Francis Hacker (1633 - bef. 1694)

Born 26 May 1633 in Stathern, Leicestershire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Anna (Wolfris) Hacker — married 1672 in Saint Botolph's Church Aldgate, London, England

Died before 1694 before age 60 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England [uncertain]

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Research Notes:

William Hacker

While family legend in America has it that William Hacker the immigrant to Virginia was this Francis's son or descendant, there is no evidence to support such a connection. His profile has been detached.

Marriage to Anne

Francis was previously attached as a spouse of Anne Wood, however there is no reliable evidence for this marriage, and research suggests that his wife was actually Anne Wolfris. Accordingly Anne Wood has been detached as his spouse.

Biography

Francis Hacker, son of Colonel Francis Hacker and his wife Isabelle Brunts, was born in 1633^[1] at his father's seat of Stathern in Leicestershire. After attending Coventry School, he was admitted to Peterhouse College of Cambridge at the age of 16, March 28, 1649.^[2] There is no record of his taking a degree. In 1659, he received a commission as cornet in his father's regiment of horse when it was newly commissioned by Parliament.^[3]

His father, Francis Hacker II, was deeply involved in the regicide of King Charles I, and once the monarchy was restored in 1660, he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered: the usual penalty for treason. However, the sentence was commuted to hanging at the appeal of "his friends." George Bate wrote: he was put in a herse which was then brought to carry back his body, his Son hath begged the same from the King. ^[4] More likely, the successful appeal had come from his brother Rowland Hacker who had fought loyally in the king's forces, losing a hand in his service. Besides death, there was a sentence of attainder - the confiscation of the regicide's estate.^[5] Thus, in a deathstroke, his son was disinherited. Part of the estate, forfeited to the Crown, was repurchased by Rowland Hacker. There is no evidence this property was ever transferred to Francis his son, although he could have inherited from his mother.

Following the execution of his father, Francis seems to have largely disappeared from history. He married Anne Wolfris. The marriage of Francis Hacker, gentleman, and An (sic) Woolfris, spinster, was recorded at St Botolph Aldgate on 9 January 1672/3.^[6] In 1672, he brought a lawsuit in Chancery: Hacker v Wright. "Plaintiffs: Francis Hacker and Anne Hacker his wife. Defendants: Sir Benjamin Wright and Robert Burdett. Subject: personal estate of the deceased Nathan Wright], of London." Nathan Wright was the grandfather of Anne Wulfris, Sir Benjamin Wright was his son, and Burdett named as an executor of his Will. Francis and Anna Hacker complained that Sir Benjamin Wright, as executor of his father's Will, had failed to pay the legacy left to Anna. ^[7]

The marriage had children:

A son Francis was baptised in 1676 to Francis and Anne Hacker at St Guthlake's, Stathern, Leicestershire. ^[8] He died unmarried in 1715.

A daughter Anne was born there in 1673. ^[9]

A son John Wulfris Hacker was baptised at St Mary Nottingham, 10 July 1682, parents Francis Hacker and Anna Hacker,^[10] He married on 5 April 1712 at Allhallows London Wall, to a Susannah Cocks (Cooks).^{[11] [12]} The groom was stated to be 29 years of age.

A daughter Elizabeth was baptised in Nottingham on 18 June 1684. ^[13] She married Rev Anthony Lynch in 1703/4 and died in 1757.

Francis Hacker died before 5 June 1694 when his will was proved at the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The will had been written in June 1685, some nine years previously when he was described as "of Nottingham". His wife Ann was appointed as executrix and also primary legatee. She also inherited lands at Stathern which were to pass to the eldest son Francis at her death. The son Francis was the only child mentioned by name in the will, although the wording shows that he had other living siblings at this time. Transcription of the will: Will of Francis Hacker, Gentleman, of Nottingham, 1694

On 13 December 1694, Anne Hacker, as executrix of his estate, was described as his widow in a lawsuit ^[14]

Sources

1. ↑ "England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP43-FSC1 : 6 June 2018), Francis Hacker, 26 May 1633; records extracted by findmypast, images digitized by FamilySearch; Baptism, Stathern, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, page , Citing the Record Office of Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland, Wigston, UK.
2. ↑ https://archive.org/details/alumnicantabrigipt1vol2univiala/page/278
3. ↑ British History Online [1]
4. ↑ Brown, Cornelius. Lives of Nottinghamshire Worthies London: H Sotheran & Co.,1882. p 198. [2]
5. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography [3]
6. ↑ City of London/ St Botolph, Aldgate/ 1653-1675 Ancestry UK
7. ↑ C 6/286/28 Hacker v Wright
8. ↑ England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991. Baptism, Stathern, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, page 3; citing the Record Office of Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland, Wigston, UK. [4]
9. ↑ England, Leicestershire Parish Registers, 1533-1991. citing Baptism, Stathern, Leicestershire, England, United Kingdom, page, citing the Record Office of Leicestershire, Leicester, and Rutland, Wigston, UK. [5]
10. ↑ England and Wales, Christening Index 1530-1980[6]
11. ↑ London and Surrey, England, Marriage Bonds and Allegations. [7]
12. ↑ Boyd's Marriage Indexes: 1538 - 1850.
13. ↑ FindMyPast Bishops Transcripts
14. ↑ http://www.uh.edu/waalt/index.php/C78_1694