John Ramsey only showed up in the 1790 census of Anson County. He recieved a Grant on Lane's Creek in 1774 and between those two dates, he was mentioned in several land transactions.
He did not show up in the 1799 petition of the residents of Anson County or the 1800 census of Anson County.
My ancestor, Starkey aka "Stark" Ramsey shows up for the first time in the 1800 census and in every census between there and 1850, his last. He recieved a Land Grant in 1803, "bordering John Ramsey and Abercrombie". It is very likely that John Ramsey and Stark Ramsey were related.
But Stark was not the only Ramsey to show up in the 1800 census. There was one other.
Samuel Ramsey also shows up in the 1800 census, near Stark Ramsey, and living in the same neighborhood, among the names listed as bordering the property of John Ramsey, or in whose land transactions Stark served as a witness.
This list is a bit difficult to read, especially at this size, so I will transcribe.
Thomas Stone Charles Ferrell Edward Winfield * This is my 5th Great Uncle Edward Winfield, Esquire, for whom the Winfield Road in Stanly and Anson was named. He is mentioned in several deeds that his property bordered with that of John Ramsey. Mathew Turner Everhart Verhine *This is the poor man whose name was spelled a gazillion different ways, He is also mentioned in deeds involving John Ramsey. Avery Lucky John Stone Reuben Hildreth * Starkey Ramsey witnesses the 1797 deed from Elijah Hogan to Reuben Hildreth, or Heldrith, of Montgomery County. Elijah Hogan moved to Georgia. He was a son of James Hogan of Anson. Others of his family moved to Giles County, Tennesee. Samuel Ramsey **** Jeptha Morris Thomas Threadgill Griffin Nash * Griffin was a son-in-law of my ancestor Peter Winfield and also my 5th Great Granduncle by marriage. His name appears in multiple deeds with land joining that of John Ramsey. He was a brother-in-law of the above mentioned Edward Winfield. When his first wife, Jemima Ramsey died, he married a daughter of Phillip Lynch, another neighbor. His children, over half of them, would migrate at various times to Mississippi, Missourit, Arkansas and on to Texas. Ephriam Adkins Hugh Ross * There were multiple Hugh's. Not sure if this was Jr. or Sr. Hugh Ross is also mentioned in deeds bordering John Ramsey. Hugh Ross originated in Mecklenburg County, Virginia along with my Davis, Winfield, Freeman and Marshall ancestors and sold the property in Anson to Peter Winfield. John Hicks Uriah Tison * Also appears in deeds of land bordering John Ramsey Nathan Morris * Starkey Ramsey witnesses the 1800 deed of Nathan Morris to John McDaniel. Edward Freeman * A nephew of Charlotte Freeman Winfield and cousin of Edward Winfield William H. Davidson Whitwell Ryal Cason Harrell Jacob Tison John Watson George Threadgill
This is the age and gender breakdown of the Samuel Ramsey household in 1800.
Name:
Samuel Ramsey
Home in 1800 (City, County, State):
Fayetteville, Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males -10 thru 15:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 thru 25:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 45 and over:
1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 10:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 16 thru 25:
1
Free White Persons - Females - 45 and over:
1
Number of Household Members Under 16:
2
Number of Household Members Over 25:
2
Number of Household Members:
6
The persons enumerated in Samuel Ramsey's household were as follows:
A male and female over 45. A male 16 to 25, a male 10 to 15
A female 16 to 25 and a female 10 to 15.
Was Samuel over 45, or could he have been the male 16 to 25? Could the older couple be his parents and the younger two teenagers be his siblings and the young woman be his wife?
The only other trace of Samuel Ramsey in Anson County is the 1799 Petition to the Assembly by the citizens of "Upper Anson".
In the third section, Samuel Ramsey is listed next to my ancestor, Peter Winfield, who died in 1803, David Helms and Darling Allen.
In the last section, Stark Ramsey is listed near Davis Yarbrough and Robertson Pistole, his 1850 Burnsville Township neighbor.
