John RIDOUT of Acreman Street, Sherborne

[ranaridibunda]

Dear All

For years I have been searching for my x4 great grandfather (see: http://the-ridouts.com/2011/07/10/john-ridout-iv-a-man-of-mystery/). I know him as John RIDOUT, born in ~1753, probably in Sherborne. He married Susanna SHORE in 1781 in Sherborne Abbey; both were buried in Sherborne Abbey - Susanna in 1817 and John 1827. Their children were also baptised in the Abbey. It is reasonable, I think, to assume that the family lived in Sherborne town, not in an outlying village.

My problem has always been to find any mention of John & Susanna in any Dorset records. But I have found a possible candidate for John which has me all fired up. There are two mentions of what might be 'my' John RIDOUT: Militia List (1798) for Westbury tithing in Sherborne and Land Tax records (1780 & 1782) for the tithing of Nethercombe in Sherborne.

I cannot find a map of the historic tithings of Sherborne but I believe that Nethercombe and Westbury are both situated to the left side of the town and may be adjoining. I am excited about this because other members of this family lived in Primsley, Hyle and West Mill. In the 1677 Sherborne Manor Survey, I found reference to a John RIDOUT 'of Combe', aged 45 and son William (18) and I believe another son John (20) 'of Acreman Street', which I think runs through both Nethercombe and Westbury? Their ages match known RIDOUT research subjects and this could be the same family - the three men were sharing the lease of 'Banwell's tenement' in Nether Combe.

Please can anyone point me to the source of an old map showing Westbury, Nethercombe and, if I'm lucky some labelling of properties and/or land. I live in Wales but would travel to see such a map if it existed :-)  Failing that, can anyone please help from personal knowledge of the area?

Thanks
Regards
Karen Francis

[nanny jan]

Hi,

Have you discounted the 1751 baptism of John Ridout, son of John and Mary;  Sherborne Baptisms on the Dorset OPC site?

The Dorset History Centre in Dorchester might be able to help regarding maps.

http://www.dorsetforyou.com/dorsethistorycentre


Nanny Jan

[ranaridibunda]

Hi

Thank you for your very prompt response.  I will get in touch with the centre and see if they have such a map and can perhaps make a digital copy (or I could travel over myself one day).

I had fixed myself on John being the son of Christopher; firstly because John and Susanna's burial dates (quoted with age) suggested that both were born in 1753 and secondly (don't laugh) because Christopher is the name of this boy's great grandfather (& other males in our family) and so might be relevant. Having said that, I don't discount anything when I can't prove it one way or the other but, eventually, I think one just has to have at least a working hypothesis to start with.

Thank you again.
Karen

[jusnoneed]

I live in Sherborne, Westbury is still an area in the south of the town. My OHs family lived there at one time. Nethercombe Lane and the area of Coombe is in the North of the town. Hyle is in Westbury, West Mill adjoining it.
Acreman Street runs from Westbury northwards and joins the Marston Road which goes alongside Coombe. You can see them on this modern map.
http://uk.maps.yahoo.com/#q=Coombe%2C+Sherborne%2C+DT9+4&conf=1&start=1&lat=50.94939726051897&lon=-2.5174784660339355&zoom=16&mvt=m&trf=0

Old map http://www.old-maps.co.uk/maps.html

Di

[ranaridibunda]

Hi Di

Thank you for that info and the links. So, Sherborne hasn't changed much has it?!  I did visit a couple of years ago and found West Mill, which my family maybe re-built back in the early 18th century. Then it was called Ridout's Mill; on a 16th century map it was called Cooth's Mill so I imagine it was renamed every time it changed hands. It was in such a pretty site, notwithstanding the sewage farm behind, but also so dilapidated; it must get regularly vandalised. If I had the money, I would re-build it but there is no heart for the task in Sherborne as they expended their capital resources on restoring the mill at Castletown I believe. Shame.

Thanks again; very helpful!
Cheers, Karen

[jusnoneed]

Hi, a local group have restored the Water wheel at Castleton and regularly have open days for people to see that.
The town hasn't changed greatly over the years, although as in most places quite a lot of housing is squeezed into every available space these days.
If you remember from your visit to the old mill site, across the river and rail line are open fields (private school footie pitches) and then houses. That is where I live.
Di

[ranaridibunda]

Yes, I do remember that walk, along (?) Mill Lane. The birds were singing and we saw a kingfisher. The water was running quite fast but I think the mill wheel turn cannot turn any more. I can imagine my far off relatives there when it would have been even more peaceful! Christopher Ridout (1669-1734) and his son George and grandson George lived at the mill, grinding corn and baking. Strangely, from something that seems quite humble, the business was able to finance some family members to travel to the USA and Canada where they really made names for themselves - their histories are plastered all over the internet. Naturally, my own family history is obscure and tracing my line any further back than 1753 has proved to be nigh on impossible. Finding Ridouts in Nethercombe has sparked my interest because I don't know who else these men can be but 'mine'. It gives me hope and renewed vigour in what was fast becoming a bit of a dead end!

I can imagine where you live and I have to say that I am deeply envious. The countryside around there is lovely - we walked a fair bit of it in the week we were there. It was particularly pretty up by the old castle and in the grounds. If that was on my doorstep I'd be out and about all day I think. I'd like to go back some day; I found out a great deal last time. We stayed at the Old Bakehouse in Lower Acreman Street - it seemed appropriate :-)

Cheers
Karen

[jusnoneed]

My OH was talking to a memeber of the local Ridout family last night, he was most surprised to hear there are Ridouts buried at the Abbey.
Di

[ranaridibunda]

Hi

Gosh, yes - there are loads of baptisms, marriages and burials of RID(E)outs in Sherborne Abbey! It may be a very stately old building but it was, and probably still is, the parish church of Sherborne. My ancestors and in-laws lived in the town and so this was their church. Sadly, they were not important enough to have marked plaques or the like today and I don't know if there are many, if any, graves left in the churchyard.

I am also most surprised - I didn't know there were any RIDOUTs living in Sherborne still. I'd be intrigued (in a big way) to know their origins. Who knows but we may be related. If you see them again maybe you could ask what they know of their family - I really would love to know!

Cheers, Karen