Person Page 1,103

Robert Wickes of Staines, gentleman, treasurer for the hospitals, Marshalsea and King's Bench within the said hundreds.

The surname of Weeks, a corruption of the name Atwick/Atweeke alias Wickes or Weckes, seems to surface in the parish of Staines, County of Middlesex, which is located about fifteen miles west of London.

In 1592 we find the will of a Richard Atweecke als Weecke of "Stanes" referred to as "yeoman", which directs that his body is to be buried in the churchyard of Staines. To a son, Richard, he leaves a tenement in Thorpe and land in the parish of Thorpe, with the remainder to his son, William. To William, he leaves a tenement in Strowde in the parish of Egham, Surrey; to son John the elder, a close of meadow in Egham; to son John the younger, certain tenements and property in Staines. Sons Poole, Josias and Robert are also mentioned, and Robert is noted as the eldest son. Also mentioned are daughters Alice Weeckes, Joan Weeckes, Mrs. Robert Field and Rose Weeckes; brothers George, William and Thomas, and a sister, Susan. His wife's given name is Florence.

Robert, son of Richard, in his will of 1638 -- dated 5 August and proved 8 November of that year -- directed his executors "to pay to my son John Wickes now living in New England 200 pounds at the feast of the birth of our Lord God next coming, . . ." He also left a bequest to another son: "To my son William 300 pounds in the manner and form following, i.e. 30 pounds in three months and the remainder in three years and he to have 10 pounds paid him every half year in the mean time. And if he should die, or never come to demand the said sum then the said three hundred pounds shall be paid to my said son John Wickes and my son Robert Wickes and their children, to be equally divided" Another son is mentioned -- Thomas. Robert's wife was Sarah, surname given as Enderly in some records.
There was a John Wickes living in Plymouth in 1637. He departed to Rhode Island in 1639, then moved with his friend, Samuel Gorton, to Warwick in 1643. He remained there until his death at the hands of the Indians during King Philip's war in November of 1675. He was sixty-six years of age. There can be no doubt that there was a connection between John Wickes of Plymouth and later of Rhode Island, as in 1639 he "drew a bill of exchange on his brother, Mr. Thomas Wickes' dwelling in Stanes in the County of Middlesex . . . ."

The will of Robert Wickes of Staines implies that William was either leaving England or already gone, and that it was in doubt whether he would return to claim his inheritance. Mr. Banks , who compiled The History of Martha's Vineyard, feels it logical that one brother followed the other to the new world and that since our William Weeks was a seafaring man and did a packet business between Rhode Island and the Vineyard, there was a presumptive connection established for the two being brothers.

In a book called My Family Lines, researched and compiled by Theodore V. Dickerson, a genealogy for Silas Weeks is given, going back to Richard Atweeke. Mr. Dickerson visited England in 1986 and did extensive research while there, studying the wills and records found in the Society of Genealogists in London, England. He seemed to confirm the line leading from Robert, son of Richard, to our William, who settled in the Barnstable County area of Massachusetts.

If Mr. Dickerson is correct in his findings, the family descent would line up as follows, with birth and marriage dates being approximated for the early years.

ATWEEKE ISSUE: CHILDREN OF ? ATWEEKE AND MARGARET ?, WHO

APPARENTLY MARRIED A SMYTHE AFTER THE DEATH OF ATWEEKE:

1) Richard Atweeks als Weecke.* Found at Staines, Middlesex, England, where he is buried. Married Florence, surname thought to be Bricknell. His will was written 17 September 1592; proved 18 December 1592.

2) George Wickes, of New Windsor, Berks. Probably born at Staines. Md. Judith Wells. His will was written 13 December 1608; proved 10 January 1608.

3) Thomas Wickes.

4) William Wickes.

4) Susan Wickes. Md. a Worrell. Widow at the time of Josias Wickes' death.

Cited from: http://reocities.com/Heartland/hills/3490/mrywks.html on 5/17/11
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RICHARD ATWEEKE

Richard Atweeke als Weecke was born in Staines, Middlesex, England, and died in 1592. He married Florence, surname thought to be Bricknell by Mr. Dickerson, most likely in Staines. The children of Richard and Florence Bricknell Atweeke als Weecke were:

1) Richard Weeckes.

2) William Weeckes. Will proved 11 Aug. 1620, Stanes, Middlesex, England. William was a tanner. His wife's name was Judith Finch, daughter of William and Rose Finch of Watford.

3) John Weeckes the Elder.

4) Poole Weeckes. Will proved 28 June 1632.

5) John Weeckes the Younger.

6) Josias Weeckes. Will proved 11 September 1621.

7) Robert Weeckes*, will probated 8 November 1638. Married Sarah, surname thought to be Enderly, in England.

8) Alice Weeckes.

9) Joan Weeckes. Married Robert Field.

10) Rose Weeckes.