[email protected] wrote: > > This letter is marked "copy", it is typewritten in script. I have no idea how > many times it has changed hands or where it originated. It was given to me by > my cousin, Emma Jon Ratliff Chandler. It may have been sent to her by Mrs. > Fouts or Mrs. Gunn. I do not believe the author could possibly be alive > today, but since he does not seem to be stricken with modesty, I do not think > he would object, even if he were alive. I do not know what "printed genealogy" > he is refering to. If anyone reading this knows, please tell me. Billie > > > Houston, Texas > > March 29, 1939 > > Mr. W. D. Ratliff > Oskaloosa, Kansas > > Dear Sir: > > In replying to your letter of recent date, I am stressing attention > upon your postscript, that regarding your name. I have spent years in > research. > > I have delved into the past back nine hundred years; the Grand High > Saxon Chief invading the British Isles named Ethelred settled in Scotch Border > Mountains and assumed the name Radcliff. As his daughter Elphavat married the > Earl of Anjoy, our family got off to an early start in the British Royalty. > Down through the many centuries are numerous Counts and Earls. Hanging over > my table is the British Royal Coat of Arms of our family. The broad "ah" of > Scotch accent made the name Radcliff, the latter softened to Ratcliff at the > time of King Henry VIII, for he named Henry Ratcliff 9th Earl of Sussex. Now > here I will mention that Sir Thomas Ratliff married Ann Parr, daughter of a > nobleman, Sir William Parr and King Henry married Katherine Parr for his last > wife. I know of some of the descendents, now living in San Fransisco. The > name is one of the first in Britain. A prominent street in London is Ratcliff > Highway. Many of our family were Rectors of the Established Church of England > ( Episcopal). Of my own immediate descent, the custom obtained to name the > first son John, and the second son Benjamin. Through many generations, I am > therefore the second son in the second generation in the United States, named > after the Honorable Benjamin Ratcliff of Cheedle Hill, England. My father was > the late Hon John G. Ratcliff ( in Who's Who In America). The names Rockcliff > and Ratfield and Ratford are names originally constructed on similar basis as > ours. One early Governor of Virginia was John Ratcliff, their descendents > emigrated to Kentucky. The Indiana Ratcliffs are largely Quakers in religion. > I found in California the "Ratcliff" whose family claimed the distinction of > orginating the name as thus mispelled in this country. His grandfather was a > large landowner, but he could not read or write, and would have his name > signed by others, then making his mark. They wrote it phoneticallty as he > pronounced it. It, however, is a careless, easy way to describe it and many > Southern soldiers in the Army. Spanish American War thus accosted me. > Knowing the family history as I do, I could never slang the name. > > I have travelled in many foreign countries. My picture has been > displayed in many daily papers, particularly Panama and South America. My > photo was recently secured to transmit by telephoto to San Francisco. I > receive many letters from "Ratcliffs" - all variations. I am an Ex-United > States Immigration Official, attorney and war veteran. > > If I have more printed copies of our genealogy, I will favor you with > one later. > > Yours truly, > > /s/ Benjamin W. Ratcliffe > > B.W. Ratcliffe > 409 Austin Street > Houston, Texas > > note: I have no idea what the symbol prefacing his name is...interesting > reading tho, isn't it ? B. > > ==== RATLIFF Mailing List ==== > Please include a portion of the post you are referring to in your > replies. Quote only enough so others can follow the thread, not > the entire message. What a great letter... thanks for posting it for all of us to see. I'm glad it's been proven once again that Ratcliffs, in spite of their royal ancestors, remain ever humble. :) -- Janet Reaves [email protected] ____________