These are the only two mentions of Samuel Ramsey (the first) in Anson County. Due to the proximity, he was very likely a relative of John Ramsey and Starkey Ramsey.
During the early part of the 1800's, there was a mass migration from there to Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and even Indiana and areas further west as those areas opened up. Could Samuel Ramsey have been one of those individuals? Most likely. So I decided to look to see where there were Samuel Ramsey's in 1810.
There were actually 11! There was a Samuel over 45 in Burke County, North Carolina. There was a Samuel Ramsey in Abbeville District, South Carolina with a very large family and 13 slaves. This was very likely not our Samuel as the ones in Anson never owned slaves. There were Samuel's in New Hamphire, New York and Pennsylvania. These 3 were also not likely to be our Samuel as migrations tended to be south and west. Not impossible, but not very likely. There was one in Augusta, Virgina, an area I see a great deal in the trees of Ramsey family dna matches, but this one is only between 16 and 25, a young man just getting started. Too young to be our Samuel in Anson 10 years prior. There are two other Samuel's in Virginia, one in Rockbridge and another in Brooke. Not impossible, but also not likely. Those are two counties I've never seen Ansonites heading to or really, never from. There's a Samuel in Kentucky. Possible, but most families who migrated to Kentucky came from Virginia or Pennsylvania, not North Carolina. Then there is a Samuel in Nashville, Rutherford, Tennessee. The most likely candidates to be the Anson Samuel would be the one in Tennessee, or the one in Burke. There was also a Richard Ramsey in Burke.
Richard Ramsey does not appear in any census or petition of Anson County. He only witnesses three deeds.
The first is in September of 1788 Joshua Davis and wife Hannah of Anson to James Marshall of the same, 65 acres on the southside of the Rocky River beginning at the upper corner of the plantation, near the mouth of a small branch, being a corner of an old grant and above the mouth of the Spring Branch. Signed by Joshua and Hannah Davis and witnessesed by Drury Robertson and Nathaniel Robertson, along with Richard Ramsey.
It must be noted that in other deeds, the land of Joshua Davis bordered that of Phillip Lynch, Griffin Nash and Edward Winfield. As did that of John Ramsey. It is also worthy to note that Drury and Nathaniel Robertson were part of the Southside Virginia party who had migrated to Anson just a few years before with Peter Winfield and his inlaws, and the Marshall family.
The second deed, dated January 17, 1793 was between James Fletcher and James McIlvale (of Montgomery and Anson to Griffin Nash of Anson, a tract of land that began near a pole near Ross'es line (no doubt Hugh Ross), joins Camp Branch and Marks Branch (the name of this branch intriques me because of my Marks ancestry, where did it get that name?). It was signed James Fletcher and James McIlvale with Rufus Johnson and Edward Winfield as witnesses.
In April of 1794, James McIlvale was the fellow who would sell 150 acres on Little Creek to John Ramsey. And of course, again, the properties of Griffin Nash and Edward Winfield adjoined that of John Ramsey
October 16, 1792 William Davenport, planter, of Anson to Joshua Williams, esquire (meaning these two were men of substance) 100 acrea on Lanes Creek near a drain of Clemons branch and being near Joshua Williams line and joins the drain of Cedar branch. Signed by William Davenport, with John Broadway and Richard Ramsey as witnesses.
The Broadway family also occupied this area and lived near Stark Ramsey.
In 1793 John Ricketts of Anson sold to John Preslar of Anson 100 acres that begin near Isham O'Neal's line and joined Preslar's path and included an old improvement that was granted to Anthony Preslar in 1790. It was signed by John Ricketts and witnessed by Joshua William, from the last deed, and Richard Ramsey.
And this is the last mention of Richard Ramsey. He either passed away or migrated away before the 1799 petition and 1800 census. Most likely, he migrated. Was he the Richard Ramsey in Burke?
A quick look shows that Richard Ramsey was in Burke County in the 1790, 1800 and 1810 census of Burke County.
