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Alexander and Ramsey families papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS0162

Abstract

Chiefly correspondence (1860s-1870s) of William Davidson Alexander (1840-1927) of Mecklenburg County; of his wife, Susan Amelia Ramsey Alexander (1843-90); and of her father, James Gettys McGready Ramsey (1797-1884), physician, historian, and entrepreneur of Knoxville. Also includes deeds, estate and guardian records, typescript memoir of Susan Ramsey Alexander, extracts from Ramsey's autobiography, a genealogy of the Ramsey family, and a travel diary/farm journal probably kept by Sue Ramsey Alexander's brother, Robert McKnitt Ramsey (1832-90).

Dates

  • Creation: 1815 - 1940
  • Creation: 1860 - 1879

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Susan Amelia Ramsey was born on April 23, 1843 to Margaret Crozier and J. M. G. Ramsey. She married William Davidson Alexander (1840-1927) of North Carolina on October 17, 1867. He was the son of Abigail Bain Caldwell and Robert Davidson Alexander (1796-1863). [J. M. G. Ramsey and Robert Davidson Alexander were both grandsons of John McKnitt Alexander; thus, Susan and William Alexander were second cousins.] They had seven children. She died April 13, 1890. Susan's brother, Robert McGready Ramsey, was born at Mecklenburg Place near Knoxville, Tenn., on November 8, 1832. He attended Tusculum College in Tennessee. During the Civil War, Ramsey served in the Confederate Marine Corps and as a courier for several generals and other leaders. He married Mary Margaret Atwell in 1866 in Rowan County, N.C., and died in Huntersville, N.C., on June 4, 1890. James Gettys McGready Ramsey was born in Swan Pond, Tenn., on March 25, 1797, the son of Margaret Alexander (1766-1805) and Francis Alexander Ramsey (1764-1820). [Margaret was the daughter of John McKnitt Alexander of Mecklenburg County, N.C.] He studied at Washington College in Tennessee and the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied medicine. During the Civil War, he served as a surgeon for the Confederate Army. Ramsey also engaged in banking, railroading, and education. He also founded the first historical society in Tennessee. Ramsey married Margaret Barton Crozier (1802-89) on March 1, 1821 and they had 11 children, among them Susan Amelia and Robert McGready. He died in 1884 and was buried near Knoxville. [For additional information, see Ramsey family genealogy list below in box 1:3; Edith Scott, The Story of Two Chairs (1957); Annie K. Blythe Ingram, A Genealogical Record for National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine (1952); and Charles William Sommerville, History of Hopewell Presbyterian Church (1939), pp. 97-98.]

Extent

0.25 Linear Feet : 85 items

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Consists mostly of the correspondence of William Davidson Alexander, Susan Amelia Ramsey Alexander and James Gettys McGready Ramsey. Includes letters, deeds, estates records and genealogical information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John B. Alexander, 1991.

Related Materials

James Gettys McGready Ramsey Papers, UNC-Chapel Hill, SHC #2328 ; James Gettys McGready Ramsey Papers, University of Tennessee, Knoxville ; William D. Alexander Diary, UNC-Chapel Hill, SHC #2478.

Processing Information

Processed by Randy Penninger, 1992.

Title
Alexander and Ramsey families papers
Status
Completed
Author
Finding aid written by Randy Penninger
Date
1992
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections, J. Murrey Atkins Library Special Collections and University Archives, UNC Charlotte Repository

Contact:
Atkins Library, UNC Charlotte
9201 University City Blvd
Charlotte NC 28223 United States

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