Narcissa Pettiford Ratley Letter
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pettiford and Related Family History

Letter of Narcissa Pettiford- Ratley

 

A history of the Pettiford, Bibby & Ratley Families starting before the Revolutionary War

 

June 28, 1893

Well my children as I doesnt expect to live long I want to tell you about our family far as I have ever heard before the Revolutionary War my great grand fathers mother she was married twice, and I don't know her maiden name.

I) I suppose that she married MITCHELL 1st and had 8 children. II) And she married PETTIFORD and had 8 children.

And my G. Grand Father was PHIL or PHILIP PETTIFORD, he was in Revolutionary War and lived in Franklin and Granville County until he was an old man. He died at Fatteville (Fayetteville), for he went there to draw his pension money.
He married PATIENCE BASS and she had 7 seven children:
MILLEY, SALLIE, NANNIE, GILLEY, BETSEY, JEFFERSON, WILLIAM.
MILLEY had 3 children, SALLIE had three children,
BETSEY had five children, NANNIE had two children,
GILLIE had four children: WRITE, HILMOND, RHUEBEN, GLATHA, and thats my mother, GLATHA had eleven children, WILIE, WILLIAM, MARTHA, NARCISSA, GILLIE, JOHN, MERNERVA, JAMES, ELIJA, SALLIE, GLATHA.

I am NARCISSA that is trying to give my children the History of our family.

I was born the 20th of September 1829 - And I was married 1846 - 31st of December.
And I had five children,
SYLVESTER was born 22 of November 1847 - SOPHIA was born 30th of October 1849 - MILBRY ANN was born June 17th 1851 - SAMUEL JEROME was born May 18th 1853 - JOHN EDWARD was born April 6th 1855.

That what I have to tell you about my family.

As I have told about my G.father, now I will tell about my husband's family as far as I have had.

I) My husband's Great Grand Father was named CHARLES BIBBY and Great G[r]and Mother was named MOLLIE. She had ABSOLUM, EDMOND, FANNY, and SOLOMON, and SOLOMON BIBBY was my husband's grandfather.

And he married CHARITY YOUNG I suppose. CHARITY had SOPHIA, BETSEY, NANCY, BUTCHET, EDMOND ALSY AND POLLY and that my husband's mother. POLLY had WILLIAM, BETSEY, JESSEY, JACKIE, (JUL?) JULIUS, NANCY, EDMOND, MARY, STEPHEN.


 

Narcissa Pettiford was the wife of Jesse Ratley; she left the above hand-written letter to her family in 1893, which has been passed down to her many, many descendants. The great-great grandfather she was referring to was Lawrence Pettiford, b. ca 1732 and his wife was Mary, who had previously been married to a Mitchell.

Original letter in the possession of Robert Jackson, whom I wish to thank for allowing this to be shared.

Note: According to Paul Heinegg's Free African Americans, CHARLES BIBBY, was a slave in the 1761 Granville County Household of JESSE INGRAM, and he was married to the free born mulatto, MARY BIBBY, born before July 24, 1727 in Bristol Parish, Virginia, who was a servant in the INGRAM household. In November 1771 in Bute County, NC, MARY's children were listed as "base born" and bound out as apprentices; I have found these following Will Book records on the Bute County, NCGenWeb site:

(http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncstate/historical/Bute/recbka/page34.htm)
(http://www.ncgenweb.us/ncstate/historical/Bute/recbka/page33.htm)

226 WILLIAM BIBBY, base-born child of MARY BIBBY & about 5 years old at the time of the Court Order 12 November 1771, apprenticed to JOHN PINNELL, and to be taught the business of a planter. Agreement, dated 13 May 1772, with OSBORN JEFFREYS, Presiding Justice, on behalf of Justices. Wit: The Court. Recorded May Court 1772.

227 ABSOLEM BIBBY, base-born child of MARY BIBBY & about 7 years old at the time of the Court Order 12 November 1771, apprenticed to JOHN PINNEL(L), and to be taught the business of a planter. Agreement, dated 13 May 1772, with OSBORN JEFFREYS, Esq. Presiding Justice, on behalf of Justices. Wit: The Court. Recorded May Court 1772.

232 FANNEY BIBBY, base-born child of MARY BIBBY & 12 years old at time of Court Order 12 November 1771, apprenticed to AMEY INGRAM and to be taught the business of housewifery. Agreement, dated 13 May 1772, with OSBORN JEFFREYS, Esq., Pre siding Justice, on behalf of Justices. Wit: The Court. Recorded May Court 1772.

