Jacques "Jacob" Remy (1640-1721) is the original Ramey Immigrant to the Colony of Virginia in the United States. He was a French Huguenot (Protestant) refugee of noble birth, born in Picardy, Lorraine, France, about 1630.

During the time of Jacobs early life, a revolution of Christianity in France was taking place.

The catholic church ruled, noone was allowed to have a bible and read it for themselves. The Catholic church wanted the people to only hear their interpretation and only access God through the priests, this way they controlled the people.

Jacob Lefernes translation of the Bible scriptures began circulating in the 1520's in France.

John Calvin established a group in Geneva Switzerland and his followers were the first "Huguenots".

The word Huguenot is a combination Flemish and German word.

They crossed the border back into France and Calvins ideas spread.

A priest, Martin Luther defied the authority of the catholic church and the reformation was underway.

They formed study groups in their homes, and by 1550 there were many.

Few records were kept but it is estimated that by 1600 there were over 3/4 million and almost all were literate, which was very unusual. Most were small family businessmen, artisans, and wealthy.

To the catholic church, they were a threat to their power. Many Many Huguenots were slaughted.

For two and a half centures the Huguenots endured, terror, torture, and triumph.

The word Huguenot became the symbol of  badge of honor and courage.

Jacques Remy married, Francoise Haldat in France,
daughter of Antoine Haldat II, Seigneur de Bonnet, and Madelaine Marchand.

During his childhood, and after his marriage to Franciose, he experienced religious persecution by the Catholic government of France.

Around 1654, Jacob and Francois fled  to his cousin Pierre's home in Germany and then on to England, where they sought passage to America.

This must have been very hard for the both of them, since they were of noble birth.

Because he had left all his possessions in France and could not afford the passage to America ,(Jacob) Jacques Remy, a huguenot refugee and a nobleman by birth, was brought to Virginia in 1654 by Nicholas Spencer, Esq., under the bonded indentured slave system. He was a bonded slave for 7 years.

In "Original Lists of Persons of Quality From Great Britain To America: Entries from 1606-1702, Nicholas Spencer is Appointed Secretary of the Colony of Virginia, during the pleasure of Charles I(reign 1600-1649) Vol 31. P.6

Francoise Haldat, his wife, also sailed for Virginia under a bonded slave indentured agreement to John Brayton also in 1654, but she perished at sea. The ship voyages were very harsh especially for women and a woman of noble birth would have been more fragile than the average woman.

Jacques(Jacob) (his name was anglicized in Virginia) Remy served his indenture to Nicholas Spencer in Westmoreland County, Virginia.Under this Indenture System large land owners and other influential men in the colonies made a contract whereby many worthy men and women were obligated to work out their passage money as servants to their “masters by indenture”. These so called Masters received from the crown 50 additional acres of land for each person so imported.
Jacob had a brother Pierre that had a son Abraham and he came into Virginia in early 1700's he is listed as nephew of Jacob of Westmoreland and a Huguenot.

Jacob worked for others after his indenture was over, several years before he was able to save enough to buy the land in Westmoreland County in 1671.

He married Mary Spencer that same year. (Possibly his masters daughter)

In the book "First Families of America" on page 683 is a listing: Jacob (Ramy) Ramey ca. 1635-1721, from Ivoy, Lorraine, France, 1660, settled in Westmoreland Co., Va., m 1671, Mary Spencer.
Jacob Remy Married: #2 1668 Mary Spencer: Born In Virginia 1650 Mary Is sometimes Referred To As Mary Miles because someone saw the will of Miles Marmaduke and thought it was Marmaduke Miles and was his daughter. This is not so.
It is most likely, since Miles Marmaduke is close to Jacob Remy’s age that they were friends.
Prominent Genealogy Research. Westmoreland Will Book II volume I
Name Miles Marmaduke, 16 May 1695 proven 28 Aug 1695
Marmaduke, Miles, 16 May 1695; 28 August 1695. My wife Jane home plantation for life; son Christopher residue of estate when 16 years of age; Jacob Remy and Morgan Williams to be trustees of my estate.
This will says his son Christopher is not 16 in 1695 so Mary would not have been his daughter. Jacob was about the same age as Miles Marmaduke. His name is Miles Marmaduke not Marmaduke Miles.
Miles Marmaduke (his name is listed as Meredith Miles Marmaduke)
Married to Jane, Father Richard Marmaduke of England
Descendants.
1…Christopher Marmaduke born 1679 Married: Mary McKinney
son
1…Vincent Marmaduke 1704 born in Westmoreland County married Sarah Porter Children were: Christopher born 1740 Jean, Esther, Jemima, Daniel, John, William all born in Va.
Christopher born 1740’s children:

1…Elizabeth Porter Marmaduke born in Westmoreland Co. 2…Vincent Marmaduke born in Westmoreland Co. 3…Molly Marmaduke. 4…Meredith Miles Marmaduke born in Westmoreland County Aug 28 1791 Governor of Missouri.

son of Meredity Miles 1791
1…John Sappington Marmaduke born March 14 1838 Missouri was also governor of Missouri
sources:(Notable Americans)( Bible Records of Missouri, Volume II)(Westmoreland County Virginia Wills).

