624
REDLONS OF NEWCASTLE, MAINE.
learned the blacksmith's trade with his father at the shop on the old home-
stead-farm, and after his marriage settled at Newcastle Village and car-
ried on business there for many years; the house where he once lived,
and his old shop, were standing in 1873, when the author visited the
place.
He was considered an excellent mechanic and was successful when
he attended to his business; but he loved the cup and was unsteady in
his habits. He was tall, and quite stoop-shouldered, made so from work-
ing over his anvil. He had dark hair and eyes, and was very bald at the
time of his death, which took place at the home of his daughter, Mrs.
William Dodge, in 1854, at the age of 82 years. He was buried on the
farm of his son-in-law, Mr. Dodge, near the bank of Damariscotta River.
His wife died many years previously, but I have no particulars.
Magnus Redlon (5), second son of Roberts (1), was born in New-
castle, Me., Nov. 4, 1774; married Nov. 14, 1799, Hannah, youngest
daughter of Matthias and Rachel Redlon, of Hollis, then Phillipsburgh,
and had issue seven children, of whom hereafter. He had learned the
blacksmith's trade with his father at his home in Newcastle, and in making
a visit to his relatives, on Saco River, became acquainted with charming
Hannah, then a fair-haired and buxom lass, and decided, like the patri-
archs anciently, to "take him a wife of his kindred." Mr. Redlon changed
his name to Ridlon when he settled in the Saco Valley, to correspond
with the form then used by the family in Hollis. He lived and carried on
business in several places in Hollis and Buxton; at one time he had a
shop near "Smith's Bridge," on Hollis side of the river; he also lived at
Shaddagee," in Buxton, and had a shop at the road-corner opposite the
present house of Isaac Eaton. His first wife died in 1820, and he
married, secondly, Mary, daughter of Benjamin Smith, Nov. 14, 1821. Mr.
Ridlon was a competent mechanic in his day, and many are the stories
told me by my grandfather illustrative of the man and his thoroughness
in doing his work. At one time the mill-crank of Ridlon's mill was
broken, and carried to the shop of "Uncle Mag" (as he was called to
distinguish him from his wife's brother, who was known as "Uncle Mag-
nus") to be mended. To weld a mill-crank in those days was considered
a great achievement, and called forth the skill and muscle of the blacksmith.
"Uncle Mag" loved his toddy and would not think of undertaking so
heavy a job without some of it; so while the preliminaries were being
arranged, one of the men was sent to the store with "the little brown
jug." In those days they used only charcoal at the forge, and it required
a large quantity to heat so heavy a piece of iron. A wooden "crane
was adjusted, to which, by chains, the crank was attached, so it could be
swung quickly upon the anvil. Several of the Ridlons were present to
assist, armed with heavy sledge-hammers, among them my grandfather,
who had been so much with "Uncle Mag," that he was considered
"second best man." The man at the bellows-pole was frequently com-
manded, "Blow her up, Jeams, blow her up," while "Uncle Mag" con-
tinued to pull open the coals and throw in sand. The fire was waxing
hotter and hotter, and the glowing iron hissed and sparkled fearfully.
The sweat dropped fast from the shaggy brow of "Uncle Mag" as he
raked the fire and passed round the jug. Some thought the crank was
hot enough to weld, but the blacksmith only cried the louder, "Blow her
up, blow her up." The owners of the crank remonstrated, and claimed
that the crank was already too hot and the iron being wasted, but all the
attention they received was "Blow her up, blow her up." When all was
""
