RIDLEY

G. T. Ridlon (History of the Ancient Ryedales and Their Descendants... ) reported a tradition current in the years immediately following the Civil War that Robert Ridley was the ancestor of this family. Proponents of this theory cite John C. Hotten (The Original Lists of Persons of Quality ... ) who reported a Robert Ridley, age 23, and Elizabeth Ridley, age 30, among the passengers aboard the ship Dorset bound for Bermuda in September of 1635. They further point out that one Robert Ridley executed a boundary line agreement in York County, Virginia, forty-nine years later in 1684. Stripped of the printed dignity given it by Ridlon, this theory is no more compelling than would be one connecting Nathaniel to any of the other early Ridley immigrants reported by George Cabell Greer (Early Virginia Immigrants 1623-1666 ... ). And while the tradition cannot be refuted, neither does the evidence warrant its acceptance. It is tempting to graft the Southampton Ridleys onto the earlier stock, but this account begins with Nathaniel, himself an immigrant, because he is the first Ridley from whom it can be proven we descend.

Thus, the only line to be dealt with here is that descending from Nathaniel, for it is from his line that today, some ten generations later, there are descendants of the name.

*   *   *

 A-320. Capt. Nathaniel Ridley of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, immigrant ancestor of this line, was born 1675-80 of unknown parents, and died in 1719. He was a Captain in the Militia. He held 200 acres of land in 1704, and patented 815 acres in 1714. He was Sheriff of Isle of Wight in 1709 and again in 1715-16. Before 1706 he married A-321. Elizabeth Day, daughter of James and Mary (Thompson) Day of Isle of Wight County.  After Nathaniel's death, Elizabeth (Day) Ridley married Matthew Jones in 1719 as his second wife. There were at least three children born of that union: Albridgton, Anne and Margaret.

I.    Nathaniel Ridley II (c.1705-), married in 1742 Priscilla Applewhaite daughter of Henry and Ann (Marshall) Applewhaite. Issue five children as follows:

A.    Nathaniel Ridley III (c.1743-) married Sarah Ridley (-1807) his first cousin, daughter of James and Jane (Smith) Ridley.

1.    Matthew Ridley, under age in 1775, died unmarried in 1795.

B.    Day Ridley (1744-) married Martha Thorpe daughter of Timothy and Martha (Peterson) Thorpe of Southampton Co., Virginia.

1.    Nathaniel Ridley IV (1766-).  He moved to Smith County, Tennessee.

2.    Timothy Thorpe Ridley (1770-1843)

3.    Margaret Ridley married Albridgton Browne son of Samuel Ridley Browne.  Issue.

4.    Martha Ridley (1774-1819) married Dr. Samuel Browne of Southampton County.  Issue.

C.    Col. Thomas Ridley, third child of Nathaniel II and Priscilla (Applewhaite) Ridley, was born about 1750, and died 15 February 1815. He married Amey Scott 9 April 1778 in Southampton County, Virginia. She was the daughter of John Scott, originally of Dinwiddie County, who died in Sussex County, Virginia.

Thomas Ridley took an active role in the political affairs of Southampton, being a justice for many years. He served in the House of Delegates in 1785-86 and 1786-87, and in the State Senate from 1790 to 1800. He was also a vestryman of St. Luke's Parish before its dis-establishment. He entered the Continental Army 11 March 1776 as a Captain with the 4th Virginia Regiment, and was promoted to the rank of Major 1 March 1778, while serving with the 10th Virginia Regiment. For his services during the war, he received bounty warrants for 6887 acres in the Military District of Ohio. His title of Colonel derives from a commission in the Militia of Southampton County dated 9 June 1785. He was an original member of the Society of the Cincinnati. Thomas Ridley died testate in Southampton County 15 February 1815, and Amey (Scott) Ridley died 5 February 1815.

1.    Thomas Ridley II, born 8 November 1778, died testate in Southampton County, Virginia, 10 December 1839. He first married in 1801 Mary Wright, daughter of William and Ann (Blunt) Wright of Southampton and Greensville County, Virginia. She died 4 February 1815. He then married 24 July 1816 Mrs. Ann Gilliam (Blunt) Wilkinson, widow of Nathaniel Wilkinson and daughter of William and Elizabeth (Norfleet) Blunt of Southampton. His wives were first cousins.

