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Josiah RAMSEY
Elizabeth HOLLIS
Husband:  Josiah RAMSEY
Birth:  ca. 1723
Death:  1805-1811, but prob. in 1811 and presumably in Wythe Co., VA
Will Signed:  21 May 1805, Wythe Co., VA
Will Proved:  13 Aug 1811, Wythe Co., VA
Military Service:  Cherokee Expedition (ends 1761)
Military Service:  Revolutionary War:  Capt. Cox's Co., Montgomery Co., VA; Capt. Walter Crockett's Co., Battle of Point Pleasant
Marriage:  1 Jan 1744, Holy Trinity [Old Swedes] Church, Wilmington, New Castle Co., DE
Wife:  Elizabeth HOLLIS / HOLLEYS / HOLLES
Birth:  ca. 1727
Death:  in or aft. 1811, prob. in Wythe Co., VA
 
Our subject's wife was not Elizabeth GRIGSBEY.  Elizabeth GRIGSBEY was bound out to Josiah RAMSEY on 11 Jul 1799 by the Wythe County overseers of the poor.  In his will (see below), he bequethed Elizabeth GRIGSBY, first to his wife, Elizabeth, then, upon her demise, to his son, Joseph RAMSEY.
Children (birth order unknown) — said to be born in Augusta [now Wythe] Co., VA:
1.  Sarah RAMSEY, b. in or aft. 1744; d. bef. 13 Aug 1805; m. Jacob STEPHENS; issue: Sally STEPHENS m. Mr. RICH
2.  Thomas RAMSEY, b. ca. 1748; d. bef. 13 Aug 1805; issue: Josiah RAMSEY
3.  Hannah RAMSEY, b. 14 Jun 1751 
4.  Phoebe RAMSEY, b. 24 Feb 1754
5.  Mary Elizabeth RAMSEY; m. 15 Oct 1786, Montgomery Co., VA, John MOORE
6.  Joseph RAMSEY, b. 30 Aug 1760
7.  William RAMSEY
Keywords for search engines:  genealogy; USA, US, United States, Delaware, Virginia

Timeline
Year Location Event
birth of Josiah RAMSEY
birth of Elizabeth HOLLIS
1738/45 VA: Augusta Co. formed from Orange Co.
1744 DE:  New Castle Co.: Wilmington  marriage of Josiah RAMSEY & Elizabeth HOLLIS
1751   birth of daughter, Hannah
1754   birth of daughter, Phoebe
1760 birth of son, Joseph
1770 VA: Botetourt Co. formed from Augusta Co.
1772 VA: Fincastle Co. formed from Botetourt Co.
1775 Apr 19 Revolutionary War began
1777 VA: Montgomery Co. formed from Fincastle Co.
1777 Sep 30 VA: Montgomery Co. Josiah RAMSEY swears oath of allegiance
1783 Sep 3 Revolutionary War ends
1790 VA:  Wythe Co. formed from Montgomery Co.
1790   the VA census was destroyed
1800   the VA census was destroyed
1805 May 21 VA: Wythe Co. Josiah RAMSEY signs will
prob. 1811   death of Josiah RAMSEY
1811 Aug 13 VA: Wythe Co. Josiah RAMSEY's will proved in court

Sources:

1a.  Jordan R. Dodd, ed.  1993.  Kentucky Marriages:  Early to 1850.  Liahona Research, Orem, UT (Broderbund CD-229):  not found, nor any of the children's marriages.

1b.  Delaware Marriages, 1713-1919  (online at FamilySearch.org):
Joseiah (sic) Ramsey (sic) Elizbeth Holleys 1744 Holy Trinity or Old Swedes Church, Wilmington, New Castle, Delaware GS Film #908217 IT 1
The original image included here shows him as "Josiah Ramsy" and her as "Elith. Holleys" or "Hollegs."

