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Dorcas (Isham) Hoskins (abt. 1600 - aft. 1651)

Dorcas "Mira" [uncertain] Hoskins formerly Isham aka Foster
Born about in Englandmap
Daughter of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Wife of — married 3 Jul 1628 in St Dunstan's Church, Stepney, Londonmap
Descendants descendants
Died after after about age 51 in Elizabeth City County, Colony of Virginiamap
Profile last modified | Created 9 May 2011
This page has been accessed 6,242 times.
The Birth Date is a rough estimate. See the text for details.

Contents

Biography

Dorcas' origins are unknown. That includes her parents; her maiden name; and her first husband's given name.[1]

She married first someone by the name of Foster. Russell (1983), claims that Dorcas had several children with her first husband, Mr. Foster, including Richard.[2] Warner (1971), states that the husband of Dorcas was a Richard Foster, but he doesn't cite this claim.[3] Issue:

  • Richard Foster (b. 1619),[4] a.k.a. Richard Hoskins, succeeded step-father, Bartholomew Hoskins.[2]

Russell (1983), goes on to state that she married her second husband Bartholomew Hoskins, ancient planter of Virginia, during a trip to England.[2] But where the marriage took place is still unclear. According to the findings of Achievements of Canterbury, (n.d.)., Dorcas married her second husband Bartholomew Hoskins, by license. The entry was transcribed as follows:

" 3rd July 1628, St. Dunstan, Stepney, Bartholomew HOSKINS of St. Mary, Bothaw, London, gent, and Dorcas FOSTER of London, widow, L.F.O. married.

The study then focuses on the meaning of "L.F.O," and states:

L.F.O. probably means London Faculty Office, suggesting that Bartholomew and Dorcas married by license as we had suspected, but one which had been granted by the Faculty Office. The Faculty Office granted licenses to couples from different areas of the country who wished to marry in a parish other than their own.[5]

Dorcas and Bartholomew Hoskins had at least one child, Bartholomew II; but Hoskins was succeeded by his step-son, Richard Foster.[2] Russell (1983), states that there is no evidence that Bartholomew left any children who survived him. Warner (1971), believes that this second marriage produced the following children:[6][7]

  • Bartholomew
  • Richard
  • Dorcas
m. Richard Foster. Issue: dau. Dorcas.
  • (dau) UNKNOWN
m. (unproven) Thomas Meares[8]


In 1641, Dorcas is found petitioning on behalf of her second husband Bartholomew Hoskins (ancient planter of Viriginia), in a suit filed against him by John Carter and his wife, Joan.[9][10]

She died after 1651.[6][2]

Research Notes

Disputed Origins

Speculation has led to unproven claims that she was from the Isham family.[5] As such, she's been variously called:

  • Dorcas Ann Isham
  • and Mira Isham[11]

but there is no proof to back up these assertions.

Her parents had previously been shown as John Isham and Elizabeth Barker. They were removed as there is no evidence to support their identification (see changes).


Sources

  1. For the unknown identity of Mr. Foster see: "Our Foster/Morgan Ancestors," (2011, 26 July). Rootsweb.link
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Russell, 1983
  3. Warner, 1971
  4. Hotten, 1874
  5. 5.0 5.1 Achievements of Canterbury, (n.d.). PDF.[1]
  6. 6.0 6.1 Waters, 1893
  7. Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents, 1894
  8. Warner (1971), believes this unknown daughter married Thomas Meares and had issue, but doesn't cite this claim and bases it on geography and onamastics, since Thomas Meares had a son named, Bartholomew.
  9. 1641: Petition of Dorcas Hoskins, 1874.[2]
  10. Her son Richard Foster, seems to be mentioned as a 19-year-old deponent, during a possible lead-up in 1639, (Coldham, p. 1987, 208).link
  11. See Achievements of Canterbury, n.d.

Bibliography

  • "1641: Petition of Dorcas Hoskins," (1874). Report of the Royal Commission on Historical Manuscripts, 4, pp. 112. GB: H.M. Stationery Office. Google Books.link
  • Abstracts of Virginia Land Patents. (1894). The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography, 1(3), 310-324. JSTOR.link
  • Achievements of Canterbury, (n.d.). "The Foster family." Surnames.com. Web.[3] (download complete essay in PDF format.)link
  • Russell, G.E. (1983). Bartholomew Hoskins, gent: Some new findings. The Virginia Genealogist, 27(2). DC: J. F. Dorman. For access to this book see the general bibliography of "Lower Norfolk County, Virginia Genealogy," at FamilySearch.org.link
  • Fergusson, T.C. (n.d.). The Marriage Registers of St. Dunstan's Stepney in the County of Middlesex 1568-1639 , 1. N.p.
  • Warner, C.W.H. (1971). Hoskins of Virginia and related families of Hundley, Ware, Roy, Garnett, Waring, Bird, Buckner, Dunbar, Trible, Booker, Aylett, Carter, Upshaw Tappahannock, Virginia, pp. 12 ff. FamilySearch. eBook.link. CAUTION: There are some internal inconsistencies in the book, and there are many assumptions without evidence.
  • Waters, H. F. (1893). The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 47, pp. 68. NEHGS. John Ward Dean, Ed. Boston. Google Books.link

See also:

  • "Information on the Hoskins Family of Virginia," (n.d.). Geneajourney.com. Web.link




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Comments: 7

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Hoskins-632 and Isham-52 do not represent the same person because: Hoskins -632 was daughter of Isham-52, which is clearly stated in profile. Cheers!
posted by Chad Olivent
Based on what is in comments and in the narrative, would one of the profile managers please change her last name at birth to Unknown?

Then I suggest we add project protection (US Southern Colonies) so that incorrect parents are not added back.

Objections?

posted by Jillaine Smith
Sources is in both sides of my tree,foster/ marz [email address removed]
posted by John Marz
My family tree marz/Foster run into forces foster on both side,material grandfather John foster,nj,and paternal grandmother Mildred wisher hall.i am John marz [email address removed]
posted by John Marz
Sorted a bit. Note that the former est. DOB of 1587 is based on speculation aboout her being Mira Isham. Apparently, the essay released by Achievements of Canterbury, (n.d.), clarifies how she even came to be Mira in recent times. Long story short ... they went on a wild goose chase of uncited IGA and other trees which somehow came to believe Dorcas is an Isham. They investigated them but found nothing to substantiate the speculation. However, at least one of those trees used and est DOB of 1600AD for both Bart and Dorcas.

Bart is actually said to be born in 1601 (Waters, 1893). And given that Richard was b. abt. 1619 (it's in the ship's log), as well as the church laws dictating when people were old enough to marry (21 in the 17th century and maybe 16 with parental consent),[1] it's probably ok to say that Dorcas was born c. 1600.

That said... it's certain that she was living in 1641 because GB has court documentation to prove it (1641: Petition of Dorcas Hoskins, 1874). It's Waters (1893), that states she was living in 1651.

posted by [Living Ogle]
Dates & Events don't match up

If Dorcas Isham was born in 1587, she was 13 years older than her second husband Bartholomew Hoskins. She was also 42 years old when she married Hoskins in 1628 & had her daughter Katherine Hoskins who later married Thomas Meares. If Hoskins & Dorcas married in 1628, then how did they have a son in 1625? And another son in 1626 or 1627?

posted by [Living Boynton]
Removed parents, profile says her maiden name was unknown.
posted by Kirk Hess

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Categories: Virginia, Forster Name Study | Estimated Birth Date