Note - this bit of cod genealogy demonstrates that much genealogical nonsense appeared well before the age of the Internet - I have given it here as some individuals have taken the author's romanticising as fact and built aerial sandcastles on it, involving royal descent back to the Roman Emperors!. It might have been better to forget this publication - however Constance Radcliffe in her published paper on the Radcliffe line makes jesting reference to it.

Mulvey Dawson was the pen name of Captain Leonard Radcliffe - his other publications were novels, the most famous of which was 'Garlic Town' supposedly based on Ramsey and described by one collator of Manx material as probably the worst novel he had ever read.

The publication may be split into three sections - the first based on the Radcliffes of Radcliffe Towers, just outside Bury near Manchester, a place which is said to take its name from a cliff of red sandstone on the side of the Irwell - I think this section is based on the 1911 Victoria County History of Lancashire 'The parish of Radcliffe', A History of the County of Lancaster: Volume 5 (1911), pp. 56-67 (now on-line via British Library)which gives much more information, some related material can be found in Burke re Radcliffes and I suspect the author drew on Burke's Peerage re Earls of Sussex..

The second section, that dealing with Ballaradcliffe, appears to be based on the sequence of names found in the Manorial Rolls - here the author is wrong in the wives (whose names can usually only be derived from wills) and in places the succession - even when he reaches the 1820s he is confused. However his linkage between the Lancashire Radcliffes and the appearance of the name on the Island would appear to be a figment of his imagination.- the tale re Thomas Radcliffe entering a monastery and becoming last abbot of Rushen is found nowhere else and is not borne out by any known facts - Henry Jackson was last abbot of Rushen and was given a pension.

The third section is completely unintelligible - it is not clear to where this refers to, the names are obviously invented being based on faux Manx.

It was published by the Examiner Press which also published the supposed Kelly Journal which was mostly fabrication based on a small notebook.

THE RADCLIFFE SAGA

A COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF
RADCLIFFE MANOR

BY

MULVEY DAWSON

[1936]

1/6

A ROYAL MANOR HELD BY KING EDWARD THE CONFESSOR

The Radcliffes of Radcliffe Towers-The Township of Radcliffe in the County of Lancashire. The Red Sand Stone Men-The Red Cliff Men.

COUNT ROGER DE MARSEY

A Norman overlord who took possession of the stockaded home of wattle-built houses for man and beast, built by an Anglo-Saxon Thane, who lost his lands and home to the invading Norman overlord in the year 1068, Whether the Radcliffe Thane lost his life with the lands, or whether the Norman took on the Anglo-Saxon name as well as the lands, there is nothing in writing to show. But this we do know, that a Henry de Radcliffe appeared in life and died in the year 1193, and of whom there is nothing more to be found in writing.

HENRY DE RADCLIFFE Died 1193.

WILLIAM DE RADCLIFFE

in the reign of Richard the First, William, the red sand stone or cliff dweller; descended of an Anglo-Saxon Thane, owner of five hides of land the qualification necessary for the rank of Thane, from Deira (Yorkshire) who, at the head of his tribe, entered on to the plains of "Lancashire" through the Ayre Pass of the Pennine Range, and built his stockaded home of wattles on the site now known as RADCLIFFE. The withdrawal of the Roman Legions during the fifth century was the signal for the occupation of the East coast of Briton by the Angles and the Southern coast by the Saxons; the beginning of the "Dark Ages" which continued for the next two or three centuries, therefore it would indeed be a great conjecture to say when the "spread-out" of the Angles over the Pennine Range took place, but the name-places of Lancashire to-day are sufficient proof that these Angles had names and Readcliffe or Radcliffe is one of them as Pilkington-a town of the son of Pilk-is another, A succeeding generation replaced the wattle-built home with one of stone-red sand stone and continued the name of Radcliffe by adding towers to it-

RADCLIFFE TOWERS. William de Radcliffe was fined sixty shillings for supporting King John in his claim to the throne in the absence of King Richard. He died in the year 1221. Holder of the advowson of the parish church.

ADAM DE RADCLIFFE

A fair and upright man ; lord of the manor of Radcliffe, 1223 to 1269. Defendant against a charge of digging for coal in the year 1246; "minera" is the word used. A party to a trial by combat between Adam de Pemberton -Pember's town-and Peter de Burnhill. (Duellum armatum per cussum).

ROBERT DE RADCLIFFE

Succeeeded Adam in the year 1269; a juror in the case of which one Robert de Haslington-the town of the son of Hasle-having slain one named Wynn, was outlawed.

RICHARD DE RADCLIFFE

Succeeded 1282 Seneschal of the forests of Blackburnshire, was with King Edward the First on his conquest of Scotland. Had to defend his title to a parcel of land in Radcliffe, claimed by one William de Markelaw, Rector of Prestwich, as the free alms of the church, Died 1324, Succeeded by William. A younger son became Sir John Radcliffe, founder of the Radcliffes of Ordsall Hall, Salford ; built on one hide of land held by his father Richard. Salford, the salt-ford of the Romans; Ordsall with the syllables reversed and the elimination of the "f".

WILLIAM DE RADCLIFFE

A rich and influential land owner who married Margaret, the daughter and heiress of Adam de Hindley, in the year 1303, He succeeded his father in the year 1324 and included in his wealth the estate of his wife-that of Peasfurlong, a parcel of eleven acres in Culcheth, and some small rents in Little Lever and Longworthe. As nephew of Sir John Radcliffe he inherited Ordsall Hall.

