LOWER-DELMARVA-ROOTS-L Archives

From: Harold Davey <>
Subject: Ratledge/Paswater
Date: Wed, 03 Mar 1999 20:40:16 -0500

Pamela,

In a Sussex Co., Del. Probate Court, William Passwaters, Sr.'s will
dated 11 Aug 1796 was recorded. Heirs: son Jonas Passwaters; dau. Nancy
Passwaters; other children unnamed. However, another will made by William
Passwaters dated 15 April 1792 was probated in Sussex Co. 14 Feb. 1797.
Heirs: wife Sarah Passwaters; sons Jonas, Jesse, John, Clement and Jeremiah
Passwaters; dau. Nancy Passwaters.
In 1770, David Passwaters was a witness to the will of Richard Coverdale
in Sussex Co.
In 1795, Richard and Mary Passwaters were witnesses to the will of
Israel Coverdale in Sussex Co.
Richard Passwaters made a will in 1795 in Sussex Co. His unnamed wife
and children were heirs. Isaac and William Passwaters were executors.

Harold
______________________________X-Message: #18
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 1999 00:25:15 EST
From:
To:
Message-ID: <>
Subject: Ratledge/Paswater
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII
Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Hi,
I'm new to this list. I've browsed the past messages first to see if anyone
has mentioned the names shown.

The Ratledge/Rutledge family of Murderkill Hundred in Kent Co. DE appears in
the early 1700's in land and court transactions. I've traced my Ratledge line
from Missouri, back through Tennessee, to Rowan Co., NC and then to Kent
Co.,DE. I've found that the path from DE/MD to Rowan Co.,NC was a very well
traveled road.

Trying to find out where the earliest Ratledge came from - Edward Ratledge b.
abt. 1671 - d. abt. 1749 in Kent Co.,DE. His wife was Urselly. He lived on a
plantation called "Hopewell" that later belonged to Thomas Blackshare Sr.
Children:
1. John Ratledge Sr. b. abt 1710 PA Colony? - d. 1773 Kent Co.,DE
2. Urselly Ratledge - b. abt 1712 - d. 1757-1768 Kent Co.,DE m. Thomas
Blackshare Sr.

Studying the formation of the Delaware/Maryland area and looking further
around this area the following information was found. Does anyone have any
information that might be added to find out if the Edward Ratledge of Kent
Co.,DE and this Edward Rutledge/Ratledge of Maryland.

Somerset Co., MD Rent Rolls -
pg. 138 "Morris Lott" Surveyed 17 May 1688 for Manassas Morris. Lying in
the branches of Quantico in the possession of Edward Ruttledge, Nanticoke
Hundred.

pg. 24 - "Cattle Haven" Surveyed April 5, 1673 for Henry Homan on the South
side Rokawalkin River at a marked gum by a small branch, possessed by Ed.
Rattledge in the rights of the Passwater orphans . . . Wicomico Hd.

I did some searching of maps and the Maryland websites and see that at one
time Sussex Co., DE was part of Maryland and there is a Stepney Parish.
Grandson of Edward Ratledge and son of John Ratledge Sr., James Ratledge Sr.
b. 1770 in Kent Co.,DE migrated to Rowan Co.,NC 1786 with wife Ruth. He owned
a slave named "Stepney" of whom he gave to his son James Ratledge jr. in his
will.

Also, in a land survey recorded in Kent Co., DE, John Ratledge had a survey
done to protect a piece of property called "Stone Law" in Kent Co. DE
described ". . .said to have been executed by B. Johnson by virtue of a
warrant on a piece of Land in af'sd Hundred & County whereon Jonas Paswaters
lived. ." There was a note on the front of the document "Draught & Caveat -
Jno Ratledge vs Paswaters & Blackshare" Dated 16 May 1746, Dover, DE

I have the "Calendar of Kent Co., DE" by DeValinger, Vol. 1-8 of the Deed
Abstract books by Brewer, and the "Duke of York Records 1679-1679" by DE Gen.
Assy.1899 but do not find the name Paswater/Passwater in these books. So I'm
stumped.

Hope someone can point me in the right direction.
Also, glad to do lookups in the above books - they are invaluable tools for
the area.

Pamela Geisler Smith
Gresham, OR

This thread:

• Ratledge/Paswater by <>

  • Ratledge/Paswater by Harold Davey <>