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His move. Why and Where?

Richard Ratliff, Sr was living and had a trading post at Clear Creek and Ratliff Creek (Line Creek). This location is not in Turkey’s Town. It was located at the foot of Raccoon Mountain (Sand Mountain). This is north and west of present-day Attalla, Alabama. But this location is very important to the history of Etowah County, Alabama. Not just because of the Creek Indian War, 1813-1814, that has been earlier discussed. It is the location of the first Post Office in what is now Etowah County, Alabama.

In 1818, Alabama had not been established as a State. Post Office routes were being established throughout the territory. A postal route is discussed by the US Government.

POSTAL ROUTE ADVERTISEMENT  — June 20, 1818

#230  From Washington T. by Brown’s Ferry, Fort Ross, Willstown, Ratclift’s, Fort Strother, Fort Lasslie, Fort Williams, and Fort Jackson to Pleasant Level, 285 miles, once a month. 1

Richard Ratliff moved before May of 1820. Another Postal Route discussion by the United States in Congress.

An Act to alter and establish certain post-roads, May 13, 1820

From Cahawba, by Joseph Britton’s, Old Town, Falls of Cahawba, King and Smith’s store, Shelby courthouse, David M’Laughlin’s, St. Clair Courthouse, VINCENT BENNETT’S, the Cherokee Nation, by Ross’s and James Patterson’s, to Washington, in Tennessee. 2

No “Ratliff’s” in the above statement. Now it is “Vincent Bennett’s”. Vincent Bennett is the former Quartermaster for Gen Andrew Jackson during the Creek Indian War, 1818-14. He is listed in the 1820 US Census, Saint Clair County, Alabama. He purchased land from the US Government in Township 12, Range 5 East, Section 7. This is near Clear Creek and Line Creek (Ratliff’s Creek).3

Vincent Bennett established a store at this location. Or, did he take over Richard Ratliff’s after he abandoned it? Bennett’s store is listed as a US Post Office in March of 1822. The Postmaster is Thomas M. Barker. In May of 1823, the Postmaster was Vincent Bennett. August 1823 the name changed to Bennington. Other Postmasters are very significant. Chief John Ross’ brothers-in-law, John G. Ross Postmaster November 1826, Jonathon Mulkey Postmaster January 1828. The name changed to Bennetsville November 1830 and Vincent Bennett is Postmaster.4

As you see sometime between June 1818 and May 1820 Richard Ratliff moved. What happen?

State of Alabama

Resolution For Admission of Alabama into the Union, December, 14, 1819.5 After the State of Alabama was formed, Richard Ratliff, Sr. found himself in the State of Alabama and not in the Cherokee Nation. He moved.

http://cartweb.geography.ua.edu/lizardtech/iserv/calcrgn?cat=North%20America%20and%20United%20States&item=States/Alabama/LatouretteSheet02.sid&wid=1000&hei=900&props=item(Name,Description),cat(Name,Description)&style=simple/view-dhtml.xsl John LaTourette Map of Alabama, 1837, Dekalb and Cherokee County section.

Notice on the above map Bennettsville PO, Ratcliff’s or Line CR, Double Spring PO (Gadsden, Alabama), Turkey Town PO. You also see the resident of John G. Ross. You also see that Ratcliff would have been in Saint Clair County, Alabama. So he moved.

He moved to Turkey’s Town

A location in Turkey’s Town is called Ratliff’s Valley. Not too long after he had moved he was robbed.

Friend &Brother              June 24th 1821

On Monday night last there was some white men came to the house of Richrd rattlerif and abused him a Takeing all his children money the sum was nineteen hundred dollars  taking from his – of his children money  John rattlerif(,) Janeny rattlerfis – this happened near Turkey Town my friend and I want you to assist them  To know where this money is gone  – when these men come they took him by the throat and beat him on the head and other Takeing the money when any person become old the property the have the exspect it for their children  friend   Hope you will contrive some way so they may get their money again – I was in hopes the theves was done stealing but they have To steal other ways people that has any thing are fraid sence that they will begain on them  I want you to send some letters to the white people that lives in sent cleare county that they may make some search for this money that has been takeing from these people

                        /s/         pathkiller

                                    the boots

                                    rattleing gard

                                    Tarkahakah

6. Pathkiller to Meigs 
Google Map, modern, before the new US 411 N four lanes added. Location in red added by Author

Just where Richard Ratliff Sr. lived is unknown. William Lasley, son of James Lasley called the area Ratliff Valley. It is also referenced in an agreement with Benjamin Pollard and John Ratliff (son of Richard Ratliff Sr.).

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There is a lot of misunderstood information on Richard Ratliff Sr. One of them is he died in Turkey’s Town and is buried somewhere there. Find a Grave memorial 59363915 has a lot of information. Parts of this are incorrect. This is the link: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59363915/flower Richard Ratliff Sr. did not die in Turkey’s Town. He is on the Lt Edward Deas’ Detachment. This is those removed to the West on the Trail of Tears in June 1838. They left from Ross’ Landing in what is Chattanooga, TN, today. Traveled by boat.9 He is listed above his son Richard Ratliff Jr’s family. Richard Sr family has a male over the age of 50, who has to be him. They are listed as living in Turkey Town. He is also on the Henderson Roll census in 1835, in Turkey Town. He did file a will in Saint Clair County in 1833, gifting slaves to his daughter Janey (Jenny). (They were stolen from her.) He did not die in 1835. His son Richard Jr. is married to Charwahyooca, daughter of Chief Pathkiller and Peggy. They are listed in Peggy’s will.

A portion of page 2 of Lt. Deas’s Detachment Muster Roll, June 1838. 10

Richard Ratliff and family are notable people of Turkey’s Town as well as the State of Alabama.

Who else is a notable person in Turkey’s Town?

  1. Territory Papers of the United States, Vol XVIII, Alabama territory 1817-1819, Page 354, Image 378, HathiTrust, https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032317034&seq=378 ↩︎
  2. SIXTEENTH CONGRESS, Session I, Chapter CXIX, Pages 577-581 and specifically pg 581 – Alabama. ↩︎
  3. Jackson’s White Plumes, Charlotte Adams Hood, page 154-155. ↩︎
  4. Postal Routes and Postmaster research information from Mike Wren to Author ↩︎
  5. Territory Papers of the United States, Vol XVIII, Alabama territory 1817-1819, Page 753, Image 779, HathiTrust,https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=hvd.32044032317034&seq=779 ↩︎
  6. Correspondence And Miscellaneous Records, M208, Records of the Cherokee Indian Agency in Tennessee, 1801-1835, https://www.fold3.com/image/205695162 Record Group: 75 ↩︎
  7. “St. Clair, Alabama, United States records,” images, FamilySearch (https://
    http://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSVB-J2PY?view=fullText : Oct 27, 2025),
    image 550 of 632; Alabama. County Court (St. Clair County).
    Image Group Number: 008134415 ↩︎
  8. Last page of a valuation of a claim for William Lasley RG 75, NARA. This property is the William Story property discussed in the James Lasley information. The cove near the Lasley Mill/Gin. ↩︎
  9. https://trailofthetrail.blogspot.com/2009/11/deas-and-whiteley-detachments-in.html ↩︎
  10. Cherokee Registry Trail of Tears-Deas detachment, Cherokeeregistry.com ↩︎

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3: 5-6 CSV