RICHARD DE RADCLIFFE

Succeeded his father William in the Year 1333, as lord of the manor of Radcliffe ; in this reign he was, also, lord of the manor of Prestwich and patron of both livings; afterwards the living of Prest«-ich passed into the hands of the Langleys with whom the Manor and the advowson remained for two hundred years. High Sheriff of Lancashire, 1,355, The manor of Radcliffe being in the See of Lichfield, Robert de Newton is described as chaplain to the manor and Rector of the Parish ; the patron in each case being Richard de Radcliffe. Richard, the son of William, died in the year 1371, and was succeeded by his grandson james, in the same Year,

JAMES DE RADCLIFFE_

Renewed the Royal licence from King Henry the Fourth to rebuild the manor house of Radcliffe, and in the year 1403, he did build a hall with two towers of stone and fortified it with crenellations and battlements, Richard succeeded his father and a younger son named Thomas, became Sir Thomas Radcliffe, and founder of the Derwentwater family of Radcliffes of Dilston Hall,

RICHARD DE RADCLIFFE

Succeeded his father in the year 1409; was knight of the county in the year 1425. Died 1412. The inquisition shows him to have held the usual possessions of Radcliffe, Oswaldtwistle, part of Culcheth and the advowson of Radcliffe,

JAMES DE RADCLIFFE,

Succeeded his father Richard in the year 1442 and he held the twentieth part of a knight's fee, and, in addition to this, the Duchy of Lancashire knight's fee of two shillings and twenty pence, He died 1445.

JOHN DE RADCLIFFE

Succeeded his father James in the year 1445, possessed of the manor of Radcliffe and several other manors. The Wars of the Roses being waged during his time, he spent most of his life with the Lancastrian Forces, dying on the field in the year 1485. His eldest son Richard was then thirty years of age and succeeded him, His younger sons John, Henry and Thomas also served with the forces. After the battle of Bosworth Field, Thomas the youngest son returned home to bury his young wife, Mary Stanley, who had died after giving birth to her male child Henry, and Thomas entered the Cistercian Monastery of Furness Abbey as a monk, serving for two rears and then made Abbot of Russin Abbey in the Island of Man, on the instigation of his wife's father, Sir John Stanley. Abbot Thomas was the last of the Abbots to be dissolved at the dissolution of the monastries during the reign of Henry the Eighth; his son Henry was serving with him as a monk and also came under the ban of the dissolution, [this appears to be total invention - Thomas was not the last abbot of Rushen - though there was an Abbot Henry radcliffe some 30 years earlier]

RICHARD DE RADCLIFFE

Lord of the Manor in the year 1485, was, in the year 1485, called upon to show by what right he claimed waifs and strays and free warren on his manors of Radcliffe and Oswaldtwistle, He died in the year 1502. At the enquiry made of the extent of his possessions, it transpired that in addition to the manors of Radcliffe, Oswaldtwistle and Moston, he held : 89 messuages, 6 cottages, 1 toft, 2 mills, 1,560 acres of land, 220 acres of meadow, 300 acres of pasture, 120 acres of wood, 200 acres of heath, 1,ooo acres of moors, 300 acres of Marsh, 26/9 of rent, the rent of one barbed arrow in Radcliffe, Oswaldtwistle, Moston, Crumpsall, Lawton-in-Makerfield, Bolton-on-the-Moors, Manchester and Culcheth. These tenures varied ; sometimes a red rose, a pair of white gloves, a tun of wine; and in the year a special licence on all his lands was given to him: Possibly he foresaw claims after his death, which took place in the year 1502, without legal issue.

JOHN DE RADCLIFFE,

Succeeded his brother in the rear 1502, at the age of forty. His will, dated 29th November, 1512, is interesting, insomuch he set apart six-and-a-half-marks a year for a sad, discreet and well disposed priest to pray in Radcliffe Church for the souls of the testator, his parents and brothers during the non-age of heir male. He provided for his two daughters Ellen and Agnes and his non-legal son John, Should the heir male, his nephew John the son of his brother Henry, die without issue, then the manor, etc., were to descend to the heir male, Robert Radcliffe, son of the late Lord Fitzwalter. John de Radcliffe was attainted and beheaded for opposing Henry the Eighth in the beginning of his Reformation,

JOHN DE RADCLIFFE

Succeeded his uncle in the year 1513 as a minor at the age of fourteen, and died before reaching his majority in the year 1517. The wardship was held by Queen Catherine during the boy's short lifetime. The son of Henry Radcliffe and nephew of Thomas Radcliffe the Abbot of Russin.

ROBERT RADCLIFFE

Succeeded in the year 1517 as Lord Fitzwalter, created Viscount in the year 1525, and Earl of Sussex in 1529, This added dignity to the manor, though he rarely lived in the north at Radcliffe Towers, living too much at Court to be content with the quiet of his ancestral home, Created K.B. 1509 at the Coronation of Henry- the Eighth and invested with the charge of its proceedings, He was with the King in France as a member of the Royal escort, and on the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520. Created K.G,, and installed 1523 Subscribed in 1529, to the accusation of Cardinal Wolsey, and to the letter to the Pope asking for the King's divorce, Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire 153;, and High Steward . of the Duchy in 1539/40, He received large grants of Abbey lands including Cleve Abbey, Somerset; the College and Chauntry of Attleborough, Norfolk, Married in the year 1505 to Elizabeth, daughter of the second Duke of Buckingham. After her death he married Margaret, only daughter of Thomas, Earl of Derby; in the year 1521, A third marriage with the daughter of Sir John Arundell, of Lanherne, seems to have completed his matrimonial ventures, as he died at Chelsea in the year 1542.

