Census Records I'm collecting on this Line:

North Carolina County Map - "click" to enlarge.  In the 1790 Chatham County, NC Census the following Ratliff's were listed:

Ratliff, John Jr..................1-3-4-0-0
Ratliff, John.....................3-1-3-0-0
Ratliff, Amoss...................1-1-2-0-0
Ratliff, Edom....................1-1-2-0-0

1790 Randolph County, NC Census:

841 Ratliff Cornelius 1 1 4 . 1
846 Ratliff Richard 2 1 2 . .

In the 1800 Chatham County, NC Census

00614 182 614 RATCLIFF John 3 1 2 1 0 1 2 1 1 0 0
00615 182 615 RATCLIFF Edom 3 1 0 1 0 2 1 0 0 1 0
00616 182 616 RATCLIFF Abner 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0
00617 182 617 RATCLIFF, Sr. John 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
01316 217 1315 RATCLIFF Amon 1 1 0 1 0 3 1 0 1 0 0
 

1790 Anson County, NC Census Index:

190-14 Ratliff, Richard 1 4 3 . .
198-1 Ratliff, Richard 1 4 3 . .
187-11 Ratliff, Robert C. 1 . . . .
190-15 Ratliff, Thomas 1 3 2 . .
187-15 Ratliff, Zacharius 1 . . . .
 

There were also In the 1800 Chatham County, NC Census; several Lindley's, Hadley's, and a couple Pyle's, another clue?  Our Johnny ended up in Christian County, KY where these other lines also ended up eventually.
 

Another possibility is that our John Ratliff met up with the Oglesby's in South Carolina, several of my lines were in South Carolina and migrated to Christian and Hopkins Counties in Kentucky.  So, I am going to look for Ratliff's in SC or variations thereof.
 

Marriage Records for South Carolina

R324 RADCLIFF, THOMAS H230 HUST, LUCRETIA Dec 04 1777
R324 RATCLIFFE, JAMES D540 DANIEL, PRUDENCE MRS Jan 07 1772

R341 RATLIFF, JAMES SHELTON , AGGA (no dates)

The Lindley's and Pyle's and Hadley's were in Chatham county, North Carolina, as evidenced by these deeds:

PYLE - Deed Bk. C - 1783-1786 Chatham County, NC

pg. 6, Mar. 15, 1783

JOHN PYLE to NICHOLAS PYLE, for 5 pds, specie, 220 acres, a part of the tract of land whereon I now live on both sides of Little Cane Creek.

JOHN PYLE

Wit:
JAMES ALLEN
OTHNIEL MCPHERSON

PG. 331, Aug. 2, 1784

NICHOLAS PYLE and ANN his wife sell to JOSHUA HADLY, for 5 pds, specie, 75 acres, on both sides of Little Caine Creek, the land joins Pyles line and it was part of a tract of land granted to JOSIAH ROGERS by the state's authority dated Oct., 20, 1782, and conveyed to the sd NICHOLAS PYLE by the
aforesaid JOSIAH ROGERS.

NICHOLAS PYLE
ANN(X) PYLE
Wit:
THOMAS LINDLY
THOMAS HOLLADAY


PG. 194, MAY 10, M 1784

ROGER GRIFFITH to JAMES NEWLAND of ORANGE CO., NC, whereas the 19th section of an act to of Assembly passed at Hillsborough in May 1782, instituted an act directing the sale of Confiscated estates it is enacted that when any citizen of this State or the United States shall have any just claim or demand against any of the persons who have forfeited his or their estates such citizens shall prefer a petition to the Superior or Inferior Court where he resides setting forth the nature and circumstances of such claims or demand whereupon the Court shall cause a jury to be summoned to try the said case.  Execution may issue against the goods & etc. of such Debtor as in other cases.

Whereas JOHN LINDLEY late of Chatham Co., attached himself  to the Enemies of this State and of the United States his estate thereby becoming forfeited PATRICK TRAVERSE under the sanction of the said act preferred his petition to the Court of CUMBERLAND and obtained a judgment against the said LINDLEY for debt damages and costs to the amount of 112 pds, 12 shillings specie, whereupon the said ROGER GRIFFITH was commanded by a writ issued from the sd court in the following words, to wit: that you cause to be made of the goods chattles, land and tenements of JOHN LINDLEY, etc. the sd JAMES NEWLAND appearing at the day of the sale did bid for the tract of land the sum of 20 pds, which being the greatest sum bid the said land was struck off to the said JAMES NEWLAND as the highest bidder, 71 acres and 60 poles on Cain Creek joining JAMES NEWLAND'S own line.

ROGER GRIFFITH, Sheriff
Wit:
MATT. RAMSEY
CHARLES GOLDSTON
JOHN JOHNSON
 

HOLLINGSWORTH - LINDLY - Deed Bk. C - 1783-1786
pg. 119, Sept. 1779
 
REUBIN HOLLINGSWORTH and SARAH, his wife, sell to WILLIAM LINDLY of ORANGE CO., N.C., for 420 pds. 407 acres, on the W. side of Haw River and the fork of Cane Creek, it being a tract of land granted by the Earl of Granville to VALENTINE HOLLINGSWORTH by deed, dated Aug. 2, 1760. joining HUGH LAUGHLIN, it being part of the tract conveyed from VALENTINE HOLLINSWORTH to JOHN PYLE and THOMAS LINDLY.

