SAMUEL RATCLIFF
FAMILY DATA

SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR.
1700 - 1778


SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR., "of Duplin Co., NC and early Craven Co., SC.", was likely born 31 Mar 1700 in Talbot Co., MD and the son of RICHARD RATCLIFF the immigrant. The 8 Jan 1720 Will of RICHARD RATCLIFF had left 100 acres of his Talbot Co., Maryland "Jerusalem" to his son SAMUEL RATCLIFF. SAMUEL RATCLIFF had been a Member of the Third Monthly Meeting of Friends until 1741. It is possible that SAMUEL RATCLIFF had moved to North Carolina and received a 200 acre Johnston County grant in 1749.

Records indicate that SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. was in Duplin Co., NC as early as 1756. He obtained three Duplin Co., North Carolina patents on 6 March 1759. North Carolina records indicate the 200 acres between the Northeast and Goshen Swamp called "Jerusalem" was developed by SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. The 100 acres on the north side of Goshen Swamp called "Ratcliff's Chance" was developed by SAMUEL RATCLIFF JR. and the 100 acres on Panther Branch of the Northeast called "Ratcliff's Venture" was developed by JAMES RATCLIFF. Records indicate they developed their Duplin Co., NC plantations and made improvements.

By 1764, this SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. family had removed to early Craven Co., SC. where they settled about Lynches Creek in that area which was later Sumter Co., SC. (see map) It was in 1766 that South Carolina records first designate SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR., to distinguish from that of Samuel Ratclff Jr.

Research indicates the Ratcliffs had moved to South Carolina at about the same time as that of William & Jean Bell Byrd, who were close neighbors in both North and South Carolina. RICHARD RATCLIFF had purchased 100 acres of Duplin Co., NC (later Sampson Co) land from William & Jean Bell Byrd in 1758. This North Carolina "Six Runs Swamp" land had also neighbored the King Family and Moses Daniel. It is also interesting to note that after the death of JAMES RATCLIFF's first wife, he had married Prudence Mixon, the widow of Moses Daniel.

South Carolina research shows that RICHARD RATCLIFF owned land on Lynches Creek in 1765 neighboring that of JAMES RATCLIFF. The Ratcliff family had many interactions with the King, Byrd & Bell families in both North and South Carolina. The records of Sumter County, SC show that William Byrd had died before 1777. John King had administered the 1782 SC Estate of SAMUEL RATCLIFF.

SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR., SAMUEL RATCLIFF JR., JAMES RATCLIFF and RICHARD RATCLIFF are all documented in early Craven County, South Carolina before 1769. They lived on the west side of Lynches Creek in that area which was later Sumter County and cut into the formation of present day Lee County, SC. Research also indicates that SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. had at least two daughters. The first daughter, who had passed away by c1756, had married Jethro Butler. The second daughter RACHEL RATCLIFF had first married James? Goodson, and after his death she married her deceased sister's widower Jethro Butler. RACHEL RATCLIFF GOODSON had land on Lynches Creek next door to her father SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. in South Carolina. Many old family letters also confirm the relationships.

The 29 Jul 1772 St. Mark's Parish, Craven Co., Camden Dist., S.C. (1774-9; pg. 582) Will of SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. mentions "wife" and names grandsons SAMUEL BUTLER and JOHN BUTLER. The house and 100 acres of land on Lynches Creek were given his "wife" for her lifetime and then to grandson SAMUEL BUTLER. SAMUEL BUTLER sold this property on 27 Jul 1778, so evidently both his Ratcliff grandparents were deceased by this date.

Based on the fact that SAMUEL RATCLIFFJR., JAMES RATCLIFF and RICHARD RATCLIFF owned and developed land in Duplin Co NC in the 1750s time period and were established in early Craven Co., SC. in the 1760s, they were likely born during the 1720-1730 time period. Based on the time frame of their births and the fact that SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. had grown adult BUTLER grandchildren by the date of his 1772 Will, he was likely the SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR. b: 31 March 1700 in Talbot County, Maryland.

[It is vital to note that while these Ratcliffs were residing in Duplin Co NC and then later in Craven Co SC., there were other SAMUEL RATCLIFFs residing geographically elsewhere during the same time period. For example, there was a SAMUEL RATCLIFF family in Anson Co., NC.]


SAMUEL RATCLIFF SR.
b: 31 March 1700 Talbot Co., MD.
d: bef. 27 Jan 1778 Craven Co., St. Mark's Parish, SC.
m: ? Talbot Co., MD.
Rachel Warner - widow of Richard Fairbrother and daughter of William Warner
b: c1700
d: bef. 27 Jan 1778 Craven Co., SC.
Some Samuel Ratcliff South Carolina Records