684
RIDLONS OF SACO, MAINE.
lived in that town until 1857-9, when he moved to Cornish, York County,
where he now resides and owns a fine farm. He formerly drove a team.
Deacon of the Freewill Baptist Church. A good and highly respected
man; somewhat eccentric and odd; has the features and general charac-
teristics of the old stock of Ridlons. He is a large, corpulent man. Has
had issue five children, of whom hereafter.
Miranda-S. Ridlon (2), only daughter of Charles (1), was born in
Saco, Me. (Ferry Neighborhood), Feb. 26, 1827; became the wife of
Charles Plummer, of Portland, June 15, 1848, and is now living on Mid-
dle Street, surrounded by all the concomitants of wealth. A very useful,
benevolent woman. She is large, dignified, and graceful; has the type of
features common to the old Ridlon stock. No issue.
Henry-K. Ridlon (3), second son of Charles (1), was born in Saco,
Me., June 19, 1829, and died when a child.
Thomas-H. Ridlon (9), eldest son of Ephraim (2), was born in
Saco, Me., Jan. 17, 1815; married Mary-Frances Mann, and settled in
Boston, or Chelsea, Mass., where he carried on the hatter's business, and
acquired a handsome property. He was an extremely eccentric charac-
tor, and took great pride in his peculiar costume and habits of life. He
persisted in wearing clothes fashionable in the colonial days: the three-
cornered hat, broad coat, long waist-coat, knee-breeches, white silk stock-
ings, and buckled shoes. He was the subject of much attention upon the
streets, and is well remembered by old Bostonians. He was generous
with his money, and spent a fortune in fashionable dinners, horse-races,
and the entertainment of dignitaries. He was always proud of his Scot-
tish ancestry, and sent to the Herald College, at London, for coat-of-arms.
and pedigree. He was an enthusiastic antiquary and specialist, and spent
considerable money in the collection of novelties and curious specimens
in foreign lands. A room in his house was fitted up for a kind of
museum, and filled with engravings, carvings, Yankee notions, etc. He
was a cadet of the Ridlon family, who seemed to have received the
mantles of four generations of odd, eccentric ancestors, and found enjoy-
ment in what was not followed by pleasure-seekers generally. He had
his grave-stones made several years before his death, the inscription being
cut to his own taste, leaving only space for the date of his departure,
which took place Nov. 1, 1865. He left a widow, who has married a
second husband, and two sons, of whom hereafter. The framed coat-of-
arms left in his family was supposed to be authorized for the Ridlon
family, but has no connection with that family; it is a coat belonging to
a branch of the Ridleys of Northumberland, Eng.
Joseph-Henry Ridlon' (8), second son of Ephraim (2), was born in
Saco, Me., March 20, 1818; married Harriet Brown, June 21, 1840, and
settled in Keene, N. H. He subsequently went to Boston, and engaged
as a hatter with his brother before mentioned. He was possessed of con-
siderable property. Served in the Union army, during the Rebellion.
Resided many years in Chelsea, Mass., where his wife carried on the mil-
linery and dress-making business. He has all the physical and mental
characteristics of his family. Is short, corpulent, and heavy; hair and
beard formerly black, now white, the latter long. He is genial, kind-
hearted, and honest, but blunt, determined, and sarcastic. A very com-
panionable man. Now living in Easton, Mass. Had issue five children,
of whom hereafter.
