Willett Ridgeway
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George Washington Ridgeway (aft. 1814 - aft. 1880)

George Washington (Willett) Ridgeway
Born after in Marylandmap
Son of [father unknown] and [mother unknown]
[sibling(s) unknown]
Husband of — married [date unknown] [location unknown]
Descendants descendants
Died after at about age 66 [location unknown]
Problems/Questions Profile manager: Donna Cator private message [send private message]
Profile last modified | Created 19 Jul 2017
This page has been accessed 211 times.

BIOGRAPHY

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THOUGHTS: This is our 3rd Great Grandfather on the maternal side of the Cator family. Willett was born between 1808 and 1814 per the various censuses. Always amazes me how every ten years people age more or less than the ten years that have past! He married Mary Ann Weaver and I think they had two children but there could be more, and likely are more that I have not yet found. Willett lived during the Panic of 1837 and then the Civil War erupted. Trying times. He and Mary were married 54 years when she passed away. Although I have not found information on his death, we do know that he survived past the 1880 census so he lived about 70 years or longer! The family were farming people in Maryland, the state they always lived in.

BIRTH George Washington "Willett" Ridgeway was born sometime around 1808 -1814 in Maryland.

MARRIAGE Willett married Mary Ann Weaver on February 10, 1835 in Washington, DC. They had two children during their marriage. Mary Ann Weaver Ridgeway lifetime appears to be about 1816 to 1889.

The Panic of 1837 Banks shuttered their doors and unemployment skyrocketed when Willett Ridgeway lived in Maryland in 1840, during the economic depression that became known as the Panic of 1837.

1840 CENSUS Willett lived in District 3 of Prince George's County, Maryland, in 1840.

Birth of Son Jonathan Thomas Ridgeway was born on December 28, 1847, in Prince George's County, Maryland. (1847–1893)

Birth of Son George Washington Ridgeway was born on July 5, 1850, in Prince George's, Maryland. He was called John.

1850 Census: Prince George's County, Spaulding, MD. Publication: Series M432, Roll 292 Page: Page 100 Note: Willard Ridgeway, age 35, farmer, born in Maryland.

1860 CENSUS Willett Ridgeway lived in Election District 6 in Prince George's, County, MD in 1860; his post office is listed as Long Olds Fields. He is listed as being 52 years of age. IF THIS IS RIGHT, WILLETT WAS BORN IN 1808. In the home is Willett 52, Mary 38, John 13, George "John" 10 and Martha 7

1860s Civil War erupts.

1870 CENSUS Willett Ridgeway lived in Spauldings, Maryland, in 1870 and is listed as age 60. IF THIS IS RIGHT, WILLETT WAS BORN IN 1810. His post office was Silver Hill, Maryland. Only Willett and his wife Mary are listed as living in their home. They own their farm which is valued at $300. Neither Willett nor Mary can read or write.

1880 CENSUS Willett Ridgeway lived in Spauldings Maryland in 1880. This time he is listed as 66. IF THIS IS RIGHT, WILLETT WAS BORN IN 1814. Also in their home is their son John Ridgeway who is 30. Mary is listed as 64.

1889 Death of Wife His wife Mary Ann passed away in August 1889 at the age of 73. They had been married 54 years. Mary Ann was born in 1816. Note in the following image she is listed as 88 and died in August 1889. Same date of death, but extreme difference in age. She is buried at Saint Barnabas Church Cemetery Temple Hills Prince George's County Maryland, USA. SECTION 1: Range 9, Site 12

Mary Ann Weaver Ridgeway grave

NOTE: Death of Willett Ridgeway would be sometime in or after 1880 per the 1880 census listing for him.

Death of Son Willett's son Jonathan Thomas Ridgeway passed away on October 1, 1893, in Forestville, Maryland, at the age of 45.

SOURCES

1840 United States Federal Census

1850 Census: Prince George's County, Spaulding, MD. Publication: Series M432, Roll 292 Page: Page 100

Year: 1860; Census Place: District 6, Prince Georges, Maryland; Roll: M653_478; Page: 558; Image: 549; Family History Library Film: 803478

Year: 1870; Census Place: Spauldings, Prince Georges, Maryland; Roll: M593_592; Page: 182A; Image: 368; Family History Library Film: 552091

Year: 1880; Census Place: Spaldings, Prince George´S, Maryland; Roll: 513; Family History Film: 1254513; Page: 133D; Enumeration District: 126; Image: 0268

Ancestry Family Trees

District of Columbia, Marriage Records, 1810-1953 Film Number 002079251

Maryland, Compiled Census and Census Substitutes Index, 1772-1890

Washington, D.C., Compiled Marriages, 1826-50

Note: Roll 169, Page 28 of the 1840 United States Federal Census for Maryland, Prince Georges County, District 3 lists Willett Ridgway, age 20-29, with one female under age 5 and one female age 20-29.






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