He was educated by the Rev. Henry John Burges. During the War of 1812, he commanded a company of cavalry in the Southampton County Militia, and later rose to the rank of Colonel. Like his father before him, he served as a justice for Southampton County. In 1809 he purchased "Rock Spring" Plantation from John Wright, his wife's uncle. This plantation became the site of the Ridley family graveyard. This was also the house fortified in Nat Turner's revolt and used as a point of refuge by fleeing neighbors.

Thomas' second wife, Ann (Blunt) Wilkinson, was an heiress as well as a wealthy widow. She brought "West Plains" plantation with her as her dower, and later become the sole heir of her deceased Wilkinson sons. It appears that the Ridleys alternated between the two residences. When Thomas Ridley died in 1839, he still owned some of the military lands in Ohio inherited from his father.

a.    William Ridley born 3 October 1807, died 18 July 1837. He died unmarried and his property reverted to his father.

b.    Thomas Ridley III, of "Bonnie Doon," was born in Southampton County, Virginia, 22 August 1809 and died there 7 March 1875. He married 2 November 1837 in Northampton County, North Carolina, Margaret Ann Bynum Jordan, born 2 March 1819, died 8 February 1906 in Southampton. She was the daughter of John B. and Nancy (Bynum) Jordan of Northampton County.

Thomas Ridley III was a Colonel in the Southampton County militia and a justice of the county court. He lived at "Bonnie Doon" plantation formerly given to his brother, William. This property was purchased from George B. Cary and later improved by Thomas Ridley. He was an extensive property holder and the wealthiest man in Southampton County.

(1)    Leonidas Ridley (1838-)

(2)    Roberta Mary Ridley (1840-1872)

(3)    Eliza Ann Ridley (1841-1901) maried Anselm Bailey Urquhart (1837-1900) son of Charles Fox and Eliza Blount (Hill) Urquhart of  "Charlie's Hope," Southampton Co., Virginia. Issue ten children.

(4)    Nathaniel Thomas Ridley (1844-1925) of "Bloomfield," married his first cousin, Mary Thomas Ridley (1846-1883).

(a)    Roberta Mary Ridley (1872-) died unmarried.  She bequeathed the 1200 acres of "Bloomfield" to the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.

(5)    Emma Wright Ridley (1846-1893) married George Pollok Burgwyn (1847-1907) son of Henry King Burgwyn Sr. of New Bern, North Carolina and Anna Greenough of Boston.

(6)    Virginia Jordan Ridley (1847-1873)

(7)    John William Ridley (1854-1939) married  Bettie Goodwyn (1857-1920)

(a)    Annie Bynum Ridley (1877-1968) married William Shands.   Issue.

(b)    Thomas Ridley (1878-1881)

(c)    Fenton Garnett Ridley (1880-1947)

(d)    Margaret Jordan Ridley (1882-1895)

(e)    William Goodwyn Ridley (1884-1948)

(f)    Eliza Branch Ridley (1887-1955)

(g)    Natalie Thomas Ridley (1890-1974)

(h)    Churchill Gibson Ridley (1893-1976)

(i)    Bessie Douglas Ridley (1894-1984)

c.    Robert Ridley (1811-1852) married Ann Eliza Blunt (1825-1862) daughter of John Norfleet and Sally Mason (Peterson) Blunt.

(1)    Robert Ridley, Jr. (1844-1913) married Lucy Ann Urquhart

(a)    Nannie Blunt Ridley (1868-1869)

(b)    Norfleet Blunt Ridley (1870-1894)

(c)    Thomas Urquhart Ridley (1871-1910)

(d)    Ann Eliza Ridley (1875-1915)

(e)    Marie Antoinette Ridley (1879-1962)

(2)    Mary Thomas Ridley (1846-1883) married Nathaniel Thomas Ridley (1844-1925)

(3)    Norfleet Blunt Ridley (1848-1893) married Anna Feild Ridley (1849-1924)

(a)    Robert Ridley (1874-1933)

(b)    William Goodwyn Ridley (1877-1916)

(c)    Francis Thomas Ridley (1882-1934)

(d)    Elizabeth Norfleet Goodwyn Ridley (1884-1951) married Francis Sterling Baggett of Vicksburg, Missippi.

