Richard Ramsey & Letitia Elizabeth Wiseman, 1740-1824
Birth:
Richard, son of John Ramsey(?), was born around 1740, according to Clark Ramsey's conclusions in his history. Richard's mother is not mentioned by the author and is presumed unknown. Neither are any siblings mentioned.
On page 1 of Volume 1, it says, "As Richard Ramsey died in 1824, it is quite reasonable to conclude that he was born about 1740 either in Pennsylvania or in Scotland where the Ramseys came from to Pennsylvania."
Linda Duffy provides essentially the same information about Richard, except that she lists Bartholomew as Richard's father.
Childhood:
If Richard's father was John who was listed as a citizen of Hanover Township in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, in 1750 and Richard's birth was around 1740, then Richard's later childhood would have been in or around Hanover Township.
Duffy lists the probable location of the family with Bartholomew as the father, in Berks County, Pennsylvania, rather than Lebanon.
On page 3 of Vol. 1, it says, "We might mention also that Richard Ramsey was living when George Washington made his famous trip to the French forts on the Allegheny River. Also, when Ft. Duquesne was built where Pittsburgh now stands..." (1754- West Virginia: A History)
"When I think that my great-grandfather was perhaps a boy or young man at that time it seems to bring the events mentioned in history of the French and Indian war very much nearer and more real. When I consider that my grandparents were living when these United States were formed into a union, it reminds me that we as a nation are in infancy as compared to a great many other nations...." (1776)
Education:
The author does not mention any education for Richard, nor does he say whether or not he could read andwrite. However, on page 6 of Vol. 1, Richard's will shows that he made his mark, rather than his signature. I conclude that he could not write, thus had no formal education.
Military:
Indirectly, Richard is mentioned as being in the Revolutionary War. On page 13 of Volume 1, the author says, “…At four years of age his mother (Bartholomew's mother) was anxious for his father (Richard) to return from the Revolutionary War that he might see how his boy had grown...."
(I added information in parentheses for clarity.)
Richard’s participation in the Revolutionary War would qualify us to join the SAR/DAR organization (Sons/Daughters of the American Revolution).
Occupation:
On page 2 of Vol. 1, the author says that Richard was a farmer in Monroe County. I found no mention of an occupation for him in Pennsylvania; although, I imagine that it was the same.
Marriage:
In Richard's will, he mentions his wife, Elizabeth. I have not found her maiden name. If Richard was born around 1740, as the author figures, he may have married around 1760.
The marriage may have taken place in Pennsylvania.
Linda Duffy shows the date of marriage as, “abt 1773."
For the place of marriage, she lists, "possibly Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Married Life:
Richard and Elizabeth had 12 children, six boys and six girls. The boys were: George, Bartholomew (b. 1776), John, William, Joel, and Daniel. The girls were: Letty, Margaret, Jane, Sarah, Mary, andBetsey.
On page 2 of Vol. 1, the author says, "Richard Ramsey, father of Bartholomew Ramsey, bought land in Monroe County, previous to 1799 as Monroe County was a part of Greenbriar before that date. He, Richard Ramsey, lived as a farmer in Monroe County dying there in 1824. He was evidently of a thrifty tum. His will is recorded in the clerk’s office, at Union, Monroe County (Virginia)...."
Richard and Elizabeth probably lived in Berks County, Pennsylvania, for some period before moving to Botetourt County, Virginia. On page 16 of Vol. 1, it says, "Richard Ramsey, father of Bartholomew Ramsey, came from Botetourt County, Virginia to Monroe County, 1797 and bought 192 acres of land from Philip Cooper...." On page 35 of Vol. 1, it says that the 192 acres of land was on Dropping Lick Creek, home of the old generation of Wiseman’s.
In1797, Richard would have been around 57 years old when he moved to Dropping Lick Creek.
Dropping Lick Creek is located at Rock Camp, West Virginia, which is on US-219 between Raines Corner and Lindside in Monroe County. County Route 29 pulls off US-219 at Rock Camp and follows Dropping Lick throughout its headwaters to Zenith. Wiseman Branch is the next hollow upstream on Rock Camp Creek from Dropping Lick perhaps one-half mile south of Rock Camp.