HENRY RADCLIFFE

The second Earl of Sussex, Viscount Fitzwalter, succeeded hts father on the 26th November, 1532. Created K.B. at the Coronation of Anne Boleyn 1533, when he was a Viscount, In 1547 he had charge of the Coronation of Edward the Sixth, and of Mary, 1553, In command against the Scots in the year 1547, when he nearly lost his life, Elected K.G. 1554. Married in the year 1524, to Elizabeth, the fifth daughter of Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk. His second wife was Anne, daughter of Sir Phillip Calthorpe, m 1539, Divorced. He died at Sir Henry Sydney's house, Westminster, in the year 1556,

THOMAS RADCLIFFE

The Third Earl of Sussex, succeeded his father in the year 1557. Elected K.G. 1557. Superintended the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth 1559, Lt. General of the north 1570/2, lord Chamberlain of the Household 1572/83, Died 1583, at Bermondsey, and buried from his seat at New Hall, Beaulieu. Borham, Essex. With him died the original main line of the lords of the manor of Radcliffe. In the year 1561, he sold the manor of Radcliffe to Richard Ashton, lord of the adjoining manor of Middleton,

Others continued in the Earldom, but they were not Radcliffes. Thomas Radcliffe, the third Earl, directed in his will, that the remains of his father and his grandfather (Robert and Henry) should be exhumed from their burial places in the north and brought to the south for interment at Boreham, Essex, and this was done. On a large altar tomb in the "Sussex Chapel" in the church, are the recumbent figures in memory of Robert, Henry and Thomas Radcliffe, successively Earls of Sussex, He left a widow, Frances, daughter of the Sidney family, Penshurst, and she founded the Sidney Sussex College.

THE END OF MAIN LINE OF RADCLIFFES OF RADCLIFFE TOWERS.

[This section is almost completely wrong in names of the wives etc - corrections from a couple of Radcliffe researchers given in [..] - there is no known connection to any Abbot of Rushen.

There are no Radcliffes entered in the 1511/1515 Manoral Roll .

A Henry Radcliffe was noted as Captaine (= Lt Governor) in 1497 (gone by 1507), Thomas Radcliffe was noted as abbot in 1522.

The first significant mention of the name on the Island is Thomas Radclyffe noted as Receiver of Peel Castle in 1535 & 1543; he acquired property in Douglas in 1551/3 plus some intacks in Lezayre and by 1569 held Gordon (in Patrick) partly in joint tenure as also a joint tenure of Ballamore (Patrick) - he died before 1576 though his widow Margaret Holland was noted in 1594 - two sons are noted William, Waterbailiff 1577 inherited Knockaloe (possibly acquired by his father through marriage) and bought his brother out of the Lezayre intacks (Wm married at least twice - one wife Jane); Henry Radcliffe, second son of Thomas and Margaret acquired Gordon before 1603. MHK 1593 - 1626 Deemster 1629 also married at least twice - first wife Dorothy Sammesbury who died 1608. The Knockaloe and Gordon lines can then be followed via property records etc.

Cunliffe-Shaw gives the first Radcliffe in what later became known as Ballaradcliffe:

In 1575 John Radcliffe is entered for one tenement and a quarter of land in the treen of Baltahestyn at a rental of 18/- which is the farm known as Ballaradcliffe today. The name of John Bradshaw was drawn for this holding and according to the late Canon Quine he succeeded by heirship having married Bradshaw's daughter, ]

THOMAS RADCLIFFE

The youngest son of John de Radcliffe of the manor of Radcliffe, 1445, was born in the year 1461, served with the Lancastrian forces, and was present at the battle of Bosworth Field under Sir John Stanley, and in France with the First Tudor King's forces for the recovery of the lost provinces of Normandy and Guienne. Leaving the forces on the death of his young wife, Mary, who had died on the birth of her one child-a male and named Henry-he placed the child into a convent and entered the Cistercian Monastery of Furness Abbey as a monk; after two years he was appointed to the Abbey of Russin, in the Island of Man; as Abbot. He was the last of the Abbots to be deprived of his living at the Reformation. His son, now a young man and a monk in Russin, shared the same fate as his father. The Abbot died 1540, without surrendering his religious convictions.

HENRY RADCLIFFE

Before becoming a monk, was present at the battle of Flodden Field in the year 1514, At the dissolution of his father's monastery and the death of the Abbot, he gleaned from the papers left by his father that the Henry-had been married by proxy in the prevailing Continental fashion of the substitute-his father the Abbot---placing his leg into the bride's bed in the presence of witnesses, Balley Hestyn, the name of the lady's estate-changed its name to Balla Radcliffe on the advent of the new master in the form of the disposed monk, and the lady owner changed her name from Machellie to Radcliffe, in 1540.

