REDLONS OF SACO, MAINE.
619
"of Osapy" (Ossipee),-now Limington, - March 12, 1780, and at that
date "renewed their covenant" with the church at Saco, of which they
were members. His farm in Limington was in the south section of the
town, and has since been owned by John Boothby. After living in that
town several years, he removed to Limerick, in the same County, and
⚫ settled on a farm in the north-east part of the town, near Cornish line,
where the family continued the rest of their days. He seems to have
been one of the original proprietors of Limerick, but I do not know what
the boundary of that town was at that time. A piece of plate-lead was
dug from the ground about thirty-three years ago, near the bank of Little
Ossipee River, by George Ford; it was about eighteen inches below
the surface, near a large pine-stump, and measured eight by ten inches;
upon one side the names of thirteen of the first proprietors of Limerick
are inscribed, with the date "Anno 1772, May 15th," and on the reverse
side the following: "Daniel Ridlon olme animo possessidendi. Witness,
D. King, J. Wingate, Limbrick." Various opinions are held by antiqua-
ries regarding this tablet, which is now in possession of Mrs. Paulina
Osborn, of Kennebunk, Me.
Mr. Ridlon was living in the family of his son-in-law, Pelatiah Brown,
in 1836; he was then supposed to be 94 years old, but according
to records was but 86. "He died about the year 1850 (so said his son
Ezra) aged one hundred years." His widow is said to have survived him
about two years, and was 99 years and 8 months old at the time of her
death. I cannot vouch for these statements and dates, as I have not been
able to find records. Daniel was not tall, but very broad at the shoulders,
full-chested, and inclined to corpulency in old age. He had sandy hair,
red complexion, coarse features, heavy brows, gray eyes, and in the
prime of life was a powerful man. He was sedate, quiet, peaceful, and a
devoted Christian from early years to the close of his life. The Ridlons
at Hollis used to see this "Uncle Daniel" when children, as he came to
visit his uncle Matthias and his cousins there, and well remembered his
earnest, powerful prayers in the homes of their parents. My grandfather
once called at his house in Limerick and purchased stock of him.
Ephraim Redlon³ (1), second son of Daniel² (1), was born in Pepper-
ellborough (now Saco, Me.), Massachusetts Colony, about 1758; married
Betsey Scammon, Aug. 28, 1783, and settled at Saco Ferry, near his birth-
place. He enlisted in the company of John Watkins, in Col. Edmund
Phinney's regiment, at the age of sixteen, and served in that command one
year. After a short rest at home he re-enlisted in John Crane's company
of artillery, and served under Gen. Henry Knox two years as his waiter
at head-quarters. He also served in the capacity of baggage-master.
His first term of service lasted from December, 1775, to Jan. 1, 1776, at
which time he was discharged at Fort George, near Lake George. His
second term lasted from April, 1777, to the close of the war.
He was
discharged at Morristown, N. J. Was at the battle of Brandywine, one
of the most severe engagements of the Revolutionary war. After his
second discharge from the army he returned to Saco, married, and devoted
his time to farming, and fishing along the coast with his brothers. At
one time they were captured by a British man-of-war, their stores
transferred to the enemy's ship, and their own craft scuttled and left to
sink. Before being boarded by the British, Ephraim told his brothers
to keep as near him as possible and watch his movements. They were
treated with consideration and allowed the freedom of the deck. Watch-
