This letter (copies of ) has been passed on to family members and came to me this year. The cousin who sent it to me thought it would be a good addition to the Ratliff list, for informational purposes. I agree. The copy I possess was copied by Emma Jon Ratliff Chandler in its original composition and added notes, March 10, 1971 The Ratliff Family This letter from J.M. Ratliff of Arkansas to W.N. Ratliff of Centerville, Tennessee and which he sent to his brother, L.M. Ratliff of Texas dated June 4, 1909. Then sent to Bertha Fouts, Weston, Ohio, by Edith Ratliff Gunn, Amarillo, Texas, October 9, 1968 The Ratliff family are Scotch first, now Scotch-Irish, with a later admixture of North German (only one family have German blood), emigrated over 200 years ago to England, settled the town of Ratliff not far from London. The name in Scotland was Radcliff, in Ireland changed the spelling to give Irish accent, Ratcliff, dropping the d; In England to give the Anglo-Saxon sound dropped the c and it was Ratliff, for they were of old Presbyterian stock. A part came in the days of King James to America, in the "Discovery" in command of Capt. John Ratcliffe, and settled at Jamestown, Va. From here they separated and part went to Bat Cave, Va., some to Pike Court House, Kentucky, (on Big Sandy River, I believe). Our gr-gr-gr-grandfather had 12 sons -- from their temporary homes in Virginia part of these moved on foot across the mountains to Central Kentucky, after which they again changed the spelling of the name, and left off the final e, and it was Ratliff again. A part of the family are still in Virginia, and it is believed that descendants of one of the 12 still own Bat Cave. William is a family name, was William Ratliff who had 20, 000 acres of land there. Some are still in England, and some of those still retain the c in the name. Every Ratliff, Ratcliffe, Radcliff and Ratcliff are kin and came from the same stock. Now this final e was restored by a cousin of ours, a son of Reuben, in Kentucky, and a pedagogue. The change we regret for the spelling of the name in so many different ways has been changed too often without any necessity for it, causing confusion in tracing the line of Descent. (Arch, Mose, Reuben, William and John settled in what is now Taylor county., Kentucky, at Campbellville, Long before the war between the states). These brothers, some with grown children and grand children, began to scatter. One went to the Republic of Texas, whose descendants are here and there in Texas now. One went to Mississippi, one, William Jr., went to Tennessee, who married a Lady of German descent, of small stature. From this resulted a marriage between John and a distant relative of James. We believe from this union we have the Ratliff family in Hickman county, Tennessee. William, Newton, Mark, Shadrick (Shadd) and four sisters, Matilda, Lou, Rachel and Anna. The wife of John was one of the Old Louisiana family. Arch remained in Kentucky, years after the other brothers scattered. John M., Centerville, Tennessee (April 19, 1909) is a grandson of Arch. One of these brothers, Mose, died in Kentucky, two of his grandsons are preachers in the Church of Christ, and all cousins to W. W. Ratliff, Mark and their families, Joe and Jim, in Carlisle, Kentucky. Those in Mississippi took to the Law, and were noted politicians in the days of Populiam. A line of preachers are all the way along -- several of Wm. Jr., grandsons in Arkansas, are noted Methodist preachers, some of them went east later and are Episcopalian clergymen. Mark went from Hickman county, Tennessee to Texas with a large family, as the family from the earliest history are quite prolific, though not all Mark's boys took politics or law. W. W. Ratliff had no children, but has raised three orphans, who are called by the family name. He lives in Centreville, Tennessee. One John Ratliff, jr,. father of W. W., Mark and Shadd and the four sisters, was a son of five brothers, having drifted to Tennessee, while J.M. Ratliff is the son of Reuben. These were brother's sons and their families, cousins, or if you prefer, second cousins. Alex, another cousin down another line a Baptist preacher, died in Kentucky. Arch died in Indiana, John in Tennessee, William in Texas and Mose in Kentucky. --W. N. Ratliff Early families of Eastern Kentucky by Kozee contains information on a James Ratliff. Mrs. Gunn is from the line of John Ratliff b. 1822, Hickman county, Tennessee. d. while a confederate Soldier, m. Minerva, a cousin of some degree who was b. same county, 1824. (I am not clear about this last line concerning the Confederate soldier and Mrs. Gunn, but I typed it as I recieved it. Make of it what you will, or if you know of a correction, please inform me.) My personal request: If any one knows Bertha Fout, may she be contacted? Thank you, Kelly ___________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]