My Family Tree

David fits in the family of George Ramsay and Margaret Sullivan. A rent record from Lot 13 from around 1878 says David Ramsay, son of George. In census records, David's mother was Margaret, born Ireland 1800.

He is probably the David Ramsay in Lot 13 in 1861 with a household of 5: 1 male, 21-45, 1 female 5-15, his sister Margaret; 2 females 15-21, Jane and Sarah, and one woman 45-60, his mother Margaret. There were no married people, all Presbyterians - 4 born on the Island and 1 in England. John Ramsay is the next entry.

David Ramsay was a witness when Margaret married Henry Robinson in 1864, at their mother's residence on the Western Road.

David married Martha Currie in 1873. By 1881, the family had moved to Lot 7. David and Martha's children were Rubena, George and Margaret and David mother was Margaret, age 81, born in Ireland.

1901 census:
David Ramsay Head M 66 Pe
Martha Ramsay Wife F 50 Pe
George N Ramsay Son M 22 Pe
Donald C Ramsay Son M 13 Pe
Ella Ramsay Daughter F 15 Pe
Harold Ramsay Son M 9 Pe (Harold could be the same son as Hugh in the 1891 census, or another son)

David left 75 acres plus a 50 acre woodlot to Harold, who was to provide George with access to the woodlot, and 75 acres to George, who was to provide a home for his mother. No other children named in his will. Martha was left his possessions to distribute as she saw fit.

 

 

Story from Threads of the Past, from Islandlives.ca:

Ralph Cain recalls his mother Ella telling the following story:
David Ramsay and his wife, Martha Currie Ramsay lived in Knutsford
on the old homestead where Harold, Winnie and Keir lived for years.
David often remarked to his wife, "I wonder what happened to our
good friend, the packpeddlar. We haven't seen him for years. He
always lodged with us and the neighbours would gather in the
evening for some great entertainment as he had some wonderful stories."
One well-remembered day he appeared at the door and received
a royal welcome. After supper he asked for a pencil and some paper
and wrote the words of "The O'Leary Road".
The O'Leary Road
'Tis forty years I think or more
Since I have walked this road before.
How lonely then, how dark and still,
For silence reigned on vale and hill.
Tall birch and beech from either side
Hung o'er the road their branches wide.
No sign was there of man's abode
On all that long O'Leary Road.
The prowling fox and vagrant bear
Long claimed a wild dominion there.
Now woods and wilds have all been cleared;
The fox and bear have disappeared
And passing years have changed the scene
From forest wild to meadows green.
The reaper and the iron plough
Proclaim 'tis man's dominion now.
And o'er the large and level plains
Are spreading fields of ripening grains.
The woods are gone and in their room
Large clover fields and orchards bloom.
The farmer's toil is well repaid;
To guide the plough his chosen trade.
His sprightly team well-groomed and fed;
His chosen seed with system spread.
To native thrift with practice skilled,
The grateful soil abundance yields.
And me, its merits marks are well bestowed,
For plenty crowns O'Leary Road.

The above poem, taken from an old scrap book, is believed to be
written by Luke Hughes from Lot 11 and was submitted to the Island
Farmer by John Ashton from West Devon, circa 1840.
Editor's Note: This poem strikes us as a very beautiful conception of
the changes which have taken place, not only on O'Leary Road, but
generally throughout our province.