Ambrose Ramsey

Last updated
Ambrose Ramsey
BornUnknown
Ireland
DiedJune 29, 1805
Chatham County, North Carolina
Place of burial
Unknown
Allegiance United States of America
Service/branchNorth Carolina Militia
Years of service1775–1783, 1784-1789
Rank Colonel, Brigadier General (Pro Tempore)
Unit Chatham County Regiment, Salisbury District Brigade, Hillsborough District Brigade
Commands held1775-1783: Chatham County Regiment; March 15, 1781: Salisbury District Brigade; Hillsborough District Brigade: 1784-1789
Battles/wars

Ambrose Ramsey (died June 29, 1805) was native of Ireland, a member of the North Carolina senate eleven times, a large land holder and pioneer in Chatham County, North Carolina, Colonel and commander of the Chatham County Regiment of the North Carolina militia during the Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1783. He served as acting commander of the Salisbury District Brigade in 1781. He was captured by the British Loyalists at the Chatham Courthouse on July 17, 1781, and released on parole later in 1781. After the war, he was selected as brigadier general in charge of the Hillsborough District Brigade. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Occupations

Ambrose Ramsey held the following positions: [4]

Family

Ambrose had two brothers, John and Matthew Ramsey. John was a justice of Chatham County and also served as clerk of court. Matthew was a Captain of a Company of Light Horse during the Revolutionary War and also captured at Chatham Courthouse. He ran a mill on Rocky Creek, called Green's mill. [4]

Ambrose ran a mill, Ramsey's Mill, that was located on the present site of the Lockville Dam, Canal and Powerhouse in Chatham County, North Carolina. [5]

Ambrose died on June 29, 1805, in Chatham County. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

Matthew Locke was a general during the American Revolutionary War, a wagon driver, and a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina between 1793 and 1799.

Whitmell Hill was an American planter from Martin County, North Carolina and commander of the Martin County Regiment of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolution. He was a delegate for North Carolina to the Continental Congress from 1778 to 1780 and served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Commons in 1778.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Jones (Continental Congress)</span> American politician

Allen Jones was an American planter, American Revolution brigadier general of the Halifax District Brigade, and statesman from Edgecombe County, North Carolina.

The Hillsborough District Brigade of militia was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia established on May 4, 1776. Brigadier General Thomas Person was the first commander. Companies from the eight regiments of the brigade were engaged in 55 known battles and skirmishes in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia during the American Revolutionary War. It was active until the end of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Fanning (loyalist)</span> Canadian politician

David Fanning was a Loyalist leader in the American Revolutionary War in North and South Carolina. Fanning participated in approximately 36 minor engagements and skirmishes, and in 1781, captured the Governor of North Carolina, Thomas Burke, from the temporary capital at Hillsborough. Additionally, Fanning was captured by Patriot forces 14 times throughout the war, each time escaping or receiving a pardon. After the British defeat in the war, Fanning fled to Canada, where he was elected to the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick from 1791 to 1801 representing Kings County. After being convicted of rape in 1801, Fanning was expelled from New Brunswick, and settled in Nova Scotia, where he lived the remainder of his life.

Robert Lawson was a Virginia lawyer, planter and politician who distinguished himself in the American Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of brigadier general in the Virginia militia. After the conflict, he practiced law, held various political offices and operated a plantation in Prince Edward County, Virginia, but also suffered from alcoholism, which caused his estrangement from his family as well as being swindled. As discussed by the United States Supreme Court in Wagner v. Baird, 48 U.S. 234 (1849), although granted over 10,000 acres of land in what became the state of Ohio, Lawson transferred those rights to a swindler, so decades later his heirs unsuccessfully sought redress.

Joseph Hardin Sr. was an Assemblyman for the Province of North Carolina, and was a signatory of the Tryon Resolves. Early in the War for Independence, as a member of the militia from Tryon County, Hardin fought the Cherokee allies of Britain along the western frontier. Later in the war, having taken his family over the Appalachian Mountains to the Washington District for safety against the advance of the Red Coats out of South Carolina, Hardin joined the Overmountain Men. He saw action at the Battle of Ramsour's Mill and the decisive Battle of Kings Mountain. Following the peace with Britain, Hardin was a co-founder and second Speaker of the House for the State of Franklin; and an Assemblyman in the Southwest Territory before its statehood as Tennessee.

The Salisbury District of North Carolina, was originally one of six colonial judicial districts established in 1766 by the Governor William Tryon of the Province of North Carolina. Immediately preceding the onset of the American War of Independence in 1775, these six regions were renamed "military districts" by the North Carolina Provincial Congress and used for organizing the North Carolina militia. The other military districts were Edenton, Halifax, Hillsborough, New Bern, and Wilmington districts. The military district designation was discontinued in 1835 during the North Carolina Constitution Convention.

