Paco
Thank you very much for your quick reply. The Richmond Local Studies Library had advised hat no burial for William Ratcliffe appears in the Hampton Register. However, now that I have the burial date of 11/1/1834, I will certainly check that again. I am hoping that the register will point to a birthplace, or give some other clue.
Unfortunately the IGI baptisms do not show a William Ratcliffe of 1772. The nearest baptism is 1774, at Dorking.
I have been stuck trying to resolve this problem for some years and your information is a breakthrough which is certainly appreciated.
T.R.