Paul R Ramsdell
Rank: Pvt Co: D Age: 27 Residence: York Birthplace: York Occupation: Farmer
Married/Single: M Height: 5' 6.75 Eyes: Hz Hair: Dk Complexion: Dk
PAUL RICHMOND RAMSDELL was born circa 1836-7 in York, ME, the son of Jeremiah and Rhoda (Fitzgerald) Ramsdell. He died in 1864, date unconfirmed, while a prisoner at Andersonville Prison [YCCI, p2231], reportedly from diarrhea. Gravestone in York Village Cemetery is likely a cenotaph, as pension papers are not clear as to when and where he died, and seems to indicate his body was not recovered.
He married in York, ME on 6 Feb 1857 to HANNAH JANE NORMAN, also of York [NEHGR v120, p140]. The daughter of Jeremiah Norman, she was born ca 1833 and died on 28 Mar 1905 in York at age 72 yrs from influenza, being buried in York Village's First Parish Cemetery [YCCI, p2231].
Paul was a farmer prior to entering the war, living in York. After his 9 month service with the 27th Maine Infantry was through, he reenlisted into Company K, 1st Maine Cavalry, on 25 Dec 1863, and was mustered in on 1 Jan '64. Two months later, he was captured during the famous Dahlgren's Raid on 2 March, sent first to Libby Prison in Richmond,VA (newspaper accounts mention prisoners from this battle were sent here) and afterwards to the newly opened Andersonville Prison, GA. Charles A Walker states in an affidavit "it was reported that he was at first confined at Libby Prison. Afterwards he was sent south and died". When other men of the 1st ME Cavalry were released from prison 7-8 months later during a prisoner exchange, they reported Paul's (or Richmond P's) death. His grave marker states he died there in 1864, aged 27 yrs. An online record of prisoners of war says "held at Andersonville and survived".
Paul and Hannah had three sons:
I. JOHN FRANKLIN RAMSDELL (also seen as John F, Frank J, Franklin) was born 14 Dec 1857 [pension papers]. He was single in 1920, aged 62, living in York, ME, next door to his widowed sister-in-law and her children.
II. SYDNEY GILMAN RAMSDELL (aka Gilman, Sidney G) was born 18 Apr 1859 [pension papers]. He died on 1 Apr 1909 in York from bronchitis, aged 49 yrs. He worked as a farm laborer in York. About 1890 [marr 10yrs in 1900], he married AUGUSTA ADELINE LEWIS, who was born ca Apr 1870 [1900 census], the daughter of Alonzo and Irene (Fitzgerald) Lewis. They were living in York during the 1900 census with two children [census rec says 5 ch born, 2 living]. Augusta would remarry in 1922 to W Frank Goodwin.
1. Edward E Ramsdell, b. 29 Dec 1890. He was a member of Co K, 39th Infantry, 4th Division during World War I, and was killed in the Argonne on 9 Oct 1918 [data from gravestone - data differs slightly on Maine Military Men]
2. Mary H Ramsdell, b. Sept 1892 in York, d. there on 5 Oct 1892 from colic [ME vr]
3. Sidney Oliver Ramsdell, b. on 9 May 1894 in York [ME Birth Rec], died on 29 Sept 1898 in York from whooping cough and bronchitis [ME Death Rec]
4. unknown child born pre-1900 according to numbers given on 1900 census record
5. Edith Adeline Ramdsell, b. 12 July 1896 in York [ME Birth Rec]
6. Frank Elmer Ramsdell, b. 19 Nov 1901 in York [ME Birth Rec]
7. (stillborn) 31 Dec 1903 in York [ME Birth Rec]
8. Sylvia June Ramsdell, b. in York 15 June 1907 [ME Birth Rec]
9. (f) b. 28 Aug 1909 in York [ME Birth Rec]. Not in 1910 census
III. RICHMOND WILLIAM RAMSDELL was born 9 Apr 1861 [pension papers] , and died on 30 Jan 1909 at age 47 yrs. He is buried in First Parish Cem, York Village w/parents [YCCI, p2231]. He was single in 1900, living with mother and working as a farm laborer.
