The Ramsays of Natal, South Africa
| Interest in this tree seems to have originally taken hold when my grandmother, Caroline Mary Ramsay (b Edwards) began a family tree c 1930. This handwritten tree still form the basis for this research, but recent work by Lindi Corbishley has added much detail. In particular Lindi's combination of archival research and family discussions will be deeply appreciated by generations to come. Substantial anecdotal details were provided by my father, Clive Ramsay (Mooi River) and Edith Bulkeley (Margate), both of whom also assisted Lindi. Lindi also acknowledges Tom and Pauli Corbishley (Durban); Georgina Chapman (Port Elizabeth); and Margaret Theunissen (Kloof). The story begins on 21 June, 1858, with the arrival of the good ship "Lady of the Lake" off Durban. The voyage had taken 90 days, longer than normal, and on board were the young couple, John (34) and Margaret (30) Ramsay, with six children: John (11), Menzies (10) and Agnes (8); and James (6), William (4) and Walter Brunton (2). [Agnes' age (European Immigration Vol 65 p 1) is subject to challenge - Agnes was (according to her death certificate) born in 1846, which would have made her 12 in 1858. This is odd as the ages for James, William and Walter are correct. How old were John and Menzies then, if Agnes was already 12?] The former three were children from John's first marraige, to, as best we can tell, a Miss IM Johnson. The latter three were Margaret and John's children, who were married in Selkirk, Scotland, on 5 January 1850. We have not been able to find any information of Miss Johnson, and indeed little is known so far of what became of the two boys, John and Menzies. Agnes, who married a Charles Seymour, apparently remained in Natal until old age - did her two (older?) bothers return to Scotland? Much detail is known of the descendants of James (who m. Eliza Bayly), the oldest of John and Margaret's own children - Caroline was married to one of James and Eliza's sons, and took particular interest in this line. Luckily she also documented the start of much of the other lines as well. These lines included descendants of Margaret's step-daughter Agnes, as well as the their three children born in Scotland John and Margaret also had another four children after they arrived in Durban - Margaret (m Frederick Ford), Jane Mary (aka Jean), Eliza (aka Elizabeth m James Young) and George Charles (m Miss Miller or Miss Airth). We are continually looking for more information - both on themissing branches of descendants, and on ancestors.If you have anything to contribute, please mail me.Please also check my facts for accuracy.Finally, if there is anything you need from our data, please feel free to ask and it is yours! IMPORTANT NOTE:When you use the graphical family trees below, please read the instructions and make "John Ramsay" the "Primary Individual" in each case - the trees become so much more informative once this has been done.Just select his box, right click and choose the option to make him "primary". On the first tree, you will have to get to John via his Grandson Walter byfirst making Walter "Primary" so that you can see John. On the second one, just scroll across to the extreme right and there g/g/g/grandpa John is! | The Ramsays of Natal, South Africa Updated August 6, 2002 |
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