The Carson Family
From Washington County,
Virginia
To Rockcastle County, Kentucky
To Jellico, Tennessee
To Davie, Broward County, Florida
James Holman (Holdman, Holeman)
Born: about 1814 in Kentucky
Died: after 1880
James Holman (Holdman, Holeman), born about 1814 in
Kentucky, is the earliest documented ancestor in our Holman family tree. He lived in the area of Brodhead
(Stigall's Stand) and Crab Orchard Kentucky, which are on the border of three Kentucky counties: Lincoln, Garrard, and Rockcastle.
On June 4, 1835 in Garrard County, Kentucky, James Holman was married to Martha
"Patsy" Ramsey, the daughter of Alexander Ramsey, by Baptist minister
Benjamin Polston. (See
copy of Bond and License.)
Alexander Ramsey is the son of Thomas Ramsey who fought in the Revolutionary war (joined army 1776, Essex County, Virginia), and the nephew of Francis Alexander Ramsey who was in Lee's Legion (joined late 1779, discharged June 6, 1783).
***
"Records of the Revolutionary War," by W. T. R. Saffell, 1894, Pages 270 and 275
Colonel Alexander Spottswood, 2nd Virginia Regiment
Captain Samuel Hawes, Virginia Infantry Company 8
As it stood on June 1, 1777
Thomas Jones, First-lieutenant
James Upshur, Second-lieutenant
Private Thomas Ramsey
Private Francis Golman
***
"From Rockcastle Recollections"
Francis Ramsey, Sr., born in Virginia, in 1764, at the age of fifteen he was enlisted as a drummer boy in the Revolutionary War. He fought at Guilford Courthouse, Camden, Seige of 96 and Eutah Springs. Married in 1778, in Cumberland County, Virginia, he soon thereafter came to Rockcastle County in time to be in the first census of 1810. He died in Rockcastle County on the day after Christmas of 1842, being then 78 years of age. He and his wife, who died in 1850, are buried in unmarked graves in the Renfro Valley Cemetery. His brother, Thomas, who was also a Revolutionary war Veteran, died in the adjoining county of
Garrard.
***
Page 61 1802 Taxpayers Upper District Garrard County, Kentucky
Ramsey, John: one white male above 21; one horse
Ramsey, Larkin: 118 acres on Gilberts Creek in Garrard Co; one white male above 21; three blacks; six horses
Ramsey, Larkin: 400 acres on N. F. Licking in Mason County
Ramsey, Thomas: 35 acres on Gilberts Creek in Garrard Co
Ramsey, Thomas: 60 acres on Drakes Creek in Garrard Co; one white male above 21; one white male between 16-21; three horses
Ramsey, Thomas: one white male above 21; three horses
***
The Ramseys were members of the Gilbert's Creek Baptist Church (known as the "Travelling Church"). The church is located on Gilbert's Creek on the Lancaster and Crab Orchard Pike (Rt 39) in Garrard County. [The Reverend Ben Polsten (who married James Holman and Martha Ramsey) represented the church at one of the meetings of the South District Association of Separate Baptists.] Larkin Ramsey (aka Larkin Vaulter) and Harrison Hiatt are buried here.
***
Notes from:
"THE TRAVELLING CHURCH"
AN ACCOUNT OF THE BAPTIST EXODUS FROM VIRGINIA TO KENTUCKY IN 1781 UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF Rev. LEWIS CRAIG and CAPTAIN WILLIAM ELLIS.
With Historical Notes
BY GEORGE W. RANCK
Louisville, KY.
Press of Baptist Book Concern
1891
In September of 1781, the Reverend Lewis Craig and the members of Upper Spottsylvania Baptist Church in Virginia started a mass relocation to Kentucky.
Capt. William Ellis served as the military leader of group.
When the Craig group arrived at present day Abingdon, Washington County, Virginia they learned that because of Indian attacks, it was not safe to travel further. They joined another group of settlers waiting to travel into Kentucky. (This was the group organized by
Captain Billy Bush, his extended family, and neighbors from Orange and Culpepper counties in Virginia.)
Reverend Lewis Craig organized the Bush group into a Baptist Church, and the group chose the
Reverend Robert Elkin, a Baptist preacher, as their pastor.
In November of 1781, because of the cold weather, the Indian attacks declined. The Craig group decided to push on into Kentucky. They camped on the North Fork of the Holston River, crossed
the Cumberland Gap, and reached a fork in the Wilderness Road. Instead of going to
Boonesborough, they took the Skagg's Trace through present-day Mt Vernon in Rockcastle County to Logan's Fort (present-day Stanford in Lincoln County).