(e)    Annie Blunt Ridley (1888-)

(4)    Sallie Ann Ridley (1850-1924) married 1st John Joseph Long, Jr. (1845-1878), and 2nd Dr. Henry Wilkins Lewis (1856-1936)

d.    Nancy Blunt Ridley (1814-1824)

2.    Nancy Ridley (1782-1784)

3.    Francis Ridley (1785-1822) married Louisa Rebecca Blunt (1796-) daughter of William and Elizabeth (Norfleet) Blunt.

a.    John Blunt Ridley

b.    Francis Thomas Ridley (1817-1898) married Elizabeth Norfleet Goodwyn

(1)    William Goodwyn Ridley (1842-1862) Died in the Confederate service.

(2)    Louisa Blunt Ridley (1844-1916)

(3)    Elizabeth Norfleet Ridley (1846-1924)

(4)    Anna Feild Ridley (1849-1924) married Norfleet Blunt Ridley (1848-). See his entry for issue.

(5)    Francis Thomas Ridley, Jr. (1851-1879)

(6)    Julia Maclin Ridley (1852-1926)

D.    Anne Ridley (1741-) married John Holladay (-1782).  Issue

E.    Parmillia Ridley married 1st Riddick Holladay and 2nd William Coffield.  Issue.

II.    A-160. James Ridley, second child of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Day) Ridley, was born circa 1710 and died 1781. He lived in Southampton County, and married before 1742, A-161. Jane Smith, daughter of Arthur III and Mary (Bromfield) Smith of Isle of Wight County. James Ridley was a justice of the peace in Isle of Wight County and, with his brother Nathaniel, was a member of the first County Court of Southampton.

A.    James Day Ridley, M.D., (c.1738-1778) married in 1758 Mary Edwards daughter of Col. Nathaniel Edwards of Brunswick Co., Virginia, and his wife Jane Eaton.

1.    Rebecca Ridley (-1824) married William Massenburg (-1816).   Issue.

2.    John Edwards Ridley (c.1760-1794) married Jane Wright daughter of Dr. James and Jane Wright of Hertford Co., North Carolina.  He left no surviving children.

3.    Elizabeth Ridley (1760-1810) married 1st Etheldred Taylor (-1791), 2nd Francis Woolfolk (-1796), and 3rd Samuel Blunt, M.D., of "Belmont."   There is no evidence of children by her first two marriages but she had four children by Dr. Blunt

B.    Arthur Ridley, (c.1740- ) married Elizabeth (Blunt?).  They moved to Hertford Co., North Carolina and he was dead by 1782.

1.    Rebecca Ridley (-1826) married Thomas Wynns. Issue ten children:Joseph B., Elizabeth, Frances R., Ridley B., Mary ("Polly"), William, Thomas Jr., Rebecca, James, and Judith P.H. Wynns.

C.    A-80. Bromfield Ridley (c.1742-1796), married 1770 in Granville County, North Carolina, A-81. Frances Keeling (-1823) daughter of George Keeling and Agnes Bullock.

Bromfield Ridley "was settled as a lawyer at Oxford, Granville County, as early as 1770, and evidently several years earlier than that date. He is said to have been a man distinguished in his profession ...", a reputation attested by his nomination to serve in numerous public positions requiring legal ability including Attorney General of North Carolina. He resided at "Nine Oaks," a beautiful country seat about eleven miles from Oxford. This house was still standing in 1960 in Vance County. Of strange appearance, its size and ornamentation mark it as having been a place of consequence.

