Genealogy - December, 1987

Issue: December, 1987

[Dear Editor,]
I wish to ask your help in tracing my Ratcliffe (Ratcliff - Ratliff) ancestors.

Great-Great-Grandfather Thomas H. Ratcliffe married for a second or a third time in Giles County, Va. Recorded as: "1886 - May 27 - Thomas H. Ratcliff married Annie Barnett - Thomas 45, Widowed, born Floyd Co.- lives Giles Co., Farmer - son of William F. Ratcliff. Annie 25, daughter of Julia Barnett: married by J. N. Johnston."

Great-Grandfather was Joseph Baskerville Ratcliffe. His marriage is recorded in Giles Co., Va. as: "1884, August 14 - Joseph B. Ratcliffe, 18, son of Thomas H. Ratcliffe and S. Ratcliffe. Married Rhoda Hammons, 18, daughter of Gordon and Sarah Fletcher Hammons." Joseph's obit. states he was survived by 3 sisters - Mrs. Walter Scott, Radford, Va.; Mrs. Eddie Cook, Blacksburg, Va.; Mrs. Jack (Octavia) Fink, Bluff City, Va.; and 3 brothers - Mr. Robert Ratcliffe and Mr. William Ratcliffe, Radford, Va.; and Mr. Martin Luther Ratcliffe, Narrows, Va.

Who are Joseph's brothers and sisters and from which marriage of Thomas H. Ratcliffe do the descend? Martin is the only one I have been able to trace.

I have many questions - who is great, great, great grandfather William F.? Who did he marry? Where did he come from? Who are his children? Who were his parents? Was he enlisted in any War? What was his full name? etc.

Also, what is the full name of Thomas H.?

Who is his wife S.? I descend from Thomas H. and S. I need birth and death dates and places of burial.

I have heard that the Ratcliffe's came to Giles Co. from Montgomery Co., Va.

Any information will be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone has a photo that they could give me of Wm. F., Thomas H., or Joseph Baskerville Ratcliffe or any of Joseph's brothers or sisters, I would appreciate a copy for a family album we plan to put together in the future.

F. O. Ratcliffe
308 Fort Branch Rd.
Pearisburg, VA 24134

[Dear Editor,]
I have been researching the Spangler families of Southwest Virginia since 1973. I am particularly interested in obtaining information about Daniel Spangler who died in Franklin County 1787. His wife, Mary, 1720-1820 is buried in the Pine Creek Church Cemetery. They seemed to have settled on the south branch of the Blackwater River around 1773. I have accumulated data on over 1,700 of their descendants.

I have information on a number of other Floyd County Family lines and would enjoy exchanging information. These include: Barton, Bowman, Conner, Epperly, Hill, Maberry, Nofsinger, Poff, Proffit, Reed, Sowers, Thomas, Weddle, Whitlock, Yopp, Young and many more.

I am also interested in historical information about Pine Creek and Zion Lutheran Churches in Floyd County.

Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

M. J. Spangler
4033 Crescent Rd.
Ellicott City, MD 21043

[Dear Editor,]
I am seeking contact with any descendants of Charlie Thomas born 1871 in Floyd County, Virginia. He was the son of Woodley and Mary Ann Aliff Thomas. I am the granddaughter of his sister, Eliza Attaway Thomas Sweeney. I am also a fifth generation descendant of the Benjamin Sweeney mentioned in an article by Lois S. Poff, "Tales My Father Told Me," in the October issue of The Mountain Laurel.

If anyone knows of Charlie Thomas please contact:

Nedra D. Shauer
Rt. 1, Box 12
Lindside, WV 24951