In December of 1781, they established "Craig's Station" on a little tributary of Dick's River, now known as Gilbert's Creek, two miles and a half southeast of present-day Lancaster in that part of the original Lincoln County which became Garrard County.
In the fall of 1783, Reverend Craig and most of his congregation moved to South Elkhorn, about five miles from present-day Lexington. (Capt. William Ellis had already settled there.)
Just as the Craig group was leaving Gilbert's Creek, the Bush group was arriving. (They had remained in the Abingdon area until the end of the War.)
In the spring of 1784, the Bush group relocated from Gilbert's Creek to the north side of the Kentucky River. Its pioneer members settled on Howard's Creek in what is now
Clark County, Kentucky.
Settlers comprising the Travelling Church included the families of Allen, Asher, Barrow, Rev. Joseph Bledsoe, Bowman, Buckner, Burbridge, Carr, Rev. William Cave, Toliver Craig Sr. & wife, Rev. Lewis Craig, Rev. Joseph
Craig, Capt. Jeremiah Craig, Benjamin Craig, Creath, Curd, Darnably, Dedman, Dudley, Dupuy, Peter Durett, Eastin, William Ellis & family of 5, Elly, Garrard, Goodloe, Hart, Hunt, Hickerson, Hickman, Rev. William Marshall,
Martin, Mitchum, Moore, Morris, Morton, Noel, James Parrish, Timothy Parrish, Payne, Pittman, Preston, Price,
Ramsey, Robinson, Rucker, Sanders, Shackelford, Shipp, Shotwell, Manoah Singleton & family, Smith, Stuart,
Thompson, Waller, Walton, Ware, Watkins, Woolfolk, Woolridge, and Young.
***
Baptist History Homepage
A History of Kentucky Baptists
By J. H. Spencer
Chapter 4
Churches Planted in 1783
At the beginning of the year 1783, there were in Kentucky only five churches and eight preachers. Gerrard having been massacred by
the Indians, the spring before. The year just closed had been fraught with many dangers, trials and sorrows. One preacher, out of nine, had
fallen a victim to savage barbarity, and many other settlers of the country had perished in the same manner. The
immigrants had been compelled to remain in forts most of the summer, so that they had raised
but little grain, and now set in the winter, always dreary enough to the poor, but doubly gloomy when the snow covers the fresh graves of
murdered husbands and fathers. Many poor widows and orphans, hundreds of miles from all their old friends and surrounded by an almost boundless
wilderness, every acre of which teemed with deadly danger, were weeping and shivering in rude log cabins in Kentucky. How much they needed the
comforts of a holy religion, to encourage them amid their deep despondency. But God had not forgotten his little ones. He sent strong,
brave men, with hearts full of love and faith, who were ready to dare every danger, to pray in the rude cabins of weak and timid
Christians, to cheer and encourage despairing mourners, and to warn reckless sinners
of their awful danger. Marshall, Craig, Cave, Smith, Barnett, Whitaker and Lynn had been tried in the relentless fires of persecution and
purified as silver. Inured to hardships and dangers, they had lost the sense of earthly fear, and were prepared to surmount every difficulty,
that they might gather into folds Christ's scattered sheep, and feed them with the bread of life. They were traversing the wilderness in
search of the straying lambs, and calling them together to partake again of the heavenly feast of love and fellowship, which they had so sweetly enjoyed in the now far away churches of their native land. The efforts
of these Godly ministers were blessed, and three more churches were added to the number in Kentucky, during the year.
GILBERTS CREEK church of Separate Baptists was gathered by Joseph Bledsoe, in what is now Garrard county. There has been some
confusion in the popular mind concerning the history of this church, caused by confounding it with Gilberts Creek church of Regular Baptists.