233 SOLOMON BIBBY, base-born child of MARY BIBBY and 7 years old at time of Court Order 12 November 1771, apprenticed to PETER GOODWIN and to be taught the planter's business. Agreement, dated 13 May 1772, with OSBORN JEFFREYS, Esq., Pre siding Justice, on behalf of Justices. Wit: The Court. Recorded May Court 1772.

218 Pursuant to Court Order 12 NOV. 1771, EDMUND BIBBY, a base-born child of MARY BIBBY, apprenticed to JOHN PINNION and to be taught the business of a planter. Agreement, dated 11 February 1772, with OSBORN JEFFREYS Presiding Justice, on behalf of Justices. Wit: The Court. Rcd. Feb. Court 1772.

BIBBY Marriages:
 

Name: Solomon Bibba
Gender: Male
Spouse: Charity Young
Spouse Gender: Female
Bond Date: 25 Dec 1789
Bond #: 000046825
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 008988
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 017
Bondsman: John Weaver
Witness: G Hill Clerk of Court

Name: Polly Bibby
Gender: Female
Spouse: Jessee Ratley
Spouse Gender: Male
Bond Date: 16 Dec 1815
Bond #: 000046521
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 000634
County: Franklin
Record #: 01 010
Bondsman: Willie O Davis
Witness: Gabriel L Hill

Name: Absolam Bibby
Gender: Male
Spouse: Sally Young
Spouse Gender: Female
Bond Date: 27 May 1816
Bond #: 000046368
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 009000
County: Franklin
Record #: 01 001
Bondsman: Kinchen Williams
Witness: G Hill, Jr

Name: Sopha Bibba
Gender: Female
Spouse: Robert Mitchell
Spouse Gender: Male
Bond Date: 13 Nov 1828
Bond #: 000048321
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 000634
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 117
Bondsman: A. S. Perry

Name: Martha A Bibby
Gender: Female
Spouse: Hilliard Dunston
Spouse Gender: Male
Bond Date: 20 Jul 1857
Bond #: 000047326
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 000634
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 050
Bondsman: Jesse X Ratley

Name: Alsey Bibby
Gender: Male
Spouse: Rebecca Scott
Spouse Gender: Female
Bond Date: 25 Jan 1854
Bond #: 000046826
Marriage Date: 26 Jan 1854
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 007086
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 017
Bondsman: James Dent
Witness: Y Patterson
Performed By: Isaac Winston, Justice of the Peace

Name: William Bibby
Gender: Male
Spouse: Julia Chaves
Spouse Gender: Female
Bond Date: 27 Feb 1866
Bond #: 000046827
Marriage Date: 1 Mar 1866
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 001467
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 017
Bondsman: M B Joyner
Witness: T C Horton
Performed By: F Tharringtoin, Justice of the Peace

Name: Fannie Bibbie
Gender: Female
Spouse: William Dunstan
Spouse Gender: Male
Bond Date: 11 Jul 1778
Bond #: 000006572
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 000634
County: Bute
Record #: 01 001
Bondsman: John Myrick
Witness: Ress Brewer

PETTIFORD Marriages:
 

Groom: Jesse Ratley
Bride: Narcissa Petteford
Bond Date: 31 Dec 1846
Bond #: 000048739
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006258
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 146
Bondsman: Henry Dunston
Witness: Y Patterson

Groom: William Ratly
Bride: Martha Pettiford
Bond Date: 28 Dec 1842
Bond #: 000048743
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006262
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 146
Bondsman: Wesly Young
Witness: S Patterson

Groom: Charles Dunce
Bride: Mary Pettiford
Bond Date: 25 Mar 1844
Bond #: 000047314
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006262
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 049
Bondsman: Madison Evans X
Witness: W T Perry

Groom: Elijah Locust
Bride: Glathy Petiford
Bond Date: 12 Sep 1843
Bond #: 000048163
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006255
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 106
Bondsman: William M Alston

Groom: Budd Pettiford
Bride: Rhoda Eatman
Bond Date: 3 Jun 1826
Bond #: 000048644
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 002328
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 140
Bondsman: James Upchurch
Witness: S Patterson

Groom: William Pettiford
Bride: Mariah Evans
Bond Date: 25 Nov 1845
Bond #: 000048645
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 002484
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 140
Bondsman: Calvin H Medlin
Witness: Y Patterson

