Fourth Generation


23. Moses RATCLIFF was born about 1725 in Talbot County, Maryland. He died in 1810 at the age of 85 in Robeson County, North Carolina.

Moses probably married Mary Farmer, duaghter of Henry & Sarah (Ward) Farmer and granddaughter of Elizabeth (Elam) Ward. They did name a son Elam. Henry & Sarah Farmer appear to have had daughters named Mary and Ann (wife of John Ratcliff) - but Henry Farmer died in Chesterfield VA in 1753 - there is no indication his family was ever in North Carolina for his daughters to meet and marry the Ratcliff brothers.

He appears in the Johnston Co NC deeds, 1754 and on the Dobbs Co NC tax list, 1769. Their children were Aaron, Moses Jr., Abraham, Benjamin, Shaham, Elam, Rebecca, and Redden/Riding.

1769, List of Taxables, Dobbs Co, North Carolina, he had 4 slaves.
1779, List of Taxables, Randolph Co, North Carolina, he owned 1200 acres of land.
1790, Randolph Co, North Carolina. 3 males over 16 yrs- 2 males under 16 yrs- 2 females- 5 slaves.
1800, Randolph Co, North Carolina, 1 male over 45- 1 female over 45.


I have an Ancestry DNA match to this line, but the same person also has the Allens and Grindstaffs in his tree - we could be related in assorted ways.

Moses family seems to have had little research - I have found no proof for his children - most databases show no daughter Rebecca and she seems a little young to have in this family.

Moses RATCLIFF and Mary FARMER were married circa 1762 in North Carolina. Mary FARMER was born about 1740 in Guilford County, North Carolina.

Presumably Mary & Ann Farmer, wife of John Ratcliff, were kin, perhaps sisters.

Moses RATCLIFF and Mary FARMER had the following children:

50

i.

Redden RATCLIFF was born (date unknown).

51

ii.

Shaham RATCLIFF was born (date unknown).

52

iii.

Benjamin RATCLIFF was born in 1764. He died after 1830 at the age of 66 in Buncombe County, North Carolina.

Married Rebeckah Bradshaw, 3 Jul 1784, Lincoln Cok, NC. Family lived in Onslow, NC

53

iv.

Aaron RATCLIFF was born about 1765 in Dobbs County, North Carolina.

Wife was Elizabeth Taylor. Children seem to have gone to Lawrence, TN.

54

v.

Moses RATCLIFF was born about 1767.

+55

vi.

Abraham RATCLIFF.

56

vii.

Elam RATCLIFF was born on 3 July 1781 in Randolph County, North Carolina. He died on 2 July 1855 at the age of 73 in Lawrence County, Tennessee.

+57

viii.

Rebecca RATCLIFF.