Research can be a tedious process of looking first at the most likely scenarios, and through the proces of elimination, whittling those scenarios and individuals down, until you are left with the most probable possibilities, and then you have to dig in those areas for documentation and proof. It could be a biography of their children or grandchildren, documents or letters kept by descendants of migrant kin that documents their origins; involvement of known neighbors who appeared to stay connected during their travels that link back to the place of origin. Sometimes, it was just too long ago to find any concrete evidence that would be considered proof for SAR or DAR membership, but it could possibly be enough, that you know in your heart, that this person was the one you were looking for.
Speaking of...there is a John Ramsey in 1800 in Richmond County, North Carolina. Oh, just beyong Anson, joining Montgomery and Anson...Could this be the John I was looking for? Could the Ramsey be like the Maskes and Christians and Robertson and countless others with plantations and property all up and down the Pee Dee River?
I came across John Ramsey, originally, in the land grand of Starkey Ramsey, my Fifth Great Grandfather, and one of my brick walls. Their land was side by side. This fact, leads me to believe, leads me to hope, that they were related, and maybe finding John will help me discover something out about Stark's origins.
Another hint in this very deed is the name Abercrombie. I knew who that was. I've run across him before. Stark lived in an area with a grouping of my ancestors on the south side of the Rocky River.
I am referring to John as "The First" because he lived in Anson County decades before Stark Ramsey's son John was born.
Name:
John Ramsey
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:
1
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:
3
Free White Persons - Females:
2
Number of Household Members:
6
In 1790, two John Ramsey's actually show up in the Anson County census. This first John Ramsey has a household of 6, Three males over 16, one under, and 2 females in the household, which doesn't tell us a great deal. He was enumerated near Edward Winfield, Drury Robertson and Richard Meanly, who are in my family tree, and which does give me a bit of information. These three all came from Southside Virginia and are related to me through my Winfied/Davis/Freeman lines.
Name:
John Ramsey
Home in 1790 (City, County, State):
Anson, North Carolina
Free White Persons - Males - Under 16:
2
Free White Persons - Males - 16 and over:
2
Free White Persons - Females:
2
Number of Household Members:
6
The other John Ramsey entry has him right next to Phillip Lynch and near Caleb Aldridge. Phillip Lynch was a next door neighbor of whom else, but old Uncle Edward Winfield, esquire. Caleb Aldridge Sr. was also a 5th Great Grandfather of mine. Phillip Lynch also comes into play in my Davis research. This John Ramsey also has six people, 4 males and 2 females. The only difference is that there are two under 16 instead of one.
This page was enumerated by Guilford Dudley. The first one was also covered by Mr. Guilford Dudley, so they were in the same district. It is my belief that this was one and the same family. I've seen this happen several times. Some people were enumerated twice, others were left out entirely on some cenuses. There must have been one teenaged boy who was not quite 16 the first time Mr. Dudley wandered through and by the time Dudley wandered through again, he had turned 16.
There are a couple of facts that add to the mystery of John Ramsey.
1) He only appears in the 1790 census.
2) He does not appear in the 1800 census, although Stark's 1803 Land Grant mentions that his grant borders the property of John Ramsey.
3) Stark Ramsey is the only Ramsey in the 1815 Tax Listing of Anson County.
4) Only Stark appears in the 1800, 1810, and 1820 census records of Anson County. Only Stark and his sons appear in 1830 and 1840.
Land records:
In the old Anson land records involving Stark Ramsey, it mentions "Spencer's Path". It also mentions among his neighbors, "Verhine", Isaac Ambercrombie, Broadway and Edward Winfield. Edward Winfield is a 6th Great Uncle of mine. Researching the Davis and Winfield families, I became a little familiar with the area in which they, and Stark Ramsey, lived.
