There is some question as to Thomas' origin. Not helped by two prominent Radcliffe families of that
time, who both had connctions to the Stanleys

When John Radcliffe Of Radcliffe Lanacashire died 1485. (His three sons, Richard, John and Roger all
died without issue) most of his estates, reverted to Robert Radcliffe, first Earl of Essex.

One of these needs to fit with with John of Andreas around 1554

The more I research this the more I think the explanation is that there are two different Radcliffe lines. With a Lancashire Radcliffe going to Knockaloe Moor and the Earl of Essex's son Thomas's descendents settling in Andreas.
Can anyone contribrute to solving this?

Version 1
"Mulvey Dawson".. A member of the Ballaradcliffe family her version, Thomas Radcliffe, youngest son of John de Radcliffe, descendant of the manor of Radcliffe, Lancashire, married Mary Stanley, who died giving birth to a son Henry. Thomas then entered Furness Abbey as a monk, soon becoming Abbot of Rushen through the influence of his father-in-law, Sir John Stanley.
Thomas was the last Abbot of Rushen, and his son Henry was with him as a monk at the Dissolution in 1540.

I never verfied that this Radcliffe married Mary Stanley.(the other is positive marrying Lady Margaret Stanley)

The more I research this the more I think they are different Radcliffes.

Version 2
Sir Robert Radcliffe (1st Earl of Essex) Born 1483
Married
Elizabeth Stafford (Countess of Sussex) born 23 Jul 1505 (died around 1532)
Children
Henry Radcliffe (2° Earl of Sussex)
George Radcliffe
Humphrey Radcliffe (Sir)
*Thomas Radcliffe born c1511 (Addleborough?)
These are the children of his first wife; he had four more children from his second wife Lady Margaret Stanley daughter of Thomas Stanley 2nd Earl of Derby

Thomas Radcliffe born 1511
Married around 1535
Children
William (of Knockaloe Moar in German) Father of Silvester b1550
John born c1536 moved to Andreas
Henry?
If there are 2 families William and Henry would be born to a different Thomas Radcliffe.

Thomas Radcliffe was, the third son of Sir Robert Radcliffe and Elizabeth Stafford, and was born in

England around 1511. He came to the island with his father who was the personal representative of Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby, probably around the year 1530.

Unverified- Around 1530 he married a Miss Callister? from German parish and probably acquired Knockaloe Moar

If the Knockaloe decendent John Radcliife born around 1536 moved to Andreas
Married?
Children
John

Unverfied- John of Andreas. The second son of Thomas was John, born in about 1538 at
Knockaloe. John married a surviving daughter of an estate there and through this marriage received the estate of Balderadcliffe.

If it is a different Radcliffe line we have:
?Radcliife born around 1536 (lived in Andreas)
Married?
Children
John born around 1554

Then
John Radcliife born around c1554 (was coroner for the sheading of Ayre)
Married around 1580
Miss Bradshaw (daughter of John Bradshaw)
Children
*John born around 1580 (succeeded his father at Ballaradcliffe)
William born around 1580 (2nd son) married Isabel Sayle and later lived at Ballakilley (Ballakelly)
The family lived at BallaRadcliife
In 1571 John Radcliffe is entered jointly with William McSayle for a quarter of land in the treen of Craigbye (Cragby?)

In 1575 John Radcliffe is entered for one tenement and a quarter of land in the treen of Baltahestyn (Ballahestyn) at a rental of 18/- which is the farm known as Ballaradcliffe today.

John Radcliife born around 1580
Married
A sister or daughter of Gilbert Kelly
Children
John born around c1600
*Gilbert born around c1605 (He had Belfast croft and Crot-a-Lough)
The family lived at BallaRadcliife

Around the year 1515 Gilbert McHelly (Kelly) held the office of Coroner and had 2 quarters in
Baltahestyn (Ballahestyn later Ballasteen) Treen with Fynlo McHelly. Looks like this person may be a grandfather for the wife of John born around 1580. This is probably the land that became
Ballaradcliffe and Ballakelly

Brother of Wiiliam Radcliife born around 1580 (son of John 1554)
Married possibly around 1600
Isabel Sayle (may be daughter of William McSayle)
Family lived at Ballakelly

Gilbert Radcliffe born around 1600 died October 1668
Married around 1620
Margaret Kinry (daughter of John & Mony Kinry born around 1600)
Children
*John born around 1620 died 1679 (Crot-a-Lough family line)
*James (Mullen Beg and old Belfast family line)
In 1643 the family lived at Crot-y-Lough, The father Gilbert must have been of age to have the land in his name