William de Radcliffe

The Ratcliff family in Lancashire, England, descended from Sir Nicholas de Fiitz-Gilbert de Tailbois (Talbot). His great-grandfather, Ivo de Tailbois, was a Norman knight who invaded England with Williams the Conqueror. For meritorious service in wars in Scotland, the King gave Sir Nicholas the manor of Radcliffe. He was then known as Sir Nicholas de Radcliffe, which became the family surname. During the years it has changed form, and our branch uses the Ratliff form. The only remaining evidences of the manor are the church and the ruins of the tower. The Radcliffe Tower is being protected by the Radcliffe Historical Society in the Borough of Radcliffe, which is located about nine miles north of Manchester.

• 1. Richard Radclyffe, b. 1305, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England , d. 1375, Radcliffe Tower, Englnd
• 2. Joan De Radcliffe, b. 1312, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England , d. 1425, England
• 3. Elizabeth Radcliffe, b. 1315, Lancashire, England
• 4. William Radclyffe, b. 1316, Edgeworth, Lancashire, England , d. 1360, Langfield, West Riding, Yorkshire, England
• 5. Elizabeth De Radcliffe, b. 1285, Radcliffe Tower, Bury, Lancashire, England
• 6. Adam Radclyffe, b. 1307, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England
• 7. Margaret Radclyffe, b. 1319, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England
• 8. Maud Radclyffe, b. 1323, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England
• 9. Agnes Radclyffe, b. 1313, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England
• 10. Alice Radclyffe, b. 1311, Radcliffe Tower, Lancashire, England
• 11. William De Radcliffe, b. 1298, Langfield, Yorkshire, England , d. 1360
• 12. Richard High Sheriff, b. 1305, Radcliffe Tower, Lancastershire, England , d. 1358

Nicholas de Radclyffe FitzGilbert to Joseph Radcliffe
By Harriet Eshleman May 29, 2010 at 11:46:05

The following is what my research has found for me.If anyone can give me some insight as to which Radcliffe the line goes to the Earl of Derwentwater.Also, where does the connection to Radcliffe Tower begin, and which of these Radcliffe are connected to Langley Castle. Here goes:

Nicholas de Radclyffe FitzGilbert, son of Gilbert de Lancaster and Godith FitzFulk, born about 1100sOR was he the son of Iva deTailbois and Lucia Aelfgar

Henry de Radeclive, married to a Booth, born about 1122 diesd before 1190
William de Radclyffe, born about 1160, ma Cecelia deMontbegon, died about 1220.Could he have had two wives.
Adam Radcliffe, born June 30, 1225, m Culwen
Robert de Radcliffe, born about 1250, m Annabella Trafford
Richard de Radcliffe, born, m Joan leBoteler/Butler, d 1290
Sir William the Great, de Radcliffe, born about 1270, m Margaret De Clucheth and Margaret Peasfurlong, died 1333...

William de Radcliffe, also known as William the Great, was a knight and the High Sheriff of Lancashire. He was a rich and influential land-owner who married Margaret, the daughter and heiress of Adam de Hindley, in 1303. He succeeded his father in 1324 and included his wealth in the estate of his wife. The estate included Peasfurlong, a parcel of eleven acres in Culcheth, and some small reWilliam de Radclyffe was called "The Great William," likely because of his physical strength. He was born at Radclyffe Tower about 1280, and in 1303 married Margaret, the daughter and heir of Adam de Peasurlong and Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Gilbert de Culcheth. By 1309, his father Richard had settled William and his heirs on the manors of Radclyffe, Oswaldtwistle, and Quarlton. William gained his inheritance while his father was still alive.

This era of British History was a troubled time with feuds and lawlessness rampant. William and his brothers played an active part in the lawlessness, and were keen supporters of the Earl of Lancaster. William and his brothers John and Roger, cousin Richard, and others, were charged with breaking into the manors of Richard de Hulton of Ordsall at Ordsall, Hulton and Flixton. They were also involved with assaulting William de Butterwyck.

These attacks were all part of the brutal feuds which were prevalent during this period. They all had connection with the political disturbances of the reign as well as being part of family rivalries, and the jealousy of one manor against another in the quest for power. As the riches of the Radclyffe Tower family rose, they had encountered interminable feuds as they fought for the right to have and to hold which sons and daughter brought to increase the patrimonial power. William Radclyffe married his family with a shrewd eye to the main chance, and when he died in 1333, the Radclyffes owned sway over a very considerable part of Lancaster's fair shirents in Little Lever and Longworthe