It is written in the book, In Search of Your British and Irish Roots by Angus Baxter, page 45 (1700-1875 England and Wales):

"The first son was named after his father's father.

The second son was named after his mother's father.

The third son was named after his father.

The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother.

The first daughter was named after the mother's mother.

The second daughter was named after the father's mother.

The third daughter was named after her mother.

The fourth daughter was named after the mother's eldest sister."

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There were exceptions to this pattern when the naming system produced a duplication of names. In that case, the name was taken from the next on the list.

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A period of the latter seventeenth century saw farmers from the Scottish Highlands brought to the Irish north provinces by wealthy landowners to work the land and make it more productive. Soon the motives of the political and wealthy landholders caused much privation and persecution among the Scots-Irish, known as Ulster Scots. By the 1720's, many of them were migrating by the thousands to the American colonies.

In his book StoneWall Jackson: Portrait of a Soldier, author John Bowers wrote of many of those who settled in the misty mountains of western Virginia, later West Virginia. He described them as moody, with a weakness for spirits and The Spirit. Imbued with a mule's stubbornness. Bowers described the immigrants as "...dark-haired, handsome, suspicious of strangers, loyal to family...", regarded by many outsiders as crazy and miserly. "...They paid their debts and expected others to do the same..."

Among these folks were "...The Ramseys...who were among the earliest settlers in the Timber Ridge District near present-day Lexington, Virginia. Although these families had emigrated to America from Ireland, ethnically they were Scottish. Their ancestors had gone to Ulster, Ireland, in the early and middle 1600's as colonists...in the same years when these...Ramseys moved from Scotland to Ireland, other families...the Browns...emigrated from England to New England."

(A Scattered People by Gerald McFarland)

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In Monongalia County and before 1771, Augusta County, were settled families of the clan Ramsey. The Monongalia County tax returns of 1782 listed a John Ramsey, Sr., who died about 1796, and a John Ramsey, Jr. There was another John Ramsey in Monongalia County who settled on Scott's Mill Run, who left a Will dated 1818. By 1810, the U.S. census listed in Monongalia County a William Ramsey residing as head of household over two males aged 0-10; a female aged 26-45; and three females aged 0-10. Until 1850, the census listed all citizens as head of household by given names and surname, and the number of males and females of various age brackets. No other personal data was recorded until 1850, at which time names and ages of family members were recorded.

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As recorded in the books of Monongalia County courthouse (page 3), William Ramsey and Sarah Butters were married on 12 August, 1799 by John Wiley. The family continued to grow beyond 1810 with William then the Patriarch (at least by age), brothers John, Samuel, and sisters, and mother Mary all maintaining homes. And so on.

Following the Scotch-Irish rule of family naming, M#56 John and M#57 Margaret Ramsey named their first son William, after patriarch William. Philip was given Margaret's Uncle Philip's name. John J. inherited his paternal grandfather's name, although he was older than Philip. Mariah would have her paternal grandmother Mary's name. Finally, John and Margaret's fourth son James would carry his elder uncle's name. In addition, the ages and numbers of William's children for 1810, 1820 and 1830 census reports fit William's family for 1850. [Author's note: These correlations were put forth as basis for William's place in the lineage prior to later confirmations received from Belington cousin Betty Lou Ramsey.]

"I've found very little on William and Sarah Butters Ramsey. Their sons came to Barbour County, John first circa 1837, James later. James stayed in Monongalia County with his mother, circa 1850. They sold their land and he moved to Barbour County. James is listed in the 1850 Barbour County census. I gave Ron the chart for James. I'm enclosing another copy.

I can find no record of her [Sarah] in the 1850 census...may have died or moved in with one of the daughters.

William received very little land from his parents (John and Mary Everly Ramsey [sic]. In one deed, he paid them $35 for 51 A [acres]...8 June 1807, and John's will is not clear on the amount of land he left them.

Wm. [sic] was an officer in the 76th Regiment- promoted to Lieut. 25 May 1802, of Monongalia Mil[itia]...

...I thought Sarah's [sur]name might be Butler, there were so many in Monongalia Co, but recently I found a John Butters living on the waters of Scotts Mill Run circa 1803- he could be a father or a brother. This is the first Butters I've found. Blr" [Notes included in 14 April, 1993 correspondence with Cousin Betty Lou]

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M#112 William Ramsey had several siblings, notably John who married Lydia and established a family line in Monongalia County territory. Their children included Zeri, Ira, Oliver, Catherine, and Delia Ramsey, whose families enlarged into the county.

Sarah Butters Ramsey died sometime before the 1820 census, and William died on 11 November 1822. He was over 45 years of age in 1820. Their probable family of at least three daughters and two sons included:

M#112.1 James Ramsey- b 1 October, 1800, d 18 June, 1854, and buried in Old Free Church Cemetery in Barbour County, m to Miss Mary Ann- b 1808; children: M#112.1.1 Catherine Ramsey- b 1826; M#112.1.2 Sarah Ann Ramsey- b 1827, d 29 January, 1869, m to Henry Coonts; M#112.1.3 Delilah Ramsey- b 1829 (see ERRATA); possibly one child: M#112.1.3.1 Martha Ramsey; M#112.1.4 Elma (Emily) Ramsey- b 1830, m 1.) to Jonathon England, m 2.) to William Jefferson Coonts. M#112.1.5 Elizabeth Ramsey- b 1832, m 1.) to Henry Hill, m 2.) to George Moore; M#112.1.6 Lydia Ramsey- b 1833, m to Jesse Coonts; M#112.1.7 John Morgan Ramsey- b 1836 (see ERRATA), m to Elizabeth 'Eliza' Coonts- b 1838 (see ERRATA); children: M#112.1.7.1 James L. Ramsey- b 1856, m 14 January, 1873 to Melvina Price; at least three children: M#112.1.7.1.1 Henry Ramsey- b 1873; M#112.1.7.1.2 Swazy Ramsey- b 1876 (see ERRATA); M#112.1.7.1.3 William B. Ramsey- b 1878 (see ERRATA page 652-1). M#112.1.7.2 Amanda 'Manda' Ramsey- b 1859; M#112.1.7.3 Nancy Ramsey- b 1860; M#112.1.7.4 Delilah Ramsey- b 1872; M#112.1.7.5 Almeda Ramsey- b 1867; M#112.1.7.6 Elanie Ramsey- b 1872; M#112.1.7.7 Darkie E. (Dorkey Ellen) Ramsey- b 1874, m 18 December, 1890 to A. D. Cainer. M#112.1.8 Mary Ann Ramsey- b 1837; M#112.1.9 William Hudson 'Hut' Ramsey- b 1840, m to Miss Catherine, moved to Dodderidge County by 1880; M#112.1.10 Emeline Ramsey- b 1843, m 1.) 3 May, 1859 to J. A. Schoonover (see ERRATA); M#112.1.11 Joanna Ramsey- b 1845, possible son: M#112.1.11.1 Lewis- b 1867; M#112.1.12 James E. 'Jaimee' Ramsey- b 1849, m to Miss Rachel M.- b 1849; at least two children: M#112.1.12.1 Jesse Ramsey- b 1867; M#112.1.12.2 Lummy Ramsey- b 1869; M#112.1.13 Matilda Ramsey- b 1852; M#112.1.14 Catherine Ramsey- b 1852;

M#112.2 (female);

M#112.3 (female);

M#112.4 John Ramsey married Margaret Digman and had children;

M#112.5 (female).

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