Revised 5/5/2017. Copyright @2017; The following Documentary Timeline has been compiled and created by Paul Rhetts. It may be copied for research purposes; but it may not be reproduced for inclusion in any printed or electronic distribution of any kind without the express written permission of the author. Any requests to use this information should be sent to Paul Rhetts, LPDPress@q.com.
James Ridley (1717-1797) m. (1) Ruth Small (1718-1752); (2) Mary Small (1718-1798)
s/o Thomas RIDLEY (1685-1767) m. Mary STROUT (1686-1767)
1-d/o Daniel Small (1690-1737) m. Sarah _____ (1695-1730)
2-d/o Samuel Small (1690-1737) m. Isabel DYER (1695-1730)
6 Jan 1718 Ruth SMALL born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA [one source says Oct 1721]
6 Feb 1718 James RIDLEY born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts [1718 Massachusetts Vital Record, Birth] [Ridley, James Moca 7056 Order # 1302??] [Bowman, George Ernest, and Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Vital Records of the Town of Truro, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Boston, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1933), p 7 (p. 21 orig). "James Ridley the son of Thomas and Mary Ridley was Born in Truroe the third day of december in ye year 1717/18"] [Vital Records of Truro, Barnstable County, MA to 1850: James Ridley the son of Thomas and Mary Ridley was Born in Truroe the: 6th of february in ye year 1718/19] [Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 confirm date, location, and parents names (doc)]
12 Sep 1721 Mary SMALL born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, USA [one source says birth was Oct 1721]; dau of Samuel and Isabel Dyer Small [Bowman, George Ernest, and Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants. Vital Records of the Town of Truro, Massachusetts, to the End of the Year 1849. (Boston, Massachusetts: Massachusetts Society of Mayflower Descendants, 1933), p. 34. from p. 59 of the original records: "Mary Smalley the daughter of Samll: and Issable Smalley was Born in Truro in october 1721"] [Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 confirms date and location and parent’s names p. 34 (doc)] [Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 confirms date (doc)]
30 Mar 1738 James RIDLEY and Ruth SMALL married at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts [1735 Marriage Record with Ruth Small; 1738 Marriage Record with Ruth Small] [History of the Ancient Ryedales and their descendants in Normandy, Great Britain, Ireland, and America from 860 to 1884 Comprising the Genealogy and Biography for about one thousand years for the Families of Riddell, Riddle, Ridlon, Ridley, Etc., p. 537: "He resided in his native town till the year 1752, when he removed to Great Island, Harpswell, Me. (then colony of Massachusetts), where he settled and became the progenitor of the numerous families of the name in that State, except a small branch of the Ridlon family who now spell their name identical with this family, and hence great confusion was occasioned between the two. Mr. Ridley located at a place on the island since called "Ridley Point," near Cundy’s Harbor, ME. He owned extensive lands, and carried on farming and fishing. He was a daring woodman and bold hunter; spent much of his time trapping along the eastern rivers, and could find his way through a trackless wilderness in any direction. He married, secondly, Sept. 1753, to Mary Bocey or Bacey. He was killled by lightning at Harpswell."] [History of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell, by George Agustus Wheeler Page 850, Ridley: James Ridley came from Truro to Harpswell before the Revolution, but precisely when is not known. He married Mary, daughter of Samuel Small of Truro. Children were: Mark, b. 1757; Daniel, b.1759; Rachael b. 1763 [?]. Lived in Truro until about 1752 when he removed to Harpswell, ME] [Massachusetts, Compiled Marriages, 1633-1850, FHL Film #0945516 confirms date of marriage, and names of James and Ruth] [Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 confirms date, location of marriage (doc)] [Truro Marriage Register confirms date and location (doc)]
28 Dec 1740 dau Ann Ridley born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died bef 1798; married Joseph Linckhornew [A son John Monroe, b "Indian Island"1761. The father d when John was just a baby and Ann moved back to Truro, MA. John was bound to Capt. James Lombard of Athol, MA. Living with until age 17 when he enlisted in the Revolutionary War. He removed to Pennfield N.B. Revolutionary War Pention (#W24022)]
27 Aug 1741 Mary Small married Christopher Dyer [no children] at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts [they had 7 children???]
1742 dau Mercy Dyer born
26 Jul 1743 Mary Small and George Bowie married at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts [Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 confirms date, location, and spouse name as George Bowoey (doc)] Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 gives his name as George Bowacy in Boston (doc)] [Boston Town Clerk Register confirms “George Bowacy of Boston married to Mary Smalley of Truro July 26, 1743 by Rev John Avery” (doc)] [Boston Towen Marriage Register p.42 confirms “George Bowacy of Boston married to Mary Smalley of Truro July 26, 1743 by Rev John Avery” (doc)]
13 Apr 1743 dau Sarah Bowie born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts
13 Apr 1743 dau Sarah Ridley born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died aft 1769; married James Snow on 12 Apr 1763 at at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts
28 May 1744 dau Isabel Bowie born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts
30 Sep 1744 dau Jane Bowie born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts
25 Jun 1745 son James Ridley born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died 1834; married Isabel Gilkey [one source says m (1): Harpswell 13 April 1761 Isabel Bowie his stepsister m (2): 15 November 1788/89 Elizabeth "Betsey" Bridges] [Rev War: Private, Capt. Nathaniel Larrabee’s co.; enlisted 9 Jul 1775; service 6 mos 7 days, on seacoast in Cumberland Co { Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors of the Revolutionary War, Vol 13, p. 324]
16 Mar 1746 son Ambrose Ridley born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died 1834; married Anna Trafton in 1770 at York, York, ME
bef 16 Aug 1747 son George Bowie born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts
24 Mar 1748 son Alexander Bowie born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts
14 May 1749 George Bowacy Bowie died (age 30)
28 Mar 1752 dau Ruth Ridley born at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died aft Jan 1801 [one sourse says died 1766]
1752 Ruth SMALL died (age 32) at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME
1752 James Ridley moved to Great Island, Harpswell. Occupation: Farmer and Fisherman
17 Sep 1753 James RIDLEY and Mary SMALL married at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME [1753 Marriage Record with James Ridley] (FHL Film #0945516 confirms marriage date and says at Truro, Barnstable] [Truro Mass Vital Records, 79: confirms date and location (doc)] [Truro Marriage Register confirms date and location (doc)] [some marriage records call her Mary Long (doc)
19 Jun 1755 dau Mary Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; died 1787 [one source says 23 Apr 1754 at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts]; married Edward Barber on 9 Nov 1767
21 Aug 1756 son David Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; died Aug 1755 [one source says birth 30 Apr 1750 at Truro, Barnstable, Massachusetts; died aft 10 Apr 1818]
24 Apr 1757 son Mark Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; married Abigail Webber on 10 May 1778
4 Apr 1759 son Daniel Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; married Hannah Farnham (Bridges) on 27 Nov 1781
1761 son George RIDLEY born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; married Molly Mary Ellen HOPKINS on 13 Dec 1785 at Bowdoin, Sagadahoc, Maine
26 Mar 1763 dau Rachel Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; married Jonathan Williams on 18 Apr 1782 [one source says 26 Mar 1765]
abt 1766 son Matthew Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME
1769 dau Isabella Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME
30 Jan 1783 son William Ridley born at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; married Louisa Adams on 7 Apr 1805 at Bowdoin, Sagadahoc, Maine
1790 Census, Harpswell, Cumberland, ME-James Ridley: Males <16=1; females=2 (doc)]
14 Jul 1797 James RIDLEY died (age 79) at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; buried in East Harpswell Cemetery, Old Great Island, Harpswell, Maine; killed by lightning [FindAGrave confirms date and location as well as parents names and wife’s name} Gravestone
13 Apr 1798 Mary SMALL died (age 79) at Harpswell, Cumberland, ME; buried at East Harpswell Cemetery, Cumberland, ME [FindAGrave says age 76] gravestone
DAR: A096552
Service: MASSACHUSETTS Service Source: Wheeler, Hist of Brunswick, Topsham & Harpswell, ME,Vol 1, p169 Service Desc: Member of Committee of Inspection, Correspondence,Safety & Supply, Harpswell Rank: PATRIOTIC SERVICE
Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850
James Ridley/Ruth Smalley 30 Mar 1738, Truro Film # 0945516.
Massachusetts Marriages, 1633-1850
Mary Smalley/George Bowoey 26 Jun 1743,Truro Film # 0945516. Mary Small Ridley Birth Date: Oct 1721 Death Date: Apr 1798 Burial Place: East Harpswell, Cumberland County, Maine, USA http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-