Rash's Surname Index
Notes for Nathaniel RAMSAY
RAMSAY, Nathaniel, soldier, was born in Lancaster county, Pa., May 1, 1741; son of James and Jane (Montgomery) Ramsay, James Ramsay having emigrated from the north of Ireland, and settled in Drumore, Lancaster county, Pa., early in the eighteenth century. He was graduated at the College of New Jersey, A.B., 1767, A.M., 1771, and was admitted to the bar in 1771. He signed the declaration of the freemen of Maryland, was a delegate from Cecil county to the Maryland convention of 1775, and a member of the committees to promote the manufacture of saltpetre, and to encourage manufactures of any kind. He was appointed captain in Smallwood's Maryland regiment, Jan. 14, 1776; joined the Continental army in Philadelphia in July, taking part in the battle of Long Island, Aug. 27; was promoted lieutenant-colonel of the 3d regiment, Maryland line, Dec. 10, 1776, and was stationed with the army at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777–78. After the retreat of Gen. Charles Lee at Monmouth, June 28, 1778, where he commanded a regiment, he was ordered to drive back the advancing British troops, which he did, holding his position with a remnant of his regiment against the British dragoons until his men were exhausted and he was left alone, wounded and apparently dead. He was taken prisoner and did not obtain an exchange until Dec. 14, 1780. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel U.S.A., June l, 1779 to date from Jan. 1, 1777, and was retired Jan. 1, 1781. He practised law in Cecil county, 1781–83; in Baltimore, 1783–90; represented Maryland in the Continental congress, 1785–87; was appointed U.S. marshal for Maryland, by President Washington, serving 1790–98, and was U.S. naval officer of the port of Baltimore, 1794–1817. He was married first in 1771, to Margaret Jane, sister of Charles Wilson Peale , the portrait painter, and secondly in 1792, to Charlotte, daughter of Aquila and Sophia (White) Hall of Maryland. He died in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 23, 1817.
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