So who was Ramsey?

My first post this morning fell under Amanuensis Monday and was a letter written to my 3x great grandfather Chrispin Pierson Van Horn from Ramsey. As I stated in that post, some letters identify him as a friend and others state he was a cousin. Some include his last name as Dudbridge. Chrispin’s mother was Jane Dudbridge (born 1811). 

The 1900 Census reveals a 16 year old Ramsey Dudbridge living in Warminster Township, Bucks County. The head of house is his older brother Harry. Harry was born in October 1875. Other household members are their mother (Elizabeth), their aunt Nancy Carr, brother Charles, and brother C. Carr. Their mother was born in September 1842. Aunt Nancy was born in September 1850. Charles was born in November 1878. C. Carr was born in June 1880. Ramsey was born in September 1883. The Census shows both mother and aunt were widows. Their mother had been married for five years and had four children, all of whom were still living. These four would obviously be Harry, Charles, C. Carr, and Ramsey. Nancy states she was married for zero years, indicating her husband passed within their first year of marriage. She had no children.  

Unfortunately the 1890 Census is not available, but I found 37 year old Elizabeth on the 1880 Census. Her husband is 38 year old Phineas Dudbridge, a farmer. They have three sons at home: William, age 7; Henry, age 4; and Charles, age 2. Living with them is 11 year old niece Alice Van Horn; 77 year old mother in law Mary Brady; 39 year old sister in law Nancy Carr; and 60 year old farm hand Henry Jamison. Phineas is a farmer. They reside in Warminster Township, Bucks County. Mary Alice Van Horn (born 12 July 1868) is the daughter of Chrispin Pierson and Maria Rice Van Horn! 

In 1900 Elizabeth told the Census worker she had been married for five years and that she had four sons. It is possible she misunderstood and meant she had only four living sons at that time. Ramsey was not born until 1884 and was the youngest of the Dudbridge boys. The five years of marriage does not fit with any calculation. 

Phineas Jenks Dudbridge, according to Find A Grave, was born in 1821 and died in 1894. Elizabeth lived until 1923. They are buried in Neshaminy Cemetery, Hartsville, Bucks County with their some Willie Bready (1873-1881). Phineas’ memorial states he was a farmer in Warwick, Bucks County and was the father of William, Henry and Charles. There is no mention of C. Carr or Ramsey in this entry. 

Tracing Ramsey forward from 1900:

The 1910 Census lists Ramsey having just recently married Annetta. She is one year his senior. They were married one year and their daughter Elsie R. is one month old. The Census was taken in April. Ramsey is a carpenter. They live in Ivyland, Bucks County. 

In 1918, like most men, Ramsey filled out a draft registration card for World War I. He gives his full name as Ramsey Bready Dudbridge, living in Ivyland, Bucks County. He was 34 and states his birth date is 13 September 1884. He is a carpenter employed by W. John Stevens Inc. His nearest relative is naturally Annetta. He is of medium height and build.   

Ramsey is still a carpenter in 1920. He, Annetta and their daughter Elsie live on Lincoln Avenue in Ivyland. Annetta is a dry goods merchant and Elsie is in public school. 

By 1930 the family has moved to Moreland Avenue in Hatboro, Montgomery County. The couple had been married 20 years ago. Elsie is 20 and, being single, still living with her parents. She is a secretary in the lumber industry. Ramsey is still a carpenter. Annetta is not working. 

In 1942 Ramsey fills out a draft registration card for the Second World War. He lists his address as 33 W. Moreland Avenue in Hatboro, Montgomery County. He wrote his birth year as 1883 (in 1918 he stated he was born in 1884) and that he was born in Hartsville, Bucks County. He lists his nearest relative as Elsie R. Goens, of the same address. One can assume that between 1930 and 1942, Elsie got married to someone with the last name Goens. Ramsey writes “same” for employer and address of employer. This could mean he worked out of his house or that he did not work, even though he was only 59 at the time. He describes himself as 5’10” tall and 180 pounds with blue eyes and gray hair with a light complexion. 

Ramsey lived for 92 years! He died in February 1975. He is buried at Neshaminy Cemetery in Hartsville, Bucks County. 

Find A Grave shows Ramsey (1994-1975) buried at Neshaminy Cemetery with his wife and daughter. No images of their stones are provided as proof. Annetta is listed as having been born in 1881 and passing the year after Ramsey, in 1976. Elsie is included as Elsie R. Dudbridge. She was born in 1910 and died 1996, according to Find A Grave. 

Annetta, according to the Social Security Death Index (SSDI), died in November 1976. The SSDI shows that Elsie was born on 28 February 1910 and died 21 July 1996. Her last residence was Willow Grove, Montgomery County. She is listed as still a Dudbridge. 

Sources:

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. 

Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.  

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II draft cards (Fourth Registration) for the State of Pennsylvania; State Headquarters: Pennsylvania; Microfilm Series: M1951; Microfilm Roll: 79 

Number: 162-05-2112; Issue State: Pennsylvania; Issue Date: Before 1951 

Number: 163-01-9021; Issue State: Pennsylvania; Issue Date: Before 1951 

Number: 163-50-1829; Issue State: Pennsylvania; Issue Date: 1973 

Year: 1900; Census Place: Warminster, Bucks, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1386; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0042; FHL microfilm: 1241386 

Year: 1910; Census Place: Ivyland, Bucks, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1320; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0056; FHL microfilm: 1375333 

Year: 1920; Census Place: Ivyland, Bucks, Pennsylvania; Roll: T625_1542; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 30; Image: 854 

Year: 1930; Census Place: Hatboro, Montgomery, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2081; Page: 14B; Enumeration District: 0043; Image: 987.0; FHL microfilm: 2341815 

 

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