Riding the Tail of the Dragon

It remains on the tour list of mansions and plantations to be visited in the tidewater area of Virginia. Tourists enjoy hearing the fascinating stories of the aristocratic Ramsey family and fantasize vicariously living in great opulence, which many years ago included extravagant balls, exciting hunting parties and visits by European royalty.

There had been a few Ramsey men throughout generations who did not rise to the high moral and social standards expected, but the mischievous pranks of those few mavericks were greatly overshadowed by the generous deeds of other family members, and the Ramseys enjoyed a reputation for their benevolence. Many charities in York County, and in fact the state, had been established by the Ramsey women. Some people in the county greatly admired the Ramseys and protected the character of the name to all outsiders.

These people felt a strong bond of loyalty to the Ramsey family and believed that if it had not been for them, many of their progenitors would not have survived. Over the generations, there had been great depressions when many of the county residents lost everything and turned to the Ramsey family for assistance. The Ramseys always came through with support and provided a living existence for them in their time of need.

It was true, though, that much of the plantation’s six thousand acres was confiscated from poor, indigent neighbors during the depression years. Some felt there were shady foreclosure deals where the banks closed their eyes, and the Ramseys were waiting and eager to add the property to their already extensive landholdings. Some people felt the foreclosures were acted upon too hastily, but others felt the Ramseys were acting in good faith to help out in an already bad financial situation. For this reason, it was a little easier for some folks in York County to overlook certain indiscretions of the Ramsey family.

For generations, the Ramsey name was synonymous with money and power. The six thousand acres of rich farmland yielded copious crops of tobacco. Over the years, family interests expanded from the tobacco fields and diversified into the banking industry and the commodities market. Money came as easily to the Ramseys as leaves falling from a tree.

BillyJoe Coleman was the caretaker, as had been his grandfather before him. In fact, the Coleman family could trace its heritage back eighty-seven years as being the plantation’s caretakers. There were no Ramseys to tend the plantation, now. The property had been tied up in probate after the matriarch of the plantation, Patricia Ramsey, died – and that was over twelve years ago.

Patricia, or Miss Patti as she was fondly called, was the last of the Ramseys, or so it was presumed. It was said she died of a broken heart. She lived a long life – too long for the misery and heartache she had sustained. Years of dreadful events took their toll. Her carefree, ebullient personality turned into a rather dark, contemplative mood at times after her husband lost his life in a tragic hunting accident. Those close to her always felt her mood swings had something to do with her son, Henry.

Henry was an exceptionally good looking young man... tall, with an athletic physique, a quick, mischievous smile and vibrant blue eyes. He was a spitting image of his father, but he lacked his charm and charisma. He was an only child and greatly over indulged to an extent that he was spoiled beyond belief. He loved to flaunt his family power and money over the other boys in the area... especially the plantation caretaker’s son, BillyJoe. Henry (or Hank as his friends called him) was the town bully. His father had bailed him out of trouble with the sheriff’s office more than once.

When he grew to manhood, he showed no real ambition and wanted no responsibility in overseeing the needs of the plantation. Tobacco fields, banking interests and the commodities market held no interest for him. In his youth, he was looked upon as one of the Ramsey mavericks and so his actions were excused. It was quite different, however, when he returned from college, as his pranks were no longer cute. They became much more serious in nature and often times were too dangerous.

Two years after old man Ramsey’s accidental death, Henry was killed, but family ties had long been broken between mother and son. All communication between the two ended about the time old man Ramsey was accidentally killed while fox hunting with a group of friends. Miss Patti never spoke to her son after the accident, nor were any of the servants allowed to speak his name in her presence. She gave no reason, and none was expected. Miss Patti was loved by all and her wishes were greatly respected. It was said she did lament not knowing Henry’s wife, Alice, more intimately, for supposedly Alice died while giving birth to a baby girl seven months after Henry had been killed. No one knew that for certain. If it were true, the baby would be Miss Patti’s only grandchild and would be in line to inherit the plantation. Alice disappeared shortly after Henry’s funeral and never made contact with Miss Patti.