The latter, as we have already seen, was organized by Lewis Craig and others, in December, 1781; the former was gathered by Joseph Bledsoe, as
we shall presently see, in 1783. Asplund and Benedict both date its constitution in that year. John Taylor, who was a member of the Regular
Baptist church on Gilberts Creek, during the winter of 1783-4, says: "Just before I got to Kentucky (in 1783) Craig, with a number of others,
had left Gilberts Creek, and moved to South Elkhorn and set up a church there. The remnant left of Gilberts Creek kept up order; it was this
remnant I united with. Among them was George Smith, commonly called Stokes Smith, a valuable preacher; Richard Cave, then an ordained
minister, William Cave, who afterwards became a very good preacher, and many other valuable members. Soon after, George Stokes Smith and chief
of the members at Gilberts Creek also moved to the north side of Kentucky; and a Separate Baptist church being set up at Gilberts Creek,
by Joseph Bledsoe, the old church became dissolved, and the Separate Baptists chiefly took possession of the south side of the Kentucky
river." In another place, Mr. Taylor says: "The church I have been writing of, at Gilberts Creek was swallowed up, partly by Craig's
members moving away, and partly by a Separate church settling there under the care of old Mr. Joseph Bledsoe, and, though the old gentleman
is dead, it seems the church yet exists."
This testimony is sufficiently conclusive. The present Gilberts Creek church was constituted in 1783, and was one of the
churches that formed South Kentucky Association of Separate Baptists, in 1787. It entered into the general union of the Separate and Regular
Baptists, in 1801, but soon afterwards went off with a faction headed by John Bailey and Thomas J. Chilton, again assuming the name of Separate
Baptists. It returned to the United Baptists, in 1845. Among the many pastors who have served this church, may be named Joseph Bledsoe,
Michael Dillingham, John Bailey, Thomas J. Chilton, Thomas Chilton, Absalom Quinn, Jesse C. Portman, John G. Pond and Burdett Kemper. Quinn
and Pond were ordained in this church. During the year 1828, 101 were added to its membership, and, in 1837, it received 37
additions. It was long a prosperous body, but for a number of years past, it has been
declining. It is now without a house of worship, and only has a name to live.
JOSEPH BLEDSOE was the founder and first pastor of this church. As early as 1778, he was associated with Ambrose Dudley and
Lewis Craig in gathering Wilderness church in Spottsylvania County, Virginia. Of this congregation he was chosen the first pastor. But "they
were not happy under his care," and he resigned his charge to move to Kentucky, where we find him pastor of Gilberts Creek church, in 1783. He
was an old man at that time, and probably remained in charge of this congregation until his death. His brother, Aaron Bledsoe, was a Baptist
preacher in Virginia, his son William was a Baptist preacher of more talent than piety, in Kentucky, and his son Jesse was a prominent lawyer
and a politician of the last named State, and was two years in the United States Senate, and several years judge of the circuit court.
Another Bledsoe, named Moses, was a Baptist preacher in Kentucky. Many of the family possessed brilliant talents, but they were generally
unstable and erratic.
"SOUTH ELKHORN, not far from Lexington," says John Taylor, "was the fourth church in which I had my membership. This was the
first worshiping congregation, of any kind, organized on the north side of the Kentucky river, and early in the fall of 1783." This church was gathered by Lewis Craig, and was constituted principally of members who had belonged to Upper Spottsylvania church in Virginia, had emigrated with Mr. Craig to Kentucky, in 1781, and had again followed him from Gilberts Creek to South Elkhorn in Fayette county. In organizing this church, Mr.
Craig doubtless had the assistance of George Stokes Smith and Richard Cave, who were still members of the first Gilberts Creek church. In the summer of 1785, these preachers and most of the other members of Gilberts Creek church moved to the north side of Kentucky river, and united with the new organization. John Taylor moved to Kentucky, in 1783, just after South Elkhorn church was constituted, and, settling at Lewis Craig's station in Garrard county took membership in Gilberts Creek church. But, in the summer of 1784, he moved to what is
now Woodford county, and joined South Elkhorn church. William Hickman, John Dupuy, and James Rucker, having moved to the new country, also united
with this church, in 1785. There were now seven preachers within the bounds of the church: viz., Craig, Cave, Dupuy, Hickman,
Rucker, Smith
and Taylor. Four of them, however, went into the constitution of a new church, on Clear Creek in Woodford county, early in that year.
Down to the period now under consideration, there had been no baptism in Kentucky, so far as our knowledge extends, if we except
the traditional account of that performed by Benjamin Lynn, in 1782. But very early in the year 1785, a revival spirit began to be manifested
among some members of South Elkhorn church, who had made a settlement on Clear Creek in Woodford county. This work began under the ministry of John Taylor, and continued to spread over the extensive territory of the church till large numbers were baptized. Among them were four of
William Hickman's children. At least two preachers, William Hickman, jr. and Warren Cash, were fruits of this revival. The results of this work of
grace, together with a large immigration, so increased the membership of the church, that it was deemed expedient to send out a colony.
Accordingly Clear Creek church was constituted, while the revival yet prevailed.