John Radcliffe On the death of his father Henry, the ex-monk, became possessed in the year 1583. He married Jane Standish and had issue. [? - see above note by Cunliffe-Shaw]

John Radcliffe Became possessed in the year 1600. Married to Anne Bradshaw.

John Radcliffe Entered 1621, Married to Elizabeth Tydesley,

John Radcliffe Entered 1645, Married to Catherine Parr. [John d.1678 marr.Mally Lace].

John Radcliffe Entered 1679. Married to Jane Moyneux.[John d.1679 marr. Isabel Kneale].

John Radcliffe Entered 1701. Married to Hester Moore. [? Not known. William was the heir.]

[William Radcliffe (c. 1670-1754), the eldest son of John d.1679 & Isabel Kneale, was married three times: Alice Martin (d.1708), Catherine Sayle (d. 1725) and Jane Sumpter als Lace (d. 1754). Only two children survived from William's three marriages: Thomas the heir (1704-1773), son of William and Alice, and Charles (1720-1747) son of William and Catherine.]

John Radcliffe Entered 1738, Married to Mary Quirk. [? Not known. William, above, didn't die until 1754.]

William Radclife Brother, entered 1748, Born 1679. Married Jane Lace 1726. Died 1754.[William did not follow his brother - he had no brother John. Jane Lace was third wife. See above.]

Thomas Radcliffe Son, Born 1704. Entered 1754. Married Esther Quirk, Died 1773. [son of Alice Martin - Constance Radcliffe wrote:

"By his wife Esther Quirk, Thomas had five sons and five daughters. The eldest son Philip (1728-1788) married Jane Cain (d.1803); the second son William (1731-1791) became Parish Clerk in succession to Nicholas Cowley, and the youngest daughter Esther(1748-1811) married Thomas Allen, a member of the family which had provided five successive Vicars of Maughold before coming to Ballavarry in Andreas." All supported by wills and MIs.]

Phillip Radcliffe Son, Born 1728, Entered 1773, Married Jane Cain. Died 1788.
He was interested in education and built a school on Nigh Field for the education of the children of the village,
Phillip's one daughter married Thomas Allen, of Balla Varrey (Barrey).[ Five daughters: see will of Jane RADCLIFFE als CAINE bur. Andreas 1803. It was his sister Esther (1748-1811) who married Thomas Allen.. Philip & Jane's children in their 1788 & 1803 wills:

Thomas [Thomas their heir (1767-1811) married Catherine Quirk from Ballaspet, Patrick [CR] "son THOMAS RADCLIFFE his part of the Mill in KK Michael and the tythes of the Cowriagh in KK Christ Lezayre [1788] to her son Thomas Radcliffe of said parish" [1803]
Mary married Alexander BONNYMAN of Braddan "when ...arrive to the age of twenty two years," [1788] "Mary the wife of Alexander Bonnyman of the parish of KK Braddan" [1803]
"Margery when they arrive to the age of twenty two years," [1788] "to her daughter Margery Radcliffe" [1803]
Jane married John RADCLIFFE [John Radcliffe Belfast family (CR)]" JANE the wife of JOHN RADCLIFFE" [1788] ;"daughter Jane the wife of John Radcliffe of the said parish of KK Andreas exectrix "[1803]
Ann married William KNEALE" ANN the wife of WILLIAM KNEALE, her daughter Ann Kneale the wife of William Kneale of said parish of KK Andreas whole and sole executrix" [1803]
Esther married William SAYLE" ESTHER the wife of WILLIAM SAYLE to her daughter Esther the wife of Wm Sayle of said parish of Andreas" [1803]

Thomas Radcliffe Son, Born 1767, Entered 1778, Married Catharine Quirk, Kirk Patrick. Thomas and his wife had three [four] pretty daughters and two [four] sons, and they were keenly sought for in marriage.
Jane Radcliffe the eldest, married Robert Allen of Balla Varrey (Barrey) [son of Esther Radcliffe & Thomas Allen], and were first cousins, in the year 1812. Anne Radcliffe [Catherine not Ann]married William Kneale of Regaby Veg,1820 ; and Esther Radcliffe married Thomas Sayle of the Craig, 1823.

William Radcliffe Son, Born 1795, Married Anne Kewley, Entered 1811, Died 1833. [CR wrote "William's early death seems to have caused considerable financial difficulty, and most members of another large generation of six sons and two daughters left to try their fortune elsewhere - in Ramsey, Douglas, Liverpool and the United States".
[See younger son John's interesting decree:]

Thomas Radcliffe Son, Born 1819, Entered 1833, Married Janet Lace. Died 1898. [No, married Jane SAYLE]
["The farm descended to Thomas (1819-1898) and his wife Jane Sayle (1818-1895) and then to their bachelor son William John (1844-1916), well-known as Member of the Keys, Justice of the Peace and Local Preacher. Two of W. J. Radcliffe's younger brothers emigrated to New Zealand, whence the heir Donald (1881-1940) returned to spend his last days in Andreas. His son, Hubert H (Hugh), of recent memory, combined the two family traditions of residence abroad and public service at home (to say nothing of an interest in gardening) by entering the House of Keys after a period of service in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, later becoming a member of the Legislative Council." [CR]]

MI, Andreas Old Yard: Sacred to the memory of Catherine Maria, second daughter of Thomas and Jane Radcliffe, of Ballaradcliffe, who departed this life the 4th of May 1857, in the 14th year of her age. Also Robert Radcliffe, son of the above, who died 1st Novr 1877, aged 23 years. 'He sleeps in Jesus.' Also Eliza, wife of Wm J. Sayle, I.M.C., sister of the above, died 27th Dec 1894, aged 45 years. Interred in Shanghai Cemetery. Also Thomas, brother of the above, died 16th Jan 1910, aged 59 years. Interred at Karori, Wellington, N.Z. Also Esther, sister of the above, died 17th June 1920, aged 74 years.

