BeforeArthur

Tracing the deep ancestry of any family is exceptionally difficult but in our quest to understand ours, and with the use of 'Genetic Genealogy, DNA we can begin the trek back into those illusive years prior to the medieval times where the legend, or truth, of King Arthur has brought hope to us all and certainly to those who were on the verge of loosing their Christianity. It was Arthur's tales that created a rebirth of the Christian faith.

More importantly, to many of us, these tales seem, at least, connected to us by place if not by fact.

I hope to present to the readers the possibility the King Arthur did exist and that he was a Celtic King and Knight.

The use of DNA or Y-DNA which is passed from father to son virtually unchanged over thousands of years gives us great insight as to where our families last lived.and even the adopted surnames of those families most likely connected to ours.

Unfortunately, and I hope you will understand, I most move from one subject or thought to another as I am writing as I think having placed in my mind the facts that I think most important at the moment.

What you are reading is the thoughts being pondered in my mind as I write and surely some of those thoughts will change as I continue to explore the ancestry of those families connected to mind.

I have found deep ancestral connections and I do think there are possible explanations as to who I am and the associated families connected to mine.

King Arthur came upon the scene at a period when Christianity was dwindling. People were losing faith. Whether he existed or was created by Geoffrey the Monk at Monmouth Castle we do not know but evidence points to the likelihood that Arthur did exist either as one person or a combination of more than one man trying desperately to bring forth once again Christian values. [More about Monmouth, also known as Mingui:Moris]

He and his Knights sat at the round table indicating that all were equal.

We give little credit to the story of King Arthur when you consider he had much to do with the rebirth and hope of Christians then and now.

Although I am going to present the facts surrounding my own HATTON research as I am not privy to all the others, other than knowing that Hattons have thus proved to be Celtic and no Norman roots have been discovered thus far.

Please remember we are at the beginning of our research much may change over the course of my research.

The ancestry of the HATTON family is well documented in English history starting with the Conquest by William in 1066.

We know they existed at that time and played an important part in history. The lineage presented, based on the Hatton DNA tests do not back up the historical events that surround them in 1066.

However that has always been questionable even at the time Sir Christopher Hatton's ancestral lineage was investigated and considered to be most accurate,

Does this mean that the Hatton lineage is incorrect? NO, it does not, it simply means that there seems to be confusion as to the ancestry and not whether the family surname came into being at that time, or whether we descend from that family.

It may be that Sir Christopher's genealogists at that time could not know the actual lineage. Someone arriving with William may have been thought to be Norman when, in fact, we know that not all the Knights were Normans.

We now know that their are some others who seem to be closely related.; Hutton, Hyatt, and many Scottish, Irish and Welsh families.

The Royal Forest of Dean within walking distance to Wales in places, and an area where it is very likely we will find more Celtic roots may be where we want to begin.

The surname Hutton was said to have come about in England when Nigell gave to his brother Wolfrath the parish and Manor of Hatton. Wolfrath was a Priest [Monk] and it is stated that he had six brothers. However I read this as brethren indication a religious relationship and not a biological one. Some have translated this to brothers.

We can further substantiate the brethren theory by examining the DNA of the brothers. We find absolutely no relationship to date.

William entrusted the Church to Wolfrath [there are many variations in this spelling] however I see a problem with this as history clearly states that King William kept a Monk by the name of Wolfram who he had great respect and who was born 1008 in Warwickshire, England, where the parish of Hatton and many persons of that surname resided, including the sister of Sir Christopher Hatton and his heir Sir William Newport Hatton.

I have to question whether there may have been confusion between Wolfrath and Wolfram or perhaps the similar name and time is coincidence?

Either way Hatton seems to have been parishes in the Celtic areas of England. Chatton are parishes in England, Northern England on the Scottish border, Ireland and various Isles of the coasts of Scotland. These parishes, hill-forts and religious sanctities were in some of the most remote places.

As we explore the Celtic families we find the Monk Saint Chatton spelled in various forms from which the Clan Chatton arose.

Scottish genealogists are confused as to who Saint Chatton was and from where he came from. This is one of the GREATEST MYSTERIES in Scottish history.

It is said that Saint Chatton have children but also had followers who assumed the name. If so, this would account for some Celtic Hattons males not having the same genetic code, but still one that is Celtic.