Lewis Craig was chosen pastor of South Elkhorn church, at the time of its constitution, and under his ministry, it continued to
prosper, till about 1792, when he resigned, and moved to Bracken county, recommending John Shackleford as his successor. Mr. Shackleford was
immediately called to fill the position. Under his ministry the church continued to enjoy great prosperity, about thirty years. During this
period many extensive revivals occurred in the church, in one of which 309 were baptized for its fellowship, during the year 1801. Again about
the year 1817, near 200 were added to it, during one winter. A few years after this, the buddings of Campbellism began to appear in the church,
and soon produced a schism. The majority was ministered to by the two Creaths, who ultimately led it off with the Campbellite schism. The
minority continued under the care of the old pastor, till his death, in 1829. After this, it gradually diminished, till it became extinct.
From this fruitful nursery, went out many colonies to form other churches which are still large and flourishing bodies. But old
South Elkhorn, "in a manner the mother of all the churches north of Kentucky River," and owner of the first house of worship in that
extensive territory, was long since dissolved. Yet will she be remembered, and her name will be venerated as long as the Baptists of
Kentucky shall preserve their history. Another church has risen near her ancient site, and taken her venerated name.
JOHN SHACKLEFORD was born in Caroline county, Va. in 1750. He commenced his ministry at about the age of 22 years, and was a zealous laborer in the Vineyard of the Lord, about six years, before he was ordained. During this period he was honored with a term in Essex county jail. Of this affair, Mr. Semple gives the following account:
"On March 13, 1774, the day on which Piscataway church was constituted, a warrant was issued to apprehend all the Baptist preachers that were at meeting. Accordingly, John Waller, John Shackleford, Robert Ware and Ivison Lewis were taken and carried before a magistrate. Ivison
Lewis was dismissed, not having preached in the county; the other three were sent to prison. It appears from Mr. Waller's journals, which we have before us, that while in prison, God permitted them to pass through divers fiery trials; their minds, for a season, being greatly harrassed by the enemy of souls. They however, from first to last of their imprisonment, preached twice a week, gave much godly advice to such as came to visit them, read a great deal, and prayed almost without ceasing. In their stated devotion, morning, noon and night, they were
often joined by others. They continued in close confinement from the 13th to the 21st of March, which was court day; being brought to trial,
they were required to give bond and security for their good behavior for twelve months, or go back to prison. Ware and Shackleford gave bond and
went home; Waller being always doubtful of the propriety of giving any bond whatever, determined to go back to jail." Mr. Waller remained in
jail fourteen days longer, and was then released.
Soon after this imprisonment, Mr. Shackleford was ordained to the care of a small church which had been gathered by Lewis Craig,
under the name of Tuckahoe, in Caroline county. In 1788, this church "had a revival. It was a memorable time indeed," says Mr. Semple, "not
only in this church, but almost throughout the state of Virginia. In the course of this divine season, Mr. Shackleford baptized about three
hundred." In addition to his pastoral work, he labored much, according to the custom of the time, among the destitute, and, like other Baptist
preachers at that period, endured much persecution. In 1792 Mr. Shackleford moved to Kentucky, just at the time Mr. Craig resigned the
charge of South Elkhorn church, and was immediately called to succeed his early
colaborer and fellow-sufferer. To South Elkorn church he ministered about 37 years, including the most stormy period of the
history of Kentucky Baptists. The first trouble he experienced in his pastoral relation at south Elkhorn grew out of a personal difficulty
between Elijah Craig and Jacob Creath, sr. This contention was long continued, and finally
involved the whole of Elkhorn Association and produced a division in that fraternity. A result of this unfortunate
quarrel was the formation of Licking Association of Particular Baptists. Mr. Shackleford identified himself with the Craig party, and about one-fourth of his church adhered to him, and entered with him into
Licking Association. The majority, under the ministry of the Creaths, ultimately went off with the Campbellites. The minority withered, and
was finally dissolved. The evening of Mr. Shackleford's life was rendered uncomfortable by these painful divisions. But the grace of God,
that, in his youth, supported him in fiery persecutions, also upheld him in his old age; he died in the triumph of the
Christian's hope, in 1829, in his 79th year. He was probably the last of that noble band of
preachers who were confined in Virginia jails for preaching the gospel.
