Robert Hopton (died 1590) facts for kids

Robert Hopton was an important person in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He lived in Yoxford, Suffolk, and also in London. Robert Hopton served as the Knight Marshal of the Household from 1560 to 1577. This was a special job where he helped keep order and manage the royal household.

He was also a Member of Parliament for a place called Mitchell in 1563. This meant he was chosen to represent his area in the English Parliament, helping to make laws for the country. Robert was the son of Sir Arthur Hopton and the brother of Sir Owen Hopton, who was in charge of the famous Tower of London.

Robert Hopton's Important Role

Robert Hopton shared the important job of Knight Marshal with another person named Sir Ralph Hopton. Sir Ralph had held this position for many years. In 1560, Queen Elizabeth I officially gave the job to both Ralph and Robert. They were to hold this role together for their entire lives.

What a Knight Marshal Did

The Knight Marshal was like a chief of police for the royal court. They were in charge of keeping peace and order within the Queen's household and the areas around it. This included managing the Marshalsea Court, which dealt with certain legal matters.

Working with Prisoners

One of the duties of the Knight Marshal was to look after important people who were held in custody. For example, in 1564, Robert Hopton and his team escorted a notable person named Edmund Bonner to a higher court called the Court of King's Bench. This showed the responsibility they had in the legal system of the time.

Family and Legacy

Sir Ralph Hopton, who worked with Robert, wanted to make sure his family name continued. He arranged for his wife's niece, Rachel Hall, to marry Robert Hopton's nephew, Arthur Hopton. This marriage helped connect the two branches of the Hopton family.

After Sir Ralph Hopton passed away in 1571, Robert Hopton continued to serve as the Knight Marshal on his own until 1577.

Robert's Family Life

Robert Hopton was married to Dorothy Pakenham. They had a daughter, also named Dorothy, who became his main heir. In his will, Robert made his daughter Dorothy a joint executor, meaning she would help manage his estate. He also appointed his nephew, Arthur Hopton (the son of his brother Sir Owen Hopton), to be Dorothy's guardian since she was still young.

Later, Robert's daughter Dorothy married Arthur Hopton's oldest son, Owen Hopton. This marriage further strengthened the family connections.