On this page I will endeavour to explain to you the connection my surname "Hatcliffe" has with the villages of Melton Ross, New Barnetby and Hatcliffe.   However, firstly let me tell you a little about myself.

I am Roger Hatcliffe the author of this site.  I was born at Melton Highwood which is a farm on the outskirts of Melton Ross in June 1951.  My parents moved into Melton Ross village itself when I was five years old.  I have lived in Melton Ross continuously since this time, except for a brief spell of three months when I married and went to live in the town of Brigg.

I was educated at Melton Ross primary school and then at the Vale of Ancholme school in Brigg, which was then called Westmoor secondary modern school.  I am married to Sue and have two sons, Simon and Paul.  My hobbies are computers, particularly web design, bird watching, charity work, pets and nature in general.  I was fortunate to marry someone who shares my love of animals, and Sue and I are the proud owners of twelve cats and two dogs.

Anyway that is enough about me as I am sure you are bored with hearing it already.  Let me now try and explain to you the "Hatcliffe" connection to the villages of Melton Ross, New Barnetby and Hatcliffe.

Hatcliffe is a family name of ancient lineage, first mentioned in the records of the Templars of England in the 12th century, when Ricardo de Haddeclive was witness to a charter.c1184.  The family name came from the estate of Hatcliffe, a small village approximately fourteen miles to the east of Melton Ross and New Barnetby.  The first record of ownership is provided by the Testa de Neville or Book of Fees in 1242.

The Hatcliffe family were Lords of the Manor for many generations, gaining particular prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries.  The name has been spelt in many different ways even by members of the same generation, for example, de Haddeclive, de Hatclyf, Attlyf, Hatteclyf, Hatlyff, Hatclyffe, Hatlefe, Hartlif, Hatlif, Hatclyffe, and Hatcliffe.

William Hatclyffe of Kings College Cambridge achieved the highest office, being named by Henry V1 in his patent founding of the College in 1440 as one of it's two original scholars.  After graduating as Doctor of Medicine, William was appointed physician to Henry V1, he was also made Keeper of the Fosse.  On the accession of Edward 1V William transferred his services to him.  During the restoration of Henry, William was taken prisoner by Lancastrians and survived a death penalty.  When Edward was restored he regained his position as secretary.  William was buried in the Lady Chapel at Westminster Abbey.

Stefan Hatclyff is listed as Comburges of Grymesby in 1491.  Edward Hatcliff appears as Clerk of the Signet to the court of Henry V111 in 1512.  Thomas Hatcliffe was clerk of the green Cloth to Henry V111.  He has an effigy in the Addlington church Surrey.  His son William has an effigy in the vestry of Hatcliffe church in Lincolnshire.  His grandson another William is reputedly the mysterious 'W. H' of Shakespeare's sonnet's, according to Dr Leslie Hotson in his book 'Mr W.H', and is also responsible for losing the family fortune.

The village of Melton Ross was named for the ancient family of Ross.  Lord Ros, who became the 8th earl of Rutland during Henry VIII's reign, was a second cousin to the Hatcliffes.  The connection was through Lord Ros's marriage to Frances Montagu, daughter of the 1st baron Montagu of Boughton who was a Hatcliffe first cousin.
The Hatcliffe's also had a direct Ros ancestor in Thomas de Ros ( b.1335/36, and married Beatrice Stafford ) who was a 7th generation great-grandfather.

The Hatcliffe family name is also connected to the ancient family of Tyrwhit's of Kettleby who featured prominently in the history of Melton Ross in the seventeenth century.  The Ross and Tyrwhit families eventually intermarried.  Please click here to see the Tyrwhit family pedigree showing the Hatcliffe connection. (Tyrwhit family pedigree kindly supplied by Liz & Sid Hatcliffe.)

For further information on the Hatcliffe family history visit the website of my distant relations and good friends, Sid and Liz Hatcliffe who live in Bendigo, Australia.  If you are keen to learn even more about the history of the Hatcliffe family, a CD is available entitled, "A Thousand Years Of Hatcliffes".  This CD has been produced by Sid & Liz Hatcliffe, and is, as the title suggests, a thousand years of Hatcliffe history.  The CD also suggests the missing link from the ancient Hatcliffe's to the modern day Hatcliffe's.  A short preview of this CD can be seen on Sid and Liz's website, and further information on how to obtain this CD can be had by sending an e-mail to Sid & Liz.