In the name of God amen.   I John Ratliff of York County and Bruton
Parish being indisposed in body but of sound since and perfect 
memory have considered the frailty and uncertainty of human life
and thought fit to make and constitute my last will and testament 
in manner and form following.

FIRST my will is that after my Just debts and funeral charges 
be paid and complied with all, that my loving wife Mary Ratliff 
hold and enjoy my whole estate real and personal during her 
widowhood.

Item my Will and desire is that on the death or marriage of 
my said wife, my whole estate as aforesaid be equally divided 
between all my children that may be then alive and my said 
wife if she be living.

Item my desire is that all my sons that may be living and 
under age at my death be brought up to some honest and 
substantial trade and that they and each of them may have 
the liberty of choosing masters and occupations provided the 
said choice be not a relation, either by father or mother which 
I particularly desire they nor either of them be put or 
bound unto, and I do appoint my loving wife Mary Ratliff 
my son Robert Ratliff and my friend Benjamin Bates Executors 
of this my last will and Testament.  In Witness whereof I have 
hereunto set my hand and seal this 23rd of December 1786.

Teste                                                                                                    John Ratliff  (seal)
John Driver
Archer Davies
Benjamin Bates

At a court held for York County the 20th day of February 1792
This Will was proved by the affirmation of Benjamin Bates ( a Quaker) 
one of the witnesses thereto, and John Driver and Archer Davies, the other
witnesses to the said will having departed this life, the said Benjamin 
Bates further affirmed that he was present when the said Testator published
and declared the said last Will and Testament to the said John Driver
and Archer Davies and at the same time that he saw the said John
Driver and Archer Davies subscribe their names as Witnesses thereto
whereupon the said Will was ordered to be recorded and Certificate
for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form was granted to Mary
Ratliff and Robert Ratliff the Executrix and one of the Executors
therein named they having made Oath thereto according to Law
and together with Thomas Wright and George Chaplin their Securities
entered unto and acknowledged their Bond in the Penalty of five
hundred pounds Current Money conditioned as the Law directs.
And the said Benjamin Bates the other Executor in the said Will
named refused to take on himself the Burden of the execution
therof
                                         Teste              Ro: H. Waller