PROVIDENCE church was the third and last to occupy a place on Kentucky soil, in 1783. Like the first Gilberts Creek church, it was organized in Virginia, and moved to Kentucky in a church capacity. The following traditionary account of its origin is from the pen of A.G. Bush, a descendant of Capt. Wm. Bush, and, for many years past, clerk of Providence church: "Daniel Boone, on his second trip to Kentucky, was accompanied by Capt. Wm. Bush of Orange county, Virginia. Capt. Bush on his return, gave such a glowing description of the wilds of Kentucky, that a colony, composed mainly of Baptists, was induced to start to Boonesboro on the Kentucky River. Capt. Bush went forward to locate lands, while the colony was preparing to start. As soon as the preparations were finished, they set out, and proceeded as far as the
Holston, arriving at that point, in December, 1780. Here they received intelligence from Capt. Bush, who was then in the fort, not to proceed
any farther, as the Indians were very troublesome at that time."
The following extract is copied literally from the Book of Records of Providence church: "A company of Baptists came from the older parts of Virginia to Holston River, in December 1780 . . . . Robert Elkin minister and John Vivian elder, and in January, 1781, they, with other Baptists, formed themselves a body, in order to carry on church discipline, and, in September the 28th, 1781, became constituted by
Lewis Cragg and John Vivian, with the members: to wit" [here follows a list of 42 names.] Robert Elkin who was a minister in the colony on the
Holston, and is spoken of as one of the company of Baptists that came from the older parts of Virginia, seems to have had nothing to do in the
matter. His name does not appear, either as one of the constituting presbytery, or in the list of members that entered into the
constitution. This probably originated from his being a Regular Baptist, while the church was a Separate Baptist organization. This may also
account for the delay in constituting the church. John Vivian was not a minister, but merely an elder, an officer with a very
ill defined office, that some Baptist churches recognized at that period. Lewis Craig, (sometimes improperly spelt Cragg) was at this time, a Separate
Baptist minister, and was now on his journey to Kentucky, as known circumstances sufficiently prove, with the church that settled on
Gilberts Creek, in December of that year.
At what time Robert Elkin united with the church on Holston, or became its pastor, the Record does not state. The church
remained on the Holston "till the first day of September 1783. Then a principle part of the members, with their minister being about to move
to Kentucky, it was agreed they should carry the constitution with them." "And now having arrived in Kentucky, and settling on the south
side of the River," continues the Record "near Craggs station, but, through the badness of the weather and our scattered situation, nothing
of importance was done till April 3rd, 1784." "Through a turn of God's providence, the church chiefly moved to the north side of Kentucky, and,
for the health and prosperity of Zion, we have appointed a church meeting at bro. William
Bush's Nov. 27th [1784.]" This was the first meeting of the church on the North Side of Kentucky
river. Here it
located on a small stream called Howard Creek, in what is now Clark county, and about three miles from Boonesboro"
In 1785, James Quesenberry, an ordained minister from Virginia, joined the church, and in January of the next year, Andrew
Tribble, also a minister from the same State, became one of its members. About this time a Revival commenced in the church, and continued nearly two years. During this period, a considerable number was baptized, of whom were Christopher Harris. Squire Boone, jr. and James Haggard, who became preachers. In 1787, the church entered into the constitution of South Kentucky Association. In 1790, another Revival visited the church, and many were baptized, among whom was Edward Kindred, who became a good preacher. The church had now become quite large. But during this year a
difficulty between Robert Elkin and Andrew Tribble caused a division in the body. By the advice of Elders John Bailey, Joseph and William
Bledsoe and others, the Elkin party retained the church constitution but changed its name from Howards Creek to Providence; while the Tribble
party was constituted under the style of Unity church. The two churches agreed to live in fellowship. After the division, Providence
church continued to prosper, under the care of Mr. Elkin, till 1822, when the faithful old shepherd was called to his final reward. Since that time
the church seems never to have been able to obtain and retain a suitable pastor; for, between 1822 and 1876, it made no less than nineteen pastoral changes. But despite this unfavorable circumstance, it has been a prosperous body during its entire history, and is now a leading member of Boones Creek Association. It continued a Separate Baptist church till 1801, when the terms of general union between the Regulars and Separates
were ratified at its house of worship. After that it belonged to the old North District confederacy for a number of years, and finally united with Boones Creek Association. Many prominent citizen of the county have been among its members, and most of the Bushes, Haggards, Quesenberrys
and Elkins, in the state, and multitudes of them in the great West, are descendants of the fathers of this famous old church.
