Guide to the Ramsey Family Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title

Ramsey Family Papers

Inclusive Dates

1782-1877

Call Number

RG 261

Creator(s)

Ramsey family.

Quantity

3.00 cubic feet (4 boxes)

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Biographical Note

William and Mary Wire Ramsey served as missionaries in Bombay, India from 1830-1834. William Ramsey, born in 1803 in Thompsontown, Pennsylvania, graduated from Princeton University in 1821. In 1822, he attended Princeton Theological Seminary and was licensed to preach by the Huntingdon Presbytery in 1826. He was ordained as an Evangelist by the same Presbytery in 1827. William married Mary Wire on July 12, 1830.

Mary Wire was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1803 to John and Mary Wire. She attended the Burlington School and was baptized by William Ramsey in 1828. Mary had two younger sisters, Deborah and Elizabeth. After marrying William in July, they set sail for Bombay under the direction of the American Board for Foreign Missions in August, 1830. Mary, and her son, John William, died in Bombay in June, 1834. William returned to Philadelphia with their daughter, Jane Mary Wire Ramsey, in January, 1835. He was called to Cedar Street Presbyterian Church in 1837, where he served until 1857. He died in 1858.

Collection Overview

The collection largely consists of journals and notebooks kept by William and Mary Ramsey. The collection also contains a journal kept by Deborah and Elizabeth Wire for William and Mary while they were in Bombay. There is also correspondence written to and by the Ramseys. Miscellaneous items include arithmetic, poetry, and note books from Mary's childhood, a drawing and note book belonging to Jane Mary Wire Ramsey, clippings and other ephemera belonging to William Ramsey.

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: JOURNALS, 1820-1844
Subseries 1: William Ramsey, 1820-1844
Subseries 2: Deborah and Elizabeth Wire, 1830‑1833
Subseries 3: Mary Wire Ramsey, 1830‑1833

SERIES II: NOTEBOOKS - WILLIAM RAMSEY, 1823-1835

SERIES III: SEMINARY AND PUBLIC SPEAKING NOTES - WILLIAM RAMSEY,
1825-CIRCA 1863

SERIES IV: CORRESPONDENCE, 1830-1840
Subseries 1: Wire Family, 1831-1834
Subseries 2: Ramsey Family, 1830-1840

SERIES V: MISCELLANEOUS NOTEBOOKS, 1782-1797, 1821-1832, 1848, CIRCA 1860-1877
Subseries 1: John Wire, 1782-1797
Subseries 2: Mary Wire Ramsey, 1821-1832
Subseries 3: Jane Mary Wire Ramsey, 1848
Subseries 4: Deborah Wire, circa 1860-1877

SERIES VI: WILLIAM RAMSEY - MISCELLANEOUS, 1834-1871

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: December 1989
Susan W. Miller, Processing Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Personal Name Subject

Ramsey, William, 1803-1858.

Ramsey, Mary Wire, 1803-1834.

Wire, Deborah.

Wire, Elizabeth.

Wire, Mary.

Wire, John.

Ramsey, Jane Mary Wire.

Corporate Subject

American Board of Commisssioners for Foreign Missions--Missions--India.

Cedar Street Presbyterian Church (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Princeton Theological Seminary--Students.

Topical Subject

Missionaries--India--19th century.

Women missionaries--India--19th century.

Seminarians--New Jersey--19th century.

Presbyterian Church--Pennsylvania--Clergy--19th century.

Clergy--Pennsylvania--19th century.

Missions--India--19th century.

Presbyterian Church--Missions--India--19th century.

Presbyterian theological seminaries--New Jersey.

Genre-form

Diaries. aat

Notebooks. aat

Correspondence. aat

Personal Added Name