Complete baronetage, by George E. Cokayne

1904, vol iv, pp. 242-243

The Ramsays’ century as Scotch Baronets is registered below, with tantalising glimpses of other Ramsay septs. Where is the Duchy of Spruce? King Charles I created the first Scottish baronet on 28 May 1625, covenanting in the creation charter that the baronets of Scotland or of Nova Scotia should never exceed 150, that their heirs apparent should be knighted on coming of age (21), and that no one should receive the honour who had not fulfilled the conditions, viz, paid 3,000 merks towards the plantation of the colony. Over a hundred of these baronetcies, now known as Scottish baronetcies, have survived to this day. The Ramsay Baronetcy, of Whitehill in the County of Edinburgh, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 2 June 1665 for James Ramsay, K.O. The title became extinct on the death of the fifth Baronet on 22 October 1744. In any case, times were moving on, and titles were no longer such an asset.