Ramsay was born in the 1720s and she had five sisters Mary, Christian, Ann and Jean[1] who were all involved in making and selling hats and haberdashery. Their parents were Katherine (born Kerr) and Gilbert Ramsay. Gilbert was a solicitor who was a factor managing the estate of John Ker, 1st Duke of Roxburghe. She and her younger sister were successful shopkeepers. They had a five room shop on Lyon Close accessible from Edinburgh High Street[2] which is now part of the Royal Mile.
They had assistants and servants[1] including a clerk named James Mushet and Isobel Colvin who worked with them for a decade. They frequently appear in court records where they are suing for payment. Katherine and her staff appear as witnesses as their debtors are tried.[2]
Viewfirth (later renamed Marionville House)
Goods were sold and manufactured at their premises which was offered for sale on 20 December 1765.[2]
She and Ann bought land called "Kilnacre" at Restalrig near Edinburgh. The land was purchased from their sister Christian's husband, James who was a builder. They had a house built on the land starting in 1769. This house was called Viewfrith or Viewfirth. They sold it in 1783 to Capt. James M'Rae or McRae[2] cousin of the Earl of Glencairn who called it Marionville.[3] It is unclear where she then worked but she was still in business in 1771 when she and her sister were selling goods to "Clerk of Penicuik".[2]
Death and legacy
Ramsay died in Edinburgh in 1808 probably at her home in Antigua Street. She left her bible and prayerbook to her niece and she died owning £4,000 worth (equivalent to over £500,000 in 2022[4]) of shares in the Bank of Scotland.[2]
