494 RIDLEYS OF rutherford county, TENNESSEÈ.
by whom he had eight children, of whom, with other issue, hereafter. He
emigrated from Virginia when young, and settled in east Tennessee, then
a part of North Carolina, on the Holston River, and followed the occupa-
tion of a "cowboy," or, to use polite parlance, a "herdsman." About the
year 1790, he purchased a large tract of land in middle Tennessee, and
removing, settled within one mile of where the city of Nashville now
stands. Captain Ridley transported his family, household goods, and farm
implements down the Holston River in large flat-boats; thence down the
Tennessee River over the "mussel-shoals," and with the aid of his elder
sons and eight negro-men brought his boats into the Mississippi River;
thence by hard pulling and pushing with oars and poles up the Cumber-
land River to the present site of Nashville, where he came to anchor in
the middle of the stream, and kept guard to protect himself and family
from the hostile Indians then passing up and down in their canoes. Being
one of the first settlers in middle Tennessee, he immediately erected a
strong timber block-house, surrounded by stockades some ten feet in height,
as a shelter and protection from the Indians. Here he cleared a large farm
and became extensively engaged in agriculture and the raising of stock.
The life of this man was attended with all the adventures and dangers in-
cident to the pioneer of those days, and an interesting volume could be
written on his experience. He was peculiarly qualified to act his part in
leading the van of civilization into the wilderness, by the possession of
remarkable courage, energy, fortitude, and physical endurance. Captain
Ridley was a man possessed of a high sense of honor, and proverbially
regarded as one in whom truth stood above all virtues. He was fond of
prayer and the Holy Scriptures, and in sentiment a Missionary Baptist; this
sentiment he practically exemplified in his relations with his fellow-men.
With a force of will unyielding, whatever idea he embraced was held
with a tenacity peculiarly his own; his traits of character were prom-
inent and clearly defined; uncompromising and persistent, he would not
allow any thing to stand in the way of his plans, and would drive straight
on and execute where others failed. His characteristics were transmitted
to his posterity, and typical representatives of the old pioneer may now be
found in every branch of the Ridley family. I have not learned how the
title "captain came to the subject of this notice, but presume to say
he was leader of some company during the Indian wars.
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SECOND GENERATION.
Beverly Ridley2 (1), eldest son of George¹ (1), was born in eastern
Tennessee, July 23, 1762; married Annie Williams (?) (she was born Dec.
18, 1766, died May 30, 1825), and had issue nine children, four sons and
five daughters, of whom hereafter. He married, secondly, Elizabeth Cooch
(she was born May 5, 1793), by whom one child. He was a man of strong
mind and undaunted courage, widely known and highly repected; died
Oct. 27, 1844.
George Ridley2 (2), second son of George' (1), was born in eastern
Tennessee, Jan. 11, 1764; married and settled in northern Alabama.
John Ridley2 (1), third son of George¹ (1), was born in eastern Ten-
nessee, June 5, 1765; married a German lady in the State of Georgia, and
had issue three children, a son and two daughters, of whom hereafter.
Parents died young.
William Ridley2 (1), fourth son of George¹ (1), was born in eastern
Tennessee, Feb. 2, 1767. He moved from Tennessee to settle in Georgia,
