RIDLEYS OF WARWICK COUNTY, VIRGINIA.
491
his book, 1779." This is all that is known, save that he was a wealthy
planter and slave-owner.*
Gerrard Ridley¹ (1), a brother of the preceding, is supposed to have
emigrated from England with Peter, and to have lived in the same County.
I do not find records of children. In the prayer-book before mentioned,
is the following:-"Gerrard Ridley, his book, 1772."
SECOND GENERATION.
Gerrard Ridley' (2), eldest son of Peter¹ (1), was born in Virginia,
Sept. 11, 1787, and died Sept. 18, 1823.
Dea. John Ridley' (1),† a son of Peter¹ (1), was born in Virginia,
Jan. 26, 1800; married, Sept. 4, 1824, to Mary-Ann Gardner (her age was
sixteen), and had issue nine children, of whom hereafter. Mr. Ridley
settled in Norfolk, Va., about 1818, and continued there till his death,
Nov. 13, 1864. His education was confined to a country school in early
life, but he studied and mastered several branches of science. For twenty-
five years
he was surveyor of the city of Norfolk. He was deacon of the
Baptist church forty years; a man of strict integrity, and a devoted
Christian; was of retiring disposition; owned slaves, who were alternately
employed in making brick and cutting timber. Retired from active busi-
ness, but held a city office at time of his death.
THIRD GENERATION.
John Ridley (2), eldest son of John² (1), was born in Norfolk, Va.,
in 1828, and died in 1830.
Gerrard Ridley (3), second son of John² (1), was born in Norfolk,
Va., in 1829, and died in 1831.
Virginia Ridley (1), eldest daughter of John (1), was born in Nor-
folk, Va., in 1833, and died in 1835.
Fannie Ridleys (1), second daughter of John² (1), was born in Nor-
folk, Va.; was married in 1851 to John E. Shields, a hardware merchant,
of Norfolk.
Virginia-Park Ridley (2), third daughter of John' (1), was born in
Norfolk, Va.; was married in 1859 to Andrew J. Nock, a lawyer, and
was left a widow a few months after her marriage; now (1880) living
with her mother in Norfolk.
Mattie Ridley (1), fourth daughter of John2 (1), was born in Nor-
folk, Va.; was married in 1868, to Rev. T. G. Jones, D. D., now pas-
tor of the First Baptist Church of Nashville, Tenn. He has been presi-
dent of Wake Forest College, N. C., and of Richmond College. A writer
of great ability.
A
Emily Ridley (1), fifth daughter of John² (1), was born in Norfolk,
Va., and was married in 1869 to George J. Thomas, a cotton-broker.
widow, living with her mother.
*The Hon. Hugh-Blair Grisley, Chancellor of Virginia, in a letter, states that
the records of deeds and wills of the Ridleys could be found in the Register's office
of York County, but they are not there, and the records of Elizabeth City do not
produce them. The records of Warwick County were destroyed during the war.
This gentleman thinks one of this family was a member of the House of Burgesses
before the Revolution, which is a mistake. That man was a member of the family
in Southampton County, Va.
+ Several sisters of John Ridley died before his marriage, and two- Mrs. Bour-
bon Jones and Mrs. Sands - a few weeks after his marriage. Two other sisters
were married to Mr. Burnham and Mr. Ashley. I have not found the names of
these sisters, nor records of their marriages and deaths.
