The Descendants of Joseph Ramsdell: Sixth Generation

155. Jonathan⁶ Ramsdell (Thomas⁵ Ramsdale, Gideon⁴ Ramsdell, Thomas³, Daniel², Joseph¹) was born in Cummington, Hampshire Co, MA 11 July 1781.

He married Lydia Lapham 24 April 1806 in Farmington, Ontario, NY. Lydia was born 6 Jan 1789 in North Adams, MA. Lydia was the daughter of Abraham Lapham and Esther Aldrich. Lydia died 25 April 1868 in Macedon, Wayne, NY, at 79 years of age. Jonathan Ramsdell was born in Cummington, Hampshire, Mass., July 11, 1781. His parents, Thomas and Hannah Gannett Ramsdell, were staunch members of the Presbyterian Church of Fairport, N.Y., and he was brought up strictly in that faith. It was considered wrong in those times to have fire in churches, and I have heard my father say that their minister in winter weather, preach with overcoat and mittens on. It created quite a stir in the church, when some of the elderly ladies in the church, dared to bring foot-stoves into the Lord's house. These stoves consisted of a tin box, about a foot square and eight inches high, perforated with holes, and set in a wooden frame, and into which was placed a small basin of burning coals. The ladies put their feet upon this box during service.

Jonathan Ramsdell left home at the age of twenty and came into Western New York, whither his older brother, Gideon had preceded him. He made the journey on horse back in March, and he said that when he reached the summit of the mountains, about twenty miles from home, he could look back, see the snow covered hills of Cummington, and could look forward and see the green fields of the West. He then stood up in the stirrups of his saddle, and swinging his hat bade old Cummington goodbye. He added "did not say that I never should go back, but I never have". He never did, though my mother, who was born in an adjoining county, often wanted to visit their old home.

After reaching the settlement, he soon purchased land in what was then the township of Palmyra, Ontario Co., but which afterward became Macedon, Wayne Co., New York. He made additional purchases from time to time afterward, until he came to own over 500 acres. About the year 1806, he sought and won the affection of Lydia, daughter of Abraham and Esther Lapham, she being seventeen, and he twenty five years of age. She and her parents were Quakers, and it was contrary to the tenets of that Society to marry anyone outside of its membership. It thus became necessary for her to leave her Society, or for him to leave his church. There were hardly any Presbyterians in the new country at that time, and the Quakers largely predominated in numbers and influence. When a young man wishes to win a beautiful woman, he is apt to be willing to accept a change of creed, if by doing so, he can gain a prize. However, whatever were the impelling motives, to begin with, it is certain that my father became a genuine Quaker and a staunch defender of that faith. Having in due form, become a member of the Quaker Society: The next thing was to have the marriage solomized after the proper order. Written proposals of marriage had to be presented before the meeting and acted upon; and the written consent of the parents of the contracting parties must be obtained.

Here came a hitch in the procedings, while my father's father regarded it as a good marriage for his son, he was a strict Presbyterian, and did not believe much in the forms of the Quakers, and especially in their peculiar ways, and so he flatly refused to give any written consent to be presented to the meeting. He evidently considered that unnecessary.

There was an eccentric old Quaker minister named Caleb McCumber, with whom my father enjoyed very intimate relations, and in his perplexity, he sought his counsel. Having ascertained that my grandfather had no real objection to the marriage, he told my father that he would fix matters right. Caleb McCumber was on very friendly terms with my grandfather and they frequently exchanged visits. Not long after that talk he had with my father, Caleb McCumber called upon Thomas Ramsdell at home in Egypt, N.Y., known as Ranney Farm. (Home built in 1815; still standing in 1953) The interview was after this manner. A loud rap was heard at the door, and was responded to with an equally loud, "come in," and when the caller entered, it was, "How does thee do, Thomas?" and "Good morning, Mr. McCumber, take a chair." "No, I can't stop long. I wanted to know if thee has any objection to thy son Jonthan's marrying Lydia Lapham?" "No, certainly not," was the reply. Well, farewell." "But set down, Mr. McCumber," said my grandfather. "No, I can't this time, you have told me what I need to know, farewell."

When the proper time came in the monthly meeting, my father presented the written consent of his mother, and Caleb McCumber stated the consent obtained verbally from my grandfather. This was not just according to the dicipline of the Society of Friends, but was considered lawful under the circumstances.

In due time, the young couple married themselves, according to the Friends usage, in a public congregation in the Farmington Meeting House. From this marriage there were eleven children.

My father erected a double log house upon his purchase, and in 1827 he built a large two story frame house, which he continued to live in until his death on Feb. 4, 1862. (This house still stands, and the farm is known as "The Fry Farm" 1950, Macedon Center, N.Y.) A road was cut through from the sign board at the Tannery to the frame house for his benefit.

My father from my earliest recollection, till the close of a long life was a faithful and earnest preacher of the Gospel, and a devoted Christian man. There was a meeting every week at the Friends Meeting House at eleven o'clock on Wednesday, and though managing a large farm, and working hard himself, I never knew him to stay away from meeting, unless prevented by sickness and that was rare. My father lived for nearly sixty years in this community, sustaining an unblemished reputation, a spotless integrity, and irreproachable character. His life work was ended at the ripe age of eighty years. (From "Laphams in America" by Bertha Bortle Beal Aldridge; 1932-1953)

Jonathan Ramsdell and Lydia Lapham had the following children:

child + 374 i. Thomas P.⁷ Ramsdell was born 2 February 1807.