The Pedigree of Tatton, Kenworthy & Cicely de Massey

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UPDATED 22nd February 2026. NEW!- Correction to Tatton pedigree.

ANCIENT MUNIMENTS OF TATTON part 3 of 3.  - The Tatton & Kenworthy direct line of descent cont'd.

We know that Hamon de Kenworthy’s birth is around the early 1230’s based on the public records of his son Roger de Kenworthy. The age of Roger de Tatton the elder in record TW/2 would be about the time of Henry 3rd 1216-. In order to “square the circle”, to which generation of the direct line of descent is Roger Tatton a younger brother? To recap, the TW/2 grant says,"Grant by Robert de Tatton to Roger de Tatton, Son of William, son of Roger de Tatton". This statement excludes the direct Tatton line, because the grant from Robert de Tatton to Roger (above) must be from a another generation. The grant states that Roger's father William is the son of Roger the elder, but the Tatton pedigree specifically shows that  neither of the 2 William names shown have a father named Roger! Therefore, Roger the elder in TW/2 must be a cousin from an earlier younger generation of Tatton, most probably Alan de Tatton through a second son named Roger. We can now add that Roger the elder in TW/2, b. c1212, (cousin of William de Tatton b. c1210) would have married  Cicely de Massey who brought with her a dowry for half of Northenden,  (Norden! pg2), from which Hamon (Roger de Tatton's heir) would have taken his name & title. At this time in history, the locative surname was as important, legally, as the knight's seal, and became his domain name & was charter proof of entitlement to his holding, his new domain. As the son of a younger brother in the direct Tatton line of descent, Hamon would have been granted a charter in fee tail for Kenworthy, directly from Roger de Tatton & Cicely de Massey his parents who would have gifted this title at birth.  https://www.sloansterling.com/venables/norman_surname.htm

 Early Tatton line of descent to 1297 when the seat is held by Robert de Tatton. (See Tatton/Wythenshaw pg 1 ).   NEW - Updated 22nd February 2026.

 1)  Alan de Tatton. b. c1150. Mentioned in 1186. Held the seat of Tatton by the order of the Knights of St. John, (see above). Appointed the 5th prior of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem in England in 1190 & was raised to the bishopric of Bangor in 1195, but spent most of his time with the Hospitallers. He died in 1196. 

Taking into consideration the two Rogers in the muniment TW/2 & the later cousin Roger de Kenworthy, there is a strong hyperthetical possibilty that after the first born son Alanus was born, that Alan de Tatton named a second son Roger, specifically named after Roger de Moulins who was the 8th Grandmaster of the Knights Hospitaller from 1177 until his death in 1187. Alan would have known of Roger & both would have lived & breathed the life of the Hospitallers throughout their adult life.

Roger was instrumental in urging  Baldwin IV of Jerusalem and the principal lords of the kingdom to continue the war against Saladin .  On 25 November 1177, Roger participated in the Battle of Montgisard, winning "the most beautiful victory of the crusades" against the Ayyubids. This news would have filtered down to the Hospitallers & his name would have been revered for his bravery. At this time, the Hospitallers were one of the strongest military organizations of the kingdom, but this was contrary to the spirit of the Order, distancing them from the works of hospitality for which it had been founded. Pope Alexander III called them back to the observance of the rule of Raymond du Puy between 1178 and 1180, issuing a bull that forbade them to take up arms unless they were attacked and urged them not to abandon the care of those sick and in poverty.  See the link for  Roger & the heading  "Status of the Order" within which is mentioned:  "On 14 March 1182, the new statutes of the Hospitaller under the leadership of Roger de Moulins marked an essential turning point for the Order on several points". "Three articles refer to it, all of them dealing with the reception and care of the sick: (1) To welcome thirty poor people at table each day; (2) To give alms to all those who come to the door of the establishment three days a week; and, (3) Wash the feet of thirteen poor people on the Saturday of Lent, and provide them with new clothes and shoes. Roger was the originator of the bull issued on 22 August 1185". It was this that transformed the Hospitallers into a religious-military order. 

If Alan de Tatton named a second son Roger, it is why we see the name in the Tatton line missing every other generation! 1) As brother of Alanus Filius de Tatton, c.1170, then 2) as cousin of William de Tatton c.1210 (last named Roger in Muniment TW/2), then 3) as cousin of Robert de Tatton c.1250 (the first named Roger in Muniment TW/2), and 4) Roger de Kenworthy c.1255, also as cousin of Robert de Tatton via his father Hamon. GL

2) Alanus filius de Tatton, b. c1170. Son of Alan de Tatton. During Henry 3rd 1216-1272. Alanus filius de Tatton assumed the surname of Tatton & was Lord of all Tatton in c.1230. He gave the land of Bruchel to William de Massey (Henry 3rd 1216-) (Orm. Vol 1 p440).  (Also a probable brother named Roger de Tatton c1172.)

3) Quenild de Tatton. b. c1190. Mentioned in the grant in 1286 below as father of William de Tatton.** Probably so named after the Manor of Quenington, a village & Manor in the Cotswolds. A 13th century gatehouse is the only surviving building from a Preceptory (manor/estate) of the Knights Hospitallers. Founded in 1144-62 by Walter, the first Prior of the Order in England (1142-1162) & dissolved in 1540. It was one of the earliest Hospitallers Preceptories, built after the first crusade 1095-1291.

