Individual Details

This, our Hoskinson history begins in 1651 in St. Johns Parish, in the town of Preston, Lancashire County, England with John Hodgkinson, the father of our Thoma s Hoskinson. John was born there on 15 February 1651. The father of this John was also a John Hodgkinson of Preston and is believed to have been born there about 1620. Our John Hodgkinson (Jr.), a Butcher, was married to Mary Birchall on 13 April 1678 in St. Johns Parish. John and Mary had three children that the writer could determine . Our Thomas, who was born on 1 February 1679, James, born on 14 August 1681, and Elizabeth, born in March of 1683. Unfortunately James and Elizabeth died very young and at nearly the same time, James on 26 October 1689, and Elizabeth o n 1 November, 1689, just 6 days apart. Their deaths occurring so close together could certainly suggest that some type of plague or other catastrophe was loose in the community, which was not at all uncommon in those times. Preston is located along the Irish sea coast, near the mouth of the River Ribble, on the northwest side of England, 25 miles north of Liverpool. Preston was already a very old town when Thomas was born. It gained its name sometime in the dark ages, just after the Romans left and before 500 AD. The name PRESTON, meaning "Priest Town" is said to come from its being owned at one time by Monks. In this area 's lifetime it has survived the Roman legions, Normans, Saxons, the Medieval times, Cavaliers, Roundheads, Royalists , Rebels and other groups that have fought and battled for its control over the centuries. This was done with bow and arrow, sword and shield, spear and mace and many other ancient type weapons, ending in the gunpowder era. In 1322 the Scots army of Robert Bruce set fire to the town and later the town was a major battle field in the Civil war between the Royalists and Parliamentarian forces. In its history it has also enjoyed many good times along with the bad and has survived into the present day in a peaceful and prosperous manner. Linen spinning and cloth making was its earliest trade, going back before the 12th and 13th centuries. A petition given in 1704 stated that "linen cloth making had been a settled trade in that are a for many ages". The later years brought in all types of
industrial and commercial enterprises which has allowed the town to develop into an important modern center. There were many Hodgkinsons in and around Preston in the 14th , 15th and 16th centuries. It is not known from where they originated, but given the history of Preston was no doubt from central or northern Europe. Some have said they came from Norway, but I did not find any specifics about this in my research. A number of Hodgkinsons are mentioned in the history of the area. Some were active in the history of Preston in both its political and Industrial evolution. Starting in 1572 a James Hodgkinson and George Horsey ran for Parliamentary Election. Later several Hodgkinsons were elected and held posts as Mayors and bailiffs: 1599 H. Hodgkinson Mayor;1604 R . Hodgkinson, Mayor; 1607 H. Hodgkinson, Mayor; 1688 Wm. Ho dgkinson Bailiff; 1660 Jas.Hodgkinson mayor; 1851 Jas. Hodg kinson1 Mayor and Richard Hodgkinson Bailiff; 1662 Richar d Hodgkinson,Bailiff; 1564 Luke Hodgkinson mayor; 1572 T. H odgkinson, Mayor; 1674 Luke Hodgkinson, mayor; 1677 L. Hodg kinson mayor; In 1680 the last of the Hodgkinson mayors was T. Hodgkinson. There were others who were Aldermen etc, including a Thomas Hodgkinson of Preston in 1678. In 1662 James Hodgkinson was mayor during a Guild meet ing and celebration: which was a big event lasting several weeks and was held about every 20 years. The Guild represented and controlled the working people,businesses and trades, something on the order of a department of Labor. It was noted in the history that in the 16th century t he inner walls of the parish Church were encrusted with monuments of every age and style The na mes of those who flouri shed in this ancient borough were placed on tablets, cut mo st curiously from marble1 to the memory of the following
persons who had ruled, and respected the laws of this kingdom in their time. Hodgkinson was one of the many names inscribed there. In the mid 1600's a J.B. Hodgkinson provided for, and presented the new museum at Preston, with a large collection of mounted birds of the British Islands. At the time that Thomas migrated to the plantations i n Maryland the Preston area was undergoing some difficult and hard times 1 something that had plagued its people off and on for generations. This no doubt had some influence an d bearing on why and when Thomas left for America. Other than his siblings it is not known what happened to his parents, they may have died before Thomas left which would have added to his problems. In trying to learn more about Thomas's family I researched all of the available Church records and WILLS probated under the letter "H " for the Preston/Lancashire area. This was for the time pe riod from 1683 to 1710, but found only the John Hodgkinson born in 1651 who is believed to have been Thomas's father. [An Outline of the Azariah Hoskins /Hoskinson Family History; Robert J. Hoskins; Raleigh, North Carolina]

Birth	15 Feb 1651	Preston, Lancashire, England
Christen	26 Aug 1655	Preston Saint John, Lancashire, England
Marriage	13 Apr 1678	Saint John's Church, Preston, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom - Mary BIRCHALL
Death	Calc May 1745	Preston, Lancashire, England
Burial	16 May 1745	Preston Saint John, Lancashire, England

Spouse	Mary BIRCHALL (1657 - 1687)
Child	Thomas HOSKINSON (1679 - 1743)
Child	James HODGKINSON (1681 - 1689)

Father	John HODGKINSON (1613 - 1689)
Mother	Ann PRESTON (1620 - 1672)