MD Prerogative Wills 41, pp. 172-173 Will of John Harris, Sr. dated 2 Sept 1775 - Prince George's County, Maryland In the name of God, Amen. I, John Harris, Sr. of Prince George's County in the Province of Maryland, being of sound and disposing mind and emeory, but considering the incertain times of this transitory life to make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner following. After first commending my Soul into the merciful hands of Almighty God, I give and dispose of my worldly Estate in the following manner Vizt. Imss> I give and bequeath to my son, Benjmain Harris, and to his heirs and assigns all my land, being part of a tract of land called the Ridge and purchased of a certain John Stoddert by me for two hundred acres, but it is my will and desire that Edy Harris, relict of my son James Harris, may have, hold possess, occupy, and peaceable enjoy during her widowhood all that part of the aforesaid land bequeathed to my son Benjamin above, that lies on the west side of a small branch running from Pomokhey Road through the plantation where my son James Harris formerely lived tell it empties into a branch know by the name of Hyne's branch and down the said Hyne's branch till it intersects the land of certain John Manning, it being the part where she, the said Edy Harris, now lives and possesses, shw paying the yearly rents becoming due to the Lors Proprietary for the same - Item I give and bequeath to my grandson, John Harris Robey, one Negro man named Sangoe ---- Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson, William Harris, his choice one feather bed, one Rug, one blanket, and a pair of sheets ----- Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Lydia Steal, one feather bed of new feathers. Item I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid son, Benjmain Harris, all my stock of Horses, Mares, CAttle and Hogs, and all my household furniture, except what is otherways disposed off by this will --- Item I give and bequeath unto my son John Harris, daughters, Ann Owen, Elizabeth Wilson, Mary Burch, Eleanor Wedding, and Sarah Robey, five shillings current money each. Lastly, I do hereby nominate, ordain, constitute, and appoint my son, Benjamin Harris whole and sole Executor of this my last Will andTestament, revoking and making void all other will or wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and aaffixed my Seal this second day Sep't. in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy five. John Harris (his mark) Signed, Sealed, published and declared by the aforesaid, John Harris, as and for his last Will and Testament in prsence of us who subscribe the same as Evidences in his presence, at his request, and in the presence of each other John Webster Robert Vermillion Burch Vermillion RICHARD AND SUSANNAH (BROOKE) RATCLIFF Copyright 1987-1997 by Dodie Elizabeth (Smith) Browning- all rights reserved Richard Ratcliff, the father of Elizabeth Ratcliff Steele, was born in Charles County, MD. 1725- 1729. He was the son of Richard Ratcliff and Mary Anne. Mary Anne was possibly a Hatton. Richard Ratcliff, Sr. was born 16 December, 1692, to John Ratcliff and Bathsheba Harris. John and Bathsheba lived on the Wicomoco River in Charles County, MD. Richard Ratcliff (Sr.) died in 1732, at age 42 and his wife had remarried to Abel Wakefield by 1733. (Mary) Anne died prior to Wakefield and he remarried after her death. Richard Ratcliff, the father of Elizabeth Ratcliff Steele was an educated man and was a tobacco farmer. Elizabeth Steele's mother was Susannah Brooke, the daughter of William and Margaret Thomas Brooke. Susannah was married first to William Waters, and had two children prior to her marriage to Richard Ratcliff. He mother, Margaret Thomas was the daughter of George Thomas (b. 1674, d. 1734). George Thomas was born 1674 and died between Nov. and Dec. 1738,the son of William Thomas (d. ca. 1691) and his wife Susannah. Susannah Thomas was the grand daughter of John Courts, but it is not certain at this time whether she was a Courts, a Barrett, or a Dunn. This Susannah was born 1660 and died in 1723/24. William Brooke, the grandfather of Elizabeth Ratcliff Steele died in 1740. His parents were John Brooke and Margaret (last name unknown at this writing.) Bathsheba Ratcliff, the great grandmother of Elizabeth Ratcliff Steele was born between 1670-1675 in Charles County, Md. to Thomas Harris and his wife, Mary Pope. Mary Pope was the daughter of Francis Pope (d. 1671) Bathsheba Harris Ratcliff's father, Thomas Harris, was the third Boy in his line to carry the name of Thomas Harris. Her father died between 1684-1686 in Charles County. He was the son of Thomas Harris, who died in 1662. His grandfather was also Thomas Harris and I have no dates of birth nor death for him, but he more than likely was the immigrant Harris Ancestor. If all of this has completely confused the reader, be patient and you can sort it out. It took long hours of study and many rolls of microfilm to put it all together. I worked on this alone and can state categorically that the information is factual. Now back to the parents of Elizabeth Ratcliff Steele. I was able to trace Richard And Susannah (Brooke) Ratcliff through Susannah's inheritance of a tract of land called Dover. All of the above people had at least two marriages and as could be expected, Step fathers gained control of the wife's estate each time and the children were left out. Margaret Thomas was apparently a strong woman who came from "old money" and she made sure that she protected the rights of her only children by William Brooke. There were two little girls by that union, Susannah and Charity. Margaret remarried to Benjamin Munkster and old Ben thought he was going to trade away the children's rights. Charity married to a Jones and of course Susannah married our illustrious ancestor, Richard Ratcliff. Margeret refused to allow her new husband to control her children’s inheritance. That is how Richard Ratcliff obtained "Dover." He and Susannah owned half of the tract by 1759 and Charity and (Sam or Charles) Jones owned the other half. In later years, The Ratcliffs and Joneses were in court battles over the title to the land. This is what was referred to in Fairfax County records as the "Valuable Estate in Maryland." This was a profitable tobacco plantation and when Richard remarried and moved over to Virginia (across the river) he left his son John in charge of his plantation and slaves in Maryland. One of the sons died (Thomas or Edward, which may or may not be one and the same) leaving a daughter, Sarah Ratcliff. Apparently her mother died very young too, because she lived with her Aunt, Anne (Susannah) Farr, the widow of Samuel Farr, (died Nov. or Dec. 1771 ) This left "Dover" to the only other son, John Ratcliff who remained in Charles County until he died. The land then went to John's children, who were all in Maryland as late as 1808-1810. Richard had a sister Mary and a brother, John. John was his neighbor in Fairfax County, VA. He may have had another brother, Edward who died in Louden County, VA.