Peter Winfield, father of Edward, arrived in Anson from Mecklenburg County, Virgina about 1784. He was married to Charlotte Freeman, daughter of Arthur Freeman and Agnes Stokes. They did not traverl alone. With them were Drury Robinson and his sons Drury Jr. and James, who had married nieces of Peter Winfield, Richard Meanly, who had married Charlotte's sister Keziah, and several others of Charlotte's Freeman and Stokes relatives, including her brother Henry. Several of the younger generation, including Drury Sr's sons and Peter's nephews Joel and John Winfield would later move to Marlboro County, SC. Several other members of the party, including Richard Meanly and his children, would move with Howells, Hogan's, Ropers, Randalls and Kendalls, their Anson neighbors, to Tennessee. Peter had bought his land in Anson from Hugh Ross, who also orginatied from the same area of Virginia. Seeing these names repeated helps put things into perspective.
April 7, 1787 Hugh Ross Sr., taylor from Anson to Peter Winfield of Anson, 200 acres on south side of Rocky river of Pee Dee River, begins at John Spencer's third corner hickory........joins Hogan & Preslar. Signed Hugh Ross; Witnesses John Lilly, Richard Randle and Donald Ross.
John Lilly also witnessed a deed with Starky Ramsey. The Spencer's path mentioned in Stark's record was a path, no doubt used by John Spencer.
1786 Deed from Richard Yarbrough to Richard Meanly, 200 acres on the South Side of Lane's creek, begins at Robert Lee deceased's corner red oak....Humphrey Yarbrough's old survey, and joins John Ramsey's beginning. (signed Richard Yarbrough: witness Daniel Young, William Davenport & "Namling" Freeman Manly 1787. This was Hamlin Freeman Manly, one of the Freeman- Manly (Meanley) relatives and a nephew of Charlotte Freeman Winfield.
Sept 19, 1788 Joshua Davis and wife Hannah of Anson to James Marshall of Anson, 65 acres on the south side of Rocky River, begins at the upper corner of the plantation near the mouth of a small branch beginning at a corner of an old grant and above the mouth of the spring branch. Signed Joshua Davis and Hannah Davis. Witnesses by Drury Robinson, Richard Ramsey, & Nathaniel Robinson.
Joshua and Hannah Davis's land also bordered Phillip Lynch's property. Lynch's property would also border Stark Ramsey's property. James Marshall was Peter Winfield's close friend and also among the party that migrated from Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Here are witnesses the Robinsons, who were also members of the Winfield-Freeman party. And there is a Richard Ramsey. How was Richard Ramsey connected to John and Starky, or was he? Where was he from? Where did he go?
Jan 1 1790 Nathan Dabbs (Anson) to George William Ramsey from Chatham County. 200 acres on Southside of PeeDee River. Begins at Thomas Lacy's corner stake on East side of William's Creek. Granted Dec 4 1770 to James Webb. Signed Nathaniel Dabbs, Witnesses William Richardson & Lewis Lanier.
This deed involved an entirely different group of people in an entirely different area of the county. Whether or not Stark was any relation to the Chatham County Ramsey's remains to be seen.
Sept 29, 1792 William Davenport of Anson to Robert Lee of Anson: 60 acres on both sides of Lane's Creek. Begins at John Ramsey's beginning corner, North side of the creek, joins Robert Lee.
Signed William Davenport and Aggee Davenport. Witnesses: James Lee and John Lee.
Settled on Lane's Creek
Nov 27, 1793 Joel Yarbrough (Anson) to Darling Allen of Virginia, 180 acres on the North side of Lane's Creek. Border begins on the creek where John Ramsey's upper line crosses the creek, joins a new line made by Humphrey Yarbrough & Daniel Young, North side of Irish Path, the Patent line, Meadow Branch and Persimmon Branch. Includes the land Daniel Young purchased of Humphrey Yarbrough and land in John Ramsey's grant that's on the North Side of Lanes's Creek. Signed Joel Yarbrough. Witnesses James Marshall, Charles Ferrell and Henry Marshall.
