Henry Ridgely

     Henry was born in 1627 in England. Henry immigrated to the Colonies in June of 1659. By 1661, he had removed to Maryland and had received a royal grant of 6000 acres of which the Plantation Broome was at least a part. Just before his marriage on 19 September 1664, he requested of the Provincial Government land due him for transporting himself and those that came with him in 1659. Henry married Elizabeth Howard on 23 September 1664 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Henry and Elizabeth had children: Sarah [1667-6/26/1727][m. 1683 John Brewer & 2nd 4/00/1691 Thomas Odell ] & Henry 10/03/1669-4/26/1700][m. 1689 Catherine Greenbury]. Henry's wife, Elizabeth, died between 3 October 1669 and 1672 leaving him a widower. Henry married 2nd Alice Skinner in 1672 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Henry and Alice had children: Charles [1676-1722][m. 8/25/1698 Elizabeth Read] & Catherine [before 1678][m. 1/19/1695 William Howerton]. Henry's wife, Alice, died circa 1694 in Anne Arundel County, leaving him a widower. In 1698, Henry began acquiring land in Prince George's County and diviesting himself of properties and plantations he owned in Ann Arundel County. On 7 March 1700, he deeded over to his son, Henry, the Pantation Broome. Henry married 3rd Mary (?) in 1699 in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Henry made his will on 30 April 1705 at Prince George's County, Maryland.

