Chris & Julie Petersen's Genealogy

Benjamin Ramage

Male 1773 - 1811  (38 years)


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  • Name Benjamin Ramage 
    Born 4 Oct 1773  Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Dec 1811  Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Duncan Creek Cemetery, Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I3752  Petersen-de Lanskoy
    Last Modified 27 May 2021 

    Father John Ramage,   b. 31 Dec 1727, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1800, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age > 74 years) 
    Mother Jean or Jane Adair,   b. Abt 1738, of, Chester, Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Abt 1805, Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 67 years) 
    Married Abt 1760  of, , Pennsylvania, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Family ID F896  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Eleanor or Nelly Adair,   b. 2 Jan 1774, of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1845, Clinton, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 70 years) 
    Married Bef 1797  of Duncan Creek, Laurens, South Carolina, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 28 May 2021 
    Family ID F1847  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • RESEARCH_NOTES:
      1. Website http://www.bfhawkins.com/Pages/RamageFamily.htm 9 Jul 2005: From: Ruth Ramage McElhaney, author of: Livingston County, Kentucky Ramages, 1802-1994 <http://www.turnerpublishing.com/detail.aspx?ID=452> Copyright © 1996, Turner Publishing Company; see full and extensive quote with notes of John Ramage - only the part that deals with Benjamin directly is quoted here:
      "Except for Benjamin Ramage who married Eleanor Adair, no marriage records have been found for any of the children of John and Jean (Adair) Ramage... Benjamin lived his whole life and died in Laurens Co., SC. His family migrated to Arkansas and Alabama."

      2. Censuses:
      1800 US: Laurens Co., South Carolina (neighbors to John and Josiah Ramage):
      Benjamin Ramage, males: 1(under 10)-0-0-1(26-44)-0; females 1(under 10)-0-0-1(26-44)-0; no slaves. (Even though at Duncan's Creek, not sure if this is the right one or not considering the age of the older male and female.

      3. Article "Some Arkansas Confederate Veterans with South Carolina Roots," from the "South Carolina Magazine of Ancestral Research," vol. 30, p. 149: "In 1911, the State of Arkansas sent extensive questionnaires to the state's resident Confederate pensioners. These men were asked to name parents, grandparents,a nd in laws..."
      "Leander Benjamin Ramage, born December 25, 1829 in Laurens District, South Carolina, son of John Daniel Ramage and the grandson of Benjamin and Nellie Ramage. His mother was Nancy Adair, daughter of James Adair and Dellia Holland."
      [My note: James Adair and Nellie Adair Ramage were brother and sister.]

