R93 William C. Estep
In the ESTEP, Thomas, Sr. ... book on page 637, it states that we do not know what William C. ESTEP's wife Mary's maiden name is. There is reason to believe that she is in fact the daughter of John and Rachel RAMSEY, both born in Ireland. One of the stated reasons for this is that we find her daughter Elizabeth [Lizzie] ESTEP (age 12 at the time) living at the home of John RAMS[E]Y in the 1860 Beaver Co., PA census, New Brighton Borough (page 11), as mentioned on page 637. The records indicate that William C ESTEP died in the 1854 - 1855 time frame, which would be consistent with a grandparent taking in one of their widowed daughter's children.
Also noted, page 637, in the 1850 Beaver Co., PA census, New Brighton Borough, 23 Jul 1850 (page 29), we find William C. and his wife Mary living with two of their children, Elizabeth C. [R931], age 3, and Sarah Jane [R932], age 9 months. This document shows that Mary and the girls were born in PA. The question is - was Mary really born in Ireland? If she was, this would provide further evidence that she was the daughter of John RAMSEY.
When we examine the census reports for two of her grown children in 1900, we find that they believe their mother to have been born in Ireland. First we find William T. ESTEP [R933] living in Cuyahoga Co., OH census, Cleveland Township, Cleveland City, 8 Jun 1900 (Enumeration District 37, Sheet 8B). He is living with his wife Harriet and four children. He lists his occupation as Ax Maker and he states that he and his father were born in PA, but his mother (Mary) was born in Ireland. We find this same case to be true when we examine the census record of another of Mary's children, the before mentioned Elizabeth. Elizabeth C. ESTEP [R931] married a man named SIMPSON and she can be found in the 1900 Mercer Co., PA census, Greenville, 3rd Ward, 4 Jun 1900 (page 192A), Elizabeth C. SIMPSON, age 52, living as the head of household with her only child, daughter Mary, (perhaps named after her mother) age 31, single and a schoolteacher. Elizabeth states that she and her father were born in PA, but her mother was born in Ireland.
John and Rachael RAMSEY who were found in New Brighton in 1860 with Elizabeth ESTEP living at their home (stated above) can be found in New Brighton Borough, 1850 Beaver Co. census (page 26), living with three of their children, George age 28, Elizabeth age 21, and Robert age 19. John's occupation is listed as Mason and his entire family is noted to have been born in Ireland. If our Mary is in fact the daughter of John and Rachael RAMSEY she too would have been born in Ireland. We know Mary was born in 1824. George RAMSEY was born in Ireland in about 1822 and his sister Elizabeth was born in Ireland in about 1829. Mary is the perfect age to fit in between George and Elizabeth, which means if they are siblings she would have been born in Ireland.
I suggest this as evidence that Mary, wife of William C. ESTEP, is the daughter of John and Rachael RAMSEY of Ireland.
[Added 17 May 2001: Another piece of information regarding the birth place of Mary (Ramsey), wife of William C. Estep, is found in this record.
1880 Beaver Co., Pennsylvania - Beaver Falls, 5th Ward, Thomas St., 5 Jun 1880, p. 18 --
ESTEP, William T. - age 28 - married - works in axe factory - born PA -
father born PA, mother born Ireland
Hattie V. - wife - 27 - keeping house
Nellie - dau - 6
John R. - son - 4
William C. - son - 1 - born CA
On this page there are three other men who work in the axe factory. No doubt the factory is the one that was owned by William's grandfather Ephraim Estep.]
[Added 25 Feb 2003: I just received a copy of the Will of John Ramsey (wife Rachel) from the Beaver County Courthouse. As you know, it has been speculated that John Ramsey was the father of Mary, wife of William C. Estep. John Ramsey's Will was dated 12 Jun 1873 and recorded 7 Jul 1873 with John as of sound mind when he signed it. Quoting from a portion of this record says "the balance of my real estate to be divided between my sons John Ramsey, George Ramsey, James D Ramsey and the children of my deceased daughter Mary Estep - Lizzie Simpson, Jennie Callin and William Estep." I offer this as a proof that John and Rachel Ramsey are the grandparents of William T. Estep.]