ROBERT ELKINS, the first pastor of Providence church, was the first minister that settled in what is now Clark county. Of his
early life little is known, except that he was born and raised in Virginia, and was "born again" at a place called Cheeks Cross-roads. He
came with a colony from the older settlements of Virginia to that on Holston river, in 1780, and appears to have been the only preacher at
the latter place, at that period. Here a church was constituted, in 1781, and he became its pastor. Two years later he came with his church
to Kentucky, and, in 1784, settled in Clark county, where he continued to minister to Providence church till a short time before his death,
which occurred in March, 1822. He was regarded a good, plain, solid preacher and an excellent disciplinarian. Most of his ministerial labors
were devoted to his pastoral charge, and, hence he did not acquire the reputation of being a "traveling preacher." This may have been caused by
the fact that "he was twice married, and raised twenty-two children, most of whom raised large families in turn."
[John Henderson Spencer, A History of Kentucky Baptists, 1885; rpt.
CHR&A, 1984.]
----------------
***
KENTUCKY PENSION ROLL OF 1835 listed the following:
FRANCIS RAMSAY
ROCK CASTLE COUNTY
DRAGOON
LEE'S LEGION
$100.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$900.00 AMOUNT RECEIVED
DECEMBER 24, 1830 PENSION STARTED
THOMAS RAMSAY
GARRARD COUNTY
PRIVATE
VIRGINIA LINE
$96.00 ANNUAL ALLOWANCE
$843.09 AMOUNT RECEIVED
FEBRUARY 6, 1819 PENSION STARTED
AGE 77
SUSPENDED MAY 1, 1820
RESTORED JANUARY 29, 1825
***
Marianne Lamken, a Ramsey family researcher, received the following from the Garrard County Historical Society:
“Satisfactory proof has this day made in open Court by the Oaths of James Slegon and William F. Pearl, that Thomas Ramsey late a private in the Army of the Revolution departed this life on the fifth day of June 1843, and that the said Thomas Ramsey was the
identical person named in an original Certificate now here shown to the Court of the date this 6th day of February one thousand Eight Hundred and nineteen and signed by F. C. Calhoun Secretary of war granting to the said Thomas Ramsey Eight Dollars per month, to commence on the thirteenth day of June one thousand Eight Hundred and Eighteen and numbered 6527 and it was further proved to the satisfaction of the Court that the decedent left no widow at his death and that Obed Ramsey, James Ramsey,
Alexander Ramsey, Thomas Ramsey, Frank Ramsey, Elizabeth Vaught, and Patsey Taylor are his heirs at Law.”
Copy from Garrard County Order Book #21, page 185, September County Court, 1843
***
Summary of Thomas Ramsey
Revolutionary War Pension Files Submitted
by Joe W. Hardiman to rootsweb.com/~kyrockcastle
June 1818 - Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky
Benjamin LECHER, Clerk, records the pension petition request of Thomas RAMSEY.
(Petition is missing from file.)
July 30, 1818 - Garrard County, Kentucky
Thomas RAMSEY signs a statement appointing the Honorable George ROBERTSON, a
member of congress, as his attorney for matters regarding his Revolutionary War
pension.
November 25, 1818 - Garrard County, Kentucky
Thomas RAMSEY appeared in open court before William L KELLEY. Thomas stated that
he engaged in the Second Virginia Regiment in 1775 and was regularly discharged
after his term of two years. Soon after a man came into the neighborhood who was
supposed to be a deserter was exhibiting a paper, which he called a discharge.
Some of the neighbors obtained Thomas Ramsey’s discharge to compare it with
the paper held by the man aforesaid. Thomas never saw his discharge again.
Thomas states that he is in low circumstances and stands in need of the aid and
assistance of his country
Larkin RAMSEY deposed that Thomas RAMSEY is a relation of his and that he knows
of his own personal knowledge that Thomas was absent from his usual place of
residence for about two years and that he heard the officers of the army speak
of service of Thomas RAMSEY in terms of high respect and commendation. He
further stated that he has no doubt Thomas Received his discharge as he heard
Capt GARRIT speak of him in favorable terms.
Francis RAMSEY of Rockcastle County states that he saw his brother Thomas during
the time he served in the army and he had his regimental clothes on and he has
heard his brother officers and soldiers converse with in relation to their
services. He also states that he saw the discharge give to his brother.
William L KELLY, signs a statement that Thomas RAMSEY appeared before him in
open court and certifies that the statements made are true. The said RAMSEY is
in reduced circumstances.
December 7, 1818 - Lancaster, Garrard County, Kentucky
Benjamin LECHER, Clerk of Court, attests to the signature of Judge William L
KELLY on the documents for Thomas RAMSEY.
