EARLY RAMSDELLS IN NEW YORK STATE

John L. Scherer
Research Coodinator
113 Vischer Ferry Road
Rexford, New York 12148

Moses Ramsdale 1764-1834 of Oneida and Jefferson Counties, NY

The Revolutionary War Pension Records give a considerable amount of information on Moses and his family. He married in Cumberland, Rhode Island, February 20, 1784, Nancy, the daughter of Abner Lapham. The marriage took place at the home of Job Bartlett who married Nancy's sister.

Moses and Nancy Ramsdale moved from Cumberland, Rhode Island to Whitestown, Oneida County, New York in about 1793. They were still living at that location in 1828. Moses died at Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York on May 16, 1834. His widow, Nancy, was allowed pension on her application executed February 8, 1839, at which time she was seventy years of age and was a resident of Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York. She died in Ellisburgh on April 3, 1844.

In 1839, Nathaniel Lapham of Marshall, Oneida County, New York aged fifty-eight, stated that he knew Moses and Nancy Ramsdale from the time of his earliest recollection. In 1840 one Gemima Lapham of Cumberland, Rhode Island, aged seventy-seven, stated she was present at the marriage of Moses Ramsdale and Nancy Lapham (her relationship is not shown, but Ross Andrews shows her to be Moses's sister Jemima Ramsdell who was born in Mendon, Worcester, MA 26 March 1761, and married James Lapham in 1785).

In 1849, the following were the only surviving children of Moses and Nancy Ramsdale: Ledsmer (who lived in Jefferson Co., NY); Henry; Knight; Oliver; Francis; Abner; Amanda Ramsdale; Maria Ramsdale; and Nancy Ramsdale. The soldier's widow, Nancy and his son Ledsmer, both signed their names as Ramsdill; the soldier signed as Ramsdale.

The 1800 Federal census for New York State lists Moses Ramsdale of Oneida County as having four sons and two daughters. The 1810 census indicates that Moses had seven sons living at home. Thus that leaves two sons unaccounted for.

The 1830 Federal census for New York State lists Henry and Moses Ramsdale as living next door to each other in Kirkland, Oneida County. Abner and a John Ramsdale lived near each other in Ellisburg, Jefferson County. Knight and Ledmar were also living in Ellisburg.

Jehu (also given as John) Ramsdale, born 1751, died after 1830, of Oneida County

According to Revolutionary Pension Records Jehu, sometimes mistakenly referred to as John was born in 1751, his wife was born in 1752. He enlisted in February 1777 at Tyringham, Massachusetts, and was discharged in July 1780 at Fishkill, New York. In 1820, he was residing at Lee, Oneida County, New York. Obadiah Wheelock of Floyd, Oneida County, testified for his friend Jehu Ramsdale. Application for his pension was made 7 April 1818, and again in 1820 when Jehu stated: "I am a farmer by profession 69 years of age, have a wife 68 years old who has not walked a mile on account of infirmity in 15 years, have one grandchild living with me, Caroline Parke, 16 years old. I am very infirm on account of a Bad Breach." Thus we can assume that Jehu had a daughter.

According to the Cooke Collection at the Pittsfield, MA genealogical library, Jehu Ramsdale and Lidia Hill were married 29 November 1780 by Rev. Mr. Bidwell, at the Monterey Church, Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. Jehu appears in the 1800 census for Tyringham with one male under 10; one male between 10 and 16; one male between 16 and 26; and himself, age 45 and over.

He also has one female between 10 and 16; one female between 16 and 26; and his wife, age 45 and over. A John Ramsdale is listed in the 1820 Federal census as living in Lee, Oneida County, New York (page 158). He and his wife are over 45 years old, and they have a female between the age of 10 and 16 living with them (their granddaughter Caroline Parke). He also appears in the 1830 census records for Lee as John Ransdell (page 372). A John Ramsdale is shown in the 1800 census as living in Onondoga County, New York (page 142) with family, two males under 10; one male between 10 and16; and himself between 26 and 45. He also has two females under 10; one female between 10 and 16; and his wife, between 26 and 45.

It appears that Jehu and Moses Ramsdale may have been brothers. They were the sons of Moses Ramsdell (1720-??) and Mary Wares (1723-c.1819) of Mendon, Worcester, Massachusetts. According to Ross Andrews Ramsdell Web Site, Mary Wares Ramsdell died after 1818 in Lee, Onieda County, New York. Jehu and Moses had a sister named Caroline, and perhaps Jehu's granddaughter was named for her.

