Daniel Stephens Radcliff (Ratcliff)*
Birth: EST 1720, England
Death: 21 Oct 1784, Lewis Co., West Virginia, USA
Father: James Ratcliff *
Mother: Mary Rawsthorne *
- Married Elizabeth Reed *
- Child 1: Stephen Radcliff 1737 -
- Child 2: Jane "Jenny" Radcliff ABT 1738 - m. Fry
- Child 3: Richard Radcliff ABT 1738 - ABT 1814
- Child 4: Benjamin Radcliff ABT 1739 -
- Child 5: John Radcliff 1740 - Oct 1814
- Child 6: Edward Radcliff ABT 1742 - 25 Feb 1814
- Child 7: William Radcliff * 1744 - 1827 m. Deborah Susannah Hughes
- Child 8: Charles Radcliff ABT 1760 -
- Child 9: John Radcliff 1769 - m. Catherine Fry
- Child 10: Edward Radcliff 1764 -
- Child 11: Mary "Polly" Radcliff - m. Coburn
- Child 12: Margaret "Polly" Radcliff 1765 -
Notes: Bio: His son Stephen may be the Capt. Stephen Ratcliff that Elias Hughes deposes he replace d in 1778 when he returned to the South Branch. A surprising amount of information can be fou nd yet today on the life of Edward Radcliff, pioneer settler in what is now Illinois. From w here and when he came to settle is but a matter for speculation but a substantial amount of e vidence seems to indicate that he may have been the son of Daniel Stephen Radcliff who reside d in what is now Harrison County, WestVirginia.From Bible of Susanna Stalnaker - Daniel Steph en Radcliff from England toJames River - his children John, wife Catherine Fry, Stephen, Will iam, Edward, Ben, Polly Cobun, Jenny Fry, Richard, Charles. 1The precise date of Daniel Steph en's birth or arrival in America is unknown but land records place a Daniel Ratcliff in wha t is now Montgomery County, Virginia on 11th January, 1754. Daniel Ratcliff to James Scags , 104 acres patented to Samuel 22d. August, 1753, on Meadow Creek of New River. Deed Book 6 , page 100."2
There is little detailed information on the life of Daniel but his death was noteworthy. Th e foregoing event happened in September, and in a few days after, as Daniel Radcliff was proc eeding to the Brushy Fork of Elk Creek on a hunting expedition, he was shot (probably by th e Indians who had been at Flesher's) tomahawked and scalped in a shoking manner.3 This murde r occurred while Daniel was in what is now Lewis County (though he maintained his residence i n Harrison County) where he had purchased land in 1774 on Stone Coal Creek.(4) Evidently the re had been some question initially as to who had killed Daniel as one James Arnold was charg ed in his death though he was acquitted on January 8, 1785.5 Evidence from a Colonel Benjami n Wilson, in a letter dated October 27,1774, to Governor Harrison placed the blame on Indians . By this express you are informed that on the 18th of this instant the Indians hath again re newed their wonted babaraties in the County by wounding one man, and on Thursday following ki lled and scalped another.6 A copy of his estate records are found on the following page but t hey do little to shed light on his past or his progeny.7 There are multiple references to a n Edward Radcliff in Harrison, Hardy,and Lewis counties in what is now the State of West Virg inia between the years 1772 and 1788. Many of those references associating him with the name s of Radcliff men mentioned in the Stalkner Bible. The earliest reference to Edward that ha s been found is in 1772 when he claimed settlement on Gee Lick Run on the left hand fork of F reeman's Creek in present-day Lewis County (though he may never actually have taken upresiden ce there).8 The last reference to Edward in Virginia was in 1788 when on October 16th he gav e power of attorney to William Louder of Harrison County to convey the land he had claimed i n 1772 to John Snyderof Hardy County.9 From that date forward, no record has come to light t hat mentions the name of Edward Radcliff in that area of Virginia.
from "Edward Ratcliff" by Jeff Ratcliff
Augusta Court Records
Page 131.--17th May, 1749. Lydia Elswick's bond as administratrix of John Elswick, with suret ies Richard Ratliff, Ebenezer Westcoat.