Additional Source Data:
1860 York,ME census (pg 113): hh 854/890
1870 York (pg 54): hh 433/462
1880 York (pg 6): hh 65/71
1900 York (pg 8B): hh 182/187 - census has "ch 1/1" for Hannah, perhaps because only 1 child with her at the time
1900 York (pg 1A): hh 2/2 - John F data
1900 York (pg 7B): hh 168/173 - Sydney data
1910 York (pg 10B) - John F data
- Civil War Pension Index widow Hannah filed 20 Jan, 1866 [app #119,903 cert #116,_21]
- YCCI [York County Cemetery Inscriptions - MOCA c1995 Picton]
He married in York, ME on 6 Feb 1857 to HANNAH JANE NORMAN, also of York [NEHGR v120, p140]. The daughter of Jeremiah Norman, she was born ca 1833 and died on 28 Mar 1905 in York at age 72 yrs from influenza, being buried in York Village's First Parish Cemetery [YCCI, p2231].
Paul was a farmer prior to entering the war, living in York. After his 9 month service with the 27th Maine Infantry was through, he reenlisted into Company K, 1st Maine Cavalry, on 25 Dec 1863, and was mustered in on 1 Jan '64. Two months later, he was captured during the famous Dahlgren's Raid on 2 March, sent first to Libby Prison in Richmond,VA (newspaper accounts mention prisoners from this battle were sent here) and afterwards to the newly opened Andersonville Prison, GA. Charles A Walker states in an affidavit "it was reported that he was at first confined at Libby Prison. Afterwards he was sent south and died". When other men of the 1st ME Cavalry were released from prison 7-8 months later during a prisoner exchange, they reported Paul's (or Richmond P's) death. His grave marker states he died there in 1864, aged 27 yrs. An online record of prisoners of war says "held at Andersonville and survived".
Paul and Hannah had three sons:
I. JOHN FRANKLIN RAMSDELL (also seen as John F, Frank J, Franklin) was born 14 Dec 1857 [pension papers]. He was single in 1920, aged 62, living in York, ME, next door to his widowed sister-in-law and her children.
II. SYDNEY GILMAN RAMSDELL (aka Gilman, Sidney G) was born 18 Apr 1859 [pension papers]. He died on 1 Apr 1909 in York from bronchitis, aged 49 yrs. He worked as a farm laborer in York. About 1890 [marr 10yrs in 1900], he married AUGUSTA ADELINE LEWIS, who was born ca Apr 1870 [1900 census], the daughter of Alonzo and Irene (Fitzgerald) Lewis. They were living in York during the 1900 census with two children [census rec says 5 ch born, 2 living]. Augusta would remarry in 1922 to W Frank Goodwin.
1. Edward E Ramsdell, b. 29 Dec 1890. He was a member of Co K, 39th Infantry, 4th Division during World War I, and was killed in the Argonne on 9 Oct 1918 [data from gravestone - data differs slightly on Maine Military Men]
2. Mary H Ramsdell, b. Sept 1892 in York, d. there on 5 Oct 1892 from colic [ME vr]
3. Sidney Oliver Ramsdell, b. on 9 May 1894 in York [ME Birth Rec], died on 29 Sept 1898 in York from whooping cough and bronchitis [ME Death Rec]
4. unknown child born pre-1900 according to numbers given on 1900 census record
5. Edith Adeline Ramdsell, b. 12 July 1896 in York [ME Birth Rec]
6. Frank Elmer Ramsdell, b. 19 Nov 1901 in York [ME Birth Rec]
7. (stillborn) 31 Dec 1903 in York [ME Birth Rec]
8. Sylvia June Ramsdell, b. in York 15 June 1907 [ME Birth Rec]
9. (f) b. 28 Aug 1909 in York [ME Birth Rec]. Not in 1910 census
III. RICHMOND WILLIAM RAMSDELL was born 9 Apr 1861 [pension papers] , and died on 30 Jan 1909 at age 47 yrs. He is buried in First Parish Cem, York Village w/parents [YCCI, p2231]. He was single in 1900, living with mother and working as a farm laborer.
Additional Source Data:
1860 York,ME census (pg 113): hh 854/890
1870 York (pg 54): hh 433/462
1880 York (pg 6): hh 65/71
1900 York (pg 8B): hh 182/187 - census has "ch 1/1" for Hannah, perhaps because only 1 child with her at the time
1900 York (pg 1A): hh 2/2 - John F data
1900 York (pg 7B): hh 168/173 - Sydney data
1910 York (pg 10B) - John F data
- Civil War Pension Index widow Hannah filed 20 Jan, 1866 [app #119,903 cert #116,_21]
- YCCI [York County Cemetery Inscriptions - MOCA c1995 Picton]