RIDLEYS OF WAYNE, MAINE,
659
Magnus Redlon (9), second son of Nathaniel (2), was born in Bath,
Me., Oct. 10, 1799, and died in infancy.
Abigail Redlon (2), eldest daughter of Nathaniel' (2), was born in
Bath, Me., Jan. 14, 1801; became the wife of Arber Marson (now, 1875,
of Boothbay, Me.) in 1825, and died in 1839.
Catherine Redlon' (2), second daughter of Nathaniel (2), was born
in Bath, Me., March 16, 1803; was married to Dennis Lines, and lived
sometime in South Boston, Mass. Dead.
Sally Ridley (6), eldest daughter of Daniel (3), was born in Saco,
Me., Nov. 30, 1793; was married to Benjamin McKenney, Feb. 27, 1812,-
he was then of Scarborough,—and had issue. She died in the city of
Portland many years ago. Her husband went from home during the
excitement created by Jacob Cochran, and was absent many years. Mrs.
McKenney's portrait is in my collection.
Matthias Ridley' (5), eldest son of Daniel (3), was born in Saco,
Me., Feb. 29, 1795; married Feb. 4, 1818, to Nancy Pratt, of Leeds, Me.,
and settled in Wayne, to which town he went with his parents in 1814.
His house was about one-half mile north of where his brother Daniel
subsequently built his brick house, and was reached by a lane from the
main carriage-road. (I find he first sat down a little way east of his father's
homestead, and afterwards moved his house to its present location.) He
enlisted as a substitute for his father in the war of 1812, and received a
pension which is now drawn by his widow, who, in a somewhat demented
condition, continues on the old farm, living alone, but under the watch-
care of her son. Mr. Ridlon changed his name to Ridley, as did all the
Wayne family, and his descendants will stand thus recorded. He was
tall, broad-shouldered, massive of frame, and muscular; had black hair,
dark eyes, regular features, and firm but pleasant expression of face; his
head was high and well developed, but not bald. He was a great reader,
especially of the Scriptures, was well informed, possessed a remarkably
retentive memory, and was many years a devoted Christian.
He was
nearly blind for some years, but recovered his sight before his death, which
took place in 1875, at the age of 80 years. He was buried in the ceme-
tery near the brick house of his brother Daniel, where so many of the
family rest. His children, of whom hereafter, were ten in number.
Martha Ridley (3), second daughter of Daniel (3), was born in
Saco, Me., Feb. 9, 1798, and died young.
Jonathan Ridley' (4), second son of Daniel (3), was born in Saco,
Me., Feb. 15, 1801; married Louisa Marston, of Fayette, and had issue
seven children, of whom hereafter. He went from Saco to Wayne in
1813-14, and lived in that town during his minority, working on a farm in
summer and attending or teaching school in winter. He changed the
spelling of his name to Ridley, and all the family in that section of the
State followed suit. He says, "Everybody called me Mr. Ridley, and I was
weary of correcting them, so I adopted a new orthography." Mr. Ridley
early manifested a taste for books, and has been a devoted reader all his
life. He took front-rank as a scholar in the town-schools, and at an early
age became an assistant teacher. He aspired to a thorough education,
but his situation and limited means in early life made it unavailable, and
he had to supplement what he acquired at the common school, by exten-
sive reading and study at home; this he applied himself to with great
persistency until his mind was well stored with practical knowledge. Mr.