MI, Andreas Old Yard: Sacred to the memory of Ann Jane, eldest daughter of Thomas and Jane Radcliffe, of Ballaradcliffe, who departed this life the 8th of January 1850, in the 8th year of her age. Also Ann Jane youngest daughter of the above, who died happy in the Lord the 3rd of March 1863, aged 12 years. 'Happy soul Thy days are ended, All thy mourning days are o'er.'
MI, Andreas Old Yard, Memorial Tablet in the Church: To the Glory of God and in memory of her father Thomas Radcliffe, late of Ballaradcliffe, in this Parish, who died 31 Mar 1898, aged 79 years. Also of her mother, Jane Radcliffe, wife of the above, who died 19 Jul 1895, aged 77 years; and of her brothers, Robert Radcliffe, who died 1 November 1877, aged 23 years; William John Radcliffe, J.P, M.H.K., who died 20 Jul 1916, aged 71 years. This tablet has been placed by Esther Radcliffe.

This Thomas is the first of the Radcliffes to have married out of his class of land owners, and his chosen spouse belonging to the peasantry or tenant farmers, she rewarded him with a small dowry and a large family of working class sons, equipped with an elementary education and large ideas of landed estates instead of farm lands to be worked in the traditional method of rotational order and labour, The farm could, and had, supported families of children, but it could not do the same for grown men who brought nothing back with them to repair the ravages of time and dying capital, and, unconsciously, this generation, accelerated the fall and obliteration of an old and honourable family, The marriage produced a complete social ostracism,

Primus Radclife [?]

Son, Born 1844. Entered 1898. Unmarried. Primus lived the greater part of his life as a farm worker for his father as he had not the endeavour to farm for himself, Moving with the times in the arts of preaching and politics, he used the chapel rostrum as a practice ground, and when he entered into possession of the land as an owner, he found it more expedient to auction the land as yearly accommodation land-and more profitableand infinitely easier. Running into the period of the great war, he received in rents four and five times the normal rental and having no responsibilities of house nor family, he entered into politics wholeheartedly, spending the money in buying popularity. Having entered into his "Kingdom" as an old man, his wits served him correspondingly and he became an "aura popularis" by taking election into the House of Keys, the Insular House of Commons, as a member of his native sheading.

[in 1881 Thomas Radcliffe was farming 110 acres of BallaRadcliffe employing 3 labourers - eldest son William John. unmarried - MHK 1903-1916]

[This third section seems completely opaque to me - possibly a parody on the funeral of W J Radcliffe - many of the names are Manx or jokes in Manx]

THE LAST OF THE RADCLIFFES OF BALLA RADCLIFFE.

FAMILY EXTINCTION.

Rattleston Farm House with its Georgian aspect wrought by the free and unrestricted use of stucco, needs a helping hand to survive a spring day with a warm sun shining on the buildings, lighting up with a bit of warmth the cold stone and the colder cement, The sun's rays penetrating into the corners of the fabric of the old homestead with its four centuries of unbroken history and industry, each generation doing its bit in the creating and adding, an odd generation or two coming a cropper and spending more than the earnings, to be repaired by the following generation. A debt wiped out, a fallen building rebuilt. The sun idly rested on the gardens which were by now a mass of yellow as the daffy-down-dillies broke through the earth's surface with an unresisting thrust, to blossom out into colour as bird breaks out into song. The old stone walling still extant as laid by the hands of the religious castaway of the dissolution period, is gradually being pushed out of shape by shapeless weeds with roots strong enough to lift and throw over the whole of the wall, at will, eventually; the stones are dropping from their bed of clay as they lose their balance. The jerry builder's work in contrast with the more ancient is easily a winner in reducing into a scrapheap, masonry and material employed, In alignment with the domestic buildings, and situated on one side of the haggard, is the Elizabethan barn with its roof still on, hanging it may be, but, nevertheless, it is still a roof. The roof of the barn has a celestial appearance, for the ridge beam is bent, and bent to its utmost, giving a graceful curve to the ridge, caught at the gables as though hooked, The masonry is still intact and still resisting, and the threshing machinery has crashed through to the stone floor below. The rats have made a play-house of this barn and the claws and teeth of the rodents will undo, they will undermine. Primus followed his ancestors to leave not a son to whom to pass on the farm and thus brought to an end a family. Whether it is good to bring to an end families of old-standing will remain for posterity to say, and they will say other families may rise to take the place of the ones that fall ; but it takes a long time to grow a tree and a short time to cut it down when grown.