(We do not know what name Roger de Tatton c.1172 (younger brother of Alanus above) would have called his son, but it was probably Alan to honour his father!)

4) William de Tatton, b. c1210. Mentioned in the grant 1286 below, father of William de Tatton.**  (Cousin to the elder Roger de Tatton in Muniment TW/2).

*Roger de Tatton of Tatton. b. c1212. In the second line of descent from Alan de Tatton and as such a cousin of William de Tatton. As father of Hamon de Kenworthy c1230, this Roger de Tatton would probably have married Cicely de Massey, granddaughter of Baron Hamon de Massey 3rd (5th pg2) who received half of Northenden from her Aunt Sibil, which passed to the seat of Tatton by c.1230 during the time of Alanus de Tatton.

5) William de Tatton, b. c1230– Mentioned in the grant 1286 with his father and grandfather above.**  Grant of a parcel of land to Richard Massey.

**Ormerod Vol 1 p440. "William son of William son of Quenild de Tatton granted a great part of Tatton unto sir Richard Massy and Isabel his wife, about the year of Christ 1286, which  Peter Hackham, then prior of the hospital of St. John of Jerusalem in England confirmed."  (This William de Tatton also has a cousin named William, as mentioned in the Muniment TW/2 as son of Roger, the elder! The names are identical, but not uncommon in order to honour their father William de Tatton above!)

6) **Robert de Tatton, b. c1250. Lord of Wythenshaw & living in Kenworthy 1297. Mentioned as the probable son of William Fitz Robert de Tatton in the pedigree of the Tattons of Wythenshaw, descended from Alan de Tatton. Ormerod, vol 3 p609. He also occurs as a witness to a charter of lands in Northenden c.1290 and by another charter at Wythenshaw as a grantee of lands in 1297, then taking up residence in Kenworthy. vol 3 p604.  (Cousin to the younger Roger de Tatton in Muniment TW/2)

The Tatton Pedigree

Alan de Tatton b. c1150. d.1196

Note these dates are not an exact Science! 

Left - The Direct Line of Alan de Tatton -  Right - The second line of descent 
Alanus filius de Tatton b. c1170.............|................Roger de Tatton b. c1172 (Brother of Alanus!). Very possibly named after Roger de Moulins. (See above).

Quenild de Tatton b. c1190....................|.................Alan de Tatton b. C1192 ? (Cousin of Quenild). Probably named by Roger after his father Alan.

William de Tatton b. c1210.....................|.................Roger de Tatton b. C1212   (Cousin of William) The Elder in Muniment TW/2 . Named by Alan after his father Roger.

William de Tatton b. c1230....................|................William de Tatton b. c1232 (Cousin of William). Son of Roger de Tatton above, the Elder in Muniment TW/2.

Robert de Tatton b. c1250......................|.................Roger de Tatton b. C1252 (Cousin of Robert). The Younger in Muniment TW/2.

So we then have:-
Early Kenworthy line of descent from c.1230. (Kenworthy pedigree).

 **(See Muniment TW/2. Grant by Robert de Tatton to Roger de Tatton, Son of William, son of  Roger  de Tatton).

(Proviso)-  With Primogeniture, the eldest son inherited the main estate and, often, the title. This often led to the eldest son taking on the name of the estate, while the younger sons continued with the family name or developed their own. In Hamon's case, as the eldest son of Roger de Tatton c.1212 he receives the title of Kenworthy (1/2 of Norden) by fee-tail from his parents Roger de Tatton & Cicely de Massey. Younger brothers of Hamon or sons of Roger de Tatton continue with the name of Tatton. 

Roger de Tatton b. c1212  - From the second line of descent of Alan de Tatton - Cousin to William de Tatton C1210. (See above). Alan de Tatton's great Grandson, m. Cicely de Massey b. c1214- granddaughter of the (3rd baron, or 5th - see page 2).  This Roger de Tatton (the elder) being the last named in Muniment TW/2.

*Hamon de Kenworthy of Kenworthy. b. circa.1230. - (Heir of Roger de Tatton c1212 & Cicely de Massey, c.1214.(Same generation & Cousin of William de Tatton c1230).

  Alan de Tatton's great great Grandson!

Roger de Kenworthey - Son of Hamon de Kenworthy, b. circa.1255-1260.   (Same generation & Cousin of Robert de Tatton c.1250).                                          

Quitclaims & Land Grants, Inquisition witness 1276, Land Grant 1310, Plea Rolls 1312 & 1313, Witness to 2 Grants 1316, & 1317. 

John de Kenworthy of Kenworthy - (Son of Roger)     

Witness to Land Grant 1353 – Reference to both John & father Roger de Kenworthy both living in 1353.   

William de Kenworthey of Kenworthy - (Son of John?)

Bond 1377, Inquests 1389, 1390, 1394, Witness to 2 Land Grants 1396                                   

James de Kenworthy of Kenworthy                             

Quitclaim 1449                                                                                 

Nicholas Kenworthy of Kenworthy             

Grant 1493 

John Kenworthy of Northenden - (Son of Nicholas Kenworthy of Kenworthy)

Obligation 1512, Court Assizes 1510, Land Lease 1533

Note: -

The Tatton direct line of descent above flows to William de Tatton, but then the Kenworthy line starts with William’s cousin Roger de Tatton & Cicely de Massey, whose son & heir would be Hamon de Kenworthy of Kenworthy, c.1230.  GL

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Page last updated 22nd February 2026