Chalkley- Augusta County Surveys, Filed in Stauton, Va. Book 1
1746, Daniel Ratcliff, 104 acres on Little River, patent to Samuel Ratliff, 1753
1750, Richard Ratlive, 68 acres Meadow Creek, patent 1753
1750, Samuel Ratlive, 104 acres Meadow Creek, patent 1753
Augusta County Deeds (see Chalkley)
1754, Reuben Ratcliffe from John Miller, 65 acres on Little River
1754, James Skeggs from Daniel Ratcliff, 104 acres patent to Samuel Ratcliff, 1753
[Page 100.--11th January, 1754. Daniel Ratcliff to James Scags, 104 acres patented to Samue l 22d August, 1753, on Meadow Creek of New River.Chalkley]
Augusta County Entries (Entry Book 1)
1761, John Buchanan, 400 acres joining his own land east side River fromthe mouth of Little R iver downwards; 400 acres on both sides River where Samuel Ratcliffe lived; 400 acres adjoini ng his own on west side adjoining Garret's
Kegley, Early Adventurers on the Western Waters, Vol. I, pp. 299-301
Augusta Co. Order Book 1 JUNE 18, 1747.(221) James Coburn. Michael Harness, James Simpson, Mi chael Shef, appraisers John Bogard's estate.
Augusta Co. Court 3. Page 165.--19th April, 1749. James Coburn'sappraisement. Settled with An drew Knoling, Peter Tustee, Henry Sheplar,Geo. Sea, Fredk. Sea,Thos. Dove. Due from James Kuy kendall, Saml. Coburn.Due from Christian Ewigh, Joel Hornback. Due from Jacob Coburn, Wm.Lean e, Isaac Coburn. Due from Henry Femster, John Ryon, Aaron Price. Duefrom Jno. Collins, Jno. W arwell, Richd. Field. Due from Henry Cartwright,Garrett Decker. Due from Danl. Richardson, Jo hn Kuykendall. 21 lbs. nails.By Abraham Vanderpoole, James Simpson, Michael Horn Philip Doddr idge, heir at law of Joseph Doddridge, deceased, and
John Fairfax vs. Peter Furtney--O. S. 35; N. S. 12--Spa. issued 2d December,1803.
Page 307.--3d December, 1757. Vendue held at Michael Stump's, on SouthFork in Hampshire Count y, by Anthony Reager, Peter Thorn, administrators of Christian Dousher--To Peter Heath, Thos . Crawford, Tobias Thorn,Michael Oxer, Lazarus Thorn, Philip Moore, Jr., Jno. Welton,HenryCou chman, Simon Hornback, Philpole Yeokham, Abraham Wise,Jno. Cock, AdamRutherback, Harmus Hook , Conrad Moore, Thomas Singleton, Martin Job,James Hornback, Adam Harpole, Jonathan Coburn, L eonard Knave, Thos.Parsons, Sr., Nicholas Smith, Gaisper Reed, MichaelEarsest, Sr., JamesTaff , Henry Miars, Ruda Bozard, Wm. Jennings, Jno.Varrill, James Parsons.Solom Hedges, Windle Mil ler, Peter Hive, HenryShipler, Peter Andrew,Stophel Hoofman, Thos. Crawford, Benj. Scott,Andr ew Byarly, Mary Smith,Henry Mook, Philip Hupp, John Mason.In 1771 Joseph Barker improved 40 0 acres in Monongalia County,which hesold to Jonathan Coburn, deceased, who sold to Joseph Do ddridge,on whosedecease before 1779 it descended to Philip. After 1777 Philip moved toPennsyl vania, leaving the land in possession of James Coburn, heir at lawof Jonathan. In 179_ Phili p sold to James Coburn, who sold to JohnFairfax. In 1775 Peter Fortney, John Downer and Joh n Cox made an improvement interfering with above and obtained judgment by ejectmentagainst Pe yton Byrnes, tenant of Fairfax. (Peyton was brother-in-law toJohn Fairfax, and one of the hei rs of Samuel Byrnes.)
