Robert Voute senior was born in France around 1523, and said to be the son of Jean Jacques Voute who was born in 1498 in Dept Ain, Savoy, France.
It has been alluded to in documents that Robert senior first crossed the channel from Ypres, Flanders to Norfolk, England during the reign of Edward VI, between 1547 and 1553, being described in old records as a fisherman of Thorppâ. (Thorpe) (This information has not been confirmed but was found in FamilySearch Voute family history).
St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
Robert Senior probably married at St Peter Mancroft in Norwich, but the parish registers only date from 1558. He had four children in Norwich with his wife Margery –
- Nicholas b 1547 d 1624 Norwich buried St Peter Mancroft. Married Ellen. 1 son Robert 1576-1652. Apprenticed to *Richard Cooke for 7 years, cordwainer.
- Katherine b 1550 & d 1555 buried St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
- Robert b 1555 d 1555 buried St Peter Mancroft, Norwich
- Robert b 1558 Marsham. Marr unknown. Two children Robert 1580 & Nicholas 1581.
Note – some trees have another child Bartholomew Voute as a child of Robert, but that appears to be incorrect. Bartholomew was baptised 21 Jan 1548 in Blickling, Norfolk, the son of John Vout 1530-1572 and Agnes.
It is unknown where the first three children of Robert Voute were baptised, but by 1555 at the death of their second child Robert, they were living in the parish of St Peter Mancroft in Norwich.
After the death of Robert Voute, fisherman, it seems his wife Margery remarried her son Nicholas’s apprentice master Richard Cooke, cordwainer of Norwich.
Nicholas is mentioned as the beneficiary of Richard Cooke’s extensive possessions in his 1593 probate inventory. Richard Cooke was buried at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich on 7 Mar 1593.
Norwich Cordwainers, Costume and Textile Association for Norfolk Musuem newsletter 2008
Nicholas is mentioned as the step-son of Richard Cooke in this Costume and Textile Association Newsletter about 16th and 17th century Norwich Cordwainers in 2008. Click on the image to read it.
Margery Cooke, wife of Robert Voute, and then Richard Cooke, died in 1606 and was buried at St Peter Mancroft, Norwich on 13 July 1606.
Her burial record advises she was the mother of Nicholas Voute.
