Person:Jesse Ratcliff (4)

According to an IGI record, Jesse's parents were John Ratcliff and Ruth Ward. According to a Ratcliff researcher, his family came to Ohio from North Carolina about 1804. He and Rachel had 11 children: Delilah 1818; Ruth 1822; Rachel 1824-1869; Malinda/Belinda 1826; Tobias 1817-1865; Ezekiel 1819-1856; Lucinda 1834-1859; Baldwin W. 1831-1905; Hiram 1828-1906; John Lewis 1837-1879; and Ann 1840. Jesse and sons Hiram, Baldwin and John moved to Whitley Co., Indiana about 1863. {'My Blue Angel', <http://www.myblueangel.net/Myblueangel>, 25 June 2004}

 In the 1850 census for Eagle, Vinton County [then Ross], Ohio, Jesse Ratcliff is a farmer, age 59 from North Carolina, with $4,300.  His wife Rachel is 54 from North Carolina.  The children are Hiram, 18, farmer; Baldwin, 16, farmer; Lucinda, 14; John, 12; and Ann, 10 -- all born Ohio. His sons Ezekiel and Tobias are in their own households in Eagle. {p.301 b}
 In the 1860 census for Eagle, Vinton Co., Ohio, Jesse Ratcliff is 69 born North Carolina, farmer; with Rachel 63 NC; John L. 22 OH; Ann 19 OH; [granddaughter?] Sarah A. Forinash 2 OH. On the same page are Hiram Ratcliff 31 'farming' with Margaret 29; 'Elza M.' 7; and Rachel 3; as well as [cousin? nephew?] John Ratcliff 30. On the next page are his son Baldwin W. Ratcliff 29 OH; with Catharine 22; Josephine 5; and James 2.; and the household of [his uncle?] Ezekiel Ratcliff 65 NC and family. {p. 73 / 247 roll 1046 HeritageQuest}

 "Will of Jesse Ratcliff: Whitley County, Indiana: "FIRST, I hereby constitute and appoint my two sons, Hiram Ratcliff and Baldwin W. Ratcliff, to be my executors of this my Last Will and directing them to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses first, and then the legacies hereinafter given out of my estate. SECOND, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Rachel Ratcliff, all my household furniture, wearing apparel and personal property of all kinds that may be left after the payment of my just debts and funeral expenses, and all my real estate, situate in the County of Whitley and State of Indiana, and hereinafter fully described to have and to hold the same during her natural life, and at her decease to descend to my three sons: Hiram Ratcliff, Baldwin W. Ratcliff and John L. Ratcliff, to be divided as follows... and these devises are upon the condition that my three sons pay to the following named children the following named sums of money to wit: Hiram Ratcliff to pay within two years after my decease the sum of Four Hundred dollars to my daughter Ann, with interest on the same from my decease, also the sum of Fifty dollars to my daughter, Ruth. In same manner, Baldwin W. Ratcliff, to pay within two years after my decease the sum of Five Hundred dollars...to the surviving heirs of my deceased son, Ezekiel, share and share alike; and the sum of One Hundred dollars to my daughter, Ann, to be paid in like manner with interest from the time of my decease; and my son, John L. Ratcliff, to pay my grand-daughter, Sarah Ann Forinash, the sum of Five Hundred dollars to be paid to her when she is of age. To my daughter, Rachel Betzer, and to Ruth Williams, and my son, Tobias Ratcliff, I have made advancements to the amount of their share of my estate and also to my daughter, Delilah Vanderford, I have made advancements in like manner, all of which has been paid to them in full. All the rest and residue of my estate I give to my beloved wife, Rachel (Teague) Ratcliff, full power and authority to dispose of and devise at her decease as she may see proper to do. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in the presence of the witnesses named below, this 24th day of August 1863... Signed, sealed and delivered by the said Jesse Ratcliff as and for his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. Adam Y. Hooper James S. Collins State of Indiana Whitley County SS
 Subscribed and sworn to before me this 27th day of April 1864, witness my hand and seal of said County. J. B. Edwards, Clerk." {Ratcliff Family Tree, 'Richard Ratliff Book', Appendix A, <http://familytree.ratcliffs.net/rr/A.htm>, 24 Jan 2009}