Documents and maps, pp. XVII–XXI
The book reproduces original records here, so these pages are documentary evidence (photocopies of originals), not just family compilation. Uncertain readings are marked [?].
p. XVII: Passenger list of the ship Richmond, New York, 1835
“The List of Passengers on the Ship Richmond when Johannes and Barbara Kaufman Ramseyer came to America with part of their family in 1835.”
- Printed form: “District of New-York — Port of New-York”. The master swears to the list “of all the Passengers taken on board the Ship Richmond, whereof [John?] Lenox [?] is Master, from Havre, burthen 436 tons”, sworn July 1835.
- The family group (names are hard to read in the photocopy; ages are clear):
| Name on list | Age | Sex | Occupation | Country of origin → intended home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jn. Ramsey[er] | 56 | male | labourer | France → “State of Ohio” |
| Barbara | 55 | female | " | " |
| Marie | 23 | female | " | " |
| Joseph | 20 | male | " | " |
| Ellen [= Elizabeth] | 18 | female | " | " |
| Nicolas | 15 or 16 [?] | male | " | " |
| Pierre [= Peter] | 12 | male | " | " |
| Jacob Schwartz | 28 | male | " | " |
| Catherine [Schwartz] | 25 | female | " | " |
| Barbara [Schwartz] | 5 | female | " | " |
| Marie [Schwartz] | 3 | female | " | " |
| Catherine [Schwartz] | 1 | female | " | " |
This matches the transcript already in the vault (Johannes Ramseyer (1780–1853): “John Ramesay, 56 … Barbara 55, Marie 23, Joseph 20, Ellen 18, Nicolas 15, Pierre 12”). The NARA original (M237, New York passenger lists) arrived 5 July 1835.
p. XIX: Map of southeast Stark County, Ohio
A modern road map of Paris, Washington, Osnaburg, Nimishillen, Canton, Sandy and Pike townships, with three circles. The book’s captions:
- Circle 1 (near Minerva, bottom of Section 33, Paris Township): “where Johannes and Barbara Kaufman Ramseyer bought 60 acres and built a log home in 1835.”
- Circle 2 (north of Paris): “Where Peter and Barbara Reich Ramseyer bought a farm, built a house and a large barn in 1859. Both are still being used.”
- Circle 3 (just north of circle 2, between Louisville and Freeburg): “Old Beech Cemetery where we know Peter and Barbara Reich Ramseyer, also two of Peter’s sisters, Catherine Schwartz and Mary Becker with husband Andrew, are buried. We think Johannes and Barbara Kaufman Ramseyer are buried there also, but we have found no records.”
These places are added to Paris Township (Stark County).
p. XXI: The 1835 agreement with Joseph Sommers (a mortgage deed)
The book captions it: “This is the agreement between Johannes and Barbara Kaufman Ramseyer (Buyers) and Joseph Sommers (Seller) on the 60 acres purchased in 1835.” The page shown is the mortgage the Ramseyers gave Sommers for the unpaid half of the price. The text continues “(over)” on p. XXII, not photographed.
Transcription (Claude; spelling as written, punctuation added, uncertain words [?]):
This Indenture made this thirteenth day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five, between John Ramseyre and Barbary Ramseyre his wife, of the County of Stark and State of Ohio, of the one part, and Joseph Sommers of the County and State aforesaid of the other part, witnesseth: that the said John Ramseyre and Barbara his wife, for and in consideration of the sum of two hundred dollars to them paid by the said Joseph Sommers, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, hath granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents doth grant, bargain, sell, alien and confirm unto the said Joseph Sommers and to his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract or parcel of land situate in the County of Stark and State of Ohio, and being a part of the South East quarter of Section thirty-three, Township Seventeen, Range Six: Beginning for the same at the South East corner of said Section, thence North seventy perches, thence to the western boundary of said quarter section fifty perches from the South West corner of said quarter, thence South fifty perches to the aforesaid South West corner of said quarter, thence East forty chains and twenty links to the place of beginning, containing sixty acres; to have and to hold the premises aforesaid, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, unto him the said Joseph Sommers and his heirs and assigns forever.
Provided always, and these presents are upon the express condition, that if the said John Ramseyre, his heirs, executors or administrators shall pay or cause to be paid to the said Joseph Sommers, his certain attorney or attorneys, heirs, executors or administrators or assigns, the sum of two hundred dollars, in manner particularly specified in a certain note or obligation bearing even date herewith and payable on or before the eighth day of August A.D. one thousand eight hundred and thirty-six, executed by the said John Ramseyre to the said Joseph Sommers, that then and from thenceforth these presents and everything therein contained shall cease and be void, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year above written.
Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of: Wm. Van [Guyse?] [J.P.?]; Peter [?]
[Signatures:] [Jacob? John?] Ramseyer (seal); [Barbla?] [Ramseier?] (seal)The State of Ohio, Stark County, ss: Before me, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, personally came John Ramseyre and Barbara his wife and severally acknowledged the above mortgage deed to be their voluntary act and deed; and the said Barbara, wife of the said John Ramseyre, being by me examined separate and apart from her said husband, and the contents of the above deed being by me made known to her, she did say upon such separate examination that she did sign, seal and acknowledge the same without any fear of her said husband, and that she is still satisfied therewith. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty-five.
Wm. Van [Guyse?] (seal)Rec’d 9th July 1836 at 8 o’clock P.M. & recorded 28th July 1836. Danl. Raffensperger, Rec[order].
What it adds:
- The legal description: SE quarter, Section 33, Township 17, Range 6 (Paris Township), 60 acres.
- The 200 note due 8 August 1836**, secured by this mortgage. The book says it was paid off by July 1836.
- The first signature looks like “Jacob” rather than John. The recorder’s copy may be in error, or the reading may be wrong; it needs the original deed book (Stark County Recorder, mortgage records, 1836).
Record compiled 31 October 2026.
About this research
Supporting documentation is linked throughout. This project is an exercise in AI-assisted research and development, and I haven’t manually verified every link or conclusion. All transcriptions and translations of Swiss parish records were made with AI, and their accuracy should be treated accordingly.