CHATHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Ratcliff - 1787

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Thomas Ratcliff Will, May 19, 1787, no probate date
Chatham Co., NC Record of Estates, Vol. 1, pg. 29(b), 30
NC State Archives film # C.022.50001

In the name of God amen I Thomas Ratcliff of Chatham County in the 
State of North Carolina being weak in Body but of perfect mind and 
memory thanks be given unto God; Calling unto mind the mortality of my 
Body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make
and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to say, principaly 
and first of all I recommend my Soul into the hands of God that give it
and my Body I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian 
burial, at the discretion of my Executor nothing doubting but at the 
resurrection I shall receive a body agreable to the Will and pleasure 
of God. And as touching such worldly estate where with it has pleased 
God to bless me in the life I give divise and dispose of the same in 
the following manner and forme
first I give to and bequeath to Hannah my well beloved wife the third 
of all my Household goods and moveable Estate as her own property 
forever which I desire should be praised and not sold and the use of 
the other two third with the plantation and Land during the time of her
widdowhood as the Childring group to be of age to receive it shall be 
paid to them, but in case of her second marriage or any other means 
they should be abused or delt hard with or come to suffener if they or 
any of them be unruly or stuborn and not willing to be ruled and 
governed by their Mother, such a one of them shall be put under the 
care of my Brother Edom Ratcliff (whom I likewise Constitute, make and 
ordain the sole Executer of this my last Will and Testament, to be 
tutored and ruled by him or in Case of his death they shall be left to 
Amos Ratcliff or Abner Ratcliff to be raised up by them under their or 
either of their governing and ruling, Also I give and bequeath to my 
well beloved Childering two thirds of my Household good and moveable
Estate, Eaqually to be divided amongst them and to be delivered to them
when they come of age to receive it likewise all my Lands messuage and
tenaments which shall be ordered an mannaged in manner and form 
following that is to say that at the day my wifes marrying of a second 
Husband the Land shall be let out to Rent until my youngest child comes 
to be of the age of twenty one years of age the Land shall be valued by
two or more men such as they Shall of themselves Chose and after it is 
so valued they shall have the Liberty of buying of the said Land of 
each other and the Buyer shall have the said with paying to each of the
rest of his Brethering their Eaqual propotion of Money agreable to the
praising therof they give and of the reasonable time to pay the said 
money in, and then all and Singular, My Land messuages and tenements 
that by him truly be possesed and enjoyed, And I do hereby utterly 
disalow revoak and disannul all and every other former testaments, 
Wills, Legacies, bequeath, and Executors, by me in a wise before named,
Willed and bequeathed; ratifying and confirming this and no other to be
my last Will and Testament. 
In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day 
of May in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Eighty 
Seven__
Signed sealed published pronounced and declaired by the said Thomas 
Ratcliff as his last Will and testament in the presence of us who in 
his presence, and in the presence of each other have hearunto 
subscribed our names
John Ratcliff
Amos Racliff
Signed
Thomas Ratcliff {Seal}
A Copy Test John Ramsey, C. C.