620
REDLONS OF SACO, MAINE.
ing his opportunity, when all but two men were below, Ephraim threw
the hatches down and bolted them; then seized the two sailors, bound
them to the masts, and placed his brother at the wheel. In a moment the
voice of the commander was heard below, and the following colloquy passed
between the two men: "Who bolted the hatches," cried the captain.
"Big Eph. Ridlon, Sir," was the reply. "Let me up, or I will put you
in irons," responded the officer." "Wait till you get to port first," said
Ephraim. The men below commenced with axes to cut their way through
the deck, but Ephraim gave them the following warning: "The fust one
of you Britishers who puts his head through this deck will git a broken
skull." The birds were well and safely caged and delivered at port in
Boston to the proper authorities. For this service he received a double
pension during life. There are some discrepancies in the account of this
adventure, as related by different members of the family, but the forego-
ing was from his own nephew, who had it direct from Ephraim Ridlon.
He was once on guard at the head-quarters of General Knox, and saw Wash-
ington approaching, whom knowing, he allowed to come near without the
usual precautions. General Washington reprimanded Ephraim for his care-
lessness, but on being assured that he was recognized did not punish him.
Mr. Ridlon was considered the most powerful man on the New Eng-
land coast when in his prime; he could shoulder a barrel of beef, and
thrashed any man who was so reckless as to provoke him to madness. Many
and thrilling are the stories told around the firesides of his descendants,
which were taken from his own lips, and have been handed down from
generation to generation. The sword carried by him in the war of the
Revolution, is now in the possession of Peter Ridlon, of Gardner, Kan.;
it is a short English "hanger." The great arm-chair in which Ephraim
sat in his last years, is now in the family of his grandson, Joseph-Henry
Ridlon, of Easton, Mass.; it is about three feet from arm to arm, and the
corner of the bottom comes directly in front; a massive, antique, and
curious piece of furniture. Mr. Ridlon was a Royal Arch Freemason.
He died when about 75 years of age, and was so large that the door of
his house was removed from its hinges before his body could be taken
out for burial. Have no record of the death of his wife. They had ten
children, of whom hereafter.
Polly Ridlon (1), a daughter of Daniel2 (1), was born in Saco (then
Pepperellborough), Me. (she was baptized Jan. 24, 1764); was married
Dec. 2, 1783, to Benjamin Scammon, and lived on the "Old Orchard
Road." She was called "Aunt Ben," and was widely known as a most
singular woman. She wanted to be buried in the Cutts Tomb, because,
as she said, "it is more healthy than a grave." She fell into the fire and
was burned so badly that she soon died. Charles Granger, of Saco, drew
a portrait of "Aunt Ben" Scammon many years ago, but it cannot be
found.
Lewis Ridlon (1), third son of Daniel2 (1), was born in Saco (then
Pepperellborough), Me., March 19, 1765 (he was baptized March 25,
1766); married Oct. 18, 1789, Bethesda, daughter of Jeremiah and Beth-
esda (Townsend) Ridlon, of Saco, and settled as a farmer on the "Ferry
Road," near the Saco River. Had issue nine children; died Dec. 5, 1825.
He was of medium height; complexion light.
Hannah Ridlon (2), second daughter of Daniel (1), was born in
Saco between 1760 and 1765; was married Aug. 27, 1777, to Samuel
Holmes, a relative of Abigail Holmes, who was the wife of John Redlon