1790 U.S. Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  the VA census was lost.

1800 U.S. Census Index/Images (online at Ancestry.com):  the VA census was lost.
 

.  Ruby Altizer Roberts.  1938/1939.  "Montgomery County's Revolutionary Heritage."  Virginia Magazine of History and Biography XLVI(1938): 254-261, 339-348. XLVII(1939): 32-40, 153-162.  Pages 206-242 in Elizabeth Petty Bentley, indexer.  1983.  Virginia Military Records…  Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., Baltimore (online at Ancestry.com):
-
p. 211 To Clerk of Montgomery County—

We whose names are hereunto subscribed do swear or affirm that we renounce and refuse all allegiance to George third King of Great Britain, his heirs and successors, and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a free and Independent State, and that I not at any time do or cause to be done, any matter or thing that will be prejudicial or injurious to the freedom and independence thereof, as declared thereof, as declared by Congress and also, that I will discover and make known to someone Justice of the Peace for the said State all treasons or traitorous conspiracies which I now or hereafter shall know to be formed against this or any of the United States of America.

Capt. Cox's Company, 1777 Sept, 30...

p. 212 Jas. Thompson
Josiah Ramsey...

The Above was sworn before me.

Jas. McCorkle, Dec. 5, 1777.
A List of Persons who took the State oath before James McGavok...

William Bell...
John Adams...
James Davis
William Montgomery...

p. 213 Josiah Ramsey...
John Vaughan

The Above sworn to before me.

James McGavok.
p. 217 Names Mentioned in military accounts...
Jas Davis...
p. 218 Nat. Clark...
James Davis...
Josiah Ramsey...
Benj. Clark...
Thomas Wyat...
John Ramsey...
p. 219 Priscilla Davis...
John Bradshaw...
John Montgomery...
p. 220 Vact Dillinham...
John Craig...
Alex. Ewing...
James Davis...
William Montgomery...
p. 226 James Davis...
p. 230 A list of Captain Buchanan's Company of Militia...
Robt. Davis, 1st Lieut.
William Davis...
James Davis...
Joseph Davis...
Samuel Davis...
p. 238 A List of Capt. Newells' List of Militia...
Jas Davis...
John Ewing...
Geo. Ewing
Saml. Ewing Junr...
p. 240 A List of Capt. John Adams Company of Militia.

John Adams, Capt.
Jno. Thompson...
Saml. Montgomery...
Robt. Adams...
Jas. Montgomery
Saml. Montgomery, Jr...
Jas. Ramsey...
Patrick Adams
John Adams...

.  "Will of Josiah Ramsey."  Wythe County, Virginia, Will Book 2, p. 12 (transcription online in a file posted by Anthony Rockefeller at WorldConnect; reformatted by DGM; boldface added):
In the name of God Amen I Josiah Ramsey of the County of Wythe being weak in Body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.  First I devise and request that my Just Debts and funeral Charges be paid out of my personal estate.

It is my will and desire that my beloved Wife Elisabeth Ramsey shall be sufficiently maintained out of my Estate during her natural life.

I give and bequeath to my grand Daughter Sally Rich one Dollar which is all I intended to give to my Daughter Sarah Stephens deceased.

I give and bequeath to my grandson Josiah Ramsey one Dollar which is all I intended to give my son Thomas Ramsey deceased. 

I give and bequeath to Hannah Davis one Dollar.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Phebe Montgomery one Dollar.

I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sally Moor one Dollar.

I have a tract or parcel of Land containing one hundred and eighty acres lying on each side of Reed Creek which land was conveyed to me by Robert Norris eldest son and Heir at Law of Robert Norris Deceased said conveyance bearing date the twenty seventh day of September one thousand seven hundred and seventy one.  I give and Devise unto my son Joseph Ramsey all that part of the aforesaid one hundred and eighty acres of land that lies on the North side of Reed Creek to the sole use and behoof of the said Joseph Ramsey and his heirs in Fee Simple.  I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Ramsey the following articles (to wit) one pair of Dog irons fire shovel tongs potrack one feather bed and bedstead carpenter tools and loom one half of the pewter and one half of the remaining part of the household furniture half the number of sheep. I give and bequeath also to my son Joseph Ramsey my right and claim of Elizabeth Grigsby at the decease of my wife Elizabeth Ramsey.

