Robert & Agnes HATCH

Robert Hatch was born in about 1661, probably at Satterleigh, county Devon.

Parents: Robert Hatch and Sarah (maiden name not known)

Robert’s father, Robert Hatch, died in March 1674 and was buried at Satterleigh on March 14.

In 1679 or earlier Robert Hatch settled “in tayle speciall”, by voluntary settlement, the manor of Chittlehamholt (at Chittlehampton, 6½ miles south-east of Barnstaple).

Agnes (maiden name not known)

Parents: (details not known)

Robert Hatch and Agnes --- were married (details of marriage not known).

Children: Susanna, baptised on 14 April 1680 at Satterleigh, Devon.

Sarah, born on 25 May 1682 and baptised at Satterleigh.

Christian, born on 8 May 1684 at Satterleigh.

Agnes, born on 25 December 1685 at Satterleigh.

Bridget, born on 1 March 1690 and baptised on 1 April 1690 at Satterleigh.

(see Appendix A for further details)

Robert Hatch was party to a deed of 20 August 1697. The deed makes reference to Robert’s father, deceased, as having been party to a deed of 18 April 1668 (20 Charles II).

Robert Hatch died on 13 December 1699 and was buried on December 21 (S.P.M.) at Satterleigh.

Robert Hatch had made his Will on 20 November 1699 and it was proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury by his widow, Agnes Hatch, in November 1703. The Will makes reference to Chittlehamholt manor and directs that in the case of any question arising about the validity of the original settlement, in connection with the powers of leasing the manor according to the terms of the Will, the trustees should do what they might think proper so as to give effect to the Will. Agnes was appointed Executrix of the Will and John Hacche of North Aller, county Devon (Robert Hatch’s kinsman and loving friend) was appointed a Trustee. [refer to Appendix B regarding John Hacche of North Aller]

Acting upon the directions given by the testator, application was made by Agnes Hatch and John Hacche to Parliament, which resulted in an Act being passed in 1705-6 (3 & 4 Queen Anne) with the following title:

An Act to enable Agnes Hacche, widow, and other Trustees to make leases and sell lands in the county of Devon for payment of the debts and legacies of Robert Hacche, esquire, deceased, for the maintenance and advancement of his daughters’ portions.

Appendix A

The children of Robert and Agnes Hatch:

Susanna Hatch baptised on 14 April 1680 at Satterleigh, Devon) married Thomas Stafford (of Upcott, county Devon; son of Thomas Stafford) shortly prior to 1705.

Sarah Hatch (born on 25 May 1682 and baptised at Satterleigh).

Christian Hatch (born on 8 May 1684 at Satterleigh) married (1) John Drake on 9 May 1706 at Barnstaple (2) Charles Standish on 8 February 1716 at Barnstaple; died before 27 April 1744. [click a link for full details]

Agnes Hatch (born on 25 December 1685 at Satterleigh) married Dr. Ebenezer Burdock.

Bridget Hatch (born on 1 March 1690 and baptised on 1 April 1690 at Satterleigh).

Appendix B

John Hacche of North Aller (Robert Hatch’s “kinsman and loving friend”) was probably the grandson of Arthur Hatch of Aller (who died in 1625). John Hacche was born in about 1640; he married Anne Lovett (daughter of Edward Lovett of Tawstock) on 30 December 1680 at Tawstock. John Hacche died in August 1731 and was buried at South Molton, county Devon, on 7 August 1731. [IGI records] The identity of John Hacche’s father is open to conjecture. IGI records seem to indicate his father was Thomas, Arthur Hatch’s eldest son. However, an article by Myron W. Hatch (1999) states that his father was John, the second eldest son of the family.

Thomas did not marry, thus, he produced no heir. Upon Thomas's death on 1 June 1680, his brother John's eldest son John, returned to Aller and became the family head, John senior having died in 1674. John Esq. was named a Church Warden in 1683. Thereafter the line of succession for the Hatches of Aller was through John Esq., the son of John, the second son of Arthur. [M. W. Hatch (1999)]

Myron Hatch’s article ‘The Thomas Hatch Enigma’ (subtitled ‘An examination from a different perspective, of the relationship of Thomas Hatch of Barnstable, Plymouth, Massachusetts, to Arthur Hatch of Aller, South Molton, Devonshire, England’) is worth reading. The article casts doubt on the long-held view that Thomas Hatch, son of Arthur Hatch of Aller, was the progenitor of the American Hatch family. Hatch concludes: ”Thomas of Aller lived in England, he died in England, and he was buried in England”.

The Hatch family has the coat of arms “gules two demi lions passant guardant or” and the crest “a lion's head cabossed argent”. The Heralds’ Visitations of Devonshire and Cornwall of 1620 recorded two branches of the Hatch (Hacche) family of Wolley. One branch culminates with Arthur Hatch of Aller (south Devon, near Newton Abbot). It was recorded that Arthur Hatch and his wife Margaret (née Mallet) had eight children (reaching adulthood), as well as a cousin at Chittlehampton (north Devon, south-east of Barnstaple). The “cousin at Chittlehampton” may be a clue as to how, in 1679 or earlier, it came about that Robert Hatch settled at Chittlehamholt manor “in tayle speciall”, by voluntary settlement. Prior to Robert Hatch the manor of Chittlehamholt was probably held by Arthur Hatch [born in 1603, son of Lewis Hatch & Elizabeth (née Hussey)] who married Sibel Melhuish [IGI records]. In 1620 the “cousin at Chittlehampton” was probably Arthur’s father, Lewis Hatch.