LINCOLN COUNTY GA Will of Randolph Ramsey File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Carolyn F. Ramsay cramsay@sc.rr.com http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/lincoln/wills/ramsey.txt Randolph Ramsey was the father of : Charity Ramsey Mallette, James Ramsey (wife Priscilla Hassell), Randolph Ramsey (wife Esther Elizabeth Eubank Doggett), Susan Ramsey Fleming (husband William Fleming), Rebecca Ramsey Eubank (husband John Eubank), Allen Ramsey (wife Eliza ), & Mary "Polly" Ramsey Leverett (wife of Hardy Leverett). Randolph was called junior as a young man because his uncle was Randolph Ramsey who lived in Columbia County. When his uncle died and his son Randolph grew up, he was known as Randolph Ramsey, Sr. Randolph lived in Columbia County, but later moved to Lincoln County were he lived on the Savannah River. His property is under the water caused by Clark Hill Dam. I was told by Mr. Anderson Leverett that he is buried there on the place. His wife was Mary N. Family has always felt that her surname was Newton. When Randolph died, there was an uproar over the missing will. A facsimile was located and after some years it was published as his will . This copy , original at the time of the court case, is in the Superior Court Records of Lincoln County. Other original papers related to the case are filed in the Ordinary's records. The following are most, but not all of those originals: For the Interior Court of Lincoln County Sitting for Ordinary Purposes Allen Ramsey vs The Applicants for administration on the estate of Randolph Ramsey CAVEAT (James Ramsey and Randolph Ramsey having applied for letters of administration on the estate of Randolph Ramsey deceased, the undersigned comes into court and enters his Caveat against the granting said letters and for Causes of Caveat assigns the following pt: l. That the said Randolph Ramsey died testate leaving a last will and testament duly and legally executed. 2nd that said last will and testament has been lost or destroyed so that it cannot now be obtained but that a copy of the Same will have to be established in the manner prescribed by law. Allen Ramsey 1826, Novmbr 6th Georgia, Lincoln County. Personally came before me Allen Ramsey, who being duly sworn in oath Saieth; that he verily believes that Randolph Ramsey died leaving a last will and testament which will he believes has been destroyed or concealed by Isaac Mallett or some other person with his (kno- wledge)* permission and consent. Sworn to and subscribed before me this 6th day of Novemb 1826 Jas. Curry J.P. Allen Ramsey 1831, March 11 Georgia , Lincoln County Know all men by these presents that we Susan Fleming and Randol Ramsey are held and firmly bound unto Hardy Leverett his heirs Executors & Administrators in the Just and full Sum of Fifty dollars for which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves our heirs Executors and Administrators firmly by these presents sealed with our Seals and dated this 11th day of March 1831. Conditioned that if the said Susan Fleming shall pay all costs in a certain case now entered on appeal from the Court of Ordinary to the said Superior Court for said County on the propounding of a Will of Randol Ramsey deceased offered, propounded and Administrated to Record by Hardy leverett in the event she shall discontinue the said appeal or be cast therein then this Bond to be void else to remain in full force and volin in Law. Signed Sealed & delivered Susan Fleming seal R. Ramsey seal in my presence Francis F. Fleming C CO Hardy Leveritt vs John Eubanks & others Rule to establish the last will of Randolph Ramsey It is consented between the parties in interest in this case--That the testimony collected by interrogatories on each side--may be used before the Court of Ordinary in the application to prove & record the will--provided no appeal is entered from the verdict in the above case. John Henry Lumpkin Francis H. Cone for Hardy Leverett atty for the heirs________??? Cross Interogatores Int. 1 If you acted as overseer for Randall Ramsey in his lifetime please say whether you did not understand from him that a part of the negroes placed under your care were the property of Mary N. Ramsey and were also considered by the family and ---------how many were the property of said Mary N. Ramsey Int.2 After the death of said Randall Ramsey Sr. did not said Mary N. Ramsey go into the peaceable and undisturbed possession of a part of the aforesaid negroes ------------ ---------- ------------- and were not said negroes placed under your control as an overseer by the said Mary N. Ramsey or by Allen Ramsey as her agent. Int. 3 If you ever heard said Randall Ramsey, Sr. make use of any of the expressions mentioned in the 4th 5th and 6th deceit----. Interogatories and (did) you not think that they were intended to pacify (?) you in relation to the disposition that your grandfather had made of his estate rather than as tending to convey to you any serious (?) viens of the said Randall Ramsey to the disposition of his own property. Francis H. Cone (?) Atty for H. Leverette 1829, October 20 Answers from Isaac N. Mallett (grandson of Randolph Ramsey): 1.I was at the house of Randolph Ramsey,Sr.,at the time of his death,I concur that I had not charge of his papers. A paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Randolph Ramsey,Sr.,was handed to me by Mary N. Ramsey with a request to read it. I complyed, handed it back to her and she placed it from whence she had taken it. Said paper bore the signature of Randol Ramsey, but I do not know whether he wrote it or not having never seen him write. John G. Willingham, Caleb Eubank and Lewis Roberts were the witnesses. I ( sentence illegible) I did not read it but once it was long enough in my possession for me to read it over once and then I returned it to Mary N. Ramsey as before stated. I know not what has become of it nor do I know where it is I do not know of its having been destroyed do not recollect the contents precisely of the paper I saw, but the annexed is not a copy. I did not examine their signatures very particularly I think it doubtfull whether they are genuine or not for the signatures of the witnesses had the appearance of having been written by the same hand with the face of the will, I do not recollect to have said that Caleb Eubank's signature was genuine. Caleb is I am informed a brother. I never showed the said paper to any person not having it in my power to do so. I do not know anything more that will be beneficial to the plaintiff. Isaac N. Mallett Answered Subscribed and Sworn to before James Luke Com L. L. and James Luke,Jr. Com 1830, September 10 Answers from William Weathers: I was acquainted