William Ratcliff

  General Notes:

I William Ratliff of York County Convinced of the uncertainty of human life have in perfect health and memory made & ordained this my last will and Testament as followeth. My desire is that after my just Debts are paid my loving wife Elizabeth Ratliff have the sole use and enjoyment of my whole estate Real and personsl, during her widowhood. but in case she should marry, my will is she shall have one third part of my said estate in fee simple. Item my desire is that at the death or marriage of my sd. wife the rest of my estate be sold and equally divided between such of my children as shall be then living. I appoint my son Harrison Ratliff and my loving wife Elizabeth Ratliff Executors to this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have set my Hand and Seal this seventeenth of the second month 1780.
Ben Bates
William Ratliff (seal)
Edward Bates
At a court held for York Coubty the 18th day of December 1784 - This Will was proved according to Law by the Oaths of Benjamin Bates and Edward Bates Witnesses thereto sworn by the Executors therein named and ordered to be recorded and Certificate for obtaining a thereof in due form was granted the said Executors they having made Oath thereto according to Law their Securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the Penalty of five hundred pounds Current Money conditioned as the Law directs..
R. Waller Ct.

  Research Notes:

From Bruton & Middleton parish records, James co., Va; Quaker Encyclopedia, Vol VI (Va Quakers); the Harrisons of Skimino by Fairfax Harrison (Skimino was a Quaker meeting house)

William Ratcliffe was deeded land by William Ratcliffe, who calls him "my son" in 1766, but the only problem is "dad" also calls him William Ratcliffe Hathan. Later William R. Hathan donates land to William Harrison jr, Harrison Heathan, John Heathan, Fleming Bates, James Bates, representing "those known as Quakers" to build a meeting house. Shortly thereafter, Wm. Ratcliffe is accepted as a memeber of the Quakers. In parish records there is an entry for a birth "William" son of Mary Haythorn b. 19 May 1739. Theory: elder Wm. Is not legitimate? A later Wm b. 1764 is Nancy's father. Nancy is aka Ann and Hannah. References Bruton & Middleton parish records James City co, Va Quaker Encyclopedia Vol VI (Va Quakers)

William married Elizabeth Harrison, daughter of William Harrison III and Margaret Maupin, on 14 Jan 1764 in Goochland, Virginia, USA.¹ (Elizabeth Harrison was born on 25 Apr 1737 in Virginia, USA and died on 5 Feb 1791 in Virginia, USA.)