My research suggests that he was the brother (or cousin) of Hugh Robotham of Thame - and Hugh is the one from which we are descended (see his section).
Their ancestors are discussed in "Derbyshire 1400s and 1500s"
Robert was born about 1520. He was chosen by Henry VIII to be a member of Prince Edward's household in 1543 as a groom and when the young Edward became King in 1547 Robert started an illustrious career, including Yeoman of the Robes (looking after the royal wardrobe) and worked very close to the king until Edward died in 1553 (he was only 9 when he became king, died at 15.
Robert was put in charge of Berry Pomeroy castle in Devon after Protector Somerset was ousted and was variously steward of St John's Wood ( a hunting wood north of London that is now part of central London), in charge of Customs in Newcastle and a member of several Parliaments. the parliamentary records are very useful here:
(click on the image below to see it clearly)
Robert married Grace Paget, daughter of Robert Paget, brother of the very important Royal Household figure of William Paget. They lived in Raskelf in Yorkshire and Warwicke Inne, just north of St Pauls in the City of London and worshipped at Christ Church Newgate, a massive church that is now reduced to a couple of walls near Merrill Lynch's office just West of St Paul's. The register of baptisms weddings and funerals for this church record the birth of their children and some of the subsequent weddings. The children all married well, as can be seen from the record of the family tree that accompanied the Herald's Visitation of Hertfordshire in 1643 - there is a lot more supportive information in other sections to expand this chart,
Robert died in 1571, having made his will in 1570. He was well off, and left most of his wealth to his son John, who then married his father's ward Margaret Grace (her father was a goldsmith in London) - they lived in the manor house of Newland Squillers in St Albans (but mor of this in John's own section!)
Robert's will is recorded, as you can see - I am fascinated by the bequests at the start of the will because these all show him to have been a Puritan and supporter of the Predestination version of the church that was prevalent in Geneva. Sampson was a leading minister in Elizabethan times, as was Berneher, whose daughter was mentioned in the will as Berneher's children were by many supporters. I am working in understanding the significance of the gold rings and inscriptions - broadly translated they mean vive ut vivas - live life to the fullest, mors lucrum - your reward will be in heaven.
remember to click to see clearly
Grace Robotham later remarried (her 3rd marriage) to Godfrey Fanshawe, the brother of the Queen's Remembrancer Thomas - responsible for making sure exchequer business ran smoothly. Godfrey Fanshawe was not as influential as his brother Robert and was a clerk in the Exchequer Office. He was appointed Master of Ilford Hospital in 1578.
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