RAMSAY, GEORGE [SSNE 8109]
Text source
George Ramsay was an officer in the first regiment of the Scots-Dutch Brigade. He first finds mention as a lieutenant under Colonel William Edmond [SSNE 8019], when on 25 May 1606 in Utrecht, he married Maeyken Jans, a young woman from Ock(?), (Maclean, p. 289). A petition in 1607 (see below) noted his "faithful service" at the "battle of Flanders," (probably Nieuwpoort), and the sieges of Ostend and Rheinburg, so he had likely been in service since before 1600.
On 25 April 1607, Ramsay and Ensign Thomas Marjoribanks [SSNE 8018] became involved in a dispute with their new Colonel, Sir William Brog [SSNE 7842]. According to a petition from the Sheriff, Burgomaster, and Aldermen of Utrecht, the two subalterns had been wrongly moved from Utrecht by Brog, despite their long years of service in the regiment and the fact they "had held their soldiers in such good order, discipline, and quietness, that they had not only been thanked by their late commander and the soldiers themselves, but even by the whole community here," (Ferguson, p. 206). This was apparently done in revenge, as many of the soldiers in the garrison had been demanding arrears from Colonel Edmond's widow, Agenta Berk. By the following July, Ramsay had received a recommendation by King James VI to Sir Ralph Winwood. The recommendation noted that Ramsay had two brothers slain in service of the Dutch Republic and that Ramsay himself had contracted "infirmities" from his service and was due a pension, (Ferguson, p. 207). This was to be only the first of the royal recommendations Ramsay would receive during his life and death.
On 23 October 1610, Ramsay succeed Captain Oliver Udny [SSNE 8013] after receiving yet another recommendation from King James in 1609 (Ferguson, pp. 227 and 240). He appears to have been garrisoned in Zaltbommel in 1611 (Maclean, p. 321). By 14 April 1615, Ramsay was dead and his company was succeeded by John Kinnimond [SSNE 7988]. He left behind a widow, probably still Maeyken Jans, as well as three sons and daughter. Around the end of 1616 or beginning of 1617, the Burgomasters and Aldermen of Breda petitioned the States General on behalf of Ramsay's widow and children, beseeching them for a pension. Once again, the recommendation noted Ramsay's "honorable and burgherlike" nature and that "his death was very much lamented by all the burghers and soldiers" in the garrison, (Ferguson, p. 283--see below). On 25 May 1632, King Charles I requested that the States General give Ramsay's widow 1490 guilders in arrears (Ferguson, p. 444). This request was passed onto the Council of State and the outcome remains, for now, unknown.
Recommendation of the Widow Ramsay:
To the States-General
My Lords,--Since the widow of Captain Ramsay has requested letters of attestation from us as to the conduct of her late husband, we are bound to declare that the said captain, during the years that he remained here in garrison, conducted himself very well, was honourable and burgherlike in his dealings, and maintained as good order and discipline in his company as any of the captains of this garrison. Indeed his death was very much lamented by all the burghers and soldiers. Wherefore we are moved humbly to pray your High Mightinesses that the said widow and children may find grace and favour in your eyes, and that the said children, being three sons and a daughter, may be reared for the service of the country, in order that they may follow the footsteps of such a brave and virtuous father, etc.,
Burgomasters and Aldermen of the City of Breda.
Sources:
J. Ferguson, Papers Illustrating the History of the Scots Brigade in theservice of the United Netherlands, 1572-1697 (Edinburgh, 1899), pp. 72, 206-208, 227, 240, 283, 444.
MacLean, Dr. Ir. J., De Huwelijksintekeningen Van Schotse Militairen in Nederland: 1574-1665 (Zutphen, 1976), p. 289, 321.
This entry created by Mr Jack Abernethy.
Service record
- THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. EDMOND
- Arrived 1600-01-01, as LIEUTENANT
- Departed 1610-10-23, as CAPTAIN
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- THE DUTCH REPUBLIC, THE SCOTS BRIGADE, COL. BROG
- Arrived 1610-10-23, as CAPTAIN
- Departed 1615-04-13, as DECEASED
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY