Benjamin Chambers Ramsey

Benjamin Chambers Ramsey was the son of William Ramsey and Catherine Grey. According to family bible records, he was born on June 14th, 1811.

By the 1800 census, Benjamin’s parents, William and Catherine, had settled in Buncombe county, North Carolina. Benjamin was likely born in North Carolina, however this is difficult to confirm due to conflicting census data.

By 1818, Benjamin’s father, William, was granted 90 acres of land in Overton county, Tennessee. According to census records, the Ramey family probably relocated to Tennessee shortly after 1820.

Benjamin married Elender “Nellie” Dishman circa 1830. Interestingly, Benjamin’s brother, Charles Ramsey, married Elender’s sister, Mary “Polly” Dishman. Two Ramsey brothers married two Dishman sisters, presumably meeting when their families were neighbors in Tennessee.

You can find Benjamin and Nellie’s wedding attire on display at the Overton County Historical Museum.

Overton County Historical Museum wedding attire display, photos taken by Tonya Allred Spencer in 2019

"1830s Wedding Clothing

Wedding clothing belonged to Benjamin Ramsey (1811 - 1891) and “Nelly” Dishman (1814 - 1876). The Ramsey’s lived in Deck Cove and were parents of Sanford, Alfred, Jacin, Polly & Haston

Clothing for men in the early settlements consisted of loose trousers made of homespun or leggings made of buckskin, a loose smock or tunic, reaching nearly to the knees and belted.A knife was usually carried in the belt. His rifle was the long flint-lock rifle with a long barrel with a short stock."

- Overton County Historical Museum

We can assume Benjamin and Nellie lived under William’s household in 1830 as there are two adults of corresponding ages listed on the census , however by 1840 the couple had started a household of their own. They had 7 children, the last being born in 1854.

In 1836, Benjamin was a witness on a land purchase document for his father-in-law, Jefferson Dishman.

In 1849, Benjamin was granted 200 acres of land by the state of Tennessee, on the waters of Puncham Camp Creek.

The last known record of Benjamin is a voting enumeration document from 1891. Benjamin's wife Nellie died in 1876 at the age of 62, while Benjamin died 18 years later at the age of 82 on February 11th, 1894 and is buried in Deck Cemetery.

Benjamin Ramsey's tombstone in Deck Cemetery