John Butler was a military officer in the Hillsborough District Brigade of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1784, and served as its commanding general between 1779 and the end of the conflict. He was a member of the North Carolina House of Commons for several terms simultaneously with his military service. Butler commanded soldiers in several major engagements throughout North and South Carolina, but is perhaps best remembered for his role in the Patriot defeat at the Battle of Lindley's Mill. Butler died shortly after the end of the war, and his career as a military commander has received mixed reviews by historians.

Thomas Eaton was a military officer in the North Carolina militia during the War of the Regulation in 1771 and American Revolutionary War from 1775 to 1784. He was a member of the North Carolina Provincial Congress and North Carolina House of Commons for several terms simultaneously with his military service. Eaton was a member of the North Carolina Council of State under Governor Richard Caswell. Eaton commanded soldiers in the battles of Brier Creek and Guilford Courthouse. At the time of the 1790 census, Eaton was one of the largest slaveholders in North Carolina.

Anthony Bledsoe was an American surveyor, politician and military colonel. He served in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War.

The Salisbury District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the Fourth North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

The Rowan County Regiment was originally established in about August 1, 1775 as a local militia in Rowan County in the Province of North Carolina. When the North Carolina Provincial Congress authorized thirty-five existing county militias to be organized on September 9, 1775, the Rowan County Regiment was included and all officers were appointed with commissions from the Provincial Congress. The members of the Rowan County Regiment were mostly from what was Rowan County at the time. Prior to establishment of the Rowan County Regiment, many of its officers were active in the Rowan County Committee of Safety. The regiment included 160 known companies and one or more of these companies were engaged in 36 known battles or skirmishes during the American Revolution. After the establishment of the Rowan County Regiment, several other counties were created from Rowan County, including Burke County in 1777, Iredell County in 1788, Davidson County in 1822 and Davie County in 1836.

The Edenton District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halifax District Brigade</span> Military unit

The Halifax District Brigade was an administrative division of the North Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War (1776–1783). This unit was established by the North Carolina Provincial Congress on May 4, 1776, and disbanded at the end of the war.

North Carolina state troops in the American Revolution were the initial military units created in a transition from the Province of North Carolina under British rule to independence from British rule. Most units did not last long as such and were either transferred to the Continental Army or state militia instead.

The Orange County Regiment was authorized on September 9, 1775 by the Province of North Carolina Congress. On April 22, 1776, the unit was split into the Northern Orange County Regiment and the Southern Orange County Regiment, which retained most of the original men. Both regiments were subordinated to the Hillsborough District Brigade of militia on May 4, 1776. When the North Orange County Regiment was renamed the Caswell County Regiment on May 9, 1777, the Southern Orange County Regiment name reverted to the Orange County Regiment. The regiment was engaged in battles and skirmishes against the British during the American Revolution in North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia between 1776 and 1782. It was active until the end of the war.

The Hyde County Regiment was a unit of the North Carolina militia that served during the American Revolution. Hyde County, formed in 1705, had a militia in colonial times that was used to defend the coast of the Province of North Carolina. The North Carolina General Assembly authorized the Hyde County Regiment on September 9, 1775, along with 34 other county regiments. The officers were appointed and commissioned by the Governor of North Carolina. The regiment was subordinated to the New Bern District Brigade of North Carolina militia on May 4, 1776. The regiment was disbanded at the end of the war.

Thomas Wade (1720–1786) was a merchant, commander of the Anson County Regiment of North Carolina militia during the American Revolution, and senator from Anson County in the North Carolina Provincial Congress and General Assembly. Wadesboro, North Carolina was named for him.

References

  1. Lewis, J.D. "The American Revolution in North Carolina, Colonel Ambrose Ramsey" . Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  2. The Minerva, weekly newspaper (Raleigh, North Carolina), Monday, July 22, 1805, p. 3
  3. North Carolina Historical Review, Vol. 18, No. 1–4, p. 6.
  4. 1 2 3 "North Carolina Visitor Center, History of Chatham County, North Carolina" . Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. 1 2 "Ramsey's Mill, Chatham County, North Carolina, Historic Highway Marker H-18" . Retrieved March 16, 2019.
    • Chatham County, North Carolina, Will of Ambrose Ramsey, written January 27, 1803, probated in 1805; lists $5,500 and additional security, mills, 400 acres, a ferry, and a fishery

Additional Sources