Prior to 1000 it becomes difficult to find the root ancestry of the Chatton family, or those who became Servants or followers of Saint Chatton.

It is recorded that the Clan became very powerful and was one of a confederation of other clans, likely smaller who when united presented a very formidable force.

The role of Clan leader today has been asumed by the Macphersons although genealogists don't seem to support that view. The problem is there is no further evidence of what happened to this Clan. The ancestry is certainly very deep and mysterious and I willl place links on this page for you to read and judge.

It would be my guess at this moment that the followers of Saint Chatton and here! [various spellings] were once Druids and cetainly many appear to have been Druid Priests or Monks.

When they accepted Christianity they did so in an avid and devoted way.

For a moment I want to step back here to explain that the HATTON names was in existance in it's present spelling as far back as 662 A.D. meaning that it was likely much older.

I have not fully examined the place called HATTIN between the Horns of Hattin where so many Knight Templars were kileed by Salladin during the crusades.

In a priory in France in the year 1268 there was a Knight Templar by the name of Hatton de Salvanhac.

Hatton de Aqauitaine 662 AD in France was likely a distance or even possible ancestor to Eleanor de Aquitaine who became Queen of England.

My Celtic trail seems to either have started, but is certainly found, in Northern Italy. This may have been a Templar Knight or an early Celtic father involved in the attacks on Rome which fell to the Celts. The DNA trail then shows in Spain, Portugal coasts, Aquaitanie and Lyons France, Bretagne [Brittany] and the through the Mid-Marches of England, Wales, Ireland and in a larger precentage Scottland, possibly indicating the beginning and ending of much of the family trek less the Celtic roots in Europe.

Why do I, at the moment believe there is a connection between Hatton and Chatton. First, and most IMPORTATNTLY, the male Y-DNA evidence.

The ancient DNA of Colla Uais, the High Irish King, born about 300 A.D. is a match. There were three Colla brothers so to which we cannot predict, but there are now other surname matches in Scotland that match and are associated with Colla, therefore me.

Since Hatton is a name found as far back as the 1300s in Scotland and Chatton came about long before history can tell for certain, we certainly can make the case that there was a slight name change and the C was dropped by many. In fact there are today MacElHattons, Hattons, MacHattons, Huttons and other variants of the name.

But, it will be DNA that will eventually present our past and who descends from whom.

It is my belief that the Chattons in some cases became Hattons and migrated into the border areas of Scotland and finally into the Mid-Marches England and again in Wales where we find Hattons and Huttons.

Folklore does state that families from Ireland also sailed up the Severn River and settled in the area.

Could there are possible connections between the Hermit Monk who became Saint Breivel? It certainly is possible as Saint Breivel has no known ancestry [believed to be Celtic] and yet the Catholic Church canonized him?

Wolfram died the Bishop of Worcester washing the feet of the poor.

John de Hatton was a priest at Warwick in the 1300s.

Other clues are the names Arthur and Bertram.

and his relationship to Cheshire. We need to refer back to the DNA results and the Castle Hatton. All of these monks were Hermit Monks with a desire to truly serve the people, as was the father of the Hatton Clan family.

Arthur was the light whether fictional or real. More on the real Arthur later.

Note: We must not assume that Wolfram was Saxon. He was born 1008 in Warwickshire from likely Celtic ancestry. We must remember that the Saxons dominated the country for quite some time and children were likely given Saxon names.

It does seem likely that William favoured Wolfram because he was of Celtic lineage?

Wlofram was 58 years old when William invaded England. It was very important for William to control the church. He dismissed all other, or most of the Bishops so Wolfram was vert important in the transition.

Let us not forget the numerous stones and hill-forts.

Castles in England, Ireland and Scotland. It certainly appears that the Scottish family became quite powerful and the castles are located in very important areas. It is said that Hattons were on Iona whether true or not Hatton Castle is nearby in Endinburgh and a long forgotten ancestry in Ratho associated with the Mowat families. The only reference is that the Hattons took pocession of the Mowat lands. This appears to be a peaceful transfer.

One must ask this question, If this family was not of great importance than why did so many families take the name? Apparently history failed us. To name a few were the Maitland, Rich, and others took the Hatton name as a given name Sir Hatton Cheeke, Sir Monk Hatton. Sir Hatton Rich etc.