I give and devise to my son William Ramsey all that part of the aforesaid one hundred and eighty acres of land that lies on the south side of Reed Creek.  I also give and devise to my son William Ramsey the part I hold and unsold of a tract of land containing five hundred and ten acres obtained by me from the Loyal Company by Patent - bearing date of February the nineteenth one thousand eight hundred and two to be the sole use and behoof of the said William Ramsey and his Heirs in Fee Simple.  I give and bequeath to my son William Ramsey all my Horses Cattle and Hogs which shall remain after my just Debts are discharged and my funeral charges defrayed out of my personal Estate.  It is my will and desire that my son William Ramsey if he intends to sell of dispose of his part of the aforesaid Land that he will give my son Joseph Ramsey the Refusal provided he makes as good satisfaction for the same as any other person.

I constitute and appoint James (W. Gavock ?) Junr. and my son Joseph Ramsey Executors of this my last will and Testament.  I revoke and make void all Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made or left.  In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty first day of May One thousand eight hundred and five.

Josiah Ramsey (Seal)
Signed sealed published and declared in the presence of us Robert Cranston, Samuel Montgomery, Joseph Montgomery, Archibald Childress, George (?).

At a Court of Quarterly Session held for Wythe County on Tuesday the 13th day of August 1811.  This the last Will and Testament of Josiah Ramsey decd was exhibited in Court and proved the oaths of Robert Cranston and Joseph Montgomery two subscribing Witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded.

Teste
John P. Mathews, D.C. 

Many have asserted that the passage highlighted in brown indicates Elizabeth GRIGSBY was Josiah's wife, but she was not:  she was indentured to Josiah by the county because of her poverty.

2.  Anthony Lee Rockefeller.  27 Jan 1986.  Family Group Sheet of James DAVIS & Hannah RAMSEY (now on WorldConnect).

3.  Anon.  1986.  Family Histories:  Christian County, Kentucky, 1797-1986.  Christian County Genealogical Society, Hopkinsville, KY.  Biographical sketch of James DAVIS, son-in-law of our subjects.

.  Message posted by Lee K. RAMSEY to DGM on the GENEALOGY-DNA Mailing List (online at RootsWeb.com):
Diana,

Passing these records along for your Josiah Ramsey file. The Elizabeth Grigsby mentioned in Josiah Ramsey's 1805 will infers that Elizabeth's relationship to Josiah Ramsey was that of an indentured servant, otherwise she would have been an orphan or an apprentice until reaching her majority or serving her term of apprenticeship, and since her father is identified and not mentioned as deceased, she would not have been an orphan.

Most certainly Elizabeth Grigsby was a minor child when she was placed in the household of Josiah and Elizabeth Ramsey on 11 July 1799, when the Wythe Co., VA "overseers of the poor bound out Elizabeth Grigsby, daughter of William Grigsby, to Josiah Ramsey (Wythe County Virginia Court Orders 1790-1791 & 1795-1810). This relationship is also supported by the stipulation in Josiah Ramsey's will providing that he had the authority to leave Elizabeth Grigsby to the care of his wife, Elizabeth.

It appears from the Wythe Co., VA will records that Josiah Ramsey's wife was Elizabeth Gleaves, but I do not have any marriage records for Wythe Co., VA.

>From Will Book 2, p. 297, it was recorded on 30 Mar 1830 that "Elizabeth Ramsey receives legacies from the will of her father, William Gleaves." I do not have the abstract for William Gleaves' will to compare dates, but it seems the 1830 record only shows when Elizabeth received her legacies not the date of her father's will.

Lee 

Clearly, this Elizabeth married a RAMSEY, but did she marry Josiah?

WorldConnect / Ancestry World Trees (online at RootsWeb.com/Ancestry.com).

.  Messages posted to the Ramsey Family Genealogy Forum (online at GenForum.com).

.  Messages in the Archive of the RAMSEY Surname Mailing List (online at RootsWeb.com).

.  Messages in the Archives of RootsWeb mailing lists (online at archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com):  do a search on message from email: jefrobo@aol.com, who is Rosemary (RAMSEY) COX.  She has a wealth of information on this family.

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