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This is not my line. Thought it interesting enough to share.
Ramsey, Eliza, Dogwood, Ga to Lyman C. Draper, Buffalo, NY
LCCN #E 173 .D73Draper MSS, 8ZZ4; 4 pps
Transcribed by Mary Lu Nelson Johnson
Feby 22d 1843
Dear Sir
It was with much pleasure that I read your letter dated 17th January. The desire to rescue the name of my dear and venerated Father from forgetfulness and oblivion gives you claim, and interest in my feelings something like the ties of relationship; yet I should not have had courage to address you, had you not given me liberty to do so without regard to regularity or order. My Father was called a Scotsman, and he never disowned the appellation; allthough his Father resided in England untill after his birth, and the marriage of his oldest Sister. My Grand Father Leonard Fleming, then removed to Glasgow, Scotland. I remember having seen the commencement of an Autobiography which he had commenced; as I think it is nearly fifty years, since I saw it, my recollection of it must be very imperfect. I do not recollect the name of the Town in which he lived; but that manuscript mentioned, that he remembered the bombardment of the Town by the French. My Father received a liberal education, studied medicine and Surgery, and entered the Navy as Surgeon. I wish I could recollect what I once knew of the next fifteen or twenty years of his life, my impression is that they were years of toil and peril, he had known what actual service was, testified by some scars, one a sword cut across the bridge of his nose. I have heard that he was a prisoner for some months, but where, I cannot now say; the prisoners were permitted to walk in the yard once a day, for the benefit of air, and I have heard him mention with gratitude, the comforts and conveniences sent him by a compassionate Lady, whose window overlooked the yard where they walked; at length he was attached to the land troops. In the Spectator there is a beautiful piece, I think entitled the Travelers Psalm I remember my Father reading it to us one night, with much feeling, and saying “My Children I have seen all those places, and passed through all the sceanes described in this piece.” But the important event of his life, at least the one that most materially influenced his after course, was the battle of Point Pleasant; as it terminated his military career; in that battle he received two wounds, by one of which both bones of his left arm were broken, between the wrist and elbow, in consequence of which the little finger and one next it, ever after hung uselessly by his hand, the other wound was in his side; the lower part of one lobe of the Lungs came out at the wound, and was much swelled before it was dressed; let me here observe that my Father was the only person in that large army who had any competant knowledge of surgery this was probably owing to the haste in which the troops were ordered out; and must have added greatly to the sufferings of the wounded. My Father was not apt to talk much of any occurance in which himself acted a conspicuous part. I was born the spring after that battle, and by the time I could be supposed old enough to gain much information from him, it had become an old subject, and not often referred to by him, my account must necessarily be rather deficient. After he set out on the expedition there arrived at his house a Sisters Son from Scotland Doctr Wm Smith & as soon as the news of the battle was received, he set out to meet his Uncle and the returning troops; my Father had been able to direct the dressing of his own wounds, and allso to give such directions as were of service to others; after I came to Tennessee I heard of a man eminently usefull in the different battles and skirmishes with the Indians, who gained his first and almost all his knowledge of surgery from my Father while dressing his wounds and those others by his direction. I can well remember seeing my Mother unlaceing a piece of stiff leather round my fathers arm, taking off the linen bandage and replacing a clean one; but at length the arm regained sufficient strength to do without the leather stay, but was always a little crooked. The bullet in his side was not extracted, and while he lived, at times occasioned uneasiness and pain. His practice as physician was laborious, being extended to a considerable distance, as the country at that time was but sparcely settled, and in general health. I think as a physician he was esteemed not only as being of some eminece, but as feeling humanity and tenderness for his patients, their gratitude was shown in several instances by naming a child for him; I have heard that he would sometimes walk while in the army, and accommodate a weary Soldier with his Horse, all this was in keeping with his every day conduct; many instances of benevolance and generosity I could mention but I already need the indulgence which I hope you will extend to the feelings of a daughter. As an only Son it might look rather unnatural for him to forsake his Fathers house entirely; but this was owing to a great number of circumstances, over which he had no controll, and was contrary to his wishes, and intentions. He had four Sisters, one maried in England to a W Wough, one in Scotland to a W Smith, and Margaret and Sarah who were never married. With Margaret my Father corresponded regularly, nearly to the time of his death.