Sources: "Edward Ratcliff" by Jeff Ratcliff
ucky, vs. Richardson--O. S. 213; N. S. 75 -- Bill filed 4th April, 1808. 28,400 acres at mout h of little Kenawha was pat-ented to David Richardson and others, Ist December, 1113, in cons idera-tion of military services of patentees in Braddock's war, in pursuance of Dinwiddie's p roclamatton 19th February, 1754. This land has remained unoccupied to present time, but squat ters have taken possession of parts of it. Andrew Fowler, living in Bath County, is the onl y patentee living in Virginia. Orator has bought rights of following patentees, viz: Thos. Na ppe and many others, who were soldiers but never prosecuted their claims; Francis Self, B.obe rt Murphy, Alexander Banney, William McAnulty, Andrew Fowler, Jacob Van Braam, Arthur Watts , Robert Stuart. Defendants to this bill are, viz: Patentees David Richardson, representative s of Robert Stobo, Jacob Van Braam, John Baynes, representatives of James Towers, Andrew Fowl er, Thomas Nappe, Arthur Watts's representatives, John Fox, Francis Self, Robert Stuart, Robe rt Murphy, John Smith, Alert. Kinny, Wm. McAnulty, Mary Horn, and the following squatters, vi z: Caleb Bailey, John Stockley, John Neal, Hugh Phillips (Phelps). Following persons petitio n to be made defendants as claiming title to some of the lands, viz: Mason Foley, Valentine C ooper, Oliver Hutchison, John Barnett, Matson Rieley, Thos. Leach, R------ Madox, James Beatt y, Leonard Caplinger, William Ratliff, Stephen Radcliff, Thos. Bucher, Saml. Barvelt, John Ba dgley, David Caul (Creel), Henry Deputy. Look up case of Coleman vs. Buffington. Certificate s by Dunmore that William Bronaugh is entitled to 3,000 acres for services in the late war ag reeable to proclamation of 1763 and wishes to locate it in Augusta County, on Ohio River, adj oining Dr. John Briscoe. Dated 1774. Andrew Fowler answers that he was a soldier at battle o f Great Meadows and in Braddock's War. Sworn to in Bath County. Mary Horn of Spottsylvania Co unty answers. She is sister of Wm. Magee, a volunteer in 1754 and 1755 in Braddock's War, an d died in service. She was married 5th May, 1'163, to Herod Horn in Spottsylvania County. Jam es Neal made a settlement at mouth of Little Kanawha in 1772. In same year Benj. Hardlng mad e a settlement adjoining. Mark Harding, ditto. Henry Castle ditto, in 1113. James Gillespie p etitions to be made a defendant. Owner of tract under Paul Armstrong who made the settlement . James Neal answers. In 1753 encouragements were held out by the Royal Government to settler s on western waters. Washington, on his return from Venango in December, 1153, or January, 17 54, met many families crossing the Alleghenies. The Legislature, which was prorogued 14th Feb ruary, 1754, appropriated f10,000 for encouragement and protection of western settlers. On 19 th February, 1754, Dinwiddie issued a proclamation promising a land bounty to volunteer in th e service and assist to expel French and Indians and help erect a fort at Forks of Monongalia .
A regiment under Col. Joshua Fry was immediately raised and marched from Alexandria, about mi ddle or latter end of March, 1754. Fry died at Patterson's Creek, and command devolved on Col . Washirigton, who had been defeated at Great Meadows on 17th April, 1154, having been dispat ched from Williamsburg to Fort Cumberland in February, 1154, and having taken command of on e Company from New York and one from South Carolina, as well as some Virginia Companies whic h had been previously raised and stationed upon frontier, from whence Washington rushed int o the western country, meets and defeats a certain Jumonville, one of the enemy only escaping . Washington finds that the French were turning out of Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburg) too stro ng for him to withstand, retreats to Great Meadows, is attacked and compelled to surrender t o De Villiere, but marches out of his little fortification with honors of war and returns t o Wills Creek, viz: Fort Cumberland. At this surrender Lieutenants Stobo and Van Braam were s urrendered to that officer as hostages. Within a year the First Virginia Regiment was disband ed, though raised again, or another in its stead, and that one or two other regiments were al so raised in Virginia, prior to reduction of Fort Duquesne, for that was not evacuated by Fre nch until November, 1758. During that war one regiment was raised by Col. Washington, one b y Col. Bird, and one by Col. Stephen, yet it appears the whole of