TNLINCOL-L Archives

Archiver > TNLINCOL > 2000-07 > 0963447175


From: Delores Y Eveland <>
Subject: Re: [LCT] Thomas Ragland Ramsey
Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 17:12:55 -0700


Dear Les,

I saw your note about having the Ramsey Bible records and wondered if you
could shed any light on who the parents were of H. "Hardy" F. M. Ramsey
who married Martha Wickes, 1 Aug 1844 Lincoln Co., TN. I've found his
name mentioned several times in connection with my Ross family and in the
1850 census records. I feel there is probably some relationship between
he and my Ross family; however, I can't seem to find exactly what it is.
My ancestors were ABIJAH ROSS and ELIZABETH JACKSON, and the story starts
with them. (Please forgive me for such a long note, but the clues are
very convaluted and really need to be viewed as a whole.)

The first time I found mention of Hardy Ramsey was on Lincoln Co., TN
Deeds, Vol. R, page 505, 9 Jan 1849, which shows the recording of a deed
where the heirs of A. Ross are selling land to H.F.M. & A. L. RAMSEY.
The parties to the sale (clearly the heirs of Abijah Ross) are named as:
William A. (Ashburn) Ross, Nancy E. (Emeline) Johnson, her husband,
Peterson Johnson, Silas C. (Coleman) Ross, Sarah L. Jackson, A. (Abijah)
C. Ross, Rebecca L. (Louisa) Farrar, and her husband, David Farrar. All
were residents of Lincoln Co., TN, except Peterson & Nancy Johnson who
lived in Giles Co.

The A. Ross of that record is Abijah Ross and the transaction seems to be
related to the sale by his heirs of his land after his death.

The second record involving Hardy Ramsey is much more confusing.
According to the
"Early Unpublished Court Records of Lincoln County, Tennessee, including
Guardians, Settlements, Land Deeds, & Tax Lists", compiled by Helen C. &
Timothy R. Marsh, Copyright 1993 by: Southern Historical Press, Inc.,
P.O. Box 1267, Greenville, S.C., 29601, the publishers. (ISBN #
0-89308-492-1) "Page 280 shows - William A. Ross administrator of (the
estate of) Elizabeth Rambo. Shares to George W. Rambo, H. M. Ramsey, A.
C. Ross, S. C. Ross, Peterson Johnson, David Farrar and Sarah L. Ayers
(probably the Sarah L. Jackson shown on the 1849 land record). Nov. 4,
1851."

I believe this record relates to the estate of the widow of Abijah Ross,
Elizabeth (Jackson) Ross who clearly outlived him and had remarried
someone named Rambo. Those receiving shares of her estate included all
her Ross children as well as George W. Rambo, who I presume was her son
with Mr. Rambo. The reason for the inclusion of H. M. Ramsey is very
unclear. I have examined several possibilities, but have found nothing
conclusive to explain his inclusion.

My first thought was that perhaps he was a son-in-law of a previously
unknown daughter since in this record only the sons-in-law are listed;
however, when I found his marriage record in 1844, his wife's maiden
surname was not Ross or Rambo but was Wickes. I then looked for an
earlier marriage of a Ross female to a Mr. Wickes; nothing was found.

I also found them in the 1850 census which shows:

Lincoln Co., TN, 1st sub-division, pg. 168, dwelling 837, family 837,
H. M. Ramsey, 23, male, blacksmith, estate value $500, b. TN;
Martha Ramsey, 23, female, b. TN;
John W., 5, male, b. TN;
Mary, 3, female, b. TN;
James, 1, male, b. TN,
Robert Rambo, 18, male, farmer, b. TN.

The census records presented two additional scenarios. The first was
that Hardy Ramsey was the guardian of a second Rambo son, Robert Rambo,
age 18, found living in his household; or, second, that Hardy Ramsey was
also Elizabeth's son, and that "Perhaps" she had first married a Mr.
Ramsey after the death of Abijah Ross, gave birth to Hardy Ramsey and
then later married a Mr. Rambo and had George and Robert. I have not
been able to locate any marriage records to support that scenario.

I did find in 1850 George W. Rambo was living with her son, Abijah C.
Ross, in Hopkins Co., KY., further supporting the possibility they were
half-brothers.

I also found an Elizabeth Ramsey living in Lincoln Co., TN in 1830. Her
household was between Wm. Cunningham and Susan Rambo. Her son who was my
ancestor, William Ashburn Ross, married a Mahala Mary Cunningham between
1830 & 1840; and, since we know she herself married a Rambo, this looks
like a good candidate. But again can't find anything to prove this
scenario.

1840 US Census, Lincoln Co., TN, shows on pg 72, Elizabeth Rambo, 1 male
5-10 (maybe Robert Rambo about 8 years old), 3 males 10-15 (maybe Abijah
C. age abt 16; George W. Rambo age abt 10; who is the other? maybe Hardy
Ramsey age abt 13), 1 male 20-30 (maybe Silas C. age about 20-21), 1
female 40-50 (Elizabeth). We know that Elizabeth's son, William Ashburn
was probably married before 1835, and we believe her daughter Rebecca was
married before 1837, her daughter Nancy about 1836, and this record
suggests that her daughter Sarah was also married by 1840.

So far I have been unable to locate Hardy Ramsey after 1850. If you can
shed any light on any of these people I would be very grateful.

Please respond to Delores Y. Eveland at



________________________________________________________________
YOU'RE PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THE INTERNET!
Juno now offers FREE Internet Access!
Try it today - there's no risk! For your FREE software, visit:
http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj.

This thread: