Flemstead Ransone, sometimes found as “Ransom”, is the fifth generation of his family to live in Virginia. He first appears in the Cumberland County, Virginia court order book on 24 September 1754, as a witness, so he likely was at least 16 years old and probably 21 or older. That would place his birth between 1733-1738.

Flemstead Ransone married Elizabeth (MNU), but little is known about his family. Elizabeth’s name is known to us because she and Flemstead’s names appear Cumberland County deeds from the 1770s to the 1790s.

Deed of Flemstead & Henry Ransone, 18 November 1790
Cumberland County, Virginia Deed Book 7: 35
Source: FamilySearch

The court recorded this deed from Flemstead and Henry Ransone for the sale of land to William Meredith. However, it noted that their wives, Elizabeth and Sarah, could not conveniently travel to the courthouse to acknowledge the release of dower rights. Clerks of the court appended a statement dated 18 November 1790 that each had been examined privately and gave free consent to the sale. Therefore, we know that Elizabeth was still living as of that date.

Flemstead Ransone died between 8 July 1793, when he was mentioned in a Buckingham County, Virginia court record as not taking an oath and 27 March 1797, when a Cumberland County, Virginia land deed mentions the estate of Flemstead Ransone, along with John F. Ransone and William Ransone selling land to Tscharner Woodson.

Cumberland County, VA Deed Book 8:272
Source: FamilySearch

The most interesting part of this deed is in the opening:

This Indenture made this fifth day of September one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight Between Ambrose Ransone Administrator with the Will annexed of Flamstead Ransone dec’d. .

There is no transcription of the will of Flemstead Ransone following this deed! However, the will of “Flamstead Ransome” was filed in Buckingham County in 1796 and has been published in the Magazine of Virginia Genealogy! This will was in exhibit in the U.S. Supreme Court case Hopkirk v. Ransome heard by Chief Justice John Marshall.

Children (Those in blue are proven, Mary and Henry are assumed to be.):

1. Ambrose, born 1761-1770; died 12 July 1843, Batavia, Clermont, Ohio; married Ann Andrews, 30 December 1793, Cumberland County, Virginia. He was an abolitionist. In the lawsuit between John F. and Henry, Ambrose deposed that they were his brothers, both younger than him.
2. Mary, born c1764; died after 25 July 1803, date of her husband’s will; married Henry Purkins, c1787
3. Henry, born before c1765; in a lawsuit with John F. from 1797-1799; died before 6 March 1822 when sarah’s dower rights were settled; married Sarah P. Wright, 24 December 1786, Cumberland County, Virginia
4. Catherine, born c1768; (1) married Gabriel Wright, 26 December 1785, Cumberland County, Virginia with consent of her father, Flemstead Ransone (2) John Sharpe, who died before 14 March 1823, Prince Edward County, VA [Deed Book 18:133]
5. John F., born c1770; married Elizabeth (MNU)
6. Elizabeth, born c1774; died after 5 September 1798; married James Price and lived in Prince Edward County, Virginia
7. William, born c1775; married Susan Dejarnette, 15 August 1799, Halifax County, Virginia
8. Lucy; born c1777; died after 5 September 1798, living in Buckingham County and unmarried at that time.

Mary is placed in Flemstead’s family because she and Henry named a son Flemstead and her son, John, and his wife, Rhoda Walters Woosley in turn named a son John Ransone Perkins.

Also lending credence to the idea that she was a daughter of Flemstead is a Virginia chancery court lawsuit between John F. and Henry Ransone, brothers, who sued over the sale of enslaved persons who were part of their father’s estate. Henry Purkins, in his deposition, stated at he was present during the settlement of the sale. His wife being a legatee of Flemstead would explain his presence.

Virginia Memory: Chancery Records
Case 1797:004, Cumberland County, VA
Adm of F Ransome & James Wilson v Adm of F Ransome & James Wilson

The affidavit of Henry Perkins, Taken this 21st day of September. 1795. In a Certain Suit i Chancery In the County of Cumberland Now depending Between James Wilson Plaintiff and Flemstead Ransome, defendant. The said Henry Perkins being first sworn. Saith he happened at the Dwelling house of the defendant Ransome; when The Settlement took place, between the parties Respecting Two Negroes and the said Perkins Understood by the Parties, that there had been the Day before a Sale of Some of Ransome Negroes, and James Wilson become the Purchaser of some of them; and a negro Woman Named Leah [illegible} Inclinable, Ransone Should take back and said she was Worth Forty pounds, Ransone Replyed, Mr. Wilson, she is [?] Negro. Take her Wilson mentioned this several times, and Ransone made him the Same Reply as before, She is your Negro. take her; and this deponent, Understood by the parties; that the defendant had Taken a Negro Man by the Name of Cambridge at three fourths of. . . . .

More discoveries to come about the Ransone family, as I have discovered proof of the mother and paternal grandfather of Flemstead Ransone in another lawsuit!