the 200,000 acres were gran ted only to 90 men. The grant was made 15th December, 1169, by order of Council, which expres sly confines the claimants to the lands on Great Sandy and the Great Kenawha, and lands on Oh io waters between Sandy and Kenawha. Neal went on the campaign with Dunmore in 1114 and resid ed on the frontier until summer of 1777, when he raised a company of regulars, joined 13th Vi rginia Regiment, and marched to the Grand Army of the U. S. He was one of Commissioners to se ttle unpatented lands in Monongalia, &c. He has been in possession of part of the land for up wards of 40 years. Valentine Cooper answers that he had resided on the frontier of Virginia f or 55 years. He had three brothers in the regular army in old French wars', and were in the a rmy when Fort Duquesne was evacuated by the French in 1758. He was on the campaign with Dunmo re and was present of the treaty at Big Shawnee town, when he returned and settled on Dunkar d Creek in Monongalia County, where he continued until 1777 or 1778, when he moved to Union T own in Pennsylvania. Stayed there one year and moved back to Virginia frontier. He moved int o Wood County 1781 or 1788. David Creel, son of George Creel, answers. William Redcliff (an d his son, Stephen) answers. Affidavit 5th March, 1774, before John Blair, Mayor of City of W illiamsburg, by Thomas Bullett, late surveyor of the District of Ohio, that he did pass the c ertificates of surveys
hereunto annexed, viz: Francies Johnston, George and Parish Craighead, Robert Bains, Joseph J aquet, Thomas Felton, John David Woelppe. Lovell Ferry, aged 86 years, deposes 24th October , 1811, in Spottsylvana County; he knew William Magee who in 1154 or 1755 voluntarily entere d himself a cadet in Braddock's army, and died a few days after the army was dis-charged. Joh n Young, aged 77, deposes in Staunton, 25th June, 1814, first knew Andrew Fowler in 1756 or 1 757. Andrew was a soldier in Braddock's War. In year preceding evacuation of Duquesne by Fren ch, Andrew was in Cap. Andrew Lewis's Company. John Trimble, aged 72, deposes as above. Andre w was a soldier with Gen. Andrew Lewis, Washington, and Cap. Peter Hogg at battle of Big Mead ows, in 1754. He died in Bath County about 4-5 years ago. Land office warrant No. 299, 17th
January, 1780, for 2,000 acres, to John May, assignee of William Hughes, who served as adjuta nt in Col. Washington's regiment of regulars in late war between France and England. Patent t o James Neal, in Monongalia. Order of Council 22d March, 1780. It is proved by James Mercer , Esq., that two of his brothers, viz: George Mercer and John Fenton Mercer, were in service s of this State, 1754; former as captain, latter as ensign, in Joshua Fry's Regiment, and ser ved until Regiment was discharged. In 1755, on the expedition vs. Fort Duquesne, George Merce r commanded an independent Company, and John Fenton Mercer was appointed a lieutenant of hors e, commanded by Cap. R obert Steuart. In the Old Virginia Regiment un-
der Col. George Washington, that they both commanded Companies and served until John was kill ed, and George was promoted to rank of Lieut. Col. in Second Virginia Regiment, commanded b y William Bird. George is heir-at-law to said John. Certificate of John Savage's military ser vices. Joseph Gatewood's services as soldier in Col. Washington's Regiment, in
French and Indian War. Ditto of George Muse as a field officer. Ditto of Nathaniel Gist, as c aptain in Col. Stephen's Regiment. Ditto of James Samuel. Ditto of Charles Scott, as subalter n in First Virginia Regiment.
From: Hacker's Creek Journal, Vol. 3, Issue 2, pg. 99:
Extracts of Land Certificates Issued in 1781 by the Commissioner to Settlers of Lands in Mono ngalia Co.
(Later included in Harrison County Created in 1734)
Compiled by Robert B. Smith Jan. 30, 1983:
1. Benjamin Ratcliff, 400 acres on Hackers Creek adjoining lands clained by William Ratcliff , to include his settlement made 1774 with preemption of 1,000 acres adjoining.
2. Thomas Stough, 400 acres on the main fork of Elk Creek, adjoining lands clained by John Ra tcliff in right of residence to include his improvements made in 1775 with a preemption of 20 0 acres adjoin.
3. Richard Ratcliff, 300 acres on Tygarts Valley River on the west side adjoining lands of Jo hn Reger to include his settlement made in 1771.
4. John Ratcliff, 400 acres on Elk Creek adjoining lands claimed by Jonathan Stought, in righ t of settling a tenant thereon, to include his settlement in 1773.