Interesting email recieved from Gary Harding. [Some Hardings are related to Hattons].

Ernest, Thanks for the message. Interesting indeed. The dominant lines [Edgerston, Huntville and Hundalee] of the Rutherfords and Rutherfurds in Roxburghshire Scotland descend from the Lauder family-Lords of Hatton. Any possible connection with Gloucester?

Our Rutherfords are also intermarried with the Hyatt family of the Royal Forest of Dean.

"The Hyatts held office in Gloucester in the Royal Forest of Dean. The name Hyatt has it's origins in the high gate or "hie gate" of a city, town or castle, in this case, Saint Briavel's Castle. As you most likely know, Saint Briavel's Cstle guards and important ford across the Wye River on the border with Wales. James Hyatt and his son Roger were the castellans of this castle, also referred to as Comstables in Britain between 1471 and 1483. They were also Wardens of the Royal Forest of Dean. Before James became Constable of St. Briavel's, he was sergeant of the castle in charge of all fighting men who were assigned there. There were also sergeants of the fee who were what we call game wardens today. They were assigned to keep guard over the vert [trees] and venison [deer] and attach ]capture] offenders. ' Several Hyatt coats of arms depict the twin towers of Saint Briavel's Castle, as well as a lion rampant. Hyatt, according to Burke's..."Argent, a lion rampant sable a chief per fesse indented of the first and second. Crest-A demi lion rampant ppr. Another Crest-A tower gules out of the battlement a demi lion rampnat sable-Motto.:Fac et spera"

Saint Briavel [ 6th. century] is a titular patron of the parish in the Forest of Dean in Gloucester. He seems to have been a Celtic saint, whose name, according to Ekwall, dates from the Old Celtic Brigomagls. He was not recorded until 1130. His day is July 2. St. Brivavel's is a parish north of the Severn and east of the Wye in Gloucester" [ Translations of the Relics of Columcille [Columba]. Abbott of Iona, Apostle to Scotland]

How does this connect the Hattons and Hyatts?

First, the Hattons were Verdeners as well and Seargeants. But, they descend from Colla Uais and St.Columba. St. Columba set out with several monks to create parishes and to convert non Christians.

Much later we find that the Hattons and Hyatts are still found in the parish records in Twekesbury, Gloucester, England.

My family was with the hundreths of Saint Briavel's, their parish church at the time.

It seems very likely that the first Hatton was a Monk.

It was from Gloucester that they sailed to America having brothers in London.

If you look at the Combs family site you will see many references to the Hatton family.

Home of Cornelius Hatton in the Forest of Dean. Philip Hatton's home is in the meadow below.

Although they seem not to be aware, the family Combs is also Scotish.

Columba [Colum, Coim, Columbkill, Columcille, Clumbus, Combs] June 9

He was born circa 521 in Garton County Donegal and died 597. He became a monk at Glasnevin and ordained a priest. He spent the rest of his life founding monasteries and churches, in Ireland and Scotland. On Whitsun Eve 563 he landed with twelve companions on the island of Iona [Holy Island], where he established the most famous of his monasteries, which became vital in the conversion of the Picts, the Scots and Northern English. His biographer and successor, Adamnan, wrote that: "He had the face of an angel, was of excellent nature, polished in speech, holy in deed, great in counsel, loving all." His relics were transferred to Dunkeld in 849 and his 'Cathach', a copy of the Psalms in his own hand, still exists.

Early Celtic Monks:

We'll use St. Columba as an example. These monks were really tribal leaders, or in some cases it could be said Clan leaders with monastery families.

Columba left Ulster and sailed to Scotland's Isle of Iona. From there the monks spread out to other areas.

Saint Columbanus who was born circa 1540, like Columba, sailed to Brittany with many monks so these Celtic monks weren't constrained to a limited area as one would suspect. Columbanus died in 615 but he had already created monasteries in France, Italy and the Alps. He had founded 40 monasteries, including Rebais, Jumieges, St. Gall, Bobbio, Fontenelle, Chelles, Marmoutier, Corbier, St. Omer, St. Bertin, Remiremont, Hautvillers, Montierender, St. Valery-sur-Somme, Solignac, Fontaine and Luxeuil. Those are a few.