There's no doubt all of these Yarbrough's are related. And Darling Allen was from the same part of Virginia as the previously mentioned Ramsey, Robinson, Marshalls, Freemans and etc. He did come to Anson and there were Darling Allen's in Anson and Stanly for decades after.
I have not found a deed for John Ramsey on Lane's Creek. I wonder if it was obtained before Anson was Anson?
April 12, 1794 James McIlvale of Anson to John Ramsey of Anson, 150 acres, begins at a poplar on NE side of Little Creek, Granted 1783. Signed James McIlvale, Witnesses: James Marshall, Arthur Davis, Edward Winfield.
May 14, 1794 John Auld of Anson to James Campbell of same: 823 acres sold by Alexander Graham and William Cox to John Auld. Witnesses: Mathew Ramsey, Rodrick McLeod and Farquhard Campbell.
Can you get any more Scottish than that last name? Mathew Ramsey was also from Chatham County.
April 1, 1796 William Ramsey of Chatham County to Joseph Rosser of Anson County, 200 acres of South side of Pee Dee River, begins at Joseph Rosser's corner, on Williams or Little Brown Creek, east of the creek, Granted in 1770 to James Webb. Signed William Ramsey. Witness William May and Thomas Lewis.
* Note, Little Creek is a branch of Little Brown Creek. This indicates Williams Creeka nd Little Brown Creek were the same body of water.
March 6, 1799 John Sandefur, exector of Joh Mcgregor deceased, to James Marshall, Power of Attorney to recover all money due to me & sue for a Negro boy called Howell in possession of Mary McGregor or detained from me. Signed John Sandefur of John McGrigor. Witnesses: John Ramsey and Isaac AberCrombie.
Isaac Abercrombie has a book about his family
This is not the only time the AberCrombie name is seen in conjunction with John Ramsey. This also shows he was physically in Anson County signing a statement in 1799.
1804 Isaac Cooper 100 acres grant. On Little Bear Creek where Ramsey's Path crosses and on both sides in a long square, West side of Yadkin River & both sides of Little Bear Creek. Witnesses James Carter and Isaac Burleson.
This deed appears to me to be in modern Stanly County, even though this area was part of Montgomery by 1804, not Anson. West Yadkin is the Stanly half of Montgomery. Little Bear Creek is in Stanly. Isaac Burleson settled in Stanly. If anyone knows any different, please let me know.
Nov 1, 1806 John Ramsey of Anson County to Charles Coppedge of same 135 acres, begins at a Poplar on NE side of Little Creek & crosses the creek. Granted 1783. Signed John Ramsey, Enert "Rerhijen" (Verhine), Anne Brewer and D. King.
With this deed, and from here, it becomes really confusing. John Ramsey does not show up in the 1800 census or any others from then on. Just 1790. He does not show up in the 1815 Tax List of Anson County. If he owned land, which he obviously did, he should be in the Tax List.
Cememtery at Concord Baptist Church in Anson County where Griffin Nash and others are buried.
Dec 16, 1806 Gov. Nathaniel Alexander of Raleigh, NC to Solomon Cahoon, Grant 1987 100 acres granted. 69 acres on the waters of Rocky River, begins at his second corner stak, joins Morris, Phillip Lynch, branch & Ramsey. Nat Alexander and Will White, secretary.
* Phillip Lynch....remember that name.
Nov 2, 1807 William Lanier of Anson to Edward Winfield of Anson 350 acres in 4 tracts: 100 acre border begins at a white oak at mouth of a gut on South side of Lane's creek, joins Robet Lee's back line; part of a grant to Robert Lee and willed to John Lee; 100 acres on the South side of Lane's Creek, begins at Richard Yarbrough's corner pine & joins Robert Lee; 50 acres border, begins at Robert Lee deceased's second corner, joins Humphrey Yarbrough's old survery on "the" creek & John Ramsey's beginning. & 100 acres border begins at his old corner stake and joins EdwardWinfield. Signed William Lanier, Witnesss: Frederick Staton, Robert Lee & Frances Lee (female).
