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Note: Richard Ridgway Of Berkshire England - Submitted By: Lorna Borman [begin Lorna Borman quote]: According to the "Book of Arrivals" for Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Richard Ridgway and Elizabeth (Chamberlain), his wife, of Welford in the County of Berks (Berkshire), England, Taylor (tailor), arrived in the Delaware River in the ship, Jacob and Mary, from London on the 12th day 7th month 1679, with their son, Thomas. The ship's master was Richard Moore. The "Book of Arrivals" was prepared in 1684 under Pennsylvania law requiring registration of all residents. The data is considered to be very accurate. The Jacob and Mary probably landed its passengers near Burlington, a few miles below the falls in the river. Richard's first home was on 218 acres at the Delaware River Falls on the Pennsylvania shore just opposite the east end of Biles Island. He sold the land to Daniel Gardner and John Luff, Jan 2, 1681, moving to a new tract about two miles upstream, in or near what is now Morrisville, opposite modernday Trenton. The locality of these two homesites was then known as Crewcorne (variously spelled), named by William Penn whose estate was adjoining. The records show that Richard was quite active in the affairs of the community while living at the falls. He joined with other settlers at the Falls in signing petitions April 12 and Sep 13, 1680, to the Governor of New Yorke "finding ourselves aggrieved by ye Indians when drunk, informeth, that wee be and have been in great danger of our lives, of our houses burning, of our goods stealing, and of our wives and children affrighting...." The principal offender was Gilvert Wheeler at whose house, they claimed, the indians obtained their liquor and made themselves drunk, revel and fight together, come furiously and break our fences, steal our corn, break our windows and doors, carry away our goods and worry three of our cattle in one day with their dogs. (Ref: New York Colonial Manuscripts, Vol XII, pp , Ferrow, 1877.) Richard registered his private cattle mark in the "Ear Mark Book" of Bucks County, now in the county historical society collection. These marks were necessary for locating ones strays due to the lack of fencing at the time. After William Penn's arrival, a license system was adopted which made selling of strong drink to the Indians a crime. An entry in the minutes of the Council of Philadelphia, Feb 3, 1686, reads: " Report being made by ye members of Bucks County, that Richard Ridgway is a fitt person for ye keeping of an ordinary in ye County, a Lycense accordingly." His establishment was called Crown Inn. In the Records of the Courts of Quarter Sessions and Commin Pleas and other records of Bucks County, we learn that Richard served as a juror in 1681, 1685, 1686; a jury foreman in 1688; as attorney for defendants in 1686, 1687; an estate appraiser in 1687; witnessed a will; made an estate inventory; served as a "Viewer of fences from ye falls to ye Governor's Mansion" in 1686; and served as witness on several occasions. His wife, Elizabeth, appeared as a witness several times and her mother, Elizabeth Hickman, appeared at least once. An interesting sidelight appears in the minutes for the Falls Monthly Meeting of Friends, 4th day 10th mo. 1689: Elizabeth, wife of Richard Ridgway, hath fought with her neighbor Chorley's wife, and women friends have spoken with her and that they find her stubborn, wilful and obstinate and that she justifies the act. Therefore it is agreed that for the present the meeting be removed from the house of Richard Ridgway to the home of Allice Dickerson. (Bucks Co. Historical Society) Land deeds relative to Richard Ridgway and his sons are too numerous to cover in detail; only selected ones will be noted. In a deed dated Oct 7, 1690, Richard Ridgway, late of Bucks County, Pa., tailor now of West Jersey, acquired from Daniel Coxe of London (by his attorney John Tatum of Burlington) the 600 acres near Stoney Brook, West