William, he paying to my son Thomas £3, in consideration thereof, one month after my decease.

To the poor of St. James 10s., out of my moveables, after my decease, and 10s. more to such other godly poor people as shall be thought most needful and charitable by my executors, at such times as to them shall seem most convenient.

To my 'bedchildren' [sic, ? belchildren] 40s., to be equally divided among them and paid into the hands of their parents.

To Nicholas Barbor of Chepenell Greene 30s., for him to divide equally among his children.

My executors are to have those houses, parcel of the said tenement, which are now in my own hands and occupying, for one month after my decease.

To my executors 5s. 8d. each.

The residue of my estate is to be equally divided among my children then living, by agreement, or by the appointment of John Laurance, the Elder, Gent., and he is to have 6s. 8d.

executors: my sons Jefferie Fiske and Eliezar Fiske.

witnesses: Robert Lawter, Thomas Starke.

dated: 10 April 1590.

Research Notes

Correct Descendancy

Robert Fiske is descended from (according to Moriarty and Hyde)

.1 Hugh Fiske, probably grandson of an earlier Hugh Fiske

..2 Simon Fiske, b ca 1397

...3 Geoffrey, b ca 1426

....4 Geoffrey (aka Richard) b ca 1472; m Alice Dalling

Any previous accounts of his lineage (see below) have been superseded by G. Andrews Moriarty (1933) and Myrtle Stevens Hyde (2016/2017).

Disproved Descendancies

Robert IS NOT descended from Symond or Simon, Lord of the Manor of Stradhaugh, Laxfield Parish, Suffolk, who lived in the reign of Henry IV, V, and VI and IS NOT armigerous. The right to use a coat of arms was granted to Professor Nicholas Fiske in 1633.^[5]

He IS NOT descended as follows:

.1 Symond Fiske, m: Sarah Smyth

..2 William Fiske, m: Joah Lynne

...3 Simon Fiske (eldest son)

....4 Simon Fiske (eldest son)

.....5 Robert Fiske, m: Mrs. Sybil (Gould) Barber. ^[6][7]

And IS NOT descended as follows:

.1 Symond Fiske m: Sarah Smyth

..2 William Fiske, m: Sarah Lynne

...3 Richard Fiske

....4 Robert Fiske, m: Mrs. Sybil (Gould) Barber.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Hyde, Myrtle Stevens. "A Re-Examination of the Fiske Family of Suffolk, England Ancestral to Some Early New England Families" (continued) in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: NEHGS, October 2016, vol. 170, no. 4, pp. 339-346 (see pp. 345-346: Robert Fiske). AmericanAncestors.org($).
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11} Moriarty, G. Andrews. "Genealogical Research in England. The Fiske Family" in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston: NEHGS, 1934, vol. 88, pp. 265-273. AmericanAncestors.org($) (calls father Richard and mother unknown).
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Moriarty, G. Andrews. "Genealogical Research in England. The Fiske Family" in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: NEHGS, 1932, vol. 86, pp. 406-435. AmericanAncestors.org($): collection of Fiske wills in England (Robert pp. 426-427; Jeffery p. 435, brother William pp. 423-424).
4. ↑ Essex Institute Historical Collections. Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1868, vol. 8, p. 175. Archive.org
5. ↑ Fisk-Fiske Family Association webste
6. ↑ Fisk, Henry. Fiske Family Papers. Norwich, ENG: Fletcher & Son Ltd., 1902, p. 60. .pdf
7. ↑ The Heraldic Journal, July 1867, p. 120. Google Books

See also:

• Hyde, Myrtle Stevens. "A Re-Examination of the Fiske Family of Suffolk, England Ancestral to Some Early New England Families" (part 3) in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, vol. 171 (Winter 2017): pages 70-77. AmericanAncestors.org($): info on mother's and wife's family (Dalling and Gold).
• Moriarty, G. Andrews. "Genealogical Research in England. The Fiske Family" in The New England Historical and Genealogical Register. Boston, MA: NEHGS, 1933, vol. 87, pp. 222-223. AmericanAncestors.org($): Suffolk lay subsidies.