Francis Ramsdell (1798-1872) of Utica, Oneida County, New York

The Will of Francis Ramsdell (Book 328, page 252 Land Records, Oneida County) gives the following information:

Francis had brothers Addison and Joseph, and sisters Delia Ann, and Amanda W. (Mrs. Ralph Summers). His brother-in-law was Dr. Alonzo E. Phelps. Francis also named a niece, Ellen E. Ramsdell (daughter of Addison), and Mrs. Polly Ramsdell, the widow of his deceased brother Joseph. Anne E. Ramsdell and Mrs. Abram Dygert were daughters of his late brother Addison, and George F. Ramsdell was the son of his late brother Joseph.

The children of Francis's deceased sister Amanda (Mrs. Ralph Summers) were: Jane Palmer, Helen Cavanaugh, Caroline Todd, Delia Page, Juliet Car, Amelia Deming, Elizabeth Kronk and Adaliza Summers (Don't know whether Adaliza is married) and Ralph Summers. The wife and children of Hewey Summers of Seneca Falls were mentioned.

The 1850 census for York, Livingston County, New York (page 277) shows an Abram Dygert, a tailor, age 45 was with Harriet Ramsdell, widow of Addison, age 43, and her children, Ann, age 19; Mary, age 17; Ellen, age 15; and Edwin, age 13. All were born in New York.

Ralph Somers, age 53, and his wife Amanda W., age 50 are listed in the 1850 census for Auburn, Cayuga County, New York (page 290) with their children: Julietta Kerr, age 22; Caroline, age 15; Hellen, age 13; Ralph, age 10; Maria M., age 5 months. Except for the father, Ralph, who was born in Connecticut, all others were born in New York. Others listed with this family are Elizabeth Caroline, age 38, born in Ireland; Francis F. Carr (husband to Julietta Kerr?), age 29, born in England, and operated a bowling saloon; and Ann E. Somers, age 24

Francis also named his adopted daughter, Mary Jane McKay, the wife of Hewey McKay, and their children Alice C. McKay and Ada McKay. A Mary Jane Goodrich of Ann Arbor, Michigan was mentioned. Francis's brother-in-law, Dr. Alonzo E. Phelps, had two sons, Francis Phelps and William Phelps.

Both the Utica Orphan Asylum and the Oswego Orphan Asylum were remembered in the Will. Money was left for the care of the cemetery lot at Manchester, Oneida County, New York, and for keeping the fence around said lot painted and repaired. The executors were Francis's friends, Merrit Peckham, S. Townsend Peckham and William P. Carpenter, all of Utica.

Francis Ramsdale can be found in the 1850 Federal Census as living in Oswego, Oswego County, New York, age 52, with his wife, Elizabeth, age 51, daughter Mary Ann, age 20, Ellen (last name illegible), age 20 and Ellen Boyle, age 18. All were born in New York, except the last, Ellen Boyle who was born in Ireland. Francis had real estate amounting to $4000. Delia A. Ramsdell is listed in the 1850 census as living in Utica, age 47, with Delia Summers, age 17, both born in New York.

Francis Ramsdell first purchases land in Vernon, Oneida County, in 1826, and the deed indicates that he was from Vernon (Book 39, page 298). He is listed in the 1830 census as living in Utica. This same year another Francis Ramsdell is listed as living in Ellisburgh, Jefferson County (this probably being the son of Moses Ramsdale). Francis married Betsey Phelps (first name given in land deed Book 63, page 35). According to the IGI, both Francis and his wife Betsey were both from Hebron, Tolland County, Connecticut and they were married about 1818. The Phelps Genealogy indicates that Betsey Phelps, daughter of Joseph Phelps was born in Hebron, Connecticut and that she married Francis Ramsdell. Her father, Joseph, who was born in 1769, moved from Hebron to Cazinovia, New York and then to Homer, New York in 1805. Later he moved to Geneva, New York and then to Lansing.

According to the Ancestral File, Joseph R. Ramsdell was born 28 October 1794 at Woburn or Reading, MA, and died 28 April 1842 at York, Livingston Co., New York. He is buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery at York. His wife was Polly Holmes. Addison T. Ramsdell was born between 1800 and 1806 at Woburn or Reading, MA, and died 24 May 1843, and is buried in the Pleasant Valley Cemetery at York, Livingston County, New York. His wife was Harriet W(right)? (1794-1854). I believe that the birthplace for Joseph R. and Addison T. is purely speculation.