Jersey, along the East Jersey line, next to John Houghton, part of Thomas Budd's Indian purchase, conveyed to present grantor. (West Jersey Records - Liber B, Part 2, p. 398, p. 450.) This was to be Richard's third home in America. In early terms, it was on Stony Brook in Maidenhead Twp, Middlesex County, NJ. Today it would be on the road between Princeton and Lawrenceville in Mercer County. In the minutes of a town meeting at the house of John Lambert in Nottingham (Twp, North Crosswicks, Burlington County) Richard Ridgway was chosen as Overseer for the "Wayes" beyond (the Assanpink in Middlesex County.) On March 17, 1695 he sold 400 acres of the Stoney Brook land to John Bainbridge, and on July 6, 1696 the remaining 200 acres to Joseph Sackett. On Feb 7, 1697, for 320 pounds, he purchased 600 acres from Hollingshead, Jr., on Mattacopany Creek, Springfield Twp, Burlington County (1979) location: near Village of Jacksonville on the road from Burlington to Jobstown). This became his fourth and final home in the New World. Richard served as Justice of the peace for Burlington County in 1703, 1715, and 1719. Richard gave one acre to the Quakers for a meeting house and burying ground. It is known as the "Copany" or "Old Springfield" (Preparative) Meeting of the Burlington Monthly Meeting. The old meeting house, second structure on the site was erected in 1775, still stands today, having been converted to a private home. Richard's will (#1055 c., New Jersey State Library, Trenton, NJ) was dated September 21, 1722 and probated April 5, 1723. (A minimum of spelling has been adjusted, punctuation added, etc., to facilitate comprehension. This note by the Editor of the Book" Ridgways U.S.A.) "I, Richard Ridgway of the township of Springfield & County of Burlington in the west division of New Jersey, Yeomon, going in helth of body and of sound & perfect disposing minds and memory, thanks be given to almighty God therefore and for all others his marcies and calling to mind the uncertanty of all transitory things and willing to set in order my temperal affaires, do make ordain and put in writing this may last Will and Testment in manner and form as followeth. First and principally of all I give and recommend by soul into the hands of Almighty God my creator and redeamor and my body to ye earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent manner at ye discretion of my executrix hereafter named and as touching the disposition of all such wordly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and bequeath and devise the same as followeth. First I will that all my just debts be truly paid and likewise my Funerall charges....Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my eldest son Thomas Ridgway one shilling sterling moneys of England he being hereto fore advanced by mee oute of my estate what was thought be me convenient....Item- I give & bequeath unto my daughter-in-law Mary Ridgway one Shilling Sterling being heretofore advanced by me. Item- I give and bequeath unto my son Josiah Ridgway one Shilling Sterling I haveing don for him heretofore what is convenient. Item- I give & bequeath unto my son In Law Henry Clotheir one Shilling Sterling he being heretofore advanced by me. Item- I give & bequeath unto daughter Elizabeth Willets ye now wife of Richard Willets ye full sum of tenn pounds ould currency. Item- I give and bequeath unto my son Job Ridgway one Shilling Sterling money he being also before this time advanced by me. Item- I give & bequeath unto my daughter Mary Ballenger one Shilling Sterling she being also heretofore advance by me. Item- I give and bequeath unto my daughter Jane Antrum ye now wife of Isaac Antrum one Shilling Sterling she being also advanced by me before this time. Item- I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sarah Ridgway thirty pounds good current moneys of America according to our late Queen Anne's Royal proclamation & Act of Parliament. Item- I give and bequeath and devise my farm and plantation whereon I now inhabit with all ye