Mr. Leighder [= Lawyer] was the constant companion and legal adviser of the last of the Radcliffes to the end, and he waited upon the invalid day by day, taking notes of his wants and desires and promising to carry them out to the best of his ability. His reward had been promised and duly noted in the breast pocket note-book as a legacy for services rendered, He did not know just how much the Shanstyer [= senator or elder] would leave in money ; he thought the Shanstyer was rich with rents he had been receiving; he did not know, nor did anyone else, that all this money had been spent on buying popularity,

Rattleston Farm on this great day of laying to rest the last of the family, presented somewhat an appearance of a gala day for the concourse began early to assemble hoping against hope that the great kitchen would be full of victuals and drinks, Mr. Leighder was early upon the scene taking charge of the proceedings. The temporary maid offered him a pot of tea and this he refused. He looked on the gathering from the windows and there was a large assembly, all knotted in twos and threes discussing the merits of the departed and all waiting patiently for the drink which was not forthcoming, for these assemblies on the Islands are great gatherings, attended by all the eldest sons suitably dressed, with the emblem of their order duly fluttering in the breeze tied from the bottom hole in the lapels of their home-spuns. The cortege ready, the coffin was placed on the shoulders of the bearers and they slowly wended their way, from the house towards the gate followed by the eldest sons in order of seniority-of wealth headed by Mr. Leighder. The concourse was then completed by the following gentlemen : Mr. Lahneder the masher; Mr. Joaneyder the duster; Mr. Joarree a stranger; Mr, Jolgagh the thorney one; Mr. Jollysagh the fond-of-food; Mr. Joyneyder the joiner; Mr. Jymmyltagh the waster; Mr. Jymmoosagh the wrathful one; Mr. Jymmyltagh the circumcised; Mr. Keayneyder the town crier; Mr. Karteyder the mucker ; Mr. Lhiassevder the liar; Mr. Lhiggeyder the galloper ; Mr. Lhongspooillee the pirate; Mr. Smooinevder the thinker; Mr. Sleaydevder the trailer; Mr. Fluigheyder the wetter; Mr. Feyshteyder the questioner; Mr. Chiaullanevder the musician ; Mr. Arraneyder the singer; Mr. Arrevder the watchman; Mr. Ashlevder the dreamer; Mr. Breimeyder the wind-breaker; Mr. Breigeyder the coaxer; Mr. Vongeyder the smiler; Mr. Vlieuneyder the milker ; Mr. Veealeyder the babbler; Mr, Haiheyder the salter; Mr. Guilleyglass the lockman ; Mr. Hellenee the Islander; Mr. Sheckter the executer; Mr. Sheckter-ayns-treisht the administrator; Mr, Sheebeyder the drifter; Mr. Plaastregder the plasterer; Mr. Puhteyder the pusher; Mr. Heurinyn the billy-goat man; Mr, Hooder the soaker ; Mr, Hostyl the apostle; Mr, Irree the ploughman ; Mr, Iuder the drinker; Mr. Jaaghevder the smoker; Mr. Jeelteyr the sadler; Mr. Jiuleanagh the sojourner; Mr, Jishig the father and landlord of the Spice-Box Hotel. The members of house of Juan-teavstyn came next all dressed in tall hats and they all wore ribbons attached to their coats and these ribbons fluttered gaily in the fresh morning breeze symbolizing the order of the eldest sons, The tail of the cortege was completed by a large gathering of Tar-noonyn. the come-overs from all parts of the world with their little bits of monies, pensions and large estates in the Land of Mythologia. Siyn folmey smoo sheean nee [= Empty vessels make most noise],

The cortege wended its way along the high road until it reached the church lane where it stopped to change bearers, proceeding on again without another stoppage until the doors of the church were reached where the assemble was considerably increased by the following gentlemen who had gathered together on hearing the tolling of the bell : Mr. Reuyreder the digger; Mr, Thooder the thatcher ; Mr, Sthookeyder the stookerman ; Mr, Rosooneyder the arguer; Mr. Reeallegder a wriggler; Mr. Spotcheyder the joker; Mr. Tallyeder the murmurer; Mr. Soghevder a groaner; Mr. Soareveder a smeller; Mr. Rouanagh the rioter; Mr. Rolleagydagh the astronomer, Mr. Snauender a creeper; Mr. Snauevder the napper; Mr, Rouuanagh the roman ; Mr. Toauvragh the fat one; Mr. Sluggeyder the gulper; Mr. Shirreyder a seeker; Mr. Niartallagh the mightv one; Mr, Seiyeyder the agitator; Mr. Niooder the washer-man ; Mr, Seaghneyder an afflictor; Mr. Screebevder a scratcher; Mr, Scrooudeyr the scribbler; Mr. Mwyllar the miller, Mr, Molteyr the cheat; Mr. Moogheyder a quencher; Mr, Mooinjeyrag a servant; Mr, Mooirchooreyder a wrecker; Mr.. Movllevcharane a praiser of the Lord; Mr. Moylleychreest a praiser of Christ; Mr. Mogllevrea a praiser of the king ; Several Sostnaghvn or Saxons from the mainland; A number of Sasanachyn or Englishmen from Albion ; two Nheirinaghyn or Irishmen from Ibernia and several Nalbinaghyn or Scotsmen; Mr. Gaauedoo the blacksmith ; Mr. Gadlag the sleeper; Mr, Gaggeyder the warrior; Mr, Gareyder the gardener, Mr, Gantevder the bidder; Mr, Gannider the mocker; Mr, Gammaneyder the sport; Mr, Gareyder the twister; Mr. Gasaagh the nimble one; Mr. Geavshteenagh the hairy one; Mr, Gearegder the laughing one; Mr, Geaishtagher the listener; Mr, Geideyder the stealer; Mr, Jeidey the godfather; Mr. Geeassaghev the lender; Mr. Gearegder the consoler; Mr. Gewaghevder the painful one; Mr, Gliarveigagh the howler; Mr, Ghiallegder the bleacher; Mr, Chiareyder the cutter; Mr, Ghimtuan the lover; Mr, Chiminagheyder the lobsier man; Mr. Ghioaleyder the pledger ; two gaelicyn from Ghivlyn ; Mr, Ghleckeyder the wrestler; Mr, Ghebberanagh the lamenter ; Mr. Ghoeteyder the gouty one ; Mr. Glessar the glazier ; Mr. Gollevder the goer ; Mr. Gooagevder the cuckooinan ; Mr. Greimmevder the biter; Mr, Grinnaghvn from the liouse of manv gates; Mr, Gubbegr the cooper and Mr, Guillinevder the elbower, Sic in situ est ; Ultimus de-Deiney claghyn rueeyn geinneevn.