      4. The book "The Ramage Family of Laurens, South Carolina," 1999, Martis D. Ramage, Jr., 4218 Ridgemont Drive, Belden MS, 38826, FHL film 2055402, Item 2, p. 10:
      "John and Jean Adair Ramage's land. Joyce Packenham 'Mrs. Wallace' Ramage of Mesa, Arizona, was instrumental in researching the disposition of John and Jean Adair Ramage's land. Of the 500 acre grant which John Ramage received in 1773, all the land has been accounted for with the exception of six acres. The following disposition took place:
      5 Jun 1789 - 90 acres were sold to Robert Bell.
      1 Jan 1799 - 94 acres were sold to Nathan and Jane Davis.
      16 Feb 1799 - 100 acres were sold to Benjamin Ramage.
      16 Feb 1799 - 110 acres were sold to Josiah Ramage.
      1804 - 100 acres were sold by John Hutson, Robert and Mary Hutson, and Robert and Hannah McCord. There is no record of this 100 acres being sold by John Ramage.
      The second generation of Ramages in Laurens County, South Carolina. John Ramage is considered the earliest Ramage to migrate to Laurens County, SC. The next generation of Ramages in Laurens County, SC included: Capt. Joseph Ramage, James Ramage, Mary Ramage Dillard, Josiah Ramage, and Benjamin Ramage. At this time we have documented proof that Mary Ramage Dillard, Josiah Ramage and Benjamin Ramage were children of John Ramage. As for Capt. Joseph Ramage and James Ramage, it is possible that they may have been sons of John Ramage but additional documentation is needed before we can say for certain.
      It has always been a family tradition that there were three Ramage brothers who settled in Livingston County, Kentucky from Laurens County, South Carolina. Two of the brothers were thought ot have been James Ramage and Josiah Ramage. We do not have documented proof of a third brother although there was a Jesse Ramage in the Kentucky Militia in 1803. This Jesse Ramage may have been a brother. Jesse Ramage would be considered in the second generation of Ramages in Laurens County, South Carolina if documentation is found to substantiate that he was in fact a brother to James Ramage and Josiah Ramage who migrated to Kentucky. At this time we have found no records in South Carolina pertaining to this Jesse Ramage.
      It should also be noted that there may have been females who were part of the second generation. By having been married we have not been able to associate them with our Ramage family.
      Capt. Joseph Ramage (mid 1700s-1825) was born in Pennsylvania and moved to South Carolina at an early age (reference: 'Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas,' F.A. Battey and Co., 1889, pages 95 and 96). He was an American Revolutionary patriot in Laurens District, South Carolina. He married Elizabeth Bourland, a daughter of William and Mary Bourland, who were neighbors of John and Jean/Jane Adair Ramage in Laurens County, SC. The children of Capt. Joseph and Elizabeth Bourland Ramage were: John Ramage, James Ramage, Jane 'Jennet, Jenny' Ramage Bonds, Robert Ramage, Mary 'Polly' Ramage Sparks, Elizabeth Ramage Wesson, Jesse Ramage, Joseph Ramage, Rebecca Ramage Dabage (Dobage), and J.L. Ramage. In 1990, a monument in memory of Capt. Joseph Ramage and his family was erected at the Duncan's Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Laurens County, South Carolina.
      James Ramage (1760s-ca. 1831), his wife, Lucy (Lydia), and their family migrated to the Livingston County area of Kentucky during the first decade of the 1800s. James and Lucy (Lydia) Ramage's children included: John Ramage, Thomas Ramage, Judah 'Judith' Ramage Phillips, Jane Ramage Stalion, Josiah Ramage, Nancy Ramage Kidd East Mitchell, Margaret Ramage Glass, and Rebecca Ramage Barlow Pickens (note: land transaction would indicate that Rebecca Ramage Barlow Pickens may have been a daughter of James Ramage but it is not fully documented at this time.)
      Mary Ramage Dillard (early 1760s-ca. 1795) considered an American Revolutionary Heroine because of her late night ride to warn the American Patriots of an impending attack. Her effort is said to have prevented a Tory victory at Blackstocks (Tarleton's first defeat in South Carolina). Mary was the wife of Capt. James Dillard. Capt. James Dillard and Mary Ramage were the parents of: John Dillard, Priscella Ramage Dillard Garrett, Jane 'Jennie' Dillard Burke, Elizabeth Dillard Harris, George W. Dillard, Samuel Dillard, and Mary 'Polly' Dillard Garrett. Documentation has been found that proves Mary Ramage Dillard was a daughter of John Ramage.
      Josiah Ramage (1760s-1823), his wife, Margaret, and their children migrated to the Livingston County area of Kentucky during the first decade of the 1800s. Land records in Laurens County, SC indicate that Josiah Ramage was a son of John and Jean/Jane Adair Ramage. Josiah and Margaret Ramage's children included: Joseph Francis Ramage (we believe that Joseph Francis Ramage was son of Josiah but it is not fully documented at this time), John Ramage, Mary 'Polly' Ramage McElmurry, William Benjamin Ramage, James Ramage, Jane Ramage McElmurry, Jesse Ramage, Josiah Ramage, Jr., and Sharlet (Charlotte) Ramage McElmurry.
      Benjamin Ramage (4 Oct. 1773-ca. 1812) and his wife Eleanor Adair, were the parents of: John Jewel Ramage, Benjamin 'Ben' Ramage, II, and George Washington 'Wash' Ramage. Land records in Laurens Co., SC indicate that Benjamin Rambae was a son of John and Jean/Jane Adair Ramage."

      5. The book "The Ramage Family of Laurens, South Carolina," 1999, Martis D. Ramage, Jr., 4218 Ridgemont Drive, Belden MS, 38826, FHL film 2055402, Item 2, p. 81: "Benjamin Ramage, a son of John and Jean (Jane) Adair Ramage, was born Oct. 4, 1773. He married Eleanor (Elanor, Elender) Adair (born 2 Jan 1774) about 1795 and they lived in Laurens County, SC. Benjamin Ramage died in Laurens County on 22 Mar 1811. [Book continues with extensive descendancy of this couple.]