buildings and Appurtenances thereunto be longing unto my two younger sons John Ridgway and Joseph Ridgway to be equally divided between them both in quantity and quallyty but it is to be observed that it is my mind & will that their Mother shall have....her well afford during her life if she continue my widdow and it is my mind and will and I do by vertue of these present order my ye two sons John and Joseph Ridgway to pay unto their Mother each of them....twenty pounds a peece current lawful moneys of America to inable their said Mother Abigail Ridgway to pay my just debts and legacies so then their land and plantation so divided as aforesaid shall remaine free and clear to each of my said sones as aforesaid and to each of their heirs and assignes for ever and all the rest and remainder of my estate both Reale and Personall I give and bequeath unto my dear and well beloved wife Abigail Ridgway whom I make ordain and appoint my onely and sole executrix of this my last will and testament but it is my desire if my said wife can by any meens do without ye money that my two younger sons are to pay shee would remit and not receive all of them.I would further desire my sons Thomas Ridgway, Job Ridgway and Henry Clothier to assist my wife in her afares as Executrix and likewise assist my two younger sons in ye dividing of my plantation between them for which service I do further give unto each of you twenty shillings current lawful money of America. And I do revoak disallow disanull all former and other wills by me made do make this and only this to be my last will and Testement. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seale this twenty first day of September anno ye Domini one Thousand Seven Hundred & Twenty Two." Richard Ridgway Signed Sealled published pronounced and declared by the said Richard Ridgway as his last will and testement in ye presence of ye subscribers, Viz: Tho. Frampton, Gorvas Hall, Tho. Scattergood" The inventory of Richard's estate is too difficult to read to be quoted in its entirety, but some of the items are listed for the insight they give into the daily life of our early forebears: Sheets, napkins, table clouth, chests, table, clock, chairs, looking glass, warming pan, bedsteads, cloth, spinning wheel, cheese tool, peece of woolen stuff, peece of lining (linen?) and woolen yard, man's saddle, pillion, 210 acres of land in and adjoining the Great Swamp in ye Springfield Twp. valued at 100 pounds, falling axes, broad ax, hansaw, drawing knife, ould augers & chissels, grindstone, iron ax, chains, plows, harrfow, ox yoaks, plows, harrow, ox yoaks, plow cloviss, hay forks, hay knife, much (mulch?) fork, iron drag, cross cutt saw, wipsaw, a paire of Taylor's shears, sheep shears, cider mill, iron bound pail, swine, cows, calves, heifers, yearlings, bull, horses, mare, sheep, a parcel of geese, corne ye ground, and others. While it cannot be proved, it seems very probable that Richard was laid to rest in the burial grounds he had given to the Copany Quaker Meeting there in Springfield Township of Burlington County, NJ. Richard Ridgway was born 1648/50 in England and died 1723 in Burlington County, NJ. He married (1) Elizabeth Chamberlain, daughter of Robert Chamberlain, in England. She was born 1654 in England and died March 31, 1692 Crewcorn, Bucks Co., PA Her father, Robert Chamberlain/Chamberlayne died Feb 14, 1664, Berkshire, England. His widow, Elizabeth then married Francis Hickman. Both Francis and Elizabeth Hickman died in Chester Co., PA. Richard Ridgway married (2) Abigail Stockton, Dec 1, 1693, daughter of Richard and Abigail (______) Stockton Children of Richard and Elizabeth (Chamberlain) Ridgway: 1. Thomas Ridgway, son of Richard and Elizabeth (Chamberlain) Ridgway was born May 25, 1677, in England and came to America in 1679 with his parents. Thomas' Husbandman, will was dated Aug 19, 1724 and probated Jan 14, 1724/5 at Little Egg Harbor Twp, Burlington Co., NJ. His widow, Elizabeth Ridgway's will was dated March 1, 1725, also at Little Egg Harbor Twp, Burlington Co, NJ. Thomas married (1) Ann Pharo, daughter of James and Ann (Murfin) Pharo, Sep 6, 1699. married (2) Elizabeth Andrews, daughter of Edward and Sarah (Ong) Andrews, Nov 6, 1712. Elizabeth was born Oct 4, 1694 and died March 24, 1725. [***] 2. Richard, b. Feb 27, 1680, died 1719, married (1) Mary Willets, daughter of Hope and Mercy (Langdon) Willets, Dec 9, 1702, Jerusalem, Long Island. Married (2) Mary (Stockton) Shinn Crispen, daughter of Richard and Abigail (______) Stockton, Nov 11, 1714, Springfield M. Mtg., NJ. 3. Elizabeth, b. Dec 17, 1682, married Richard Willets. 