Adam Fisher

WP#1: Interesting person

English 1102, Prof. Raymond

January 14, 2014

Moses Ratchford

In my family there have been several interesting people, however I would like to

highlight two people. My reason for wanting to highlight two people instead of one lies in the

fact that they both have the same name and are generations apart. Both of these people are named

Moses Ratchford, and both fought in key wars of America’s history. The first Moses Ratchford,

born in 1755, fought in the American Revolution for the Patriots. The second Moses Ratchford

was born in 1837 and Fought in the Civil War for the Confederate army. They are both distant

relatives on my dad’s mother’s side of the family (Fisher).

Moses Ratchford was born to his parents William and Mary Ratchford, immigrant from

Ireland, on January 15, 1755. He was born in what would become York, South Carolina.

Unfortunately research has not produced any photos or paintings of Moses Ratchford. It was

found that he did fight in the American Revolution though. He served in the militia during 1778

and 1780 under Captains Love and Carson (United States). In 1788 he married Mary Capmbell

and had several children including Joseph Ratchford; who is the father of the second Moses

Ratchford mentioned. He died in 1821 at the age of 66 (Fisher).

As stated above, Moses McKee Ratchford was born to Joseph Ratchford on May 2, 1837

in Gaston County, NC. Again research has not produced photographs to base a physical

description off of. Moses Ratchford Fought in the Civil War on the Confederate Side. He was a

private in the 38th

North Carolina Infantry (“U.S. Civil War Soldiers”). I assume that Moses

Fisher 2

McKee Ratchford died in the Civil War. This assumption is due to the fact that Moses McKee

Ratchford died in 1857 in Gaston, NC at the age of 20.

Overall I chose Moses Ratchford as my Colorful relatives due to the fact that there were

two Moses Ratchfords, both involved in major American wars, just two generations apart. Moses

Ratchford, born in 1755, fought through the American Revolution, and Moses McKee Ratchford

born in 1837, presumably died in the Civil War. This make for an interesting two people in the

Racthford family that share one name.

Works Cited

Fisher, Adam R. "Fisher Family Tree." Ancestry.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.

United States. Roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution. N.p.: n.p., n.d.

Print.

"U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865." National Park Service. N.p., 2007. Web. 14 Jan. 2014.