CHATHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - John Ratcliff, 22 Feb 1796 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Sue Ashby sueashby@earthlink.net ==================================================================== Chatham Co. N.C. Record of Wills, Vol. A, pg. 186(48) N.C. State Archives film # C.022.80001 (1798-1819) John Ratcliff Will dated 22 Feb., 1796 In the Name of God Amen. I John Ratcliff Senr. of the County Chatham and State of North Carolina being in perfect health of body and of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God calling unto mind the mortality of the body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. Item. I lend to my dearly beloved wife Ann Ratcliff one room of the House wherein I now live all my stock of every kind Household furnature and plantation tools during her natural life except she remarries then only one third part thereof and the remaining two thirds at her marriage to be equally divided between my children Sarah Ratcliff, Elizabeth Smith, Ann Ratcliff, Edom Ratcliff, Amous Ratcliff and Abner Ratcliff and at her death the other third in the same manner except such as I may hereafter dispose of otherwise to them & their Heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Ratcliff one cow and calf to her and her heirs forever . Item. I give and bequeath to my son Abner Ratcliff all the Land and plantation whereon I now live with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging except the room lent to my wife which at her death is to be his also. my still with all the appurtenances thereto belonging to him his Heirs and assigns forever. Item I give and bequeath to my grandsons Job Ratcliff, Samuel Ratcliff, Elias Ratcliff, Thomas Ratcliff and John Ratcliff (sons of Thomas Ratcliff, deceased) a certain quantity of land supposed to be about Eighty five acres agreeable to conditional lines with myself my sons John & Thomas Ratcliff to be divided among my said grandson agreeable to their fathers will to them and their Heirs and assigns forever. And I do hereby constitute make and ordain Abner Ratcliff the sole Executor of this my last will and testament. And I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every to her former testaments will legacies bequests Executors by me in any wise before named willed and bequeathed, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness thereof? I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 20th February, 1796 John Ratcliff {Seal} Signed Sealed Published pronounced and delivered by the sd John Ratcliff as his last Will and Testament Thos. Ragland Mary Ragland