Groom: Willie Petterford
Bride: Joseph Ann Peteford
Bond Date: 24 Dec 1845
Bond #: 000048643
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006252
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 140
Bondsman: Henry Dunston

Groom: George W Richardson (s/o Gideon & Peggy)
Bride: Gilly C Pettiford (d/o Glathy P.)
Bond Date: 16 Sep 1851
Bond #: 000048768
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006261
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 148
Bondsman: Robert Richardson (George's brother)
Witness: Y Patterson

Groom: Henry Underdew
Bride: Sally Pettiford
Bond Date: 11 Mar 1823
Bond #: 000049142
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006263
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 173
Bondsman: James X Upchurch
Witness: S. Patterson

Groom: Hardy Floyd
Bride: Betsy Pettyford
Bond Date: 5 May 1842
Bond #: 000047428
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006268
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 057
Bondsman: John Barnes
Witness: S Patterson

Groom: Bartlet Pettyford
Bride: Zilpha Williams
Bond Date: 12 Mar 1840
Bond #: 000048646
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 008734
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 140
Bondsman: John Foy
Witness: S Patterson

Groom: Leroy Tann
Bride: Margaret Pettiford
Bond Date: 15 Mar 1834
Bond #: 000049026
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006262
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 165
Bondsman: James Manly X.
Witness: S. Patterson

Groom: Alexr Scott
Bride: Mary E Petterford
Bond Date: 25 Nov 1865
Bond #: 000048841
Marriage Date: 31 Nov 1865
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006259
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 153
Bondsman: Benj F Hawkins
Witness: T C Horton
Performed By: Wm T Dent, Minister of the Gospel

Groom: William Heartsfield
Bride: Frances Petterford
Bond Date: 22 Mar 1866
Bond #: 000047769
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006259
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 080
Bondsman: B. A. Perry
Witness: T C Horton

Groom: Henderson Pully
Bride: Adaline Petterford
Bond Date: 25 Jan 1862
Bond #: 000048719
Marriage Date: 26 Jan 1862
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006259
County: Franklin
Record #: 02 145
Bondsman: C H Horton
Performed By: Wm T Dent, Minister of the Gospel

Groom: Wesley Pettyfoot
Bride: Rachal Mason
Bond Date: 22 Jul 1831
Bond #: 000162296
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 005125
County: Warren
Record #: 01 195
Bondsman: Griffin Evans (sp: Sally Mason)
Witness: C Drake, Clerk of Court

Groom: Joshua Mason
Bride: Panny Pettefoot
Bond Date: 16 Dec 1828
Bond #: 000161792
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006258
County: Warren
Record #: 01 158
Bondsman: Daniel Joiner
Witness: E D Drake

(Warren County Apprenticeships:
Nov. Ct. 1799. JOSHUA MASON (mulatto child, 6 months old) bound to JOHN SIMMS.)


Groom: Jubiter Mayhoe (freed slave of Joseph Mayo of Henrico Co., VA)
Bride: Rebecca Pettiford
Bond Date: 29 Oct 1809
Bond #: 000161813
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006263
County: Warren
Record #: 01 159
Bondsman: Jacob Davis
Witness: M Duke Johnson

Groom: Jeremiah Mayo
Bride: Betsy Pettyford
Bond Date: 8 Dec 1813
Bond #: 000161817
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006268
County: Warren
Record #: 01 160
Bondsman: David Burton; Peter R Davis
Witness: Wm Green, Clerk of County Court

Groom: Acriel Reid
Bride: Eliza Pettiford (d/o Budd & Rhoda)
Bond Date: 13 Nov 1852
Bond #: 000086633
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006261
County: Nash
Record #: 01 103
Bondsman: Thomas F Crickm
Witness: B H Sorsby

Groom: Jesse Wiggs
Bride: Mary Pettiford
Bond Date: 28 Nov 1862
Bond #: 000087104
Marriage Date: 29 Nov 1862
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006262
County: Nash
Record #: 01 136
Bondsman: Joseph R Lee
Witness: W T Griffin
Performed By: J Johnson

Groom: Baldey Pettiford (S/o Budd & Rhoda)
Bride: Elizabeth Richardson (D/O Gideon & Peggy)
Bond Date: 21 Sep 1853
Bond #: 000086538
Marriage Date: 27 Sep 1853
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006721
County: Nash
Record #: 01 096
Bondsman: Bennett Taylor
Witness: G W Ward
Performed By: Jno W Perry

