Family and Education

m. (1) 17 Sept. 1559, Millicent, da. of one Barre, wid. of Thomas Fairclough, s.p.; (2) 8 May 1564, Constance (d.1596), da. of Thomas Sheppard of Hockliffe, 1s. 2da.

Offices Held

J.p. Beds. from c.1584.

Biography

At the baptism of Hatley’s son Robert on 19 Sept. 1566 the sponsors were Sir Robert Catlin, chief justice of the Queen’s bench; John Gostwick, from whom Hatley leased his manors of Puttenhoe and Goldington; and Mary Radcliffe or Ratcliffe, who may have been a relative of the Earl of Sussex. Radcliffe influence can be seen in a number of Bedfordshire parliamentary elections, and Hatley may have owed his return to Parliament to the family. On the other hand, Goldington is only a mile or two from the borough, and his own local standing may have been sufficient. He served on the subsidy committee, 7 Apr. 1571. The fact that he held no county office until shortly before his death may indicate that he had a little job at court, or that he was in the service of a great man. Due to the ‘great imbecility’ of John Gostwick, who had signed a number of incompatible leases, a complicated lawsuit arose about Hatley’s lands, which his son Robert was still fighting after both the original contestants were dead. Hatley died 18 Sept. 1585, and was buried at Goldington two days later. By his will, made 9 Sept., and proved 4 Nov., Robert was appointed sole executor, and charged ‘before God and His angels’ to be diligent in his studies.

Beds. Par. Reg. ed. Emmison, xl. 1, 13-14, 29, 30; Vis. Herts. (Harl. Soc. xxii), 52; Vis. Beds. (Harl. Soc. xix), 33, 138, 145; F. A. Blaydes, Gen. Bed. 414; C3/225/6; VCH Beds. iii. 203-4; CJ, i. 83; PCC 49 Brudenell.

Ref Volumes: 1558-1603

Author: N. M. Fuidge

Notes