      6. The publication "Laurens County Kinfolks Volume 1 Book 2," by Richard W. Fowler, gives the following family: "Eleanor Adair (dau. James, gdau. Joseph) was b. abt 1785. She m. Benjamin Ramage (4 Oct 1773-1812), son of John Ramage and Sarah Dillard. Child:
      John Jewel Ramage, b. 1801; d. 1844. He m. Nancy Weyman Adair, dau. of James Adair and Delilah Holland."

      BIOGRAPHY:
      1. Typescript "Early Adairs of Laurens County, South Carolina. Compiled by Mildred Brownlee; Source Records: Wills; Intestate Estates; Deeds; Court Records; Cemetery Inscriptions. Some dates of birth and death obtained from Lineage Charts. Dates of birth and death subject to correction. Spelling of names subject to correction." [Note that bracketed comments are later additions by other reviewers including myself - Kerry Petersen.]:
      "Jean/Jane Ramage, dau. of Joseph Adair, Sr., cooper.
      Jane Adair is thought to have married John Ramage. In 1773, John Ramage received a grant of 500 a. on Duncan Creek not far from Duncan Creek Church and Joseph Adair, Sr. The 1800 census of Laurens Co. indicates that both John and Jane were born 1755 or before. There is no will or loose probate records for John Ramage in Laurens Co. On 5 June 1789, John and Jane Ramage sold to Robert Bell, 90 a., part of the 500 a. grant; On 16 Feb. 1799 John and Jane Ramage sold to Benjamin Ramage 100 a., part of the 500 a. grant; on the same day, John and Jane Ramage sold to Josiah Ramage, 110 a., part of the same grant; on 1 Jan. 1799, John and Jane Ramage sold to Nathan (Jonathan) Davis, 94 a., part of the 500 a. grant; Benjamin Ramage and James Ramage were witnesses. The above deeds account for 394 a. of the 500 a. grant. Disposal of the other 106 a. has not been determined. The above deeds are recorded in Bk. C, p. 151; Bk. F, pp. 417 and 418; also p. 423.
      In the absence of actual proof documents and based on the deeds, a logical conclusion could be drawn that Benjamin Ramage, Josiah Ramage, and Jane, wife of Nathan Davis were children of John and Jane Ramage. James Ramage was also associated with the above and was of an age to have also been a son. A daughter may or may not have married Robert Bell who died intestate by 1792. No wife was mentioned in his estate record, only his daughter, Isabella, who mar. on 15 Aug. 1797, Robert Scott. Mentioned sons were Richard Bell, James Bell, and David Bell, all of whom moved to Livingston Co., Ky. c1800/01.
      Joseph Ramage who lived in the Duncan Creek area was considered to have been a son of John and Jane Ramage; however, in 1817, Joseph Ramage stated that he was born 5 June 1747 and was too old for jury duty. He may have been too old to have been a son of John and Jane Ramage. Joseph Ramage married Elizabeth Borland and their family is well documented by Marty Ramage in his excellent book. Our Ramage Family, published in 1986.
      In a letter written to Lyman Draper (*Lyman C. Draper, author of 'Kings Mountain and Its Heroes,' published in 1881) in 1873, Mrs. Nancy E. Boyce. age 71, daughter of Capt. James Dillard and his second wife, stated that the first wife of her father was Mary Ramage, the daughter of John and Jane Ramage. Mrs. Boyce's letter also identified Mary Ramage Dillard as the Mrs. Dillard who warned Sumter at Blackstock's on Tyger River that British soldiers were headed in that direction. Mrs. Boyce also stated that an older sister had been of the opinion that the warning had been taken to Musgrove's Mill. (Comment by compiler: The BRITISH were already at Musgrove's weren't they??)
      [Children:]
      ??Joseph Ramage, mar. Elizabeth Borland.
      Josiah Ramage. b, before 1774, mar. Margaret ____, to Livingston Co., KY.
      James Ramage, b. before 1774, mar. in Laurens Co., also to KY.
      Benjamin Ramage b. 4 Oct. 1773, d. Dec.(?) 1811, Laurens Co. mar. Eleanor Adair. b. 2 Jan. 1774, dau. of James Adair and wife, Hannah.
      ?Jane Ramage, mar. Nathan Davis, No further data.
      Mary Ramage,. b. 1760/62, d. 1795/97. She was the first wife of Capt. James Dillard and the mother of seven children."

      MARRIAGE:
      1. Since the family shows up in the 1800 census with two small children under age 10, the marriage would have had to be before 1797 at the latest.