4. William, b. Sep 27, 1685, died Sep 11, 1688. 5. Sarah, b. Oct 14, 1687, died Sep 1, 1688. 6. Joseph, b. died in infancy. 7. Josiah, b. Jul 6, 1690, Crewcorn, Bucks Co., PA, died before 1730, married about 1713 Sarah________. Children of Richard and Abigail (Stockton) Ridgway: 8. Job, b. 1693, died 1761, married Dec 7, 1719, Rebecca Butcher, daughter of John and Mary (Walker) Butcher. 9. Abigail, married Henry Clothier. 10. John, married Hannah Brown, daughter of Richard and Mary (Slade) Brown, May 5, 1727. 11. Mary, married: (1) John Ballinger, (2) Patrick Byrne[*], (3)Thomas Garwood, Jr. 12. Jane, married: (1) Isaac Antrim, (2) Andrew Conaroe. 13. Sarah, d. young. 14. Joseph, b. ca. 1703, d. 1761, married (1) Sarah Butcher, daughter of John, Sr, and Mary (Walker) Butcher, Nov 1, 1727, Burlington M. Meeting, NJ, married (2) Hannah Allen, daughter of Henry and Meribah (Adams) Allen, Feb 15, 1737/8, Shrewsbury Meeting, Mon. Co., NJ. [end Lorna Borman quote] * I question whether this Mary Ballinger who married Patrick Byrne in 1727 because Mary Ballinger is called a spinster in the 1727 Patrick Byrne-Mary Ballinger marriage license. Furthermore, the claim that she is the Mary Ballinger who married Thomas Garwood in 1733 is disproven by the Haddonfield Monthly Men's Meeting minutes of 14 day 3rd mo 1733 in which the declarations of first intentions of the Thomas Garwwod-Mary Ballinger marriage are recorded with the note that "The young womas parents being present consent to ye said proprosial". Since Richard Ridgway and Abigail (Stockton) Ridgway were dead by 1733, they could not have consented to a 1733 marrige. Jerry Ueckermann 2005 Abstract of Will of Richard Ridgway from 23 NJA 383-384. 1722 Sept. 21. Ridgway, Richard, of Springfield Township, Burlington Co., yeoman; will of. Wife Abugail. Children-Thomas, Josiah, Elizabeth Willits, Job, Mary Ballenger, Jane, the "now wife" of Isaac Antram, Sarah, John, Joseph, daughter-in-law Mary Ridgway, son-in-law Henry Clothier. Real and personal estate. The wife sole executrix with sons Thomas and Job and Henry Clother as assistants. Witnesses-Tho: Frampton, Gervas Hall, Tho: Scattergood. Proved April 5, I723. Lib. 2, p. 229 1723 April 23. Inventory of the estate: 210 acres near the Great Swamp in Springfield Township £150, personal £207.11, incl. a clock £10 ; all old currency; made by Mathew Champion and Thomas Scattergood. 1724 June 22. Account of the estate, amounting to £521.4--, by Thomas Ridgway, the surviving executor, showing payments to Eliza Longstaff, Isaac Gibbs, Tho: Leonard, Jo'n Dawson, Jere. Bass, Benj. Crispian, Joseph and Mercy Crispian, Aitie Steward, Mathew Champion, Rob't Mitchell, administrator of John Mitchell, Jon'n Wright, Abr'm Bickley, Sam'l Furniss, Rich'd Smith senior, Wm. Lines, Rich'd Willits, Jane Atkinson, Geo. Williams, Dan'I Smith, Wm. Robinson, cooper, John Ward junior, John Sykes, John Tonkin, Sam'l Shinn, Rich'd Kirby, John Scholly, Sam'I Marmion, John Huleet, Jeremiah and Jacob Ong, Thos. Wetherill, Isaac William, Rob't Stork, tailor, James Antram, John Roberds, Nich's Brown, Christ'r Blackbourn, Wm. Collum, Wm. Prickett, Wm. Dean, Zebulon Guant, Marmaduke Coats, to testator's widow Mary and for schooling of the children. [Given that this accounting makes reference to "testator's widow Mary", it may be an accounting of the estate of Richard Ridgway, Jr.] £
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