Sketch of
COLONEL WILLIAM RANSOM
and of the RANSOM FAMILY
compiled and edited by Clarence L COLLENS, 1956. not indexed.
This book was found in Owego NY, by Albert E SMITH, of Cocoa Beach FL. It is very nicely done, over 100 pages, with many photographs and interesting stories.
The first section [20 pages] deals with William6 RANSOM (Samuel5,4, Robert3,2,1), born 9 April 1801 at Tioga Centre NY; died there 11 Feb 1883. He married 14 Sep 1831 at Owego NY to Angeline MARTIN. They had two children who died young; they later adopted a niece, Angeline Delphine RANSOM, who had lived with them for several years. [William also had an illegitimate son, Warren W RANSOM, according to a codicil of his will. -AES]
The information in the first section is from the family bible, various papers, letters, deeds and wills, and information set down by various descendants. There are a few pages of information about the Colonel's ancestors, mostly taken from notes compiled by Clinton B SEARS [CBS] after his book on Captain Samuel RANSOM was issued in 1882. At the time of that book, the ancestors were unknown, but subsequent research revealed the line listed above.
"At the time of his marriage, William was Colonel of the 53d Regiment, 41st Brigade, 19th Division, NG, State of NY. He continued and expanded the business enterprises of his father . . . farming, saw mill, grist mill, tannery, general store at Tioga Centre. The lumber from the sawmill was rafted down the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania & Maryland. He was an expert raftsman."
In 1848, he built a large home overlooking the River, known as the Bluff, with indoor bathrooms and central heating. Many pages are devoted to a description of the Bluff, the property, the parties and neighbors. The colonel built a burial vault and transferred several relatives to it in 1869. The Bluff was torn down in 1946.
Colonel William kept a diary in 1869. It is excerpted herein. There are many anecdotes about his business dealings and operations.
Section II, "Supplemental Information, By-Plays and Random Notes" comprises 10 pages. There are notes about many of the in-laws, a list of nick-names, and three pages of reminiscing about summers spent at the Bluffs from 1910-1935 by the LEE & COLLENS children.
Section III, "Genealogical Records", begins with Robert1 RANSOM, and continues through the 11th generation. The first 4 generations are briefly listed, taken from notes by CBS. Matthew is not included as a child of Robert1 [+!], but "Samuel married Mercy DUNHAM" is listed [-]. Most of the later listings are taken from CBS, with additions for those born after 1880.
Section IV, "Exhibits and Photographs", has 13 exhibits and 21 photos, besides a lengthy sketch with photos of lumber rafting on the Wisconsin River, similar to the rafting done by the colonel. The family bible list is here, along with obituaries, family vault burial listing, early maps and letters, and group and individual pictures of the family and property.
A 19-page supplement, "Remembered Stories and Facts of the Bluff at Tioga Center, New York, and of the Ransom and Latimer families" was prepared by Clara LATIMER COLLENS in the 1950's. This is a well-written example of personal reminisces and humorous anecdotes. Also appended are two newspaper articles: the 1931 wedding of Emile COLLENS to Grenville Strong SEWALL at the Bluffs, including a description of the site and family wedding history; and the 1933 sudden death of Angie LATIMER LEE, age 60, while visiting France.
--Mike RANSOM; Published in the RANSOM RESEARCHER, #11, p 289, September 1995.