REUBEN HOLLINGSWORTH
SARAH HOLLINGSWORTH
 

Pg. 55B- Feb., 1784
JOSHUA LINDLEY, Orphan of JAMES LINDLEY be bound unto CATHARINE WHITE (SIMON is written over Catherine) To learn the trade of farming until he comes of lawful age, he now being adjudged Ten Years of age.

Pg. 308 - Feb., 1794

Ordered that JEREMIAH HADLEY be appointed guardian to JOB RATELIFF, who enters into Bond with DANIEL UNDERWOOD, in the sum of Twenty pounds.
 

Some Ratliff Wills from Chatham County, NC

CHATHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - John Ratcliff, 22 Feb 1796
==============================================

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 Senior 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


CHATHAM COUNTY, NC - WILLS - Thomas Ratcliff - 1787

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, principally 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 agreeable 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 devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form 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 thirds with the plantation and Land during the time of her widdowhood as the children grow 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 dealt hard with or come to suffer if they or any of them be unruly or stubborn 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 Childerinn two thirds of my Household good and moveable Estate, equally 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 managed 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 agreeable to the praising thereof 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 possessed 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.

 

1790 South Carolina Census Records, Orangeburg District, North Part:

Samuel Ratcliff

One male > 16

2 females

no slaves

William Ratcliff

One male > 16

5 male < 16

1 female

4 slaves

Richard Ratcliff*

Four male > 16

2 male < 16

6 female

17 slaves

South Carolina Census Records, Orangeburg District, South Part:

Isaiah Ratcliff

One male > 16

One male < 16

Four Female

no slaves

* Richard and William above are living next door to each other, this Richard or William is a very good possibility for our Johnny's father.

There is considerable debate as to the parentage of William and even if he is a close kinsmen of Richard and Samuel, and also from the line of Richard (d. 1721) or not.

The Dobbs county Radcliff's I believe, if memory serves me, are from the line of Richard mentioned above. I think they are from his son John. If you have not already, you can find out considerably more on many of this Rat(c)liff(e)s at Don Ratcliff's web site which includes an online version of his late father Clarence Ratcliff's classic work, "Richard
Ratcliff of Lancashire, England & Talbot Co., Md. and his Ancestors and Descendants 1066-198x (My hardbound copy is until "1982, but I know there were later editions and I believe the online version is the latest. My text version is over 180 pages.)

A number of the families and names from Anson County I glimpsed on your web site hail from the Queen Anne's County-Talbot County area on the Upper Eastern Shore of Maryland, so you might want to look there, if you have not already.

A nice web site! Good luck, Jay Stein..

Kentucky State History

Few American settlers had moved into the region of present-day Kentucky prior to the completion of the western portion of the border survey between Virginia and North Carolina in 1748. When the French and Indian War (Seven Years War) ended, the Ohio River was designated as the boundary between settlers and native inhabitants. Kentucky was under the jurisdiction of Augusta County, Virginia. Fincastle County, Virginia, was organized in 1772 to include all of present-day Kentucky with Harrodsburg designated the county seat. The following year the McAfee brothers and others surveyed land along the Salt River. In 1774, under James Harrod, Harrodsburg was founded as the first permanent English settlement in Kentucky by a group that arrived via the Ohio River.


That same year Richard Henderson purchased from the Native Americans all land lying between the Ohio, Kentucky, and Cumberland rivers for his Transylvania Company. John Finley's stories of Kentucky land precipitated Daniel Boone's subsequent exploration. Boone blazed the trail from the Cumberland Gap (at the junction of present-day Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee) to the interior. This path between the Cumberland Gap and central Kentucky became known, through the Transylvania Company's publicity, as the Wilderness Road. In 1775 Boonesborough was established as the headquarters of the Transylvania Company.


During the Revolutionary War the settlements in Kentucky were virtually ignored by the Virginia government. Troubles with native tribes, lack of military assistance, and isolation from the eastern portion of Virginia precipitated agitation for Kentucky's own statehood. Between 1784 and 1790, nine conventions met at Danville demanding separation from Virginia, but none of these were successful in gaining a division.  The Commonwealth of Kentucky was admitted to the Union as the fifteenth state on 1 June 1792 after the first constitution was drafted on 3 April of that year. Established as a commonwealth state, its first capital was at Danville. Early settlers included Revolutionary War veterans staking claim to bounty-land grants. They were joined by Scots-Irish, German, and English individuals and families from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

Ideology over the slave issue divided the populace before and during the Civil War. Many large land owners supported slavery, but the small farmers and mountain families did not. Officially, Kentucky, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, was neutral during the Civil War only until September 1861 when it actively began support of the Union, even though the Confederate States continued to act as if Kentucky were one of theirs.

Following the Civil War, tobacco and coal became leading commodities in Kentucky's economy. Kentucky's bluegrass pastures have produced an exceptional number of thoroughbred horses, leading to worldwide recognition in horse racing. Fort Knox, originally Camp Knox, began as a permanent military post and later became an official U.S. gold depository. In the twentieth century it has been a major training center for military recruits