RADCLIFFE OF CLITHEROE

A younger son of James de Radcliffe, lord of the manor in the early part of the fifteenth century, founded the Clitheroe branch of the Radcliffe family- and the first one have at present is Sir Thomas Radcliffe who married the daughter and heiress of John de Derwentwater of Cumberland

FRANCIS RADCLIFFE

the son of Thomas inherited his father's title and the wealth of both his father and his mother, was created Viscount Radcliffe and Earl of Derwentwater in March, 1688, He married the natural child of Charles the Second, by Mary Davies, an actress, and at the King's request, she bore the name of Mary Tudor.

EDWARD RADCLIFFE

the son of Francis, was the second Earl of Derwentwater and Keswick.

JAMES RADCLIFFE

the eldest son of Edward, became the third Earl of Derwentwater, and was brought up at the exiled Court of James the Second, at St. Germains in France. There as a boy, he lived and moved and had his sphere in a Stuart atmosphere; listened, in this early and impressionable period of his life, to the real, imaginary- and exaggerated wrongs of the Stuart family, of which, although a Radcliffe on his father's side, on his mother's he was a grandson of King Charles and so, obviously, a Stuart. This should be said in all fairness in the light of subsequent events, Soon after his father's death in the year 1705, he travelled on the Continent of Europe. After wandering about from place to place he, in November, 1709, sailed from Holland to London, whence he set out to visit his Cumberland Estates for the first time early in 1710, He married Anna, the eldest daughter of Sir John Webb, Baronet of Oldstock, Wilshire. According, to all accounts that have come down to us, he was a generous and sympathetic young man, and a sincere Roman Catholic. He. early in life joined the conspiracy in the North against King George the First; and, as may be inferred, he was suspected from his kinship to the Stuart family; and his disloyal sentiments becoming known, he was watched by Government officials and he was only saved from capture by the loyalty of his tenantry, who seemed to have had a great affection for him. When, however, Thomas Forster, who a Member of Parliament for the County, raised the standard for the Pretender, he joined him at Green-Rig on October 6th, 1715, at the head of a company of gentlemen and armed servants, About sixty horsemen and the remainder on foot. They assembled at Dilston Hall, Northumberland, which had by now become the home of the Radcliffes. The contingent went forth on the morning of the 6th October, 1715, seemingly in good spirits and fighting form, James Radcliffe and his brother Charles at the head of the company, Patten, the chaplain of the expedition, says that the Earl did not enter into the expedition with enthusiasm, and that if he had been enthusiastic, he could have raised a much larger force from his tenants and dependents, On one occasion, when depressed, his young wife is said to have rallied him by the offer of exchanging her fan for his sword . However, the little company proceeded south and increased their numbers as they went; all went well as they passed through Kendal, Kirkby, Lonsdale and Lancaster. Their reinforcements on the way vere not inspiring for they were small in numbers and uncertain in mein, and in some cases after having joined the contingent, then fell away again and returned to their homes, and the Lord Lonsdale detachment being a notable example.

Little doubt that the North was becoming rapidly Protestant and consequently, there would be little heart for the expedition and this influence on the fortunes of the Earl and his party was disastrous, Having reached Preston, where they met General Wills commanding the force sent to meet the rebels, Forster the commander of the expedition, capitulated without striking a blow, and the Earl of Derwentwater, to prevent bloodshed, gave himself up as a hostage to the General of the King, The Earl was escorted to London and with others of equal rank, was lodged in Devereux Tower of the Tower of London, He pleaded guilty of treason, was condemned, and in spite of very earnest and wide-spread intercessions for a reprieve, he was beheaded on Tower Hill, February 14th, 1716, at the age of twenty-seven years. Possessed of attractive features of character, refined and gallant with a winning courtesy, he died as only they can die.

THE END OF THE RADCLIFFES OF DILSTON HALL, NORTHUMBERLAND,

[This section appears to be drawn from the previously referenced Victoria County History where a similar table can be found]

THE CHURCH OF RADCLIFFE AND ITS RECTORS.

