534
RIDLEYS OF WAKE COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA.
Dr. James-Day Ridley' (1), a son of William¹ (1), was born in
Wake or Granville County, N. C., about 1781; married Elizabeth J.
Ashton, of Warren County, and had issue two sons, of whom more here-
after. One relative says James was the eldest son. He was graduated in
Philadelphia, settled as a physician at Wake Forest, N. C., and stood high
in his profession. Was a handsome and popular man; his family connec-
tions and fine conversational powers gave him extensive influence. In his
account-book, written by himself, is the following: "I commenced the
practice of physic at Capt. Robert Crenshaw's, July 18, 1810; left there
May 18, 1811." He died in 1820, leaving a fine estate of four hundred
or five hundred acres, and a spacious residence. In his will he left one
third to his wife, and one third to each of his two sons; but in case the
sons died childless the wife was to have one half, and the other half was
to go to his relatives. Mrs. Ridley was a large, dignified lady, descended.
from a family as good as found in the State; she deceased in 1850, leav-
ing her property, which consisted of land and slaves, to Elbert Chuk, a
nephew, and Ann-Elizabeth, wife of Dr. H. W. Montague, a niece.
Willis Ridley² (1), a son of William¹ (1), was born in Granville
County, N. C.; married Mary W. Smith, of Granville County, and moved
to Mount Pleasant, Maury County, Tenn., about the year 1809, where he
died at the age of 52, leaving a widow and six children, of whom more
hereafter. Mr. Ridley was a farmer.
Mary Ridley2 (1), only daughter of William' (1), was born in Gran-
ville County, N. C., and was married to Col. Nathaniel Roberts, of Gran-
ville County.* She was the mother of eleven children.
THIRD GENERATION.
John-Cobb Ridley (1), only son of Howell (1), was born in Gran-
ville County, N. C., in 1810; married in 1829 to Amelia Todd, and for a
while resided on a farm in the County; but in 1835 moved to Oxford,
where he lived for a few years. He died in Washington city in 1838,
leaving a widow and three children, of whom hereafter. Mr. Ridley was
a farmer by occupation. He was a cultivated gentleman. His widow
married for her second husband a lawyer named Jeremiah Hilliard, and
is now living at Scottsville, Harrison County, Tex., a very old lady.
William-James Ridley (2), a son of James² (1), was born in Wake
County, N. C., in 1817, and died when a young man without issue; his
age was 24 years. Willed all his property to his mother.
John-Alston Ridley (2), a son of James (1), was born in Wake
County, N. C., in 1819, and died without issue in 1850. He was married.
Left property by will to his wife and Ridley family.
8
Mary-Ann Ridley (2), eldest daughter of Willis (1), was born in
Maury County, Tenn., and became the wife of a Mr. Conner, and has
three children.
Eliza Ridley (1), second daughter of Willis (1), was born in Maury
County, Tenn., and died young.
* MRS. SUSAN A. RIDLEY, of Georgia, remembers a visit at the house of Mary
(Ridley) Roberts, where she was very kindly and attentively entertained, spending
much time riding, fishing, etc. She represents Mrs. Roberts as a woman of cul-
ture and charming conversational powers, and her husband as a pleasant and digui-
fied gentleman.