1.    A-40. James Ridley II, M.D., born about 1776 in Oxford, Granville Co., North Carolina, died 25 December 1855 while on a visit in Tennessee. His will is recorded in Granville County. He married A-41. Elizabeth Taylor Lewis 14 Oct. 1801 in Granville County. She was the daughter of Charles and Mary (Anderson) Lewis of Granville, and great granddaughter of Col. Charles and Mary (Howell) Lewis of "The Byrd," Goochland County, Virginia. Elizabeth (Lewis) Ridley died 3 October 1872 in LaGrange, Georgia. Her sister, Henrietta, married Dr. Archibald Ridley.

a.    Charles Lewis Ridley, M.D. (1802-1873), married Susan Anthony Bonner (1807-1880).  They located near Cornucopia, in Jones Co., Georgia, on the Ocmulgee River.  He was a member of the Secession Convention.

(1)    James Bromfield Ridley, M.D. (1825-1862)

(2)    Hamilton Bonner Ridley (1828-1904)

(3)    Robert Burton Ridley (1833-1863)

b.    A-20. Hon. Bromfield Lewis Ridley, of "Fairmont," born in Oxford, North Carolina, 4 August 1804. Following his graduation from the University at Chapel Hill in 1824, he located at McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee, and commenced the practice of law. On 12 October 1829 he married A-21. Rebecca Thompson Crosthwait, born 1810 in Alabama. She was the daughter of Shelton and Elizabeth (Thompson) Crosthwait of old Jefferson in nearby Rutherford County.

                      Chancellor Bromfield Lewis Ridley     (1810-1870)                          Rebecca Crosthwait Ridley      (1804-1869)                                                    

 

In 1832, Tennessee Governor William Carroll appointed the young lawyer as District Attorney General of the district including Warren County, and in 1835 he was elected to represent Warren County in the Legislature. In 1840 he was elected Chancellor of the Fourth Chancery District, and moved his family to Old Jefferson. He served in that capacity until the second year of the War, and at the time of his retirement was the senior serving justice on the Tennessee bench. Along with Abram Caruthers and Nathan Green, he co-founded the Cumberland Law School at Lebanon, Tennessee, where he taught part-time.

For Rebecca, the move meant going home, literally. Her husband had begun acquiring property at Old Jefferson in 1837 with the purchase of fifty acres on the North side of Stones River from her brother, George D. Crosthwait. In 1842 Ridley bought five hundred more acres on the opposite bank from his mother-in-law, Elizabeth Crosthwait. This later purchase, included the mills and Crosthwait mansion house known as "Fairmont." In the ensuing twenty years "Fairmont" came to employ over a hundred slaves, many of whom adopted the Ridley name upon emancipation.

The Ridley home at Old Jefferson with its half dozen marriageable children, was lively and popular, a focal point of social and political life. In an area noted for rich farms and hospitality, "Fairmont" at its peak had few peers. Judge Ridley was a highly respected jurist, politically powerful, an active member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and wealthy. Rebecca, in her husband's frequent circuit-riding absence, proved herself strong and capable both as a mother and as supervisor of the farm. Then with the war, it all came to an end. Large amounts of capital invested in Confederate bonds was lost and "Fairmont" was burned to the ground during the early morning hours of 11 February 1863.

After the war, all the Ridley men returned home safely. Judge and Mrs. Ridley moved into Murfreesboro where they lived on the west side of Vine Street midway of the block between Maney and High Streets. His widowed mother lived with them until his death 11 August 1869, when she moved to LaGrange to live with her third son, Dr. R.A.T. Ridley. Rebecca Crosthwait Ridley died in 1870. Both are buried in Murfreesboro's Evergreen Cemetery.

(1) Jerome Shelton Ridley (1832-1886), married Margaret Penelope McLean (1835-1883), daughter of Finus Ewing McLean of Todd Co., Kentucky.

(a)    Virginia Gray Ridley (1858-1944) married 1st Smith Caruthers (-1884) and 2nd John Oliver Street

(b)    Paul Ridley (1861-)

(c)    Henrietta Ridley (1868-) married John Trimble Lindsley of Nashville, Tennessee.   Issue

(2) Mary Elizabeth Ridley ("Bettie"), (1834-1863) married William Blackmore of Wilson County, Tennessee, died without issue.

(3) Virginia R. Ridley (1837-1854).

(4) James Lucas Ridley, M.D. (1838- ), married Fanny Jane Robinson of Huntsville, Alabama.