with Randoll Ramsey Senr in his lifetime and did reside with him as an overseer and was employed by him as such. There was eight negroes placed under my control ... Mary N. Ramsey did not place any negroes under my control. She did not exercise any control over any negroes under my control neither did she claim or dispose of any part of the crop or produce....R. Ramsey did himself. I was on terms of intimacy with the said Randolph Ramsey, and he frequently in his lifetime when speaking of his property and the distribution of it told me that he intended to distribute it equally between his children that the laws of the country (?) sufficient to divide his property that he had once had a will written out had handed it to his wife and ordered her to burn it up and that he was certain that it was destroyed an he had never seen it since.that he did not intend to make any will but wished his property disposed by the laws of the land. he always told me he had no will and he would make out no will & that he wished his property divided equally among his children. I have heard him say he wished his property equally distributed amongst his children agreeable to the laws of the State that the law made a sufficient will for him & that he never would have any other. I did understand from Randall Ramsey when I lived with him that a part of the negroes placed under my care as overseer was the property of Mary N. Ramsey. There was four of them viz Vile(Violet), Louisa, Flora & Jacob-- they was called by the family--Polley's negroes. Yes she went into peacable possession of the negroes in the answer above named as I understood and Allen Ramsey and her put me in possession of eight negroes when I went to oversee for her a part of said negroes was considered as her own and the ballance she hired. I allways considered that his remarks to me were serious and intended to mean what they expressed and (?) for no other purpose. William Weathers (his mark) Answered Subscribed & Sworn to before us this 10th day of September 1830. Joseph Sturgis and Stephen O'Kelly Comm. 1836, September 21 The State of Alabama , Limestone County S. C. (Superior Court). By a commission hereto annexed from the Hon the Superior Court of the County of Lincoln in the State of Georgia to us directed we have caused Lewis Roberts the witness therein named to come before us and he being duly sworn in answer to the several interrogatories to said Commission annexed answers and says as follows:He does not know the plaintif but does know John Eubank. He recalls signing an instrument written by Randolph Ramsey about 1812 and believes Caleb Eubank and John G. Willingham were present. { Lewis Roberts) Georgia Lincoln County in the Superior Court of said County: Upon the application of Hardy Leverett praying the establishment of a copy of the last will of Randall Ramsey and it being made appear to said court that the last will and testament of said Randall Ramsey has been lost or destroyed and a copy of the same in substance wh- --------------------sted to the court and found to be a copy of said last will and testament and filed in the Clerk's office of said county. On motion it is therefore ordered by the court that said copy be established in lieu of the original unless good cause be shown to the contrary at the next Term of this Court and that a copy of this rule be published once a month for six months in one of the public Gazettes of this state. Copy from document in the Superior Court of Lincoln County, Georgia: LAST WILL of RANDOLPH RAMSEY In the name of God Amen. I Randolph Ramsey Senior of the State of Georgia & County of Columbia being in health & of sound mind and disposing memory do nominate constitute & ordain this my last will and testiment viz.Imprimus it is my will that all my just debts should be paid out of my Estate. Item it is my will that my beloved wife Mary holds and enjoys and I do will and bequeath to her the following property to wit: one negro man named Arthur together with the following negroes, namely Sally, Ursula & Dinah to have and hold said negroes during her natural lifetime together with my household and kitchen furniture of every kind & together with my stock of horses, cattle, sheep & hogs. Item I do will and bequeath to my daughter Charity Mallett one dollar. Item I will & bequeath to my Son James Ramsey one negro man named Isaac. Item I will and bequeath to my Son Randoll Ramsey three dollars. Item I will and bequeath to my Son Allen Ramsey the following negroes to wit, Arthur, Sally, Ursula & their increase if any to be delivered to him at or after the death of my said wife Mary Ramsey together with one other negro girl named Rene, together with two thirds of my household & kitchen furniture & stock aforesaid of every kind to be divided at the death of my said wife. Item I give and bequeath to my Son Allen the tract of land whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever. Item I will and bequeath to my Daughter Susan Fleming one dollar. Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Eleanor Eubanks one dollar. Item I give and to my Daughter Polly Ramsey the following negros namely Dice, Tiller, Flora, Violet, Jacob & Louisa & their increase, one horse worth one hundred dollars together with a saddle and bridle to her and her heirs forever. Likewise one third of my household & kitchen furniture & stock of every kind, which said household & kitchen & stock together with one negro girl named Dinah previously willed to my said wifeaforesaid. My reasons for not having given in this my last will and testament more than what I have in it given to my Daughter Charity Mallet my Son Randolph Ramsey Junior (3rd) my Daughter Susan Fleming and my Daughter Eleanor is because I have previously provided for and given them off of my estate as much as I intended them to have. Item it is my will and I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint my Son James Ramsey & my Son Allen Ramsey my executors of this my last will and testament to carry the same into effect according to tenor and effect thereof hereby revoking all former wills and testaments by me made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this day of 1814. Assigned Sealed & delivered Randoll Ramsey Sen in presents of us whom the presents of each other assigned the same John G. Willingham Caleb Eubank Lewis Roberts The foregoing is a true copy of an original will made by the Said Randoll Ramsey Sen as near as recollected. {NOTE: This will was written in 1814 which was before Randolph Ramsey, Sr. and Mary his wife located in Lincoln County,Georgia. Randolph appears to have died in 1826.} ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for FREE access. ==============