In the name of God Amen the thirtieth day of Aprill in the year of our Lord one thousand and seven hundred and five and the third year of the Reigne of our Sovr Lady Anne by the grace of God Queen of England etc. I Henry Ridgley of Prince Georges County in the Province of Maryland Merchant being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God for ye same and knowing the uncertainty of this Life on Earth and being Desirous to Settle things in order to make this my last will and Testament in manner following Revoking and making void all other will and wills by me heretofore made and this only to be taken for my last will and testament and no other and first and principally I Commend my Soul to Almighty God my Creator assuredly believing that I shall be saved by the precious Death and Merritts of my blessed Savior Jesus Christ and my body to the Earth from whence it was taken to be buried in such decent order as my exex hereafter named shall be thought meet and convenient and as touching such worldly estate as the Lord in mercy hath Lent me my will and meaning is the same shall be Imployed and Bestowed as hereafter by this my will is Expressed Willing that what debts in Right or conscience I owe to any person or persons be paid and Discharged in Some Convenient time after my Decease by my Executrix hereafter named.
Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Dear and Loveing wife Mary Ridgeley all that my plantation whereon I now Dwell together with all Singular the Land Belonging to the same called or knowne by the Name of Catton Lying in Prince Georges County afs to the proper use and behoofe of my sd wife and heirs and assigns forever –
I Give and Bequeath unto the child wherewith my said wife now goeth if a male child all that plantation called Larkins Forrest purchased of Thomas Larkin and the land belonging to the same and also one hundred acres of Land which I took up & added to the same and also a tract of Land called Mary’s Delight containing five hundred acres to him the said child when it shall come of age of twenty one years and his heirs forever but if the sd child wherewith my said wife now goeth shall be a female child – I give and bequeath the said Tracts of Land afs to her the said child she comes to the age of sixteen or day of marriage which first happens and to her heires forever my said wife to have the use Benefit and profit of the said plantations and Land afd till either of the said child wherewith my wife now goeth should happen to die Before they come to the said ages then I give the use Benefit and profit of the said Plantation and Land unto my Said wife during the term of her natural life –
Item I give and Bequeath unto my son Charles Ridgely all that plantation and land Belonging to the same called Hoggneck and also the three hundred acres of land to be taken out of a tract of Land called Waldrige adjoining to the said Land of hogneck to him and his heires forever and also a tract of Land called Ridgeleys Lot lying at Huntington in Ann Arundel County to the use of the said Charles Ridgly and his heires forever as afd and also I will that what money is due to Isaac Millner on his account at this time of the date hereof Be paid by my Exex hereafternamed – I except that Land sold to Thomas Reynolds about thirty acres in the forke of the branch on that side next to Neal Clark Joyning on Neal Clarks Lyne Seated by Wm Griffin –
Item I will and ordain that if the child wherewith my wife now goeth shall Die Before it come to the age aforementioned then that the said tract of land aforementioned Called Mary’s Delight shall be divided Between John Brewer and Joseph Brewer Thomas Odell and Henry Odell the sons of Thomas Odell Share and Share alike to the use of them their heires forever But if either of the Said four children should die without heir then his or their parts or Share to fall to the Survivour of them and the use afd
Item I will and Desire that my Wearing apparel may be divided Between my Brother Wm. Ridgley & my son Charles Ridgley –
Signed Henry [his mark] Ridgely [seal]
Signed Sealed and Declared to be the last will and Testament of the sd Henry Ridgley in the presence of us – Thomas Reynolds Richard Duckett John Rattenbury Louis Duvall.
Then came Thomas Reynolds Richard Duckett John Rattenbury and Louis Duvall Subscribing evidences to this will and solemnly Deposed on the holy Evangelist that they saw the Testator Signe & Declare this to be his Last will and Testament and that he was then of Sound and perfect mind & memory Wm. Blade Comy Genll
Second page
Item I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Odell the wife of Thomas Odell to her and her disposal a Negroe girle to be about sixteen years of age to be delivered in some Convenient time after my decease by my Extx hereafter named and also the Sume of twenty pounds Sterl. To be paid as afd
Item I give and bequeath unto the child wherewith my sd wife now goeth the Sume of five hundred pounds Sterl if a male to be paid to him at the age of twenty one years if a female at the age of sixteen years or day of marriage which first happens by my Executirx hereafter named But if the said child wherewith my wife goeth should happen to Die without an heir and Before he came to the said ages of twenty years Sixteen or day of marriage as afd and that my said wife should die also then I give and Bequeath the plantation and Land Belonging to the same called Larkins forist Bought of Thomas Larkin and the hundred acres Taken up as afd to be Divided between Henry Ridgely and Nicolas Ridgley my grandchildren and Henry Ridgely the son of Charles Ridgley – Share and share alike to them their heires forever But if either of them shall Die without an heir then his or their part of Share to fall to the survivor of them to the use afd
Item I give and Bequeath unto my grandson Henry Ridgly the son of Henry Ridgly the part Remaining of that Land called Waldridge after my son Charles Ridgly hath had his three hundred acres out of the said tract bequeathed to afd
Item I give and Bequeath unto my every one of my grand children which shall be Living at the time of the Dateing hereof the Sume of ten pounds Sterl when they come to the age of Twenty one years if male; Sixteen or day of Marriage if female but if any of them die before they come to the sd ages their part to fall to the next Brother or Sister of them –
Item I give unto my God Daughter Martha Duvall Sume of five pounds Sterl and a year old Cow Calfe –
Item I give unto the use and Benefitt of the Church of St. Barnabas in Queen Anne Parish the Sume of Twenty Pounds Sterling
Item I give to Richard Duckett one good hogg –
Also I will and Desire that my grandson Henry Ridgely the son of Henry Ridgely shall be under the care of Thomas Odell and Charles Greenberry and my grandson Nicolas Ridgley under the care of my wife till they come to age but if my said wife die then the sd Nicolas t be under their care also –
And lastly for the Remaining part of my Estate whatsoever in England or Elsewhere I give and bequeath the same to my sd wife after my Debts and Legacys and funeral charges shall be paid and of this my last will and Testament I Make my sd wife my whole Sole and full Executrix the same Being Contained in two sheets of paper to each of which I have affixed my hand and Seal the said 30^th day of Aprill 1705 –
Henry [his HR mark] Ridgley [Seale]
Signed Sealed and Declared to be the Last will & Testament of the sd Henry Ridgley in the Presence of us Thomas Reynolds Richard Duckett John Ratenbury Louis Duvall
At the foot of this second sheet was this written July 13^th 1710 – Then came Thomas Reynolds Richard Duckett and Louis Duvall Subscribing evidences to this will and Solemnly Deposed on the holy Evangelist that they saw the Testator Signe Subscribe and Declare this to be his last will & Testament and that he was of Sound and perfect mind and memory – Wm Bladen Comy Genll.¹

Henry departed this life on Sunday, 13 July 1710 in Prince George's County, Maryland, at age 83 years. The inventory of Henry's estate was taken on Thursday, 16 October 1710 by Lewis Duvall and Robert Wheeler. The value was appraised at 2,298 pounds 16 shilling and 4 pence. In additon there was 5,167 pounds of tobacco. Later, on 15 November 1710, and additional sum of 279 pounds 14 shilling and 11 pence was added to the total.