(a)    Mauveleen Ridley (1869-1964) married Arthur Francis Walker

(b)    Irma Grey Ridley (1874-) married 1st Capt. Conway C. Wyatt of the British Army (-1917) and 2nd John Brown Francis Herreshoff, widower of her younger sister.

(c)    Carrie Lucas Ridley (1878-1924) married 1st Joseph A. Enslow and 2nd John Brown Francis Herreschoff (1850-1932).

(5) George Crosthwait Ridley (1840-1918), married (1st) Betty Jones and (2nd) Mrs. Rebecca (Welborn) King.

children of George Crosthwait Ridley and Betty Jones:

(a)    Bettie B. Ridley married 1887 in Williamson Co., Texas, Will Hunton.  Issue.

(b)    Bertha Rebecca Ridley (1868-1956) married 1889 in Williamson Co., Texas, James Francis Atkinson.  Issue.

(c)    Brenda Ridley (1868-1868) twin of Bertha, died at birth.

children of George Crosthwait Ridley and Rebecca J. Welborn:

(d)    Charles L. Ridley (1872-)

(e)    Welborn Starnes Ridley (1876-) married Effie Barnes, issue: Frank, Rebecca, David and Frances.

(f)    Cora Elizabeth Ridley (1878-)

(g)    Zula Evalena Alexander Ridley (1879-)

(h)    George Jerome Ridley (1881-)

(i)    Madeline Beulah Ridley (1885-)

(j)    Percy Luke Ridley (1887-)

(k)    Basil Duke Ridley (1890-)

(6) Granville Ridley, born circa 1842, died as an infant.

(7) A-10. Charles Lewis Ridley (1843-1911) married 1869, A-11. Behethland Brent Fitzpatrick, ("Hettie") (1853-1932).  During the War, he served as a Lieutenant A.D.C. on the Staff of Gen. B. J. Hill. At war's end he returned to Murfreesboro, and in the 1880's moved his family to Nashville. He is listed in the Nashville City Directory for 1902 and 1904 as a manufacturer's general agent selling pumps, engines, rock crushers, and other construction equipment. Both are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, Tennessee.

(a) A-5. Mamie Rebecca Ridley (1871-1947), married 1st A-4. Robert Wharton Nichol (1868-1930) of Nashville. See NICHOL family page for issue, and 2nd John Trimble Lindsley. 

(b) Charles Lewis Ridley, Jr. (1873-1934), married Adele McMurray of Nashville, issue.

(c) Bromfield Lewis Ridley III (1879-1947), married (1st) Mary Parthenia Wells (1882-1936) of Elkton, Kentucky.  He married (2nd) Minna Miller, issue.

(8) Bromfield Lewis Ridley, Jr. (1845-1917) married Idalette DeBure Lyon (1859-1930). He served as a Captain in the Confederate Army, afterwards becoming a lawyer and ultimately a judge.  He authored a book, Battles and Sketches of the Army of Tennessee, published by Missouri Printing and Publishing Co., Mexico, Missouri, 1906.

(a)    Adair Lyon Ridley (1881-1896)

(b)    Theoderic Cecil Ridley (1885-1889)

(c)    Lewis Bromfield Ridley (1891-1981) married Grey Hawkins (1898-1975) Issue.

(d)    Leon Augustus Ridley (1895-1965) married Nancy Ramsey.  He was a retired fruit grower in Auburndale, Florida at the time of his death.  Issue.

(9) Robert Ridley, died as an infant.

(10) Sarah ("Sally") Caruthers Ridley (1849-1872) married Thornton McLean (1838-1887) of Todd Co., Kentucky.

(a)    Ridley McLean, RAdm. USN (1872-1933) married Olive Gail.

c.    Robert Archibald Thomas Ridley, M.D., (1806- ) Mary Elizabeth Morris (1812-1895) of LaGrange, Georgia. He often abbreviated his name as R.A.T. Ridley and was known affectionately all over Georgia as Dr. "Rat" Ridley.