I think my father never was a member to Congress but was to the State Legislature probaly at the time you mention he was a member of the convention to adopt the federal constitution. Any papers or writings of his, and I know there were a good many, I fear would be hard to come at, owing to the frequent removals of his children, my youngest Brother William F and youngest Sister Priscella Wilson living in Allabama will be most likely to know what became of them, as they were the last of the family to leave our native place, I think I will write to them and enquire respecting them
My Mother was born in the year 1744 my Uncle Col. Wm Christian I think was two years older, he was born and raised in the Town of Staunton Augusta County as his Father was Capt Israel Christian, who was an emigrant from Ireland at a very early age, who by industry, enterprise he accumulated a handsome amount of property. William the only son who lived to manhood, received the best education that the times and newness of the country permitted; which amounted to what was called a good english education; he was as soon as his age admitted, engaged in hostile opperations against the Indians; his first expedition was under Col Byrd of Virginia; the circumstances that impressed this went on my memory, was Col Byrd’s on their return complimenting my Grandmother on the bravery and good conduct of her Son, whome she had commited with maternal affection to his care. My Uncle maried Miss Annie Henry, Sister of the celebrated Lawyer of Va a most amiable lovely woman and settled on a farm near Staunton, but did not long remain there he removed to a farm called Haw bottom near Fincastle; his Father had some years engaged in merchandising and he removed to the town of Fincastle. his Son then removed about ten miles above, and from there to Drunkard? Bottom, near Pulaski Co. [then] New River, then to reed Creek, then back to New River. In all these removals, he influenced his Father to go with him, except to R Creek & they were never separated in their residences more than a few miles for any length of time. He was a most affectionate Son, Brother, Husband and Father. The old saying that a “rolling stone gathers no moss” could not have been applicable in his case, for he did not diminish, but increased his property, but probably not so much as he might have done had he been stationary, his last removal was to Kentucky; here allso his parents then old people intended going with him; but after having sold his farm took sick and died before the time to set out arrived. My grand mother started with her sons family for Kentucky but returned to my Fathers to wait a safer time to pass the wilderness which lay between Va & Ky. You perhaps know that my Uncle was at last killed by the Indians; his Wife fell into a consumption, and returned with all her children to Va (except the oldest daughter who had married Pol [?Pat] Cuthbert Bulleto) Judge Campbell said of her, that he had never known a weakness in her but her grieving for her Husband so as to injure her health. She spent the Summer with her friends, and the winter in one of the W India Islands, but continuing to decline she embarked and landed at Norfolk where she died the next day. Her sonly Son John then quite young she left in she left in [sic] charge to her Brother P Henry who supperinteded his education, he was promising, but about the age of 19 or 20 took cold which settled on his lungs and terminated his life in a few months. My Uncles 2d daughter married Dr. Warfield the 3d Mr Dickson, the 4th W Pope & the 5th and last Dr Fishback, all lived in Ky. I have no data scarcely whereby to ascertain the year of my Uncles death consequently cannot state his age, but I think he was probably about 50
Of General Lewis I can remember so little that it will [be] of small service, I can just recollect that he took sick in Richmond, and set out in hopes of reaching home, his went to meet him, but if I am not mistaken he was brought home in his coffin. He was born at least raised in Augusta County & must have been considerably older than my Uncle. From my recollection of his farm, his House garden & library he must have been a man of taste and literature. I am concious that I have come very short of realizing your expectations, as I feel the infirmitys of age, being in my sixty eighth year and my sign dim I have had to rest frequently since I began this letter but if you can pick out of any that will be of service in completing your book I shall be glad and beg you will pardon my troubling you with so much unnecerry chat.
I am with respect your friend
Eliza Ramsey [?Senr]
PS I live with my Son R. A. Ramsey Dogwood P O Wa_ _ _ _ [?Walker/Ware/Warren] County Ga
[USCensus 1850, Walker Co, GA p 353:
R. A. Ramsey 50 b TN
Annett 36 TN
Mary R. Corry 32 TN
A. A. 2 m TN
Wm L. Ramsey 21 TN
W. A. 18 m TN
Elizabeth A. 17 TN
Thos ?J. 14 TN
Ann C. 12 TN
A. A. 4/12 f GA. mlj]
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