February 6, 1819 - Washington D.C.
Certificate # 6527 issued for Thomas RAMSEY for Revolutionary War Service
Pension. Amount of pension to be 9 dollars per month to commence on 30 June
1818. Arrears of 17.33 and pension received up to 4 March 1819 $48.00.Total
received $65.33
April 21, 1820 - Lancaster, Garrard, Kentucky
George ROBERTSON signs a statement for Thomas RAMSEY #6,527 an open court
appearance was recorded.
August 21, 1820 - Garrard County, Kentucky Court
Thomas RAMSEY appeared in open court stating that he had enlisted for two years
in Essex County Virginia Under Lt James RAPSHA on the 15th day of February 1776
in the company of infantry commanded by Captain Samuel HAWES attached to the
regiment commanded by Alexander SPOTSWOOD. He received his discharge at Valley
Forge the 15th of February 1778.He was in the battles of Brandywine and
Germantown. He also swears that he has not nor has any person for him entrust
any property nor have any income other than in the following schedule:
Sixty One acres of land worth $5.00/acre$300
Two horses worth fifty Dollars
50 Two cows and six head of cattle
50head of sheep
14 head of hogs
Household and kitchen furniture
Amounting in the whole to$430
The said RAMSEY is by profession a tillar of the land. He is about 63 or 64
years of age. He is infirm. His wife 64 years of age infirm. He has living with
him 2 daughters one aged 23 the 10th day of next January, health and
industrious. The other was aged 18 years the 4th day of last April. She is
becoming infirm and affords no assistance to the family. He has five
sons all of whom are married and long since left him.
August 23, 1820 - Garrard County, Kentucky
Benjamin LECHER signs a statement that it is the opinion of the court that
Thomas RAMSEY has a total worth of $430.
November 2, 1820 - Lancaster, Garrard, Kentucky
George ROBERTSON signature on document also dated April 21, 1820 "Struck
off". Does this mean that this is the date Thomas RAMSEY lost his pension?
January 29, 1827
M H LETCHER letter to pension board regarding land value for Thomas RAMSEY. The
valuation of the 63 acres of land and the last schedule made on September 21,
1820.The price of land in Kentucky has fallen very greatly and in addition there
is little or no timber now left and the land is of much less value.
August 15, 1836 - Garrard County, Kentucky
Thomas RAMSEY appears in court in an attempt to recover the Revolutionary War
Pension which was suspended because of his property. (The total value of his
property does not balance with the line items.)
61 1/4 acres at $1.50 per acre $92.132
One horse 12.00
Four head of cattle 16.00
Twenty head of swine 15.00
Household furniture 5.00
Farming utensils 3.00
150 acres of poor land in Pulaski Cty 18.064 valued at 12 1/2 cents per acre
Twelve head of sheep 6.00
Total value of property $169.09
Thomas states that he is a farmer but not at present by age and he is afflicted
vary able to do much hard work and that his wife aged 72 is in bad health and
not much assistance. He has a sickly granddaughter living with him aged 19
unable to work. He owes:
Samuel Quileir $16.50 for ??? for my family
Gent Fauchuer $5.00 for ??? of a mare
??? Cooke he owes $2.00 for ????
Dr Mason $2.00 for medical services
He has in money $2.00 which he received for chickens
and due him 12 1/2cents for eggs, and no one else owes him anything.
The following changes have been made in his property:
I have lost three mares by dying
The yellow horse I gave in exchange for the Pulaski Land mentioned above which I
have offered for sale at 12 1/2 cents per acre and am unable to get and which is
not worth more according to valuation
The other yellow horse sold to Peter Fauchuer for $42 commonwealth paper equal
to $22.50 to enable him to pay of the doctor bill and to get ???
The court rendered an opinion that the total value of property for Thomas Ramsey
is $169.09
[Note: The above date is incorrect. This
material is found on pages 55, 56, and 57 of the Garrard County Order Book and
is dated July 17, 1826. Thomas gives his age as 69 or 70 and his wife as 72. The
sickly grand daughter is described as an orphan.]
1836 -1837 -1838 -Washington D.C. notes from Pension File
Thomas Ramsey’s pension was suspended for about 7 or 8 or more years. There
are a series of letters regarding this suspension, but none of them originating
from Washington are in the files at the National Archives. There is a note that
his pension was restored and to commence 29 January 1827.Notification letter was
sent on same day to Hon R.P.LACHER, House of Representatives. A letter was sent
to Hon J HARLAN, House of Representatives, on Dec 19, 1836. Copies of papers
were sent to Hon B STOREY January 7 1837, and Hon B HAWK January 19, 1837.
