Re: Hatfield genealogy Posted by: Carol Hatfield White Date: February 12, 2000 at 14:33:09

Thomas Hatfield of Yorkshire England migrated to New Amsterdam in America in about 1621. He was fleeing England because he was being persecuted for being a member of the Robinson Movement which came into conflict with the King who was Catholic. The ship left England for Leyden Holland and met with difficulties so the passengers had to return to England. Thomas md Anna Hambden widow of Valentine Cochs (Cox) and then re-embarked for America on a sister ship of the Mayflower arriving soon in New Amsterdam.

After Thomas arrived in America, he received land patents from both Peter Stuyvestant and Peter Minuet. He settled in Elizabethtown NJ and had two sons and other children I think. The birth and marriage records for early in this family are connected to the "Dutch Church" in NY. Other names affiliated with this family include Clara Eveels/Ebel, Fowler, Gilbert and others. ...

Thomas Hatfield, the son, went to the White Plains Rye County and Clinton County areas of New York and immediately engaged in various businesses. His family owned an inn, were carriers of goods, etc. and fought in the REV War. ...

The first mention I have found of the name Hatfield as a place name (thus Adam of Hatfield, Wm of Hatfield, etc) is 589 AD at the Battle of Hatfield Chase where King Eadwine the king of the Scots and founder of Edinboro was killed. The Domesday Census of England shows Adam, William, and Robert as three men in the "Village of Hatfield" in Herefordshire in 1086, They would have been known as "of Hatfield" This is the earliest I have found of family groupings with the name, but am still searching. I have an idea that other than the "de Hatfield's" which denotes Norman influence, these are the beginnings of recorded surname affiliation for this family. ...

http://genforum.genealogy.com/hatfield/messages/1467.html