Robert Voute / Vout / Vewt was born around 1576 likely in Norwich, Norfolk, England. His baptism has not been found.
Robert was the son of Nicholas Voute 1547-1624 and Ellen who died in 1629.
Robert Vout who was admitted as a freeman cordwainer on 14th June 1597 by right of patrimony (father to son), as the son of Nicholas Vought, cordwainer.
(Percy Millican’s book freeman of Norwich up to 1714).
On 10 January 1601 Robert married Anne Gyles at the church of St Michael at Plea in Norwich. There is a baptism for an Anne Gyles in 1581, father William in Topcroft, Norfolk (13 miles south of Norwich) which may be for her.
Robert and Anne had a large family of 10 children. The children were all baptised at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich.
St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
- Anna b 1602
- Samuel b 1604 d 1666. Marr Elizabeth Durnal. Memorial in St Peter Mancroft.
- Robert b 1607 d 1607 Norwich
- Ellen b 1609 marr Francis Aldham
- Margaret b 1612 d 1672 married George Hall
- Nicholas b 1614
- Susannah/Hannah b 1615 d 1640 Norwich. Marr Rev Matthew Stoneham. 2 children.
- Richard b 1616 d 1622 Norwich
- John b 1618
- Anne b 1619 d 1709 Norwich. Marr Elias Browne and John Leverington. 10 children.
In 1603 Robert was admitted to the Norwich Freeman, working as a cordwainer (shoemaker) granting him the right to practise his craft and business in Norwich.
Cordwainers are shoemakers, originally highly skilled craftsmen who used the finest goatskin leather from Cordoba in Spain. The Company’s roots date back to 1272, and the first Charter in 1439 licensed Cordwainers to control the shoe trade within the City of London.
Those who paid taxes in Norwich were eligible for freeman status, and to trade freely in the city, membership was essential. Candidates could obtain admission in three ways – by patrimony – father to son (if the father was a freeman), by apprenticeship with a freeman and by purchase (payment of a fee after they had practised their craft in the city for a year and a day).
Robert’s wife Ann died in June 1643 and on 8 June was buried at St Peter Mancroft, with the burial register noting she was the wife of Robert Vowte.
Two years later Robert married again, this time to Alice Smith on 27 October 1645 in St Lawrence, Norwich.
Angel Inn, Gentleman’s Walk, Norwich
It seems Robert had other business interests, and in 1645 he became the licensee of the “Angel Inn” in the parish of St Peter Mancroft in Norwich. The Angel was situated at 16 Market Place, Gentleman’s Walk in Norwich. Later its name was changed to The Royal Hotel. At its peak, the Angel was arguably the most popular of four coaching inns along Gentleman’s Walk, with the King’s Head, Star Inn and White Swan also nearby. Today, shoppers and visitors heading to Royal Arcade may spot, high above the stained glass window, the bust of an angel.
In 1650 there was a family dispute between Robert and his son in law Elias Browne, husband of his daughter Anne. The subject was the property in St Peter Mancroft.
Robert died two years later in October 1652, and he was buried on 19 October at St Peter Mancroft, with the burial registers still describing his occupation as Cordwainer. It is unknown when his wife Alice died.
His will in 1653 is mentioned in very lengthy Chancery records when Elias and Anne Browne and other defendants were accused of trying to defraud Ward and other creditors of Robert Voute by fraudulently conveying his messuage (property) called ‘The Angel’ Inn. Five of his surviving children are also mentioned in the document as defendants –
- Elias and Anne Browne nee Vout
- Samuel and Elizabeth Vout
- Matthew Stonham, Clerke, and wife Hanna nee Vout
- Francis and Ellen Aldham nee Vout
- George and Margaret Hall nee Vout
