José Ramos was the eldest son of Manoel Ramos and Maria da Conceição. His father was a cavalryman who served under Bento Gonçalves da Silva during the Ragamuffin War, whom deserted his battalion and took refuge in Santa Catarina. During a family argument, his father attacked his mother, resulting in Ramos seriously injuring his father with a knife, which eventually led to his death a few days later.