Letters were sent to HON J HARLAN and Hon J EWING May 12, 1838. A letter to T
RAMSEY August 21, 1844. May 20, 1852 a letter to A. SMITH. Oct 30 1855 a letter
to Frank VERNON.
December 13, 1836
J HARLAN, House of Representatives, letter to pension office in Washington DC
requesting information regarding Thomas RAMSEY referred through letter of Mr.
ANDUFON.
January 27, 1838
J HARLAN, House of Representatives, letter to pension office requesting seeking
information in regards to the suspension of the pension of Thomas RAMSEY as
referred in a letter by Mr. WHITE.
August 11, 1844 - Mt Vernon, Kentucky
Thomas RAMSEY Jr. letter to pension office in Washington D.C. requesting the
amount of the pension of his father, Thomas RAMSEY, of Garrard County, Ky. He
also requested the reason that his father's Revolutionary War Pension had been
suspended for 7 or 8 years (or more) before he had died.
October 25, 1849 - Mt Vernon, Kentucky
Thomas RAMSEY Jr. letter to pension office in Washington D.C. regarding his
father, Thomas RAMSEY, of Garrard County Kentucky. Thomas Jr. is requesting the
pension office to look at the original papers submitted by his father. Thomas
Jr. wants to know the amount paid his father, when he was drafted, how many
enlistments, and was his father entitled to land as a result of his service. Did
his father draw money instead of land in 1780?Thomas RAMSEY Sr. died six years
last August (Aug 1843).
October 25, 1855 - Mt Vernon, Kentucky
Frank RAMSEY letter to pension board requesting reason his father, Thomas RAMSEY
of Garrard County Kentucky, was suspended from the Revolutionary War Pension
roles.
July 6, 1925 - Indianapolis, Indiana (Denison Hotel)
Mrs. Archibald W HALL letter to pension office requesting war record and family
data of Thomas RAMSEY of Garrard County Kentucky.
August 19, 1925 - Washington D.C.
Winfield SCOTT Commissioner of Rev 1812 Wars Section letter to Mrs. Archibald W
HALL. Letter states that Thomas RAMSEY, claim S35604, enlisted in Essex County,
Virginia in February 1776 in Captain Samuel HAWES' Company, Colonel Alexander
Spotswood’s Virginia Regiment, and served two years as private; he was in the
battles of Brandywine and Germantown. Thomas RAMSEY was allowed a pension on his
application executed in June 1818 at which time he was about 60 years of age and
a resident of Garrard County, Kentucky. In 1820 he referred to his wife, aged
sixty-four years, and two daughters, one born January 10, 1798, and the other
born April 4, 1802, and five sons, no names stated. In 1826 he referred to his
grandchild, an orphan girl about nineteen years of age, her name not stated.
***
U.S. House of Representative Private Claims, Vol. 3
Name Nature of Claim Congress Session Manner Brought Journal Page Referred to Committee Date Report Bill House Disposed Senate Disposed Congress Date Comments
Thomas Ramsey Arrearages of revolutionary pension 24 2 Petition 126 Rev. Pensions Disch'd; laid on table
Thomas Ramsey Arrearages of revolutionary pension 25 2 Resolution 671 Rev. Pensions
Thomas Ramsey Arrearages of revolutionary pension 26 1 Petition 174 Rev. Pensions Discharged; laid on table
Thomas Ramsey, heirs of Arrears of pension 28 2 Petition 206 Rev. Pensions
***
“Rockcastle Roots” (August 1992) is the second part of
John Lair’s “Rockcastle Recollections.” The first volume was a history of
Rockcastle County, Kentucky. This volume covers the history of individual Rockcastle
County families. Some of our families are included:
RAMSEY
Page 123
Page 124
Page 125
Page 126
***
Descendents of Thomas Ramsey
***
Click here to return to Alexander Ramsey
Click here to return to James Holman
Click here to return to Claudia Lung Carson
Click here to return to Judge John Evans Carson
Click here to return to Joseph Carson, born 1777
Click here to return to David Carson, born 1741
Click here to return to WAM Founders home page
Click here to return to Nose4BS.com home page
Copyright © 2000, Nose4BS.com All Rights Reserved.
Copying or Publishing this information strictly prohibited without written permission from the author.