Hugh Radcliff(e) of Stepney

[James R. Yeowell]

Greetings,

It has been quite some time since I last posted here. Since that time, I have now progressed with my own family ancestry somewhat and have now linked back to Royalty.

One of my ancestors is Hugh Radcliff(e), of Stepney, who apparently died on 8 or 28 November 1531. He married Millicent Jekyll (who died 6 December 1582 and was buried at Burton Dassett, Warwickshire). They had 2 daughters, both seemingly co-heirs (Margaret is named as a co-heir, so I presume she was co-heir with her sister Alice):

1. Alice Radcliffe
2. Margaret Radcliffe (died 22 February 1583)

I am descended via their daughter Alice Radcliffe, who married 1stly to Ralph Shakerley, of Aynho on the Hill, Northamptonshire and 2ndly George Stratford (died 1581). The descent through to myself is via Anne Shakerley, her daughter with her first marriage.

Anyhow, I have been trying to determine the ancestry of Hugh Radcliff, of Stepney. I have read in several sources he is descended via a cadet branch of the Earls of Sussex but nothing more is said about him.

It seems he maybe a descendent of Sir John Radclyffe, of Ordsall and his wife Clemency Standish, daughter of Hugh de Standish, of Duxbury. I only say this due to the name of Hugh coming through the Standish family and also because the above couple had a son Hugh Radcyffe who d.s.p.

In the 1634 Visitations of Buckinghamshire, in the entry for Radcliffe of Chalfont St. Giles (p. 103/4) I note another Hugh Radcliffe, son of John Radcliffe and Anne Travers (and a descendent of the Radclyffes of Ordsall). This Hugh Radcliffe apparently married Margaret Hilton and had one son John Radcliffe who moved from Lancashire to Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire and married a daughter of a Strangways, of Strangways, Lancashire.

This John Radcliffe was ancestor of Anthony Radcliffe, Sheriff of London.

Does anybody have any sources regarding this branch of the Radclyffe/Radcliff(e) family or know how Hugh Radcliff(e), of Stepney is linked to this family?

Any clues as to where to begin to look would be of very gratefully received.

I also realise the Heralds Visitations are often fraught with errors, so I am not assuming any links to the Radcliffes of Ordsall or indeed the Earls of Sussex.

I am also seeking the ancestry of Ralph Shakerley, of Aynho on the Hill, Northamptonshire but that enquiry can wait until a later post.

Kind regards,

James R. Yeowell

[James R. Yeowell]

Greetings,

Since I wrote the previous message I have looked into this subject again, albeit briefly.

I checked the Visitations of Essex for 1552 for Radcliff/Ratcliff and there was no luck there either. I also checked the Jekyll entry in the same source and Millicent's marriage to Hugh Radcliff was not mentioned. Only her marriages to Thomas Heritage and Sir Peter Temple, of Stowe, Buckinghamshire.

I have found his Will but it seems he left everything to his wife.

So I am still unsure as to Hugh Ratcliff, of Stepney and the Inner Temple's ancestry.

Any assistance is welcomed as always.

Best regards,

James R. Yeowell