NRO Lookup - George Ridley

[davidft]

Reference

George Ridley was buried on 12 January 1814 at Beltingham aged 43 years, giving a birth date of circa 1770.

We know from the wills that his mother is Frances so we need a marriage between France ? and ? Ridley.  There is a marriage between John Ridley and Frances Ridley on 14 June 1768 at Hovingham, York. One of the witnesses was a George Ridley. This couple had at least two children; George Ridley baptised 11 January 1770 at Hovingham and Anne Ridley baptised 3 June 1773 at Nunnington, York. There is also a possible additional child in Fanny Ridley baptised 17 March 1769 at Wensley, York

So we now know George Ridley was born at Hovingham in 1770 the son of John Ridley, and died in 1814 at Beltingham.

Turning to Frances Russel she was baptised 20 January 1743 at Hovingham the daughter of Simeon Russel. Simeon’s first wife was Frances see 1752 baptism at Slingsby. There is a burial at Hovingham on 18 January 1756. Simeon remarries on 20 August 1756 to Jane Rowantree. Simeon had several children by his wives including

John Russel baptised I July 1742 at Hovingham (died 1742 Hovingham ?)
Frances Russel baptised 20 January 1743 at Hovingham
Anne Russel baptised 31 March 1746 at Hovingham
Simeon Russel baptised 3 September 1749 at Hovingham
Elizabeth Russel baptised 24 June 1752 at Hovingham
Mary Russel baptised 25 August 1754 at Hovingham
William Russel baptised 20 November 1757 at Hovingham
John Russel baptised 5 January 1760 at Hovingham
Jane Russel baptised 9 February 1762 at Hovingham
James Russel baptised 9 September 1764 at Hovingham
Robert Russel baptised 24 November 1765 at Hovingham
Benjamin Russel baptised 14 April 1768 at Hovingham (died 1833 Hovingham)
Joseph Russel baptised 3 January 1771 at Hovingham (died 1771 Hovingham ?)
Hannah Russel baptised 24 April 1774 at Hovingham

It is not clear if this is one family or two but the fact that George’s will names Benjamin and John suggests they are Frances’s half brothers
(NB sometimes it is spelt Russel and others Russsell)

In addition to the above children there are further children with a father Simeon nearby that are possibly related
Elizabeth Russel baptised 24 June 1752 at Slingsby. Parents Simeon and Frances is this the same baptism as at Hovingham on that day is so it gives Simeon’s first wife’s name as Frances
Bridget Russel baptised 5 February 1751 at Osmotherley
William Russel baptised 31 August 1753 at Osmotherley
John Russel baptised 11 February 1754 at Osmotherley
George Russel baptised 28 April 1758 at Osmotherley
John Russel baptised 5 January 1760 at Slingsby. Parents Simeon and Jane is this the same baptism as at Hovingham on that day
Simeon Russel baptised 29 August 1761 at Osmotherley

[davidft]

George Ridley’s sister Anne marries Francis Treadway on 27 February 1794 at Nunnington. From the 1809 will it is clear she went to Jamaica but had died by 1809.

As the 1813 will refers to several people called Nicholson and the relationship in law it suggests George’s wife Anne may have been Anne Nicholson and the marriage was around 1812 going by Thomas Saul’s letter to Mr Bell. However the only marriage found so far is 2 December 1809 at Haltwhistle between George Ridley and Hannah Loan. (The 1806 marriage seems to disprove this theory)

A possibility to be investigated is that John Ridley came from the Hexham \ Haltwhistle area and is a brother to my Matthew Ridley. Need John’s birth and death details and Frances Ridley nee Russel’s death date

John Ridley died 12 October 1790 buried 14 October 1790 buried at Nunnington, Yorks. Birth year given as 1723 (aged 67). Does this make him too old on marriage in 1768? Need to see if can find a will for this John Ridley.

Possible death for Simeon Russel. Burial at Hovingham 9 April 1798

Anne Ridley (widow of George) buried 20 November 1828 at Beltingham. Her marriage to George Ridley as Anne Sparke was on 8 September 1806 at Hexham. Anne Sparke was baptised on 25 December 1777 at Hexham daughter of Ralph and Jane Spark.

[c-side]

First let me apologise for the confusion over Isaac's name - my notes clearly say 'Sparke'.  I can only assume a conflict between my brain and my fingers when I was typing them up 

I am now a bit confused though - I thought that you now considered the two wills to be written by different Georges.  If so then 1809 George had a mother called Frances and the 1814 George had a wife called Anne.  There is nothing to indicate the name of 1814 George's mother.

As for your baptisms at Hovingham being the same as the ones at Osmotherly - there was a thread on here quite recently discussing the habit of baptising in one church but recording the event at another church where the well-to-do had interests in both places.

Christine

[WolfieSmith]

I think its probably two different Georges. Summer Rods was the home of Anne Sparkes father Ralph. Inherited by his son Isaac. Isaac and his wife both died young, presumably without having children. John Nicholson is "Gentleman, of Summerrods" in 1827 Durham Gazeteer.

An inscription in Hexham Abbey "In memory of Ralph Sparke Esq of Summerrods, Who died 9th May 1805 aged 65 years. Also of Jane, his wife, who died 6th July 1806 aged 56 years. And also of Isaac Sparke of Summerrods, their son, who died 15th September 1816, aged 23 years. And also of Elizabeth Mary Sparke, his wife, who died 27th March 1819, aged 22 years".

I think John Nicholson married one of Ralph Sparkes daughters and inherited their property at Summerrods that way. There is a marriage of a John Nicholson and Elizabeth Sparke, Corbridge, 6 Nov 1797. Baptism of their daughter Jane 1799 at Durham St. Nicholas, state he was a Quartermaster in the Provisional Northumberland Cavalry, of Corbridge, And his wife Elizabeth Sparke was of ... missing (FreeReg). Baptism of their daughter Mary 1803 Corbridge, state he was a Joiner, of Corbridge Parish and his wife Elizabeth Sparke was of Hexham Parish.

Alan.

[davidft]

Christine and Alan,

Thank you for all your help and sorry for any confusion i have caused.

Yes I do now believe there are two George Ridleys (G Ridley 1 with the mother Frances and G Ridley 2 with the wife Anne), just getting myself a bit confused with all the information.

I'll have to have a think where to go next. I know there was a dispute a little earlier between a Ridley and Mr Blackett (Blackett-Ord) about Beltingham.

EDIT: i think this was it at Durham University Library, Archives and Special Collections

DDR/EJ/CCD/3/1734/4   1734
Document - depositions
promoter: Richard Ridley, esq
defendant: Edward Blackett, baronet
confirmation of burial place in Beltingham, Haltwhistle, Northumberland

David

[c-side]

It still doesn't answer your original question about Matthew and I'm now curious about the relationship between the two Georges.

Please post what you find and if there's anything else you need from Woodhorn just ask

Christine

[davidft]

Yes I seem to have raised more questions and not resolved any 

I will have a think what to do next and if I get anywhere I will update the thread but it is unlikely to be until the new year now as i am recovering from sickness at the moment.

Thank you for your help