630
RIDLONS OF HOLLIS, MAINE.
Resembled his brother Joseph. Died at the home of his brother Robert,
to which he had been removed soon after becoming ill, and was laid down
to rest by the side of his father in the "Old Ridlon Burying-ground," so
called, near his birth-place.
Jacob Ridlon¹ (3), third son of James (1), was born in Little Falls
Plantation (now Hollis), Me., Dec. 15, 1786; died when young and un-
married, and was buried in his father's lot, near his birth-place. The
members of this branch of the family had forgotten there was such an
uncle, till the author found the record of his birth on a fly-leaf of his
father's old Bible. He was probably named in honor of his uncle, Jacob
Ridlon, of Buxton.
Lydia Ridlon (2), second daughter of James (1), was born in Little
Falls Plantation (now Hollis), Me., May 23, 1789; was married to John
Wiggin, of Baldwin, Me., Dec. 1, 1814. She did not long survive, and
Mr. Wiggin married her cousin, Betsey Ridlon, daughter of Jacob Ridlon,
of Buxton, whose records see.
―
Robert Ridlon' (3), fourth son of James³ (1), was born in Little Falls
Plantation, so called (now Hollis), Me., Aug. 8, 1791; married Nov. 7,
1813, Sally, daughter of Ichabod and Dolly Cozens* (or Cousens), of Ken-
nebunk, or Lyman, in the same County (she was born July 14, 1790), and
settled on his father's homestead-farm, where he remained the rest of his
days. He was surveyor of lumber in 1812-14; juror at Portland Court
in 1812, 1832, and 1837. Filled several town offices. He was moderate,
grave, considerate, prudent, judicious, honest, kind, and courteous; a deep
thinker, careful manager, shrewd financier, ardent politician (Jackson Dem-
ocrat), Universalist in sentiment, a peacemaker by practice, and a good
neighbor, townsman, husband, and father. He and his good wife lived
together over fifty years, and no unkind word ever passed between them.
He was an excellent farmer and stock-raiser. He had great pride in keep-
ing a pair of fat oxen, - the fattest in town. He kept his buildings and
fences in good repair, and was very neat and precise about all his farm-
work. Mr. Ridlon owned fine timber-lands, and could not bear to cut
down a growing tree. His farm was one of the best in town and kept in
a highly productive condition. He seldom went from home, was always
busy, and never employed others to do what he could do himself. In
personal appearance he resembled his brother Joseph; he was consider-
ably stoop-shouldered, of medium height and build, had a high, bald crown,
projecting forehead deeply furrowed, deep-set eyes, almost hidden by
wrinkles at the temple-corners, long outstanding brows, large nose,
broad mouth and chin, short neck, and when in health had a florid face.
In his prime his hair was dark brown and inclined to curl at the ends.
He accumulated a handsome estate, and was considered an independent
farmer. His wife died Feb. 8, 1865. He died in the family of his grand-
daughter, Mrs. Maria (Sawyer) Whitehouse, whom he had brought up,
The family of Cozens (or Cousens) is descended from John Cozens, of Casco
(now Portland), Me., who was born in England in 1596, and died in York, Me., in
1689. Descendants settled in Lyman, Kennebunk, Hollis, Alfred, and Cornish, Me.
Joseph Cousens lived in Cornish, but moved to Kennebunk; he was a Revolu-
tionary soldier. Ebenezer, a cousin of the preceding, who was of Lyman, married
Sarah Cousens, a kiuswoman, and had issue. Either Joseph or Ebenezer was a
brother of Ichabod, father of Sally, wife of Robert Ridlon, and of Hannah, wife
of James Redlon, the father of Robert, and a sister of the latter became the wife
of Robert Cousens, of Lyman, a collateral kinsman.