5. John Ratcliff, 400 acres on Tygarts Fork at Pringles Ford to include his settlement made i n 1773.
6. John Ratcliff, assignee of Martin Queen, 400 acres on main fork of Elk Creek adjoining lan ds of Thomas Stout to include his settlement made in 1773.
7. Stephen Ratcliff, 400 acres of Lost Creek adjoining lands of Henry Runion to include his s ettlement made in 1773.
8. William Haymond, assignee to Daniel Veach, 400 acres on Hackers Creek adjoining lands of B enjamin Ratcliff to include his settlement made in 1771.
9. William Ratcliff, 4oo acres on Hackers Creek adjoining lands of John Whendy to include hi s settlement made in 1771.
10. Edmund West, 400 acres on Hackers Creek adjoining lands of William Ratcliff including hi s settlement made in 1773.
Note: The Surveyors Office for Harrison County was opened in 1784 at Clarksburg and surveye d 80 different tracts of land. These were returned and entered into record.
From: Hacker's Creek Journal
Volume V-4, pg. 169, Summer 1987
The Radcliffs of Hacker's Creek
by: Dennis B. Rodgers:
Preface:
For three years the Hacker's Creek Pioneer Descendants organization has been accumulating dat a concerning the Radcliffs, one of the first families on Hacker's Creek. Many family member s and others willingly shared their files and ideas,
contributing a substantial volume of material. Originally the hope was to present a fairly co mprehensive, documented synopsis of the family's history and genealogy, including its anteced ents as well as later generations. As time progressed,
however, it became clear that that goal could not be reached. A good bit of the submitted mat erial was speculative - seemingly based on undocumented assertions. Furthermore a vast amoun t of it remains unconnected with established facts. What follows than is less than what was d esired; yet it should provide a basis and a few leads for further research of a more exhausti ve nature.
Perhaps the greatest difficulty facing anyone who tries to unravel the Radcliff web is the in discriminate spelling of the surname, preventing differentiation between what is, or may be , totally separate families, e.g. Radcliff, Ratcliff,
Ratliff, and even Ratlive. Were it not for this problem, perhaps more conclusions could hav e been drawn from the available material. In this article the spelling "Radcliff" has been us ed in a generic sense when referring to the family, even
though the name appears with various spellings for any given person.
Background:
According to Withers, William and John Radcliff were among the few who first ventured over th e mountains from the South Branch of the Potomac River (hereinafter referred to as the "Sout h Branch") into the central part of what is now West
Virginia. The story of these pioneers who accompanied Samuel Pringle in 1769 - including Joh n Brown, The Jacksons, Hackers, Sleeths, and the Hugheses - is so well known that a full acco unt need not be given here. (1) Beyond that story, though, very little can be gleaned about W illiam and John from published materials.
Family tr
From: Hacker's Creek Journal (WV)
VI-1, page 43, Fall 1987 (Part II)
The Radcliffs of Hacker's Creek
by: Dennis B. Rodgers:
JOHN RADCLIFF:
Very probably the pioneer John was literate. He served in public office as an overseer of a h ighway in 1787, (27) and as a Justice of Peace prior to 1800. (28) Entries in the Minute Book s of the County Court of Harrison County would seem
to indicate that he served in this latter capacity until 1808 (Minute Book 1807 - 1809), p. 2 81). The signature of a John Radcliff appears on an attachment bond filed in the Harrison Cou nty Court records in the 1794 case of John Radcliff v.
Peter Kinshelo, (29) but without more we cannot determine whether this signature was that o f the pioneer John, or that of John the son of the pioneer William, who by 1791 began appeari ng on the same Harrison County tax list as his father. (30)
as will be shown later the signature is most probably that of the pioneer John.
On 6 September 1783 John was granted the sum of L10.17 in payment for having provided ration s to the militia in Monongalia County in June and August, 1778. (31) This is the only mentio n found involving John in the Revolutionary War.
John was quite successful as a farmer / land owner, for as we've seen, his name is associate d with many land claims in the Elk Creek area; and he is reputed to have accumulated many acr es. His Will, though, treats only two parcels: One on
Elk Creek and the other on Gnatty Creek, comprising in total 359 acres. That Will was dated 3 0 December 1812, and was probated in Harrison County on 17 October 1814 (Will Book 2, p. 4; M inute Book 1814 - 1816, p. 27). The Will mentions his
wife, Catherine; sons; John, Jonathan, Benjamin, and James; daughter, Susannah; and grand-dau ghter, Sarah Radcliff. Catherine's maiden name may have been "Fry," as recorded in the Stalna ker Bible entry, or according to some researchers, it may have been "Coburn."