Evidently both Joseph R. Ramsdell and his brother Addison T. Ramsdell lived in Livingston County, New York. Joseph's son, George F. Ramsdell, is found in the 1850 census for Livonia, Livingston County, New York, at house number 259, as being a merchant, age 39. His wife Laurs is age 29, and the following children are listed: Ammin (male), age 8; Frederick, age 6; Jennett, age 4; and George, age 1. All were born in New York State. Next door at house 258 of the same 1850 census is the family of Stephen Summers, a Joiner, born in Connecticut, at age 32. His wife is Mary A., age 29, and children: Sylvester, age 10; Alfred, age 7; Emily, age 6; Lousia, age 3; Francis (indicated as female), age 1. All but Stephen were born in New York State. Also enumerated with this family are Peter Summers, age 81, born in Connecticut, and Bridget P. Murray, age 20 born in Ireland (probably a maid).

Next door to this house at house 257, the same 1850 census for Livonia shows a Jerusha Amsdial (female) at age 67, born in New Hampshire. Living with her is Fanny Amsdial, age 44, born in Vermont. Since we know that Amanda, a sister of Francis, Joseph and Addison Ramsdell, married Ralph Summers, there is some type of relationship here. In fact according to the IGI there was a Jerusha Summers born in Milford, New Haven, Connecticut on 20 August 1784. Her parents were Abel Summers and Lois Bristol. A brother, Stephen Sanford Summers was born at Milford on 20 August 1769 (IGI).

Who was the husband of Jerusha Amsdial (Ramsdale)? Who was Fanny Amsdial (Ramsdale?). Was she another widow or is she Jerusha's daughter who remained single? The fact that Fanny was born in Vermont may be a clue, as there were a family of Ramsdells in Shoreham, Addison County (is this where Addison's name comes from?), Vermont.

The 1850 census for nearby York, Livingston County, New York shows a George Ramsdell, a farmer, age 33 and his wife Maria, age 28. Their children were: Ada, age 4; Eugen (female), age 1; and Ethel, age 1. All were born in New York State. Could this George be a son of Addison or perhaps Jerusha? Mrs. Ralph Summers named a daughter Adaliza, and Francis Ramdell's adopted daughter, Mary Jane, named a daughter Ada as well.

The 1850 census for Hamilton, Madison County, New York (page 94) lists a John Ramsdale, a carpenter, age 30, his wife Lydia, age 29 and their children: Sydney B. (male), age 6; Henry S., age 4; Josephene, age 3; and Jerusha, age 1. All were born in New York. Was John a son of Jerusha? (As a note there was a George Ramsdell and Roxana Clark who had a daughter Clarissa born 10 February 1816 at Enfield, Connecticut. Roxana, the daughter of John Clark, was born at Hatfield, Hampshire, Massachusetts on 18 April 1777.) (Another note is that the Berkshire Star, Stockbridge, Massachusetts for 31 January 1822, indicates that a Mr. George Ramsdall, age 76, died at Hallowell, Kennebec, Maine.)

Who were the parents of Joseph R., born in 1794, Francis, born in 1798, Amanda, born in 1800, and Delia Ann, born in 1803? It would seem that their father might have some connection to Moses Ramsdale (1764-1834) who settled in Oneida County in 1793. They both lived in Oneida County, and had children named Francis and Amanda. Francis, the son of Moses was born in 1804 and is listed as a blacksmith at Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York in 1860. His brother Abner, born in 1805, is also listed in the Ellisburgh census of 1860 as a blacksmith. Moses's brother Jehu was still in Tyringham, Berkshire County, Massachusetts in 1800, and Francis said he was born in New York State in 1798. Also the 1800 census indicates that Jehu had only one son under 10 years of age. Thus it appears that Joseph R., Francis, Amanda, and Delia Ann were neither the children of Moses nor his brother Jehu. Did another brother or son move to Oneida County?

Joseph, Jesse, and R. Ramsdell of Oneida County, New York

Joseph Ramsdale is found in the 1800 census for Oneida County, page 179, as having two males under 10 years, two males between 26 and 45 years, one female under 10 years, and a female between 26 and 45 years. He is also listed in the 1830 census as living in Kirkland, Oneida County. He is a possible prospect for the father of Joseph R., Francis, Amanda and Delia Ann. What was his possible relationship to Moses and Jehu? This same year Joseph R. is listed as living at York, Livingston County.

R. (Robert?) Rainsdell is found in the 1810 census for Oneida County, page 3, the same page on which M. (Moses?) Rainsdell is listed. R. Rainsdell is listed with one son under 10 years old. He and his wife were between 16 and 26 years old.

Jesse Ramsdell Ramsdell is shown in the 1820 census as living in Paris, Oneida County, page 267. He had two males between ages 10 and 16, one male between age 16 and 18, two males between ages 18 and 26, one male between age 26 and 45, and one male over age 45. He also had one female under age 10, one female between age 10 and 16, one female between age 16 and 26, and one female over age 45. Mesheck Ramsdale who married Tryphena Simons at Enfield, CT in 1791 had a brother named Jesse.

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