Relationship to: Steve Wakely of NSW Australia - Paternal 16th Century Ancestor

Forenames : ROBERT

Date of Birth: c. 1520

Place of Birth : Probably Phillyholme, Hawkchurch, Dorset

Father's Name: William Wakely of Phillyholme

Mother's Name: Daughter (?) of John Rockett

Married (Spouse): Alice Balstone

Siblings:

1. Nicholas Wakely alias Rockett (?)

2. Richard Wakely alias Rockett (?)

Issue :

1. John Rockett alias Wakely c. 1549

2. Robert d.1600 m.Ann, widow of William Pinney

3. Joane m.Laurence Pye

4. Christian mentioned in John and Robert's wills.m. Richard Channing, had son Robert

5. Marie m.??? had daughter Alice mentioned with mother in Uncle Robert's will

6. Nicholas Paid sudsidy on three pounds in 1594

7. William Rockett alias Wakely of Whitestaunton, west of Chard. Will proved 1624. m.Elianor Children: Sylvester m.1596 Chard (ancestor Hartland & NW Devon Wakelys), John m.Joane (probable ancestors Honiton Wakelys), Nicholas (will proved 1616), Robert (d.1624) m. Faith, had d.Elianor (b.l616 Chardstock)

Other information:

Robert signed his will Rockett alias Wakely, but appears in all other records as Rockett. His will was proved in 1579 and at death resided at Chard. Like Colyton, Chard was an important centre of the wool and cloth trade. Robert was almost certainly a yeoman with extensive trading interests.

Robert's wife Alice Balstone is the first known Wakely bride and she was the daughter of Thomas and Cicely Balstone of Hawkchurch and sister of Sylvester Balstone. Thomas and Cicely died 1553, 1567 respectively. She was named as Alice Rockett in both her parent's wills; Robert (with Nicholas also) is named as brother-in-law of Alice"s brother John in the 1568 will and he re-appears as a legatee in the will of Alice's niece Ann in 1575. The Balstones appear in the 1525 lay subsidy in Phillyholme but not in the 1327 or 1332 returns. Their main 16th century centre appears to have been Honiton. They disappear from the Phillyholme scene about the first quarter of 17th cent. going then towards Bridport.

Two pieces or evidence help assess Robert's probable date of birth: his marriage to Alice and his appearance in the muster roll of 1542. A minimum age of 21 at marriage means he must have been born before 1532. The muster roll for which 16 was the minimum age brings this back to 1526. Assuming he was the eldest of the three sons of William who were also mustered then 1520 seems a good estimate. This in turn fits in well with the presumed birth date of his son John c.1549.