The Harrison and Lewis County marriage records are replete with Radcliffs, but for the most p art these parties can not be connected in family groups. Probably most are descendants of th e pioneer John, for it his family that seems to have
remained in the area.
One of these marriages in Harrison County gives us an indication that the pioneer John may ha ve had another daughter, Elizabeth. On 13 December 1803, Elizabeth Radcliff married David Car ter (Caster) (Marriage Record 1, p. 68), and the
Marriage Bond filed that day recites that Elizabeth was the daughter of John Radcliff. His si gnature, as well as that of the groom appears on the Bond (Marriage Bond Book 2, p. 10). Fro m all the evidence gathered in this project, the conclusion
has to be that the father of Elizabeth was the pioneer John. His son John would appear to hav e been too young to be the father of a bride in 1803; and John, the son of William, had migra ted to Ohio by 1803, as we shall see. This conclusion is
not at all foreclosed by the absence of any mention of Elizabeth in the Will of the pioneer J ohn, for it was a very common practice in those days for fathers to leave their estates to th eir sons, thereby omitting any reference at all to one or
more daughters. More simply, Elizabeth may have predeceased William.
A comparison of John Radcliff's signature on the marriage bond with the one appearing in 179 4 on the attachment bond in the Kinshelo case, show some similarities, but also enough differ ences so that this writer cannot definitely say that
they were written by the same man. There certainly could be another John Radcliff floating ar ound of whom we now have no knowledge, but the indication from all we know is that both signa tures should be that of pioneer John. Perhaps some reader
of this has expertise in compartise in comparing handwritings and would be willing to contrib ute his or her opinion.
Commencing in 1779 and continuing through 1815, the tax lists of Harrison County included Joh n, Benjamin, Jonathan and James, each being charged with one tithable
From: Hacker's Creek Journal (WV)
VI-2, Winter 1988, pg. 80
Part III (Conclusion)
The Radcliffs of Hacker's Creek
by: Dennis B. Rodgers:
William Radcliff:
The pioneer William, on the other hand, probably was illiterate. Two instances of the signatu re of a William by a mark were found in the Harrison County Court records in Morgantown. On e of them is in the form of a "W", while the other, on
a 1786 promissory note, could easily pass as the familiar symbol of the present day McDonald s chain. In 1791 William began selling off parcels of his land on Hacker's Creek. (34) In 179 6 he conveyed what appears to be the last of that land, and in that same year a William and J ohn Radcliff acquired a tract of 400 acres in then Harrison County on the Little Kanawha Rive r. (35) According to Hartzel Strader this land is located near what is now Mineral Wells in W ood County.
Although there was substantial litigation in 1808, apparently involvimg this land as part o f a huge disputed area, (36) William probably settled on the Wood County tract, for his Wil l dated 5 December 1814 was probated in that county in
1827 (Will Book 3, pp. 33-34). He therefore could not be the William who obtained a Revolutio nary War pension in 1833 through the "helping hand" of Jonathan Wamsley (only to have the pen sion revoked after Singleton's investigation in 1834). (37) No information was furnished or f ound which identifies this veteran. William was probably the right age to have seen service i n the Revolutionary War, but no certain evidence of his involvement has been found. The ident ity is not known of the William who appeared on the list of Rangers mentioned earlier and th e William who fought at the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. (38) In his Will he mentioned h is sons John, of Lickin (licking) County, Ohio, and Stephen; and daughters Susannah Stalnicke r (Stalnaker), Sarah Carpenter, Martha Bonnett and Jane Statsor (Starcher), all of Harrison C ounty, Catherine Cillisby (Gillespie) of Galla (Gallia) County, Ohio, and Deborough (Deborah ) Badgly who had moved down the Ohio River. William and his son John were sued by one Elizabe th West in a 1787 slander case in Harrison Case [County], and a verdict was entered in thei r favor by an all male jury (Minute Book 1784 - 1792, p. 259). A note written on one of the d ecuments in that case (found in the files in Morgantown) may have been made by one of the jug ges who presided, and perhaps this note summarizes the evidence:
