Ralph Stafford was the first of the four brothers to come to America abt 1778-79 through the port of Philadelphia, Pa. Ralph and Jane had brought their furniture and household goods from Ireland to America. A present day descendant in Abingdon, Virginia owns a chair of Ralph's which was brought over from his Irish home. Ralph and his wife Jane stayed for some time in Pennsylvania, where their two oldest children were born. Then they migrated to Giles (Montgomery Co.,), VA, in 1785. Ralph's home was in Staffordville near the present post office, and Highway 100 now crosses the old home site. William Stafford says he served in the Revolutionary Army against England. Ralph Stafford bought 67 acres on west side of Roakers Creek for 50 pounds from John & Sarah Craig on 2 Nov. 1787 (Summers, ANNALS OF SOUTH-WEST VIRGINIA, p. 919). A letter from Mrs. J.D.Farley, of Bethesda, MD, 16 Mar. 1859, refers to the will of Ralph Stafford of Montgomery Co., VA, dated 15 Apr. 1793. This was before Giles Co. was formed in 1806. He refers to his sons, John, James, and Ralph, who were all under age at that time and his wife was also pregnant with a 4th child, to whom he left 42 acres on Sugar Run. She goes on to say that the son, Ralph Stafford, died young, but she thinks his wife may have been Jean Bogle, and that they "could be the parents of Ralph A. Stafford, her great-great-grandfather. I think she is wrong, since Ralph's son, Ralph, lived into his 80s and had at least 2 other wives. I have recorded the Ralph Stafford-Jean Bogle line, but have not linked it to this one. See Record #617.
The will is published in Roberts, pp. 248-49: "In the name of God Amen I Ralph Stafford of Montgomery County and State of Virginia being weak in body but sound and perfect in mind and memory Blessed be Almighty god for the same, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say, I desire that my body be decently
Entered, and that all my Lawful debts be paid first I give and bequeath unto my beloved Wife Jean Stafford all my moveable Estate. I further give and devise to my Eldest son John Stafford his heirs and assigns my tract of a hundred acres of land joining John Wrays land. I further give and devise and devise to my son James Stafford my plantation of two hundred acres of land on the Chinquepine Spring to him and his heirs and assigns, I also give and bequeath to my beloved Wife the use or rent of the Chinquepine Spring place till my son James comes of age. I also will and bequeath to my beloved Wife one third of the place I now live on during her natural life and also the whole use of said place till my son Ralph
Stafford comes of age if she does not marry sooner and if she married before my son Ralph comes of age then the use of the two thirds of said place is to go to the use of all my Children. I further give and devise to my son Ralph Stafford his heirs and assigns the plantation I now live on containing about two hundred acres be there more or less it being in two Surveys adjoining; I also give and devise to the child my Wife is now pregnant my Tract of land on Sugar Run containg forty two acres and also the rent of the place that I hereby devise to my son John tho in case it dies before my son John comes of age then the Rent of said place is to go to my son John when he comes of age. "I hereby appoint Thomas Shannon and John Stafford Executors and my beloved wife Jean Stafford Executrix of this my last will and testament, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 15th day of April In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety three.
"Witnesses: John Hicks, Edward Stafford and Elisabeth Bogle."At Montgomery August Court 1794: The last will and testament of Ralph Stafford decd. was exhibited in Court and proved by the oaths of John Hicks, Edward Stafford and Elizabeth Bogle the witnesses thereon and ordered to be recorded And on the motion of John Stafford one of the
Executors and Jane Stafford the Executrix therein named certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form they having first made oath and entered into Bond as the law directs. "Charles Taylor C.M.C."
Ralph Stafford was one of the early group of many who left County Fermanagh to come to Virginia in late 18th century. He took his oath of allegiance on June 19, 1778 in Cumberland Co., PA.
Received from unknown source :
Ralph moved from Staffordshire, England to County Germanagh, Ulster, North Ireland abt. 1760. He married Jane Kane abt. 1777 in Ireland. He came to PA with brothers James, Edward, and John. He took the oath of allegiance to the U.S. A. on June 19, 1778 in Cumberland Co., Pa. and later he and his family moved to Trigg, in the Pleasant Hills area of Giles Co., Virginia on Big Walker Creek in 1785. He and his wife had 4 children, and his will was written in April 1793. He fought in the Revolutionary War with the Continental Army receiving wounds at the Battle of Yorktown which caused his death.
https://staffordsociety.org/genealogy/getperson.php?personID=I9621&tree=019Branch