Groom: Calvin Pettiford (S/o Budd & Rhoda)
Bride: Winny Richardson (D/O Gideon & Peggy)
Bond Date: 17 Aug 1853
Bond #: 000086539
Marriage Date: 18 Aug 1853
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006732
County: Nash
Record #: 01 096
Bondsman: A F Lewis
Witness: Benja H Sorsby
Performed By: Jno W Perry

Groom: Joel Mitchell
Bride: Clorica Pettiford (Clarky?)
Bond Date: 12 Apr 1859
Bond #: 000063489
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006261
County: Halifax
Record #: 02 134
Bondsman: Alfred Pettiford (s/o Reuben & Judy)

Groom: Thomas Silver (S/O Susan Silver)
Bride: Louisa Pettiford (D/O Reuben & Judy)
Bond Date: 19 Feb 1856
Bond #: 000064175
Level Info: North Carolina Marriage Bonds, 1741-1868
ImageNum: 006262
County: Halifax
Record #: 02 176
Bondsman: Jno C Alston
Witness: W W Daniel Clerk
 

I'm not sure if this Reuben Pettiford was the one listed as the son of Gilley, since this one traveled quite a bit in NC in his job as a stone mason and his children's records indicate that he was from Wayne Co.,NC, while there also was another person by that name in Franklin County. Judy Artis & her children were in New Hope District in Wayne County, NC in 1840,while Reuben may have been one of several others in North Carolina at that time, but I am currently not sure which one he was. I don't believe that Reuben & Judy were married, her children alternated in using the ARTIS and PETTIFORD surnames. But Reuben was in Franklin Co. in 1850, among other places that year, and it is noteworthy for researchers of PETTIFORD family; an additional note is that his son, Amos, married Nancy Green, daughter of Thomas & Priscilla Green of Warren Co.,NC, and that all of Reuben's family had moved to Plymouth, Washington County, NC by 1870.
REUBEN PETTIFORD - JUDY ARTIS Family:

1850 Warren County, North Carolina, Warrenton, Pg.63, #721/721
(living with John Burges Family)
AMIS ARTIS-21 -B -LABORER- NC.

#723/723:
REUBEN PETTIFORD-50-M-B-STONE MASON-NC
JUDY A. PETTIFORD-37-F-B - NC
ELIZA ARTES -21-F- B -NC
ALFRED ARTES -15-M- B-NC
JACK ARTES -13-M - B -NC
RHODY ARTES -12-F- B -NC
RUBEN ARTES JR.-10- M- B- NC
JULIAN ARTES -9-F- B -NC
MARY ARTES -7 -F-B - NC
ELIZABETH J. PETTIFORD -5 -F -B -NC
VIRGINIA PETTIFORD -3 -F- B -NC
MIDDY ARTES -60 -F -B -NC
ISAH ARTES - 4/12 -F -B -NC


------ALSO in 1850-------ENUMERATED 3 TIMES------
1850 Nash County, North Carolina, Image 7, #56/56:
JUDAH PETTIFORD -36 -F -B -NC
MILLY ARTIS -90?-F -B -NC
ELIZA ARTIS -20 -F -B -NC
MARY PETTIFORD -7 -F -B -NC
ELIZABETH PETTIFORD-5-F-B-NC
VIRGINIA PETTIFORD -3 -F -B -NC
JOSEPHINE PETTIFORD-1 -M? -B -NC
DICK PETTIFORD -4/12 -M -NC
 

1850 Franklin County, North Carolina, Louisburg District, Image 13, #975/975:
RUBIN PETIFOOT - 50 -M -B -STONECUTTER -NC
JULIA PETIFOOT - 37 -F -B -NC
ELIZA PETIFOOT - 21 -F -B -NC
MARY PETIFOOT - 8 -F -B -NC
BETSY PETIFOOT - 6 -F -B - NC
VIRGINIA PETIFOOT -4 -F -B -NC
MOSES PETIFOOT - 2 -M -B -NC
ISAAC PETIFOOT -7/12 -M -B -NC
MIDDY ARBIRST -80 -F -B -NC

 

 

 

 

© 2013 to present. This website and all material on it are the property of Deloris Williams. You may use these records for personal research only, no materials on this website is to be reproduced or republished to a commercial website  or used for commercial purposes. Last updated 10/02/2016