Jno Radcliff said that the
Skool children said that ( ? )
Cotteral had cast up to Betsy
West that she had been with child
That she had relieved herself
Maliciously spoken
In all likelihood William's co-grantee in the 1796 deed was his son John, but in 1997 one Joh n Radcliff and his wife and four children emigrated to what is now Licking County, Ohio, wit h Elias Hughes and his family. (39) In view of the specific reference to Licking County in Wi lliam's Will, there seems no room to doubt that the John Radcliff who emigrated was the son o f William. In spite of this apparent certainty, some contributors of information in this proj ect assert (erroneously, I believe) that the John who went to Ohio was the son, not of Willia m, but of the pioneer John. McWhorter was confused on this matter as well; he assumed that th e John who went to Ohio was the pioneer John. (40) The Harrison County personal property ta x lists verify the year of son John's migration, for in 1798 the only two Radcliffs listed ap pear to be the two pinoeers, John and William. Further William probably moved to his new lan d in Wood County about that same time, for he disappeared from the tax lists commencing in 17 99. (41) The marriage of John Radcliff and Judith Carpenter on 12 November 1789 is recorded i n Harrison County (Marriage Record 1, p. 11), and there seems no doubt but that this John i s the son of William. According to the account quoted by McWorter, son John's wife died in Li cking County in 1802, (42)
From: Hacker's Creek Journal (WV)
VI-2, Winter 1988, pages 88-89, Part III, (Conclusion)
The Radcliffs of Hacker's Creek:
by: Dennis B. Rodgers:
Stephen Radcliff:
Withers mentioned a Stephen Radcliff who, in the company of John Brown, had an encounter wit h the Indians near the Cheat River in April of 1781, just prior to the massacre on Leading Cr eek. (50) Also a Stephen Ratcliff was mentioned by
Elias Hughes in 1834 in a supplement declaration for a Revolutionary War pension as being th e captain he replaced under Colonel Lowther in the spring of 1778. Hughes also said that Step hen thereafter "left the sevice and went back on to the
South Branch of the Potomac." (51) General Thomas W. Wilson stated in an affidavit that he ha d often heard his father, Colonel Benjamin Wilson, tell that Elias Hughes had replaced as Cap tain one Ratcliff because of his (Ratcliff's) cowardice -
"that it was necessary for the safety of the country that said Ratcliff be removed, and Hughe s appointed in his place; that said Ratcliff was a careless, trifling, cowardly dog and not t o be depended upon." (52)
McWhorter also included a lengthy quotation from an article in the Newark (Ohio) Gazette in 1 845 which states that the man who Hughes replaced was Joseph Ratcliff, rather than Stephen, a nd that he "left the country." (53) Unless and until
proven conclusively one way or the other, more weight should be given to the earlier first-ha nd account of Elias Hughes, and the given name "Joseph" should be discounted.
Hughes may have been in error though in his designation of the year in which he was appointe d a captain. General Wilson said that Hughes' replacement of Ratcliff occurred just followin g the massacre on Leading Creek in 1781. If he was
correct about the timing, and if all of the above references to Stephen are to the same indiv idual, one is led to speculate that after his run-in with the Indians on the Cheat River, Ste phen could very well have lost his nerve and any desire
for retribution.
A stephen was living in Hardy County in 1787 when the earlier-mentioned power of attorney wa s given and in 1792 at the time of a conveyance of land with his wife, Elizabeth (Deed Book 2 , pp. 494-497). Doris Poinsett contributed the copy of
the 1792 draft shown below, but it is not known whether the drafter was Stephen, the presume d son of Daniel Stephen, or someone else. Whoever he was, though, he must have been highly li terate.
In 1809 three marriages of Radcliff females appear in Ross County, Ohio, one of which occurre d on 25 December between Joseph Armstrong and Dursilla Radcliffe with the consent of her pare nts, Stephen and Elizabeth Radcliffe. (54) Perhaps
this information is a lead to where Stephen went after he "left the country."
50. Border Warfare, p. 311. Quoted in Border Settlers, p. 133
51. Border Settlers, p. 229.
52. Ibid, pp. 232-233.
53. Ibid, p. 242.
54. Lois Provolt, Comp., Marriage Records of Ross County,
Ohio, 1798-1803 and 1808-1809 (Trinidad, Ca.), p. 25.