1815 Isaac Abercrombie, Edward Winfield, C Coppedge, John Grady & Josiah Allen, commissioners appointed by Anson Co court to divide real estate of Phillip Lynch, deceased: 1 lot about 50 acres to Nancy Lynch, border joins Job Davis & Thomas Avett (Note 1). Lot 2 about 50 acres to Sally Cawton, joins Griffin Nash & Thomas Avett (Note 2). Lot 3 250 acres to Green Lynch joins Griffin Nash & Varhaian (Note 3). Lot 4 100 acres to Caty Lynch, joins Isaac Abercrombie called "Sanders old field"( *Note 4). Lot 5, 36 acres to John Lynch, joins William Marshall and Rocky River. Lot 6, 48 acres to Betsy Lynch, joins Rocky River. Elizabeth Lynch and John Lynch valued at $194. Isaac Abercrombie, Edward Winfield, Charles Coppedge, John Grady & Josiah Allen, July 1816 division returned to court & recorderd Book R, p 279.
The above deed is a genealogy researchers dreams. It names all of the children of Phillip Lynch in one document, in 1815! John Ramsey is not mentioned, but nearly all of his neighbors are, and Charles Coppedge, to whom he sold 135 acres of the 150 acres he had bought from John McIlvale.
Note 1: Previously mentioned in this area bordering Phillip Lynch was Joshua Davis and his wife Hannah. Now it's my ancestor, Job Davis, who this blog is named for. Was there a connection between Joshua Davis and Job Davis? Possibly, I've been looking into it. But Job Davis married Sarah Winfield, daughter of Peter Winfield. Thomas Avett was also a son-in-law of Peter Winfield. He was the second husband of Ancena Winfield. Her first was James Morrison. The first husband of Sarah Winfield was Richard Howell.
Note 2: Griffin Nash was also a son-in-law of Peter Winfield, having married his daughter Jemima Winfield. Here Griffin Nash's property joins that of Thomas Avett and Phillip Lynch. Thomas and Ancena would later migrate to Tennessee. But with the addition of Edward Winfield in the mix, it clearly appears the property of Phillip Lynch adjoined that of what had been the plantation of Peter Winfield, which had been divided between his 4 children: Edward Winfield, Jemima Winfield Nash, Ancena Winfield Morrison Avett and Sarah Winfield Howell Davis.
Note 3: This was Everette, or Ernert Verhine -victim of various spellings, not sure where he came from but they certainly had a hard time with his name.
Noter 4: Sanders old field. This was mentioned in deeds in which Stark Ramsey participated. He had a son named Sanders. Could this name have derived in some way from the Sanders who had owned this field? So many questions. No answers.
Feb 22 1816 Solomon Cahoon of Anson to Godfrey Burnett of same, 3 tracts. 150 acres on both sides of Little Creek, begins at a red oak on the banks of Rocky River and crosses the creek, includes the improvements; 67 acres, border begins at his second corner stake, joins Morrison, Phillip Lynch, a branch & Ramsey; 50 acres, begins at Edward Winfield's corner red oak in Ramsey's line, joins the river & McLendon. signed Solomon Cahoon. Witnesses: Edward Winfield and John Forrest.
Recall Morrison was the name of Ancena Winfield's firs husband, and she had already remarried Thomas Avett by this time, so this may have been her son's property. Edward Winfield's property obviously bordered "Ramsey's". John Ramsey is the name mentioned in these properties, but Stark Ramsey is the only Ramsey showing up on tax lists and in census records by this time.
March 12, 1822 John Watson of Marlborough District, SC to Burwell Braswell of Anson, 100 acres on the East side of Little Creek, begins at John Ramsey's corner post oak, joins 'A crombie' & Lynch' except the exclusive right of the Watson family using water out of a certain spring on said land' granted Dec 19, 1803 to John Watson. Witnesses: Armistead Lilly & John Grace.