Jacob made a deposition in 1661 stating he carried chains in a survey that was made on Nicholas Spencers land, his master, and he afterwards purchased it. By this deposition he was still a bonded slave in 1661.

When John Armsby died in 1661 in Virginia, his will stated Jacob Remy was living on the land.

This land that Jacob owned was located in the Nominee Forest in Cople Parish near the Nomini River.Westmoreland Co., Va., Deed Book 1, p. 403;  shows "Jacob was deeded by William Pierce, 200 acres of a tract of 1200 acres in Nominee Forest in Cople Parish July 21, 1671.

(Nominee Forest was the wooded land adjacent to Nomini River and its branches.)
Jacob still lived on this land in 1702 another Deed Book of Westmoreland Co., Va., Deed Book 3, p. 72; states" "John Spencer godfather of John Thomas on April 29, 1702, deeds to John Thomas 50 acres of land, being part of 200 acres formerly sold by Jacob Reamy unto my(godfather) father Nicholas Spencer, Esq., dec'd., being in the Nominy forest, bounded as follows; a path leading from Jacob Reamy's to Richard Doziers", also French, who lived next to the Remy plantation.

Both these spellings of the name are listed in the same paragraph. Showing how many names were changed.

In the Westmoreland Co., Va. Deed Book 7, p.336; "Abraham Smith on Sept. 27, 1721 deeds to John Ramey, 50 acres, being part of a deed of 200 acres of land bought of Jacob Ramey, Sr., by Coll. Nicholas Spencer, and afterward made over to John Spencer, Gent., by deed of gift to Abraham Smith, his godson, etc., land commonly called and known by name of Beatles Neck, and bounded on the land of Jacob Ramey, Sr."

This John Ramey(Remy) was Jacob Jr's son. John was married to a Mary Smith, possibly Abrahams daughter.

This listing may have been an interpretation of the original since Ramey is listed in this paragraph.

Jacob was naturalized September 29, 1680, and became a British subject.
The Naturalization Papers of Jacob Remy "A natural born subject of the French King," took the oath of allegiance at Jamestown Virginia on September 29, 1680, before Sir Henry Cicheley, Knt., His Majestie's Deputy Governor, etc., and the same was recorded October 8, 1702. State of Virginia, County of Westmoreland, Deed Book 3, p. 94. ;By the Deputy Govr. of Virg.
Also listed in the Original Lists of Emigrants, Vol1-1600 to 1637: vol2-1662 to 1700: John C Hotten, 1874 p 271.

Jacob Remy/Ramey's Naturalization Record

"Whereas, the Kings most Excellant Majesty in his most Special Grace and favour hath been graciously pleased for the greater promotion and propagation of his Majesty's Colony and Dominion of Virga: by Act of Assembly, to enact and declare all Aliens coming into this country and here residing, taking the Oath of Allegience, to be invested with all rights and privileges of any, of his Majesty's natural born subjects within the said Colony and, Whereas by the said Act it is enacted and declared that the Governor and Commander in Chief for the time being in said Colony, by a public Instrument under the broad Seal thereof to declare any Alien or Sovereign being settled and inhabiting this Colony having taken the Oath of Allegience before the Governor and Commander in Chief for the time being to be to all intents and purposes fully and completely naturalized, and the person or persons so approved of and named in the letters Patent to have and enjoy to them and their heirs, the same immunities and rights of and unto the laws and privileges of their colony, and as fully and amply as any of his Majesty's natural born subjects of this colony have or enjoy within the same. Therefore I, Sir Henry Chichley, Knight, his Majesty's Deputy Governor and Commander in Chief, do by virtue of the said Act, hereby certify and declare that Jacob Remy, a natural born subject of the French King, hath taken the Oath of Allegience before me. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Colony Seal to be hereunto affixed. Dated in James City, Sept. the nine and Twentieth, 1680, and in the two and thirtieth year of his Majesty's Reign. He: Chichley.
Recorded: Octavo die Octobris, 1702. Pr: Ja: Westcomb
Civ. Comm. Westmoreland Co., Va.
Copy by Deputy Clerk, Richmond Co., Va. (Adjoins Westmoreland CO.)"

When Jacques (Jacob) Remy died in 1721 he left two sons,
William Remy and Jacob Jr. Remy, to carry on the family name.

Their descendants quickly began to migrate through Virginia to Kentucky, West Virginia, and many other colonies which later became states.

In his will, dated July 1702, Jacob still owned 200 acres of land:

He left his wife Mary, the furniture in her room and his oldest son, William, one shilling, and his youngest son Jacob, 200 acres of land, on which Jacob Jr. lived.

Westmoreland Co., Va., Will Book 7, p.254. Also Fothergills Wills p.75.

Jacob Remy's surname has changed in spelling many times through documents and census takers.

Ramey, Ramy, Ramu, Reamy, Reamey, Remey, Reme, Remi, are just a few of this same surname.

By: Ancestral Descendant of Jacob and Mary Remy:

 Gayl Ramey Wells : August 2003

Our Remy Line Crest: