RIDLEYS OF SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
485
of Southampton County, Va., and became the ancestress of a distinguished
family.
Sarah Ridley (1), a daughter of James (1), was married to her
cousin, Dr. James Ridley, and had issue one son, of whom, with his father,
more hereafter. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Ridley was
Drew, or Drewry, and died in 1807, having been many
married to
years a widow.
8
Dr. James Ridley (4), a son of William2 (2), was born in South-
ampton County, Va.; married his cousin Sarah, daughter of James Rid-
ley2 (1), before mentioned, and had issue one son, of whom hereafter.
Dr. Ridley was a surgeon in the Revolutionary army.
Ridley (?), a son of William² (2), was born in Southampton
County, Va.; married, and had issue three children, of whom hereafter.
Col. Thomas Ridley (1), youngest son of William2 (2), was born
in Southampton County, Va., say about 1740. He early obtained a com-
mission in the Continental army, and proved himself a gallant soldier in
the hour" which tried men's souls," serving with great distinction through
the Revolutionary war. For meritorious conduct he was promoted to a
colonelcy, and fought side by side with his kinsman, Col. Abridgton Jones,
during many severe engagements. He was at the battle of Brandywine,
and tradition has preserved an anecdote, which on that memorable occa-
sion illustrated his chivalrous bearing. The day was intensely hot, and
men were falling under the rays of a vertical sun as well as by the shot
of the enemy. Still the battle raged, and the sound of the artillery be-
came overwhelming. A poor soldier belonging to the Virginia regiment,
catching the eye of Colonel Ridley, said in tremulous accents, "The earth
is gaping and will swallow us." "Let it open," stormed Ridley, "we will
sink together; to your post!" After one of the battles in which he had
been engaged, he came across a wounded British officer, to whom he ex-
tended an act of kindness. The soldier drew from his pocket a gold
watch, and asked Colonel Ridley to accept it as a token of his dying
gratitude. That watch is now in the possession of his grandson, Francis
T. Ridley. Colonel Ridley married Amy Scott, and left two sons, of
whom hereafter. On retiring from the services of his country Colonel
Ridley received, as the meed of his patriotic achievements, a bounty in
land lying in the territory northwest of the Ohio River, -now in the
State of Ohio, - from which his heirs realized the sum of forty thousand
dollars. No record of his death.
FOURTH GENERATION.
John Ridley (1), a son of James (3), was born in Southampton
County, Va., and died without issue.
Ridley' (?), a daughter of James
(3), was born in Southampton
County, Va.; was married and had issue sons and daughters.
Ridley' (?), a daughter of James (3), was born in Southampton
County, Va.; was married and had issue sons and daughters.
Matthew Ridley (1), only son of James³ (4) and his wife, Sarah Rid-
ley, was born in Southampton County, Va., and lived to attain his
majority; died without issue.
Timothy Ridley' (1), a son of
8
(?), was born in Southampton