The land on Little Creek is still being identified as belonging to John Ramsey. A crombie is no doubt Isaac Abercrombie and Lynch, the Lynch family land obviously. This is 1822. Is John dead and the land just stagnantly remaining in his name?
July 11, 1828 Absalom Myers, high sheriff of Anson to William T Caraway of same, 100 acres on the East side of Little Creek. Border begins at John Ramsey's corner post oak, joins Abercrombie & John Ramsey, granted December 19, 1803 (*Note 1) to (Omitted) sold March 10, 1828 due to an execution from Anson County Court against Burrell Braswell for $125 principal & 16.25 interest & $9.55 costs due to suit by John Watson of Anson Co; land sold because no goods or chattels found.
Signed A. Myers, Sheriff. Witnesses: W Hammond and M D Watkins.
Note: This is the date on the Starky Ramsey Grant above.
July 14, 1829 William T. Caraway of Anson to John Beard of same, 10 acres on the East side of Little Creek begins at John Ramsey's post oak, joins "Crumby"; granted Dec 19, 1803 to (omitted). Signed W T Caraway.Witnesses: James Horn and Tom Taylor.
This is the same tract of land he bought a year prior. Could this be Stark Ramsey's 1803 grant?
Nov 16, 1841William Lee Jr. of Anson to Young Allen of same, Lee owes $50 to Joseph Medley by note; to secure payment & for $1 paid in trust (a) 50.75 on waters of Little Creek, Border begins at John Ramsey's corner post oak, joins Abercromby, a road and Bryant Braswell....(names farm animals) Signed Willim Lee, witnessed by Bryant Braswell.
Now, this is beginning to get silly. It's 1841 and John Ramsey has not appeared in a census record since 1790, nor any tax records.
Oct 4, 1842 Griffin Nash of Anson County to John S. Kendall of sam, 200 acres on waters of Austins Branch, begins at said Kendalls corner dead hickory and joins Howell (*Note 1), being lot laid off to Nancy Nash (*Note 2) in division of land of Phillip Lynch deceased. Signed Griffin Nash, Witness: Allen Carpenter & James T. Kendall.
These names are getting very familiar. Griffin Nash was the son-in-law of Peter Winfield. Jemima Winfield Nash had died young.
Note 1 Howell referred to Peter Howell, oldest son of Sarah Winfield and Richard Howell. Job Davis and Sarah Winfield Howell Davis had transferred this land to Peter when he was just a boy.
Note 2 This would be Nancy Lynch in the above Lynch land division. It appears that she was the second wife of Griffin Nash! I never knew he remarried, and I was familiar with Nancy Nash and she and her son George will get posts of their own. She is living next to Stark Ramsey with Benjamin Hutson in Burnsville in the 1850 census. This was not a Ramsey, but Stark lived next to them.
Aug 17. 1842 Joseph White, High Sheriff of Anson County to David C. Lilly of same. 51.75 on waters of Little Creek, begins at John Ramsey's corner post oak, joins Abercrombie, E M Sibley, a road and Bryant Braswelll & William Lee. Signed J White, Sheriff. Witnesses: William Allen and John Rogers.
This is the last deed that mentions John Ramsey.
Odd and odder. Starky Ramsey had 3 Land Grants but never bought or sold land. He only appeared in deeds as a witness.
Then it hit me, What if Stark Ramsey was John Ramsey. What if his name was actually John Starkey Ramsey, and like Griffin Nash, he went by his middle (or less common) name in most records?
Not the original John Ramsey of the late 1700's and the 1790 census. Not the John his land adjoined. But maybe that John Ramsey (his father? his brother?) died or migrated away, and the Ramsey on Little Creek was actually Stark?
I had originally not found John Ramsey's Grant, but in a book on Anson County records I found a list of Anson Grants.
John Ramsey, Grant #3633 - 25 July 1774 - Lane's Creek.
As John does not appear in any petitions prior to this date. This may be time of his arrival in Anson.
Where did he come from? And where did he go? Who exactly was John Ramsey?
