William was connected with the Winthrops which helps to explain his standing in the communities in which he lived, and his education, which was of a superior quality. He was admitted a freeman of Plymouth Colony in 1634. His name appears as Hodgskins several times, and also as Hodgkinsons and Hodgskinson. His first wife died about a year after their marriage. They had one child, Sarah, who was adopted out to Thomas and Winifred Whitney. William served on numerous juries. In 1660 he was granted 2 acres at Lakenham, and it is likely that he settled there. Boyer suggests that Richard was a possible relative of William Hoskins who
married about 1676 Christian Fryer, daughter of Nathaniel and Christian Fryer of Portsmouth.