I visited Dropping Lick during the summer of 2006 in search of the old Richard Ramsey farm. I found what is the likely site along the left side of what is now called Wallace Hollow (which is accessed via Monroe County Route 29/ 6 that pulls off to the south from County Route 29 near the second elbow of a large "Z" that the stream makes as it traverses a sort of water gap). The old farmhouse is now gone. According to local residents along nearby Route 29, the old house was located on the left side near the mouth of Wallace Hollow where a gravel road now gives access to the Wickline Cemetery which is located on a low ridge above the old house site. Although I could not find any graves which were identified as Ramseys, this cemetery seems to be the most likely burial location for Richard due to the proximity to the old farmhouse. Alas, the location of his grave is probably lost to history.
The local folks said that the old farm extended along Dropping Lick for some distance near the mouth of Wallace Hollow and included land back on the low ridge which pulls off Peters Mountain.They were unsure of any definite · boundaries: they were just passing along local lore.
Clark Ramsey mentions two old log buildings on the old farm when he visited there in 1927. One was of some size which he thought must have been the main house. There was another that was just a cabinaround twelve by sixteen feet. The cabin was located in the head of a small branch by a spring. The local folks I talked to on my visit said that there was a big spring at the head of Wallace Hollow where the Wickline homestead was. When leaving the cemetery, I briefly met a man who was a Wickline and who had come to visit the cemetery. He told me that his old family homestead was just at the end of the hollow there beyond the cemetery.
In 1799, the Monroe County, Virginia, tax records show that Richard owned 195 acres.
In 1803, the Monroe tax records show that he had 193 acres valued at $62.60.
In 1820, Richard is not listed in the census for Nicholas County where I found his son Bartholomew.
So, apparently, Richard and Elizabeth did not move away with the rest of the family, but they lived out their lives on their farm in Monroe County from 1797 until around 1824 (about 27 years).
Botetourt County, VA
Turn off to Dropping Lick
House Site in Wallace Hollow
Religion:
On page 3 of Vol. 1, the author says, “I have no record of Richard Ramsey's church affiliation. His son Bartholomew was a member of the M.E. Church and it is quite probable that Richard was also a member of the same church... We might call attention to the fact that at the probable time of Richard Ramsey's early life, Methodism was just beginning to spread its influence in America. John and Charles Wesley and George Whitfield began Methodism in Georgia about 1735. The Methodist Church being first organized several years later...."
The old Rehobeth Methodist Church, which is the oldest church west of the Allegheny Mountains (established around 1786, I believe), is located a relatively short distance away at Keenan just off WV Route 3. Since the Rehobeth Church is believed to be the only church in the area at that time, the Ramseys almost certainly attended there. It is about eight miles to Keenan from the old Ramsey farm on Dropping Lick via County Route 13. On page 161 of Clark's Book he says, "This being the only church in the neighborhood it was attended by the early Ramseys, Wisemans, and others." There is a museum on the church property that is open to the public at certain times.
Old Rehobeth Methodist Church, Keenan, WV
Health:
Unknown.
Death:
Sometime between the 30th of April and the 31st of July in 1824, Richard Ramsey died in Monroe County, Virginia He would have been around 84.
His will is recorded in the courthouse at Union. It is dated April 30, 1824. His estate sale was held on July 31st of that same year. Further details of his death are unknown.
The date and place of death shown by Linda Duffy is, "abt May 1824 in Monroe County (West) Virginia."
Richard may be buried in the Wickline Cemetery on the ridge just above the old farmhouse site. If so, the grave is not marked, or, perhaps, not legible. On page 161 of Clark Ramsey's book, he says he found a grave for a John Ramsey near the Ramsey farm. I could not find the grave during my visit in the summer of 2006.
There are two other cemeteries in the immediate area of Dropping Lick Creek; either of which could be the final resting place for Richard and Elizabeth. One is located on the north side of lower Dropping Lick and the other is east of US-219 between Dropping Lick and Wiseman Branch.