Half way between the legionary fortresses at Viroconium (Wroxeter) and Deva Victrix (Chester) on a hill in the middle of a plain sat Mediolanium, where Roman legions built a fort to rest overnight. The settlement that developed on this site became Whitchurch, which was described in 1764 as a "pleasant, large and populous town, with a handsome church." (Duggan) About four miles south-east is Ightfield, a small agricultural community, its name literally translated as "where the furze or gorse has been cleared."(Barton) About five miles south by south-east of Whitchurch and four miles south-west of Ightfield lay Prees, where a large portion of the land was mosses, woods, covers and heathland.(Bagshaw)

In 1760 George III had succeeded George II as King of Great Britain and King of Ireland. The Seven Years War had ended with defeat for France and the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763 and seen Great Britain become the dominant European power in North America and India.

It was into this Britain that Joseph Ratcliff was born and baptised on 16th October 1762 at Ightfield (see footnote 4). He was the eldest son of John Ratcliff of Prees and Mary Evans of Ightfield who had been married by licence at Prees on 9th July 1762. His brother Thomas was baptised at Ightfield on 18th June 1769 and brother John at Whitchurch on 21st April 1770 .

Whitchurch was a resting place for travellers to and from Ireland where they usually spent the night as a preparation for embarking the next evening from Parkgate on the Dee in small sailing packets on an uncertain voyage across the Irish Channel (Yate). No doubt the route was used by soldiers returning to Ireland after having seen service in the American War for Independence. As a youth Joseph may well have been inspired by their tales of daring and glory.

Great Britain recognized the independence of the United States at the Peace of Versailles in 1783 and in 1784 at the age of 24 Joseph enlisted in the 38th Regiment of Foot (see footnote 6). Possibly it was after drinks in a public house paid for by the recruiting sergeant who would have made a speech all about "Gentlemen soldiers, merry life, muskets rattling, cannon roaring, drums beating, colours flying, regiments charging and, shout of victory!" (Brett-James). It was a brave step because, although the American War was over, life in the army was known to be harsh and the pay was poor so it mainly attracted those for whom civilian life was even worse. Life at Whitchurch was certainly difficult that year with an epidemic of smallpox (Duggan) and high grain prices because of a poor harvest the year before (Bryan).