Transcription:
Thomas Ratliff & Martha Streeters M. Contract
State of No. Carolina}
Anson County} Be known to all whom it may concern that we Thomas Ratliff Sen. & Martha Streeter of said County having agreed to enter into the matrimonial state and to become husband and wife and having far advanced in years also being also being widower & widow each of us having several legal heirs each of us also having a reasonable proportion of the necessities of this world to make out situation comfortable through life and each of us also desiring & wishing that such property as we have now separately in possession or in any ways appertaining or belonging to us should at our death descend to legal & lawful heirs in the manner & way as it would do provided that we had not entered in the matrimonial state it is also agreed by both of us that the property owned possessed or in any ways belonging to the Sd Martha Streeter at this time shall during her life remain entirely clear & free of all and any manner of incumbrances that the Sd Thomas might lay thereon and that the Sd Thomas shall not have a right to sell or dispose of my part of the same with the exception of such crops or growth of the land as may be made on the plantation now owned by the said Martha Streeter which crops or proceeds of the growth of the land the Sd Thomas Ratliff shall and will have a right to dispose of to such advantage and ?? as he may think fit & to honest & Just – out of the proceeds of such crops the as the Sd Thomas and Martha to make use of as much thereof as will be necessary for their mutual welfare and support during their joint lives & should there at that at the death of the Sd Martha Streeter be any surplus of said crop and proceeds of the land or growth of the land left the same, if any to be considered as a part of the estate of the late Edward Streeter and to be disposed of in the same manner and way as if the said individual marriage had never taken place. It is also agreed and understood that the property at presents owned & possessed by the Sd Thomas Ratliff is to be in no ways incumbered whatsoever on account of the estate of the sd Edward Streeter Dec’d and that the same is to be disposed of at his death in in <sic> the same manner & way as it would be provided he had not entered into to the matrimonial state after the date hereof. It is also agreed and understood that Shepherd M. Streeter and Willis J. Streeter is have all the privileges and advantages that they had during the widowhood of said Martha Streater, and that the said Martha Streater is to maintain all the benefits and possessions of the premises in which she now lives in no ways abating the advantage left her in the Will of the late Edward Streater. In witness whereof the contracting partied have hereunto set their hands & seals and agree that Shepherd M. Streeter take care and possession of this paper. Thomas X his mark Ratliff {seal}
Witness} Martha x her mark Streater {seal}
H. M. Kenzie}
A. Curtis} Anson October Ss 1827 Then this marriage contract was duly proved in open Court by Hugh M. Kenzie and ordered to be registered.
W. Dismukes Clk.
Thomas Ratliff and Martha Streater entered into this agreement in October 1827. Sadly, Thomas Ratliff passed away in 1830. Martha Streater was the widow of Edward Streater.
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[1] Anson County, North Carolina, Deed Book “W”: pages 107 and 108, Thomas Ratliff & Martha Streeter Marriage Contract; October 1827, Register of Deeds, Wadesboro, Anson County, North Carolina.
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