(1)    Thomas Alonzo Ridley (1833-1851)

(2)    Caroline Rebecca Ridley (1837-1851)

(3)    Charles Bromfield Ridley, M.D. (1840-1903) married Martha Elizabeth Beall (1843-1915)

(a)    Mary Louise Ridley (1870-1871)

(b)    Julia Faulkner Ridley (1871-1936) married Anniston, Alabama attorney, Elbert Decatur Willett (1859-1923).  Issue.

(c)    Robert Archibald Ridley (1873-1944)

(d)    Charles Bromfield Ridley, Jr. (1875-1886)

(e)    James Beall Ridley (1878-1929) married Annie Clyde Edmundson.   An attorney, he served as Mayor of LaGrange, Georgia and became one of the first Judges of the Civil Court of Fulton Co., Georgia.

(f)    Eleanor Heard Ridley (1883-1955) married Benjamin Graves Swanson, MD, a general practitioner in Atlanta.

(4)    Robert Berrien Ridley, M.D. (1842-1923) married 1st Emma Leila Hill (-1883) and 2nd Mary Cobb Hood (1854-1912).  He served four years in the Army of Northern Virginia, surrendering at Appomattox Courthouse as a Lieutenant and the sole survivor of a company of eighty men.

children of Dr. Robert B. Ridley by Emma Leila Hill

(a)    John Francis Ridley (1876-1955)

(b)    Robert Berrien Ridley, Jr., M.D. (1879-1935)

(c)    Emily Ridley

children of Dr. Robert B. Ridley by Mary Cobb Hood

(d)    Carl Hood Ridley (1889-1959)

(e)    Sara Claire Ridley (1891-1936)

(f)    Marie Hood Ridley (1892-1972)

(g)    Nellie Hood Ridley (1895-)

(h)    Arthur Ridley (1900-)

(5)    John Morgan Ridley (1845-1877)

(6)    Mary Louisa Ridley (1847-)

(7)    Leila Ridley (1853-1853)

(8)    Francis Morris Ridley, M.D. (1856-1917) married Nannie Moses (1862-1889)

(a)    Frank Morris Ridley, M.D. (1883-1952) married Mabel Hood. 

(b)    Mary Blount Ridley (1886-1973) married Benjamin Harvey Hill II (1873-1925)

(c)    Sarah Ferrell Ridley (1889-)

d.    Mary Frances Ridley (1808-1858), married Thomas H. Speller ( -1891). issue.

e.    Joseph James Ridley, D.D., (1810-1878), married Eliza Kingsbury. No issue.

f.    Sarah Clark Lewis Ridley (1815-18360, married William L. Latta, a merchant of Raleigh. Issue.

g.    William Morgan Sneed Ridley, M.D., (1817-), married (1st) in 1838, Caroline Pickett who died without issue. He subsequently remarried twice and according to Ridlon, left a son and a daughter living in Calcutta, India.

2. Elizabeth Ridley (1771-1838), married James Minge Burton (1761-1844) issue.

3. Archibald Bromfield Ridley, M.D. (c.1780- ), married (1st) Henrietta Maria Anderson Lewis, (2nd) Harriet Blacksheare (-1850).

child of Dr. Archibald Ridley by Henrietta Lewis:

a.    Henrietta Maria P. Ridley married 1st George Kennon, M.D., 2nd Richard Oscar Britton, and 3rd Bernard Todd

child of Dr. Archibald Ridley by Harriet Blacksheare:

a.    Elijah Blacksheare Ridley, MD

4. Frances Ridley, married William Morgan Snead of Granville County, North Carolina, no issue.

5. Robert Ridley, MD (c.1782-by 1821), married Sophia Cooper.

a.    Robert Bromfield Ridley

6. Mary Ridley, married in 1803 James Hamilton in Granville County, North Carolina, issue.

7. Thomas Day Ridley ( -1837), married (1st) Elizabeth Blunt (2nd) her sister, Mary Blunt. His wives were daughters of Benjamin and Mary (Edwards) Blunt.

8. Sarah Ridley, also known as Sally, married Benjamin Edwards Blunt.

D.    Mary Ridley, (c.1744-after 1803) married John Blunt of Southampton County, Virginia, son of Benjamin and Priscilla (Sugars) Blunt.  Issue.