Refers to "Old Marriage Records," p. 53.
Little is known about the English born Daniel Stephen Radcliffe. The Stalnaker Family Bibl e record claims he made his way up the "James River" or South Branch of the Potomac to the fr ontier area of Hampshire County, Virginia. There he rais
ed a large family of many sons who became scouts, hunters, trappers and farmers. Four sons se rved together in the Revolutionary War-Stephen, William, Benjamin and Edward. As the sons mat ured they moved into western Virginia, Kentucky, eventually Ohio and Illinois. Daniel died i n 1784, killed by Indians while visiting Harrison County, in what is now West Virginia, wher e two sons resided. Harrison court records show a man named James Arnold was charged initiall y with Daniel's murder and with haken Henry Flesher's horses. Arnold was acquitted months aft er the incident. The account of Daniel's death was recorded in an earlyhistory by Alexander S cott Withers, Chronicles of Border Warfare:
The foregoing event happened in September, and in a few days after, as Daniel Radcliff waspro ceeding to the Brushy Fork of Elk Creek on a hunting expedition, he was shot (probably by th e Indians who had been at Flesher's) tomahawkecalped
in a shocking manner.
A conclusive list of the Daniel's offspring does not exist and the name of his wife or wive s is yet unknown. One of the great difficulties tracing Radcliff ancestry is the indiscrimina te spelling of the surname in local records andes. It is variously written Ratliff, Ratcliff , Radcliffe, etc. withRadcliff becoming more predominant in modern usage.
Page 100.--11th January,1754. Daniel Ratcliff to James Scags, 104 acres patented to Samuel 22 d August,1753, on Meadow Creek of New River. Chalkley's Chronicles Augusta County 1745-1800 D eed Book No. 6, Pages 1 - 438
From: Hacker's Creek Journal, Vol. 3, Issue2, pg. 99: Extracts of Land Certificates Issued i n 1781 by the Commissioner toSettlers of Lands in Monongalia Co. (Later included in Harriso n County Createdin 1734) Compiled by Robert B. Smith
Jan. 30, 1983: 1. Benjamin Ratcliff, 400 acres on Hackers Creek adjoininglands clained by Wil liam Ratcliff, to includehis settlement made 1774 with preemption of 1,000 acres adjoining. 2 . Thomas Stough, 400 acres on the main fork of Elk Cr
eek, adjoining lands clained by John Ratcliff in right of residenceto include his improvement s made in 1775 witha preemption of 200 acres adjoin. 3. Richard Ratcliff, 300 acres on Tygart s Valley River on the west side adjoining lands of Jo
hn Reger to include his settlement made in 1771. 4. John Ratcliff, 400 acres on Elk Creek adj oining lands claimed by Jonathan Stought, in right of settling a tenant thereon, to include h is settlement in 1773. 5. John Ratcliff, 400 acres on
Tygarts Fork at PringlesFord to include his settlement made in 1773. 6. John Ratcliff, assign ee of Martin Queen, 400 acres on main forkof Elk Creek adjoining lands of Thomas Stout to inc lude his settlement made in1773. 7. Stephen Ratcliff,
400 acres of Lost Creek adjoining lands of Henry Runion to include his settlement made in 177 3. 8.William Haymond, assignee toDaniel Veach, 400 acres on Hackers Creek adjoininglands of B enjamin Ratcliff to include his settlement made in
1771. 9. William Ratcliff, 4oo acres on Hackers Creek adjoining lands of John Whendy to inclu de his settlement made in 1771. 10. Edmund West, 400 acres on Hackers Creek adjoining lands o f William Ratcliff including his settlement made in 17
73. Note:The Surveyors Office for Harrison County was opened in 1784 at Clarksburg and survey ed 80 different tracts ofland. These were returned and entered into record.
Documentation: P-1373 PAGE 76
Resident of Hampshire Co., (W) VA. The onlybrother to remain in Kentucky. First wife Christi an Lyons (b. abt 1735 in Ladiston, Ireland)
Little is known about the English born Daniel Stephen Radcliffe. The Stalnaker Family Bibl e record claims he made his way up the "James River" or South Branch of the Potomac to the fr ontier
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