The first assured name as Rector of Radcliffe Church is John de Hulton and he was presented with the living in 1292, by the lord of the manor, Richard de Radcliffe. There must have been earlier appointments but we have not the necessary material in writing to work upon, therefore we can but work on conjecture and try- to account for the presence of the church, its origin and by whom. To account for the real origin of this church and its parish with its scattered boundary line, the have to try to grasp the fact that when the great landowners in the form of Anglo Thanes and Saxon Thanes marked out the boundaries and settled down in their wattle-built houses and stockaded their preserves, they must have built churches for the benefit of themselves and tenants, workers and followers; they then endowed them for the purpose of preservation and these endowments are to be sùpposed to be the tithes which exist to-day ; these tithes were apportioned over their estates and also over the detached portions, The boundaries of their estates then became the boundaries of the parishes and thus was formed the parish of Radcliffe, and the lord of the manor was, also the patron of the living of the church.

However much we owe to the munificence of the Normans and their successors, we should not forget our debt of gratitude to those unknown benefactors of the earlier days and their earlier struggles in the building of the first wattle-built churches,

RICHARD DE RADCLIFFE

in the year 1310, An acolyte; ordained sub-deacon 1311 and deacon 1315.

ROGER DE FRECKLETON

exchanged Bury for Radcliffe in the year 1315.

THOMAS DE CLIPSTON

at the death of his predecessor in 1322, was appointed by William de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor,

ROBERT DE NEWTON

received the appointment in the rear 1363 from Richard de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor.

ALEXANDER DE PILKINGTON

was appointed to the living in the year 1366 by Richard de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor.

RICHARD DE RADCLIFFE

succeeded in the year 136%, He was a priest. Richard de Radcliffe, patron-.

RICHARD DE CLIFTON

rector in the year 1374, and one of feoffees of Ralph de Langton. Richard de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor, the patron.

ROGER DE MANCHESTER

the son of William of Manchester, Vicar of Rochdale, made an exchange with John le Fitheler (Fletcher), who, in 1389, received the living of Radcliffe from James de Radcliffe, and retained the living until 1407. In his will he describes himself as Rector of Radcliffe, and the will being deliciously ancient, it will bear repeating. "1407/8 Tuesday after the feast of St. Matthias, grill of Roger de Mancestria, Rector of the church of Radclyf. To be buried in the church and his beast to be a mortuary, Legacies of bed and household goods, to Richard de Radclyf, Richard de Barton, Henry de Radclyf, Ivan de Radclyf and Roger de Radclyf. To his maid servant Alice, twelve cows with seventeen stirks (heifers) and the best part of utensilie mee ; to Isabella, his maid servant, one cow; to Ivan his man servant, one cow with part of one calf. To Henry de Herdman two stages in the pasture of Pilkington. To John de Workesley, chaplain, a book called 'Stimulus Conscientiæ' (A spur to the conscience), and another book called `Vitæ Patrum' (The lives of the fathers) ; one mazer cup, with silver spoon and two of his best knives. To Robert his servant, one stirk. To Thomas de Manicester a burgage (a tenure with a yearly rent) called Pene, and a burgage in le Milngate. To Robert le Strong a small Portiforium et as solvendum pro leget in actione sua (to secure his rights). To the church of Radcliffe, his best Portiforium and a manuale. To the church of Sudul worth a Portiforium. To the church of Manicester two torches, To the church of Radcliffe sufficient of his goods to cover it with lead and two torches,"

CHRISTOPHER WALKER

was presented to the living by James de Radcliffe in 1407 and was chaplain to the hall.

RICHARD DEL, FORTH

succeeded to the living in the year 1437, and the Patron was James de Radcliffe.

OLIVER SMETHURST

succeeded in the year 1459 and for some reason not stated he resigned in the year 1481, As he was pensioned by his successor for life, it may have been on account of old age,

JOHN BENDALOUSE

was presented to the living in the year 1481, by the lord of the manor, John de Radcliffe.

THOMAS BLAKELOW

succeeded in the year 1483, on the death of his predecessor, and the Patron being John de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor,

HUGH RADCLIFFE

was presented to the living by appointment of Richard de Radcliffe.

ROGER LONGWORTH

followed on the death of the last rector being appointed by Richard de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor, in the rear 1496,

RICHARD BESTWICK

followed Roger Longworth in the year 1514, being presented to the liring by John de Radcliffe, the lord of the manor,

THOMAS MAWDSLEY

succeeded Richard Beswick, ;534, the Patron being the Earl of Sussex, Rector Mawdslev remained only a short time at Radcliffe and those few years were memorable ones, and perhaps the most eventful ones of the reformation. In 1536, the Bible was ordered to be printed and read in the church by all who pleased.

ROBERT ASHTON

succeeded in the year 1538, and was presented to the living by Earl of Sussex.

JOHN ASHTON

succeeded in the year 1559, and was presented to the living by the Earl of Sussex, the lord of the manor. In the same year the Commissioners General to Queen Elizabeth for the Province of York reported that Sir John Ashton "Doth not rede the Pistell and Gospel with the Latayne according to proclamation." (Sir was the title then used for a beneficial clergyman). This was the last appointment by the Radcliffes as lords of the manor, as the third Earl of Sussex sold the manor of Radcliffe to Richard de Ashton in the year 1561,

LEONARD SHAW

was inducted into the living in the near 1584, the gift of the new lord of the manor, Richard Ashton,

THE END.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor © F.Coakley , 2009