442 RIDLEYS OF WILLIMOTESWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND.
-
gained he occupied himself principally with those avocations connected
with agriculture, in which he was so well versed. Under his management
the fine pasture-lands at Blagdon were greatly improved, and the high-
bred cattle raised there were sold at the highest prices. He also made a
complete reform in the style of his laborers' cottages in the neighborhood,
providing dwellings in which his help might dwell in health and comfort.
He made like improvements at his colliery property at Blyth and Cow-
pen. For many years Sir Matthew held the office of president of the
Newcastle Farmers' Club, and until overtaken by ill health, he rarely
missed an opportunity of being present at the deliberations of that useful
body. He was also a freeman of Newcastle, being governor of the Com-
of Merchant Adventurers,
pany
a position which has been almost hered-
itary in the family. He was also for several years chairman of the Blyth
Harbour Dock Company, and did much to improve the trade of the town,
port, and district. In parliament Sir Matthew did not distinguish himself
as a speaker,-oratory was not his forte,-but he was a hard worker, and
devoted much time to the interests of his constituents. His knowledge
of agriculture rendered his services especially invaluable in all matters re-
lating to that interest. He was a member of the Royal Agricultural So-
ciety of England, and the Northumberland Agricultural Society received
the benefit of his experience and advice. Sir Matthew died at Blagdon
Hall, near Morpeth, on Sept. 27, 1877. He had attended a meeting of the
Visiting Justices, of which he was a member, at the Northumberland
County Lunatic Asylum, on the 5th, and after the meeting inspected some
buildings then in process of erection, and fell from a ladder to the ground.
He was immediately taken to Blagdon, in company with his physician.
Although he received some contusions to the hip and thigh, with a few
bruises, he seemed to rapidly recover from the injuries, and was able to
be in the sitting-room most of the day on which, after a relapse, he sud-
denly died of heart-disease.
On Saturday following his death the remains of the deceased baronet
were interred in the family-vault in Stannington church-yard, the coffin
being placed alongside that of Lady Ridley. There was a large attend-
ance at the funeral, the deceased gentleman's urbanity of manner and
kind-heartedness having made him a great favorite with his tenantry and
others on the estates. The coffin was of polished oak, with silver mount-
ings, and a plate bearing the inscription,-"Sir Matthew-White Ridley,
Bart.; died 25th September, aged 70 years." Beautiful wreaths were
placed on the coffin. The funeral procession started from Blagdon Hall
at eleven o'clock, and on arriving at the church the burial-service, copies
of which had been printed and given to the mourners, was impressively
read by the Rev. Ambrose Jones, vicar of Stannington. At the conclu-
sion of the service the "Dead March in Saul" was played on the organ,
after which the services at the grave were gone through in the presence
of a large concourse of people, who had traveled long distances to pay
their last respects to the memory of the departed baronet. Sir Matthew
was succeeded by his eldest son, the present Sir Matthew-White Ridley,
Bart., M. P.
Nicholas-Henry Ridley22 (15), second son of Matthew (3), proba-
bly died young.
Gen. Charles-William Ridley22 (3), third son of Matthew21 (3), was
born in 1812; married, April 17, 1845, to the Hon. Henrietta-Araminta-
Monck Browne, daughter of Dominick, the late Lord Oranmore (she died
