1. The common ancestor

It’s interesting to speculate about the importance of a cohesive narrative in preserving a sense of family continuity. In the Ramsays’ case, they were able to retain a specific identity in the midst of all the other Ramsays through reference to a glorious ancestor, who provided the family’s link to the Middle Ages:

Sir Alexander Ramsay, Knight of Dalhousie, who flourished in the reigns of James II and III. He was one of the chief commanders in the conflict at Piperden on 14 September 1435. He executed an entail of his estate in favour of his grandson Alexander (son of Alexander oldest son and apparent heir of the said Alexander but he died before his father) and the heirs male of his body, whom failing to his second son Robert, his third son George, his fourth son William and the heirs male of their bodies respectively by charter dated 4th April 1456. He died about 1465 and is the Common Ancestor.

The Earls of Dalhousie are descended from the grandson, and the Ramsays from the second son Robert. Note the entail, which was to become feature of Ramsay history, and played its part in preserving the integrity of the Whitehill estate when Andrew Ramsay drew up a new entail, to prevent it being sold off to pay his father’s debts.

Taken from Family Genealogy of Wardlaw-Ramsay