E.    Jane Ridley, married Thomas Parker, issue.

F.    Sarah Ridley, ( -1807) married (1st) first cousin, Nathaniel Ridley III, (2nd) Dolphin Drew. issue

G.    William Ridley, (c.1751-c.1790) married Elizabeth Lewis, (1761-1806), daughter of Howell and Mary Isabella (Willis) Lewis, of Granville; and the grand-daughter of Col. Charles and Mary (Howell) Lewis of "The Byrd," Goochland.

1.    Col. Howell Lewis Ridley (1776-1827) married Mildred Cobb

a.    John Cobb Ridley (1810-1837) Special Minister of the United States to Cuba, married Amelia Marie Toole (1811-1898)

(1)    Virginia Louise Ridley (1828-1875) married Col. James Bullock Sims

(2)    Celestia M. Ridley (1833-1850) married Roscoe C. Oglesby of New Orleans in 1850.

(3)    John David Ridley (1836-1865) married Laura Charles Kent (1842-1908) of Blacksburg, Virginia.

(a)    Sallie Amelia Ridley (1858-) married Frank Clay Wheeler of Shreveport, Louisiana.

(b)    Laura Kent Ridley (1860-1914) married Thomas Noell.

(c)    John Cobb Ridley II (1862-1955) married Beulah Benton Morris (1888-1945)

(d)    Virginia Lewis Ridley (1865-1866)

2.    James Day Ridley, M.D. (1793-1820) married Elizabeth J. Alston (1789-1850)

a.    William James Ridley (1817-1841)

b.    John Alston Ridley (1819-1839)

3.    Willis Ridley (1786-1834) married Mary Webb Smith (-1852)

a.    Mary Ann Ridley (1817-) married George Conner.  Issue.

b.    Eliza Ridley died young and unmarried.

c.    William Ridley, M.D. (1815-1839) died unmarried.

d.    Frances Ridley married William McClinchey.

e.    James Webb Smith Ridley (1824-)

(1)    James Webb Smith Ridley, Jr. (1859-) married Madge Whitney

(a)    James Webb Smith Ridley III (1893-)

(b)    George Whitney Ridley (1898-)

(2)    Anne Grey Ridley (1870-) married William Parker Halliday, Jr.

(3)    William Percy Ridley (1872-1949) married Eva Campbell James (-1925)

(a)    William Percy Ridley, Jr. (1907-) married Eunice Jackson Holderness (1917-)

(b)    Campbell Pillow Ridley (1911-) married Evelyn Shapard (1913-)

(c)    Sarah Ann Ridley (1915-) married Charles Worthington Jewell (1912-)

(4)    Mary Pillow Ridley (1880-)

f.    Isabella Willis Ridley (1831-) married her older sister's widower, William McClinchney. Issue.

4.    Mary Ridley married Col. Nathaniel Robards

III.    Mary Elizabeth ("Betsy") Ridley (c.1706-) married Francis Albridgton Jones (-1755), a nephew of her stepfather, Matthew Jones. Issue: six sons and seven daughters: Nathaniel, Tignal, John, Mathew, Albridgton, Francis, Judith, Mary, Lucy, Bette, Lydia, Ridley (dau.) and Jemima Jones.

IV.    Thomas Ridley, died without issue by 1744 when his brother, Nathaniel II, sold land which their father, Nathaniel Ridley, had willed to Thomas, "... now deceased.".

V.    Elizabeth Ridley married  Dr. Jesse Browne (1709-1770), issue seven children: Elizabeth, Martha, Samuel, Sarah, Mary, Lucretia and Parthenia Browne.

VI.    Lydia Ridley married (1st) Charles Portlock and (2nd) Hugh Vance, issue: Frances Portlock, Charles Portlock Jr., Nathaniel Portlock and James Vance.

*   *   *

The foregoing was condensed from Ridley of Southampton, compiled in 1992 by Lyndon H. Hart III and Bromfield B. Nichol Jr. For copies, contact Lyndon H Hart, 9006 Derbyshire Rd., Richmond, VA 23229-7023.

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