John Hodsoll
London mariner who became a gentleman of Cowfold, Sussex, and a major supplier of wood products to the Royal Navy. He leased a wharf at Ratcliff in 1592/3, bought Lower Northovers in Steyning in 1607, subscribed to the Virginia Company in 1612, and died at Cowfold in 1617. Father of Bennett Hodsoll, wife of Edmund Freeman.
Life
- c. 1555Born
- c. 1579Married Anne Maundy
- c. 1614Married Faith Moorer
- 1617Diedbetween 1 Aug and 16 Nov 1617, Cowfold, Sussex, Englanddocumentedproven
- 〃Buried20 Nov 1617, Cowfold, Sussex, England
The burial date is after the probate date of 16 Nov 1617 as both are given; check the register and the probate act.
Family
- Father
- John Hodsoll
- Spouse 1
Pedigree
Notes
“John Hodsoll of the City of London, mariner,” leased a wharf at Ratcliff in 1592/3 (London Archives M/093/196). As “John Hodsoll of London, gent.,” he bought Lower Northovers in Steyning for £310 on 27 May 1607 (WSRO SAS-BA/294). A subscriber to the Virginia Company’s third charter, 1612: “Hodsale, John, 3. Sub.; pd. £37 10s.” (Brown, Genesis of the United States). Sued by the Sherleys of Wiston over cutting timber. Bush describes him as “a major supplier of wood products to the Royal Navy.”
His will, as “John Hodsell, Gentleman of Cowfold” (1 Aug 1617, proved 16 Nov 1617), names his “daughter Bennett wife of Edmund Freeman.” His children were baptised at All Saints Barking or St Dunstan’s, Stepney.
Open questions
- He is said to have been buried on 20 Nov 1